Supplement Ordering Tips

Here are some general tips and tricks to getting a successful supplement ordered!

*The information below is a general rule of thumb. Keep in mind that each creditor has a different policy, the tips and tricks below work the majority of the time; however, they might not work every time. Also, Score Updates and Supplements are very different with how we verify things. Customers sometimes mix the information up. If this information is provided to a customer, it is important to point out that the policies are different (and often, more complex) with the bureaus for a score update, than how we verify information with a supplement in-house.*

General Tips & Tricks with Supplements

• Provide the borrower’s authorization (BA) (wet/ink signed is preferred by most creditors).
• Provide Supporting documentation
• Documentation requirements: Must include creditor name, borrower name (full or partial), account number (full or partial), and date. Often screenshots are not acceptable.
• We do not provide payoffs.
• Clients are not responding to CVS emails and voicemails advising additional documentation or information is required to complete the tradeline. This is a critical issue. Often, the client does not respond until the advice to cancel email is sent.
• Ordering miscellaneous requests asking to add a tradeline but no documentation or information is provided.
• Informing the borrowers who Advantage Credit is and the reason for our call.
• Do not have the borrower call in immediately for a conference call right after the order is placed as we may not need to speak with the borrower or conduct a call. We need a chance to review the request to decide what is needed.
• Our clients are not aware of the new processes and new policies. Mainly, we are no longer defaulting to conference calls as other methods are being employed first. Emails are being sent to the clients advising what is needed. These new processes include faxing and documentation (see 1 and 2 above).
• Clients and borrowers should call our main line 303-670-7993, option 1 instead of reaching out to the CVS department directly.
• Credit Cards: If report only shows 12 digits, we will most likely need the last four numbers on the credit card.
• Credit Cards like Amex and Barclays: we need full credit card number. (Report shows member ID, not card info).
• Mortgages and HELOCS: To access automated, we often need Zip Code. If account is rental property or second home, recommended to include the Zip Code on the request. Also, if we have to fax out, most creditors require a wet signed authorization. (No e-sign or docu-signs).
• Auto Loans: Wet authorization needed for faxing. If following up, we sometimes need the year, make, model, and last 8 of VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
• Collections: Vary a lot based on different agencies. Some require faxes, some require conference calls. If documentation can be supplied that’s ideal, otherwise we might ask for the wet authorization or a conference call.
• Inquiries: We do not verify mortgage related inquiries: Additional inquiries often require a conference call, unless the borrower can provide the new loan information: For example, 05/16/2021 INQUIRY: SYNCHRONY BANK. Borrower can provide new credit card number for the account that was opened.
• New Auto Loans: We are unable to use dealership paperwork. We require the servicers information for the new loan. (I.E. name, phone number and account number).
• Authorized Users, disputes and Self-Reported Tradelines: We can remove without having to verify.
• Public Records (Liens and Judgments): We are required to verify three (3) pieces of identity, so any and all documentation the borrower has, is helpful.

General Tips & Tricks with Score Updates

Documentation is typically recommended on all orders to ensure you receive the information you are requesting to have updated.

• Documentation requirements: Must have the borrower’s name, also be on the creditor’s letterhead, from the creditor reporting the tradeline, dated, with full or partial account number and clear information about what you are looking to update: for example, if you are hoping to update a balance to zero, the documentation needs to state, account has zero balance.
• No Docs: If you are unable to obtain documentation, then the borrower will want to call the creditor and leave authorization for the bureaus to contact them. They will want to specify which bureaus are calling: Equifax, TransUnion, Experian and also leave the authorization for up to a week, if allowed. The bureaus very rarely call the same day.
• Bad Docs: If the processor reviewed the documentation and says the bureau will not accept the documentation, you can either, have the borrower obtain new documentation OR have the borrower leave verbal authorization with the creditor.
• Disputes: The borrower would need to write/type a letter stating that they are requesting the disputes to be removed. The letter is required to have: clear request for disputes to be removed, dated and signed by the borrower (Equifax requires a handwritten/wet signature). We can provide a template if needed. Please note, removing the dispute through the score update process may only be a temporary fix. To be sure the dispute does not re-report in the future, the borrower should also contact the creditor directly to ask them to discontinue reporting the remark.
• Authorized Users: Equifax and Experian require documentation that specifically states that the credit bureaus have been notified to delete the tradeline from the borrower’s credit file, not just that they have been removed as an authorized user (TransUnion will delete with no question asked). Please note: A Terminated Authorized User means the Authorized user status was closed, but that the tradeline will continue to report as a Terminated Account, the account will not be deleted.
• Things we cannot do via score update: Adding Tradelines, adding disputes.
• Ordering Multiple Tradelines: Order all tradelines together as one order. Only click SUBMIT when all tradeline are added to the order. Multiple Score Update requests could result in Multiple credit reports and additional costs.