Taking a closer look at the small business credit reporting system

Taking a closer look at the small business credit reporting system

lfair

March 16, 2023 | 1:01PM

Taking a closer look at the small business credit reporting system



By

Lesley Fair






If small business is the engine that powers the American economy, business-to-business transactions are the gears that keep it running. But just as an error on a credit report can throw an unexpected wrench into the works for an individual consumer, an error on a small business credit report can bring even a well-designed business plan to a grinding halt. The FTC just launched an inquiry into the small business credit reporting system and has some questions for five companies in that industry: Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Information Solutions, Equifax, Ansonia Credit Data, and Creditsafe USA.



The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives consumers the right to challenge inaccuracies in their reports. But there’s no corresponding federal law that specifically outlines the processes and protections available to businesses when it comes to credit reporting. That can spell big trouble for a small business if a supplier denies them credit or a potential B2B customer declines to work with them based on erroneous information in a report. That’s why the FTC is using its authority under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act to issue orders for information from major players in the industry. Among the questions we’re asking are:



How do they gather information for business credit reports?
What kind of algorithms, machine learning, or other automated systems do they use in relation to business credit report data?
What steps do they take to ensure that information in business credit reports is accurate and current?
How do they address a business’ assertion that information in its report is incorrect or obsolete?
How do they market their reports to different entities in the business ecosystem ?
What services do they offer to businesses to monitor or enhance their credit reports?
This isn’t the FTC’s first look at the business credit reporting system. Last year the FTC sued Dun & Bradstreet for making big bucks off small businesses by deceptively claiming its products would help businesses improve their reports. The truth, says the FTC, was that those products often didn’t help. What’s more, the complaint alleged Dun & Bradstreet failed to give small businesses a clear, consistent, and reliable process to fix errors on their reports. Among other things, the settlement in that case required Dun & Bradstreet to put procedures in place to make it easier for businesses to ensure information in their reports is correct.



The just-announced 6(b) orders reflect a broader fact-finding look into the industry. The companies will have 90 days to respond.