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How To Select A Credit Data Solutions Provider

By Miranda Sweeney


Consumers have a habit of saying how hard it is to have debt, or how emotionally taxing. They may not always be aware of how much stress their debt causes to the people who lent them the money. Debt is inherently risky, and so financial institutions assign importance to the examination of applications for credit, and on their acceptance or rejection of those applications. Their task is aided by organizations who provide credit data solutions.

Lenders are always interested in the financial history of the individual or company who applies to them. They need to determine how much debt the applicant already has, who issued it and for what reason. They also need to be sure that the applicant is a reliable payer. Do they have unpaid accounts? Have they had debt written off in the past? These are typical questions for finance houses to ask, even if they are described as offensive or unnecessary by the applicant.

Assessment of the application is also concerned with the veracity of the applicant's other information. The accuracy of personal details such as employment, identification and salary has to be ascertained. Issues of security necessitate this process, besides the assessment itself.

This information about consumers is known as credit data. Since it is concerned with peoples' personal histories and financial affairs, it is not easy to obtain. It may be protected by legislation. Indebted consumers may also try to hide it from potential lenders. Operators in the industry therefore require a reliable source of such information.

There are subscription-based services who are able to provide such information. They are legally allowed to offer this service, even though subscription is not free. These credit bureaus administer databases of consumers and their track records. Financial institutions are permitted to purchase records if they have been authorized to do so by those applying for finance. There will always be text to that effect on the application form.

In choosing a data provider, lenders need to take certain factors into consideration.

First, there is the matter of quality. Is the data provided accurate? How much of it is there? A report should not include false information. All dates and amounts should be correct. The bureau should also be able to tell their customers how they acquired the information. Any error can have a negative impact not only on the lender's assessment but also on the consumer, who may then be unable to access lending facilities.

In connection with quality, one also has to mention integrity. How strong is the supplier's security system? How easily can a consumer change or delete their record? A data provider should be respected in the industry. They should not permit easy access to their database.

Also, what is the market representation of the database? How many consumers does the bureau have information on? If the database is too small the bureau will not be able to assist financiers in assessing all of their applications.

Credit bureaus and other data suppliers are sometimes attacked by the public because they are seen as enemies in the application approval process. However, they provide an essential service in preventing non-performing loans and other bad debt, thereby maintaining the sustainability of the industry.




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