Friday, July 25, 2014

How To Assess Credit Data Solutions

By Miranda Sweeney


People may assume that having debt is sometimes stressful, but so is lending money to other people. Any loan involves some measure of risk to both parties, and that is why credit providers put so much emphasis on the assessment of those who apply to them, and also on the decision to approve or reject an application. The task of lenders is made easier by the use of credit data solutions.

Part of any risk assessment is the track record of the person or business applying. Lenders need to see who the applicant owes money to, how much and on what basis. They also need to look at the applicant's history of payment. Do they have outstanding debts? Is there anyone they didn't pay? These are questions that financiers have to ask, no matter how offensive or inappropriate they may seem to those applying.

The assessment also entails confirming the applicant's information. Financiers should always make sure that the information as to identity, employment and income is accurate. This is about more than creditworthiness. It is also about self-explanatory security issues.

This consumer information is referred to as credit data. As a matter of course, and legal requirement, personal details and other financial information are not openly available to the public. There are also applicants who will attempt to conceal their information from lenders. The latter therefore require a more trustworthy supply of such information.

There are paid services who store and provide it. These organizations, known as credit bureaus, have the legal authority and the infrastructure to maintain databases of consumers and their industry histories. Lenders are allowed to request records if the applicant signs over permission to do so. That permission is contained in the small print of any finance application.

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

Firstly, the quality of the data. How extensive is it? Is it reliable? Bureau reports should give accurate dates and figures and also be prepared to inform their customers as to the sources of their information. There should not be errors as this can prejudice not only the lender's decision but also the consumer's ability to be approved for finance.

Quality is related to the second point, namely integrity. How secure is the provider's system? How easy is it for consumers to alter or remove their records? A data supplier needs to have substantial authority in the industry. They should not readily allow the public to access or modify their database.

Lastly, how many people are recorded in the database? What proportion of the market does the supplier represent? If the proportion is too low, the latter won't always be able to answer their customers' enquiries.

People occasionally make negative comments about the credit bureaus. They try to portray them as an unnecessary obstruction to obtaining loans and other finance. But the fact is that the bureaus are indispensable in avoiding unpaid debt, thus ensuring that the industry stays sustainable.




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