How to Report a Non-Payment to a Credit Bureau

Banks, landlords and creditors can report non-payments to a credit bureau. Credit bureaus collect consumer credit information and furnish it in the form of credit reports. Reporting non-payments allows lenders to include negative information in debtor credit reports or credit files. Negative credit information can affect a consumer's ability to borrow money, apply for housing and receive employment.

Instructions

1

Compile the non-payment information. You will need to put together the details surrounding the debtor's non-payment. This can include his name and address, the number of invoices outstanding, the invoice amounts and the number of days payment is past due. It is also useful to have the details concerning any collection activity you may have documented (telephone calls and collection letters).

2

Contact a credit bureau. The major consumer credit bureaus are Experian, Equifax and Trans Union. Call them to report the debtor non-payment information (see Resources). Notify them of your relationship with the debtor (bank, landlord or other creditor). They may request that you mail the non-payment details to them.

You may be eligible to apply for membership with one of the major credit bureaus. This will allow you to directly report credit information on all of your consumer customers and gain access to credit reports. Membership eligibility will depend on the number of debts or payment lines you have. Typical requirements ask for as many as 500 debts or payment lines to qualify for membership.

3

Receive confirmation of the reported information. You can ask the credit bureau to provide notification in writing that the information was added to the debtor's credit report or file. This will ensure that the non-payment is on the debtor's record and it will negatively affect her credit report. It may also encourage the debtor to resolve her debt so that it does not continue to adversely affect her.