Format ErrorsCritical
E002Invalid Record Identifier
The record identifier in positions 1-4 is not valid
Affected Field
#1Record Descriptor Word
Description
Each Metro 2 record must begin with a valid 4-character Record Identifier that indicates the record type. Valid identifiers include HEADER (header record), a valid base segment identifier, segment identifiers (J1, J2, K1, K2, K3, K4, L1, N1), and TRLR or TRAILER (trailer record). This error occurs when the identifier is missing, malformed, or not recognized.
Common Causes
- Corrupted file data
- Incorrect segment ordering
- Missing required segments
- Typos in record identifiers
- Using lowercase instead of uppercase
How to Fix
- 1Ensure all record identifiers are uppercase
- 2Verify the file structure follows: Header → Base Segments → Trailer
- 3Check that optional segments follow their parent base segment
- 4Validate segment identifiers against Metro 2 specifications
More Format Errors
Metro 2 code reference
A rejected value is usually a wrong code rather than a wrong format. Every CRRG code set has a per-code page with its meaning and cross-field rules. Metro 2 codes: the complete cheat sheet puts all of them on one page.
Catch Errors Before Submission
The platform validates every field and catches errors like E002 before you submit to the credit bureaus.