Method and system for correcting errors in consumer reporting

#The present disclosure generally relates to detecting and correcting errors in consumer reporting and, more particularly to circumventing restrictions on secure data files to provide access to consumer credit information to members across several divisions of an organization to correct errors in consumer reports.

#Today, consumers' credit history information is reported to major credit reporting agencies such as Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, and Innovis in a standardized format called Metro 2®. Organizations that report information to these credit reporting agencies may be referred to as herein as “data furnishers.” By providing information in the Metro 2® format, data furnishers meet compliance requirements and are able to report accurate, complete, and timely consumer credit information.

#However, large organizations may have several divisions such as an insurance provider (or financial services provider) that includes several divisions such as an automobile insurance division, a life insurance division, a banking division including a vehicle loan subdivision and a home loan subdivision, an insurance claims division, an insurance sales division, an insurance underwriting division, a homeowner's insurance division, etc. Members within different divisions or products lines may not have access to consumers' credit information. As a result, when there is an error on a consumer's credit report it may be very difficult to access and identify the root cause of the error without access to the consumer's reported credit information. It may also be difficult to identify recurring inaccuracies in these reports and to proactively correct such inaccuracies throughout the consumer reporting system.

#The figures described below depict various aspects of the system and methods disclosed therein. It should be understood that each figure depicts an embodiment of a particular aspect of the disclosed system and methods, and that each of the figures is intended to accord with a possible embodiment thereof. Further, wherever possible, the following description refers to the reference numerals included in the following figures, in which features depicted in multiple figures are designated with consistent reference numerals.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a computer network and system on which an exemplary consumer reporting system may operate in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure;

#FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary server device that can operate in the system of FIG. 1;

#Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent and equivalents. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.

#It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph.

#Accordingly, as used herein, the term “organization” or “data furnisher” may refer to a business, society, association, institution, agency, etc. that reports information to credit reporting agencies. An organization may include a bank, a credit union, a savings and loans institution, a mortgage lender, credit card issuer, a collection agency, a retail installment lender, an auto finance lender, etc. A “member” of the organization as used herein, may refer to an employee or agent of the organization working on behalf of the organization and/or in a particular department of the organization. Members may be agents or other customer service representatives who interact with consumers regarding consumer credit information.