Utility Company Reporting
GENERAL REPORTING GUIDELINES
Reporters of utility company data include Energy companies (e.g., coal and wood dealers, electric light and power, fuel oil distributors, gas companies — natural and bottled, etc.), Communications companies (e.g., telephone, cable, etc.) and Service companies (e.g., water, garbage, rubbish and other disposal companies, etc.).
The following reporting guidelines apply to all reporters of utility company data:
· Report data in the standard Metro 2 Format.
· Report all current and delinquent open accounts on a monthly basis.
· Report closed accounts at the end of the month in which they occur.
· Report the complete name, address, and social security number of the legally liable consumer(s).
· Report the phone number and date of birth, when available.
· Report the ECOA Code to designate the account as joint, individual, etc. in compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).
· Report the Payment History Profile, which provides up to 24 months of payment history, in order to control and maintain the payment history.
· In the Identification Number field, report the internal code that identifies the utility company where information is verified.
· All parties reporting credit information must respond to consumer inquiries.
· All parties reporting credit information must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and any applicable state laws.
Note: The guidelines in this document are specific to your industry and should be used in conjunction with the specifications in the Metro 2 Format. Refer to the Metro 2 Format for detailed information on segments and field information.
1. Consumer Account Number
· Report the individual's complete and unique account number as extracted from your file.
· If a consumer has multiple accounts, the account numbers must be unique. If necessary, append a unique identifier to the original account number for each account.
· If the account number changes, use the "Change" function on the account information screen to change the account number. (See the account information section under the "What is ..." help section.
Note: Notify your local consumer reporting agencies the first time this situation occurs.
2. Portfolio Type
· O (Open) - for all utility services' payment plans
· I (Installment) - for merchandise (e.g., appliances, etc.)
3. Account Type Codes
· 92 (Utility Company) - for all utility services' payment plans
· 06 (Installment Sales Contract) - for merchandise (e.g., appliances, etc.)
· 4D (Telecommunications/Cellular) - for telecommunications companies, as appropriate
4. Highest Credit or Original Loan Amount
· For utility services' accounts, report the highest balance ever attained.
· For Installment accounts, report the amount of the contract.
5. Terms Duration
· For utility services' accounts, report Terms Duration as 001.
· For Installment accounts, report the number of months of the contract.
6. Terms Frequency
· For utility services' accounts, blank fill.
· For Installment accounts, report the frequency for payments due.
7. Scheduled Monthly Payment Amount
· For utility services' accounts, zero fill.
· For Installment accounts, report the regularly scheduled monthly payment amount.
8. Account Status Codes and Payment Ratings
· Report full file information, including open/current accounts (Status Code 11), all stages of delinquency (Status Codes 71, 78, 80, 82–84), derogatory accounts (Status Codes 93, 95–97) and closed or paid accounts (Status Codes 13, 61– 64). When the Account Status Code is 13 or 95, the Payment Rating must also be reported.
· Refer to the Account Status Codes section for specific definitions of .
9. Special Comments and Compliance Condition Codes
Report Special Comments and Compliance Condition Codes in conjunction with Account Status Codes to further define the accounts. Refer to for the Special Comments section for specific definitions and the Compliance Condition Codes section for specific definitions (see the Account Information section under the "What is..." help section).
Example: Compliance Condition Code XB (Account information disputed by consumer) could be reported with Account Status Code 93.
· When a utility service is terminated due to nonpayment, Special Comment M (Account Closed at Credit Grantor's Request) should be reported with the appropriate Status Code. If the account is subsequently reinstated, remove the Special Comment M.
10. Current Balance
· For all accounts, report the total current balance of the account.
11. Amount Past Due
· For delinquent or derogatory accounts, report the dollar amount past due.
Reporters of utility company data include Energy companies (e.g., coal and wood dealers, electric light and power, fuel oil distributors, gas companies — natural and bottled, etc.), Communications companies (e.g., telephone, cable, etc.) and Service companies (e.g., water, garbage, rubbish and other disposal companies, etc.).
The following reporting guidelines apply to all reporters of utility company data:
· Report data in the standard Metro 2 Format.
· Report all current and delinquent open accounts on a monthly basis.
· Report closed accounts at the end of the month in which they occur.
· Report the complete name, address, and social security number of the legally liable consumer(s).
· Report the phone number and date of birth, when available.
· Report the ECOA Code to designate the account as joint, individual, etc. in compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).
· Report the Payment History Profile, which provides up to 24 months of payment history, in order to control and maintain the payment history.
· In the Identification Number field, report the internal code that identifies the utility company where information is verified.
· All parties reporting credit information must respond to consumer inquiries.
· All parties reporting credit information must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and any applicable state laws.
Note: The guidelines in this document are specific to your industry and should be used in conjunction with the specifications in the Metro 2 Format. Refer to the Metro 2 Format for detailed information on segments and field information.
1. Consumer Account Number
· Report the individual's complete and unique account number as extracted from your file.
· If a consumer has multiple accounts, the account numbers must be unique. If necessary, append a unique identifier to the original account number for each account.
· If the account number changes, use the "Change" function on the account information screen to change the account number. (See the account information section under the "What is ..." help section.
Note: Notify your local consumer reporting agencies the first time this situation occurs.
2. Portfolio Type
· O (Open) - for all utility services' payment plans
· I (Installment) - for merchandise (e.g., appliances, etc.)
3. Account Type Codes
· 92 (Utility Company) - for all utility services' payment plans
· 06 (Installment Sales Contract) - for merchandise (e.g., appliances, etc.)
· 4D (Telecommunications/Cellular) - for telecommunications companies, as appropriate
4. Highest Credit or Original Loan Amount
· For utility services' accounts, report the highest balance ever attained.
· For Installment accounts, report the amount of the contract.
5. Terms Duration
· For utility services' accounts, report Terms Duration as 001.
· For Installment accounts, report the number of months of the contract.
6. Terms Frequency
· For utility services' accounts, blank fill.
· For Installment accounts, report the frequency for payments due.
7. Scheduled Monthly Payment Amount
· For utility services' accounts, zero fill.
· For Installment accounts, report the regularly scheduled monthly payment amount.
8. Account Status Codes and Payment Ratings
· Report full file information, including open/current accounts (Status Code 11), all stages of delinquency (Status Codes 71, 78, 80, 82–84), derogatory accounts (Status Codes 93, 95–97) and closed or paid accounts (Status Codes 13, 61– 64). When the Account Status Code is 13 or 95, the Payment Rating must also be reported.
· Refer to the Account Status Codes section for specific definitions of .
9. Special Comments and Compliance Condition Codes
Report Special Comments and Compliance Condition Codes in conjunction with Account Status Codes to further define the accounts. Refer to for the Special Comments section for specific definitions and the Compliance Condition Codes section for specific definitions (see the Account Information section under the "What is..." help section).
Example: Compliance Condition Code XB (Account information disputed by consumer) could be reported with Account Status Code 93.
· When a utility service is terminated due to nonpayment, Special Comment M (Account Closed at Credit Grantor's Request) should be reported with the appropriate Status Code. If the account is subsequently reinstated, remove the Special Comment M.
10. Current Balance
· For all accounts, report the total current balance of the account.
11. Amount Past Due
· For delinquent or derogatory accounts, report the dollar amount past due.
