Metro 2 Knowledge Hub
Plain-English guides to the Metro 2® format: how each segment and field works, what the codes mean, and how to report common account situations correctly.
This is original explanatory material. For authoritative requirements, consult the CDIA's Credit Reporting Resource Guide (CRRG).
Key Metro 2 Terms
Essential credit reporting concepts you need to understand.
Free Metro 2 Tools
Hands-on utilities you can use without an account. Everything runs in your browser.
Metro 2 Reference
Field-by-field, code-by-code, and segment-by-segment references for building and validating a Metro 2 file.
CRRG code sets
Every coded field in the Metro 2 format, one reference page per code, with the cross-field rules they have to satisfy. Start at the codes cheat sheet.
Overview
Best Metro 2 Reporting Software (2026): Compared by Price & Features
Compare Metro 2 reporting software for 2026: BureauRelay from $19/month, TSB Credit Manager, Hutchins, M2 Reporter and more, on pricing, spreadsheet import, API access and validation.
Build vs. Buy a Metro 2 System: A Decision Guide for Furnishers
Should you build your own Metro 2 file generator or use a vendor? An honest decision framework covering what building actually entails, the real cost of DIY, when in-house makes sense, and the API middle path.
Charge-Off in Metro 2: Status Code 97 & Original Charge-Off Amount
How to report a charge-off in Metro 2 — set Account Status 97, report the Original Charge-Off Amount and keep it fixed, and handle balances, payments, and recoveries after write-off. With a worked example.
Collections and Recovery
Tracking post-charge-off collections without misrepresenting new credit.
Compliance Condition Codes (Dispute/Legal Flags)
Flags for disputes and certain legal claims that require careful handling.
Credit Limit and Highest Credit
Reporting limits and peaks correctly to support utilization and risk models.
Credit Reporting Software Cost: What Furnishers Actually Pay in 2026
A transparent look at credit reporting software pricing in 2026: what drives the cost, how cloud SaaS compares to legacy desktop and service-bureau pricing, and the total cost to furnish data to the credit bureaus.
Current Balance & Amount Past Due — Metro 2 Reporting Rules
Rules for reporting current balance and amount past due in Metro 2. How these fields interact with account status, delinquency dates, and what happens at charge-off or payoff.
Date of Account Information (As-Of)
The cycle date that aligns balances, statuses, and history for the file.
FCRA Date of First Delinquency (DOFD)
The date that starts the seven-year purge period for certain derogatory events.
How to Become a Data Furnisher: From Subscriber Codes to Your First File
A complete, phased guide to reporting consumer accounts to the credit bureaus as a business: your FCRA obligations, applying for subscriber codes, getting data Metro 2-ready, validating and test-submitting, and the monthly cadence after go-live.
How to Create a Metro 2 File from Your Payment Data (Step-by-Step)
A step-by-step guide to compiling your loan or payment data into a bureau-ready Metro 2 file: export your data, map columns to Metro 2 fields, validate against the CRRG, generate the file, and deliver it to the credit bureaus over SFTP.
How to Report Rent Payments to Credit Bureaus (Step-by-Step)
A practical, step-by-step guide for property managers to report tenant rent payments to the credit bureaus: become a furnisher, get resident consent, pull data from your PMS, map rent to Metro 2 fields, validate, and submit each month.
Industry Standards: Why Metro 2® Exists
How a common format enables consistency across lenders, industries, and time.
Metro 2 Account Status Codes — How They Work & Common Mistakes
How Metro 2 account status codes work, from current (11) to charge-off (97). Which code to report, how status aligns with balances and past-due amounts, and compliance pitfalls to avoid.
Metro 2 Format Example: An Annotated Sample File
See what a Metro 2 file actually looks like. A worked, annotated example of a Base Segment with a J1 segment — field by field — plus the difference between the 366 and 426 layouts and the mistakes a bad file reveals.
Payment History Profile — Building the 24-Month String
How to build and maintain the 24-month payment history profile in Metro 2. Covers monthly status values, delinquency progression, and what consumers see on their credit reports.
Payment Rating
A one-character indicator required in specific derogatory scenarios.
Rent Reporting Software for Property Managers
Report tenant rent payments to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion through the Metro 2 format. How rent reporting works, connecting your property-management system, positive-only vs. full-file reporting and consent, and how a furnisher-controlled approach compares to bundled tenant apps.
Reporting Paid & Closed Accounts in Metro 2
How to properly close and zero-out accounts in Metro 2: status codes for paid accounts, final reporting cycle requirements, and avoiding lingering balances or delinquency flags.
Reporting Transfers and Refinances
Distinguishing internal changes from new tradelines consumers will see.
Resources and Disclaimer
Where to find authoritative guidance and how to use this hub responsibly.
Responsibilities and Roles in Credit Reporting
Who does what in the credit reporting ecosystem, and how furnishers, CRAs, and consumers interact.
Scheduled vs. Actual Payment
Capturing contractual due amounts and cash actually received.
Special Comment Codes: Narrative Context
Short codes that add nuance such as forbearance, refinance, or consumer requests.
Terms: Duration and Frequency
Contract terms influence how payments and delinquency are interpreted.
What Does It Cost to Furnish Data to the Credit Bureaus?
The total cost of furnishing consumer data to the credit bureaus — software, bureau and e-OSCAR fees, and your staff's time — and how those pieces fit together for a furnisher of any size.
Segments
BDW and RDW: Block and Record Descriptors
Transport-level wrappers used in some mainframe and batch workflows.
Character vs. Packed Formats
Differences in representation and when each format is appropriate.
Header Record: Identifying the File
What the header communicates about the furnisher, cycle, and file meta.
J1 Segment: Associated Consumer (Same Address)
Adding a co-borrower or associated consumer who shares the same address.
J2 Segment: Associated Consumer (Different Address)
Linking an associated consumer at a different address from the primary.
K1 Segment: Original Creditor Name
Capturing the original grantor information for context and lineage.
K2 Segment: Purchased From / Sold To
Tracking ownership changes to avoid duplicate or orphaned obligations.
K3 Segment: Mortgage Information
Mortgage-specific attributes required by housing agencies and CRAs.
K4 Segment: Specialized Payment Information
Capturing deferrals, balloon payments, and other specialized terms.
Key Dates: Opened, Last Payment, Closed
How core dates anchor aging, status, and purging timelines.
L1 Segment: Account Number Change
Preserving lineage when account numbers change due to internal processes.
Metro 2 Base Segment — Fields, Layout & What Each Byte Means
The Metro 2 base segment explained: the core 426-character record containing account status, balance, payment history, dates, and consumer identification for each tradeline.
Metro 2 File Format — Structure, Layout & Record Types Explained
Complete guide to the Metro 2 file format: header record, base segment, J1/J2 appendages, K segments, and trailer record. Includes field positions, lengths, and layout examples.
N1 Segment: Employment
Optional employment information to improve identification and fraud controls.
Portfolio and Account Type
Classify credit products correctly to enable the right validations and analytics.
Record Layouts: Fields, Positions, and Validation
Understanding fixed positions and how edits validate alignment and content.
Stable Identifiers and Account Numbers
Why permanent furnishers IDs and immutable account numbers matter.
Trailer Record: Balancing the File
Summarizing file totals to support acceptance and reconciliation.
Compliance
Bankruptcy Reporting in Metro 2 — Chapter 7 vs 13 Rules
Metro 2 bankruptcy reporting guide: which status codes to use for Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13, how to handle discharged debts, and rules for post-petition account reporting.
Charge-Off Timing and DOFD
Choosing the correct month to move to charge-off and establishing DOFD.
Consumer Dispute Process
The lifecycle of a dispute from submission to furnisher response.
Dispute Flags and e-OSCAR
How furnishers receive, investigate, and respond to disputes electronically.
Repossession and Foreclosure
Asset recovery events and their impact on balances and statuses.
Operations
Accuracy, Integrity, and Consistency
Principles and practices to keep reported data aligned with reality.
Automated Data Reporting (ADR)
Batch-based reporting, cycles, and how to operationalize monthly submissions.
Common Validation Edits and How to Fix Them
Frequent issues like mismatched status/past-due or invalid dates.
Data Quality Monitoring and Audit
Ongoing controls that keep reporting healthy beyond initial launch.
File-Level Balancing and Totals
Why pre-send validation prevents rejects and consumer impact.
Implementation Checklist
A pragmatic sequence to launch a compliant reporting program.
Onboarding as a New Furnisher
From initial CRA coordination to first production file.
Industry
Industry Focus: Child Support
Special considerations when reporting child support obligations.
Industry Focus: Credit Cards
Core patterns for revolving products and statement-driven cycles.
Industry Focus: Debt Buyers and Collections
Reporting purchased accounts and collection activity with clarity.
Industry Focus: Loan Finance Companies
Closed-end installment products and refinancing nuances.
Industry Focus: Mortgage Lending
Specialized mortgage attributes and delinquency handling.
Industry Focus: Point-of-Sale Financing
Short-term financing and buy-now-pay-later considerations.
Industry Focus: Residential Rental
Rental tradelines and how they fit Metro 2® constructs.
Industry Focus: Retail (Store Cards)
Private-label cards and in-store financing patterns.
Industry Focus: Sales Finance
Third-party financing for goods and services.
Industry Focus: Student Loans (Federal)
Deferments, forbearance, and other federal program considerations.
Industry Focus: Student Loans (Private)
Private program variations and servicer transfers.
Reference
Account Status Categories
A high-level tour of status groups without enumerating proprietary tables.
Glossary: Plain-English Metro 2® Concepts
Short definitions to demystify common terms used in reporting.
Metro 2® FAQ
Answers to common questions about timelines, statuses, and disputes.
Open vs. Revolving vs. Installment
Classifying products correctly to set expectations for payments and balances.
Payment Hierarchy and Delinquency Calculation
How payments apply and when delinquency thresholds are crossed.
Utilization and Limit Reporting
How limits and balances drive utilization and why accuracy matters.