A/R Data Contributions
Contributing your accounts receivable (A/R) data to a shared database offers numerous benefits that enhance the overall credit management process. By participating in this collective effort, you help build a more comprehensive and accurate credit profile for businesses, improve risk assessment, and gain access to valuable industry benchmarks and insights.
What is Data Contribution?
The NACM data contribution program allows your firm to place tradelines on the business credit reports of your customers.
Firms of all sizes and industries share their customers’ credit experience. These experiences are merged to create the individual customer’s credit report. These tradelines add to the overall picture of a firm’s financial health, impact the company’s credit score, and allow report users to make better-informed credit decisions.
You contribute by sending electronic files of aging data each month. The files include basic information about your customers and how they are paying your firm. Most contributors find it takes just a few minutes.
Data Contribution
Here are just a few of the many great benefits of contribution:
Encourage Prompt Payments
Reporting your experience motivates customers to pay on time.
Save Time
Electronic contribution for industry group members is quicker than manual submissions.
Enjoy Discounts
Contributing firms may qualify for discounted business credit reports.
Lower Costs
Access reduced industry group fees.
Streamline Credit Checks
Minimize direct checks and tradeline references with NACM credit reports.
Raise Alerts
Inform others about slow-pays and credit issues swiftly.
Boost Customer Credit
Reward prompt payers by helping them build strong credit histories.
Leverage Debt Collection
Strengthen your position in debt collection efforts.
Ready to start contributing or have questions?
Contact Shannon Abnal at sabnal@nacmcs.org or (971) 230-1166.
faq
A/R Data Contribution
What information should be included in a data contribution file?
We need some basic information on your customers, like their name and address, along with their balance info. Request a complete list of required items.
How often do I have to report?
Data should be contributed on a monthly basis.
Do I have to report on all customers?
Yes. You may exclude a handful of customers for special reasons (for example, internal accounts, employee accounts, or special pricing circumstances), but you must generally report on all customers.
I only want to report on my past dues!
Many businesses wonder why they must report on all customers. Commercial credit bureaus are building strong, consistent, and fair credit reports for all businesses. If firms reported only on their past due or hand-selected accounts, the goal could not be accomplished. Prompt-paying firms might have no credit report at all. Reporting on all customers is in the credit community’s best interest.
How do I get started?
Download our Data Contribution Consent Form. This form gives us permission to receive and share your company’s data.
Can I skip reporting on the F.O.B.’s?
You may exclude a few accounts for specific reasons, including F.O.B (friend of boss). We will handle this for you.
How do I transmit my file to NACM?
We can accept data files via email, FTP, and our website. We prefer website uploads as they allow greater security.
Will my customers be mad?
Your good customers should not be mad…you are building their positive credit history! Your delinquent customers may not like the contribution of delinquent credit experience, but it should encourage them to pay.
What if I don’t have any I.T. support?
While having technical support can certainly help, most systems include tools that allow the average user to export aging data. NACM is available to help determine if your system can export aging information.
Can I report international accounts?
International accounts may be included; however, some credit bureaus do not accept international accounts and will disregard them.
Can I report consumer accounts?
We are unable to accept consumer accounts. A sole proprietor doing business under their name is fine to report on.
What about my biggest customer? They are always late!
You may exclude a few accounts for specific reasons. If your biggest customer is always late and you want to exclude them, we will handle this for you.
How much does contributing cost?
Contribution is a complimentary service.
Will anyone know I am contributing?
Contributors have the right to remain anonymous. We will not release your company’s name without your permission. Your tradelines will show on credit reports with either your industry code or your NACM member number, depending on the database, not with your company name.
faq
General Questions
How does membership in NACM work?
The NACM membership is a company benefit and multiple credit people in a department can benefit from the services and trainings. Once you become a member of NACMCS, we also register you as a national member where you receive additional benefits.
Can I get assistance with strengthening our credit application?
Absolutely! NACMCS reviews your credit application and makes suggestions to strengthen the document to best protect your company while extending credit to clients.
How do I get help finding an industry group for a specific industry?
On a national level NACM has over 350 different industry groups. If you’re looking for coverage in a specific geographic area or industry, we can help you find the perfect match for your company.
How do I network with other credit professionals?
NACMCS is the perfect place to meet new credit professionals, virtually and in-person. There are endless opportunities to interact with others, learn from peer networking, and gain confidence the credit practices in your business are top notch. Conferences, forums, virtual discussion groups, trainings, and online communities are available to members.
What is AR Data Contribution?
A majority of NACM member companies choose to report their client’s payment patterns to NACM and credit bureaus monthly to assist building client’s business credit scores or reflecting slow paying customers. Contributing the information gives companies leverage in debt collection. NACM offers this service free with a membership, as it believes the reporting assists the overall credit community. It’s how commercial credit reports are built. Various complimentary services are offered to member companies who contribute their AR aging to the NACM database and other reporting agencies as an added benefit. Members can request to remain anonymous while practicing good policy of contributing payment data.
What’s available to companies who are non-members?
NACM is a trade association built to support our community of credit professionals. Most benefits are offered to member companies. There is a limited number of services offered to companies who cannot become members, but the fees are much higher. The magic happens behind the Member Portal!
faq
General Credit Reporting
Are Commercial Credit Reports instant?
Yes, after you are set up you will have online access to instant reports.
Can I get business credit reports on international companies?
Yes, we offer several international report options, both real-time reports and freshly investigated.
I can’t find the company I am looking for. What should I do?
Try searching with fewer details. Use just the company’s name and state to improve your chances of finding it. If you’re still unable to locate the company, please note that businesses are not required to provide their data. Contributing data is crucial for creating comprehensive reports.
How can a business credit report help my company?
A business credit report can help your company make informed decisions by providing insights into the financial health and payment behavior of potential clients, partners, and suppliers. This can aid in risk management, credit decisions, and establishing strong business relationships.
What information is included in a business credit report?
A business credit report typically includes the company’s credit history, payment patterns, public records (such as liens, judgments, and bankruptcies), company background information, financial statements, and credit score. Reports vary depending on the vendor and type of report.
Data Contribution
A Word From Our Members
Nutrien Ag Solutions, Inc.
Portland Bolt & Manufacturing Company
Service Steel Aerospace Corp
