0. INTRODUCTION
1. SCOPE
   1. Functional definition
   2. Field of application
   3. Principles
2. REFERENCES
3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
   1. Standard terms and definitions
4. MESSAGE DEFINITION
   1. Segment clarification
      1. Header section
      2. Detail section
   2. Segment index (alphabetical sequence by tag)
   3. Message structure
      1. Segment table

This specification provides the definition of the Business credit report message (BUSCRD) to be used in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) between trading partners involved in administration, commerce and transport.

The Business credit report message is used by credit reporting agencies to provide business credit information about a company to the agency's trading partners. Business credit information includes, but is not limited to, company name(s) or location(s), financial, operational, legal and business credit rating information

BUSCRD relates solely to the exchange of corporate or company credit information and is intended to enable the automation of business decision processing.

The Business credit report message may be used for both national and international applications. It is based on universal practice related to administration, commerce and transport, and is not dependent on the type of business or industry.

BUSCRD is bi-directional. It can be used by buyers, sellers, marketeers, and financial institutions to request from a party holding such information, all or part of the credit information of an existing or potential trading partner. It can also be used by parties holding credit information to respond to requests, with all or part of the information as may be available in a data base. Upon receipt, the information can be used to support automated business decision processing and to update business data bases. BUSCRD may also be used to cancel previously transmitted information

A single occurrence of BUSCRD may be used to request or to send information for one or more entities or to cancel one or more previous transmissions. The message beginning segment is used to indicate the specific message functionality.

Cross referencing is permitted within the message to identify a related electronic exchange. There is typically no requirement to directly link external objects (e.g., associated data) to a business credit report. Stored data will normally be transmitted within the confines of the message structure.

Changes to previously submitted data are considered as updates or replacements to the original data. The BUSCRD message structure does not provide for the identification of incremental changes. The receiving application should update the existing data with the revised or new data. If business practice requires retention of an auditable track of all data, then the receiving application should recognize the new data as a complete replacement, providing the necessary distinguishing criteria.

While the BUSCRD message is independent of system applications, its structure derives from the manner in which credit information is developed and stored in data bases. Typically, credit information can be classified by category and type. BUSCRD structure is sufficiently flexible to accommodate industry and sectorial differences in data structures.

The trigger segment of the group defining the hierarchy is used as the mechanism for accommodating differences in data content and data structure among users. Augmented functionality is attributed to this trigger segment permitting the identification of data dependencies and the content of hierarchically related segment groups. The continuation of parent and/or child relationships is permitted at all necessary levels as is the identification of the level to which the hierarchy applies. This permits the transmission of hierarchical information to as many differing levels as may be necessary to report credit information, the relationship of credit history data, and the relationships among business entities such as parent, subsidiaries affiliates and similar entities.

Information conveyed within a BUSCRD message may be considered as business sensitive data. Notwithstanding, there are no special security requirements incorporated in the message structure. Security issues should be treated as matters to be resolved among trading partners and will likely involve varying solutions.

BUSCRD may be used to provide information about a company, its branches, subsidiaries, affiliates, or parent company. Names, addresses, work experiences, business or professional titles of management within a company may be included. Other names (e.g., previous) and length of time a business has been operational may be reported. History of a company may include its previous locations, original starting details, and legal changes.

Operational data about a company may be included. This information may consist of detailed descriptions of activities. Such as buying and selling patterns. It may also include buildings or other facilities used, whether owned or rented, number of employees, and/or monetary or quantity amounts of products produced, sold or held in inventory.

Financial information could be the largest part of a Business credit report message. This may include typical balance sheet information of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Outstanding debt such as loans or debentures may be reported as well as repayment history. Required governmental, financial statement information, its format periodicity and completeness may be sent. Financial institution account information may be stated with information pertaining to types of accounts and average balance in each account. A comparison to industry norms may be included.

Payment information forms another large part of the BUSCRD message. This may include history of payments to suppliers and vendors. Breakdowns of payment amounts to specific payees. Payments made within contract terms, and past due or slow payments. A history of invoice payment terms to specific payees may be included along with discount percent and discount days due granted. A payment score indication promptness of payments over a period of time may be included.

Public filings and legal actions may be reported although this varies among countries. Included may be any type of legal actions citing plaintiffs, defendants, attorneys, dates, status, legal damages and awards.

An overall credit or risk assessment rating based upon the credit reporting agency's detailed analysis may be assigned. A detailed analysis of risk factors and credit or financial worthiness may be included.

See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.3 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction, Section 1.

See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.3 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction, Section 2.

This section should be read in conjunction with the segment table which indicates mandatory, conditional and repeating requirements.

Information to be provided in the Header section:

0010 UNH, Message header

A service segment starting and uniquely identifying a message. The message type code for the Business credit report message is BUSCRD.

Note: Business credit report messages conforming to this document must contain the following data in segment UNH, composite S009:

0020 BGM, Beginning of message

A segment to identify the individual business credit report document, its unique identifier, and specific message function.

0030 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to identify the Business credit report message date.

0040 RFF, Reference

A segment to identify any other relevant references to this message such as a previously sent Business credit report message.

0050 Segment Group 1: PNA-ADR-SG2

A group of segments to identify, at a minimum, the sender and receiver of the message and appropriate contact information.

0060 PNA, Party identification

A segment to identify names of parties, in coded or clear form, and their function relevant to the message. Identification of the sender and receiver is mandatory for the Business credit report message.

0070 ADR, Address

A segment to provide addresses of identified parties. Address information may not be necessary when the parties are identified in a coded manner.

0080 Segment Group 2: CTA-COM

A group of segments to identify contact and communication numbers for each named party.

0090 CTA, Contact information

A segment to provide a contact person's name for each named party.

0100 COM, Communication contact

A segment to identify the phone number, fax number, e-mail, or other communication number for the contact party.

Information to be provided in the Detail section:

0110 Segment group 3: LIN-DTM-PNA-CUX-LAN-IFD-FTX-SG4 A group of segments to identify the entity for which the requested detailed information is provided or requested. For example, the segment group may be used to identify a broad category of information such as all payment history related to an entity, and in addition, default values for currency and language codes.

0120 LIN, Line item

A segment identifying a line item by a number which is assigned to the company being reported. A data group number may also be included.

0130 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment that provides the dates associated with the business credit report.

0140 PNA, Party identification

A segment to identify the entity(ies) being reported.

0150 CUX, Currencies

A segment specifying the currency of the monetary amounts sent in the report. The currency can be overridden at a lower level when necessary.

0160 LAN, Language

A segment identifying the language of any text information sent in the message. This includes text in clear values of data elements and in the specific segment used for free text.

0170 IFD, Information detail

A segment identifying at a broad level, the information categories and types.

0180 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide free text that is related to the entity at an overall level.

0190 Segment Group 4: HYN-IRQ-IFD-PCD-DTM-RFF-MEA-CUX-FTX-SG5-

SG6-SG7-SG8-SG10-SG11-SG12-SG14-SG15-SG16- SG18-SG19-SG22 A group of segments that identify the hierarchical level and the data associated with the level.

0200 HYN, Hierarchy information

A segment that defines a hierarchical level, and its relationship to other hierarchical levels such as its parent. The use of codes within this segment define its data relationship to previous iterations of the segment group, if any.

0210 IRQ, Information required

A segment specifying at a broad level the type of information requested or sent, such as company locations, facilities, names associated with companies and legal actions.

0220 IFD, Information detail

A segment providing the category and type of information details that supplement the broad level preceding data.

0230 PCD, Percentage details

A segment to provide percentage amounts relating to the details of the information.

0240 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment providing the dates related to the details of the information.

0250 RFF, Reference

A segment to provide related reference numbers such as a Value Added Tax Registration number, a Business Registration number or a filing number.

0260 MEA, Measurements

A segment to provide measurement values related to the type of information, as may be included in public filings.

0270 CUX, Currencies

A segment to provide the currency code applicable to all subsequent monetary amounts. These amounts are related to the type of information. This segment may override, or replace (in the current segment group occurrence only), preceding higher level currency information.

0280 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide free text information where coded data is non-existent. This segment may contain legally required phrases.

0290 Segment Group 5: MOA-ARD-PCD-FTX

A group of segments to provide monetary amounts and percents related to the type of information specified above. Other necessary, detailed monetary amounts are nested within the following applicable segment group.

0300 MOA, Monetary amount

A segment to provide a monetary amount related to the subject area.

0310 ARD, Monetary amount function

A segment to identify one or more incremental relationships associated with a monetary amount.

0320 PCD, Percentage details

A segment to provide percentages related to the monetary amount, such as a percentage change that this monetary amount represents compared to an amount in another time period.

0330 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide text information related to a monetary amount.

0340 Segment Group 6: ATT-MEA-PCD

A group of segments containing information related to the payment manner of the entity, such as payments made in categories of promptness (e.g., prompt, slow, etc.)

0350 ATT, Attribute

A segment specifying the type of payment manner.

0360 MEA, Measurements

A segment to provide significance information either as a single or range of values.

0370 PCD, Percentage details

A segment to provide the percent of this payment manner as compared against the total payments.

0380 Segment Group 7: RSL-CAV-FTX

A group of segments to provide a rating value or score of the entity being reported upon.

0390 RSL, Result

A segment to provide the rating value or score as determined by the credit agency.

0400 CAV, Characteristic value

A segment to provide an industry code or text characteristic of the rating or score.

0410 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide descriptive text associated with the rating. A text rating or score may also be provided when codes or values do not exist.

0420 Segment Group 8: RCS-IFD-MEA-ATT-SG9

A group of segments to specify conditions related to information, and associated ranges of values and monetary amounts The segment group may be used for financial statement information or results obtained from credit inquiries.

0430 RCS, Requirements and conditions

A segment to provide information on a subject area and any conditions or action taken. This segment is used to identify a subject area such as a financial statement or an interview and the action taken therefrom.

0440 IFD, Information detail

A segment to provide information details related to the subject area such as type of financial statement, any relevant details and status.

0450 MEA, Measurements

A segment to provide a value or range of values related to the subject area.

0460 ATT, Attribute

A segment to provide attribute information related to the subject area, such as format of a financial statement.

0470 Segment Group 9: MOA-ARD-FTX

A group of segments to provide monetary amounts related to stated conditions.

0480 MOA, Monetary amount

A segment to provide a monetary amount related to the subject area.

0490 ARD, Monetary amount function

A segment to identify one or more incremental relationships associated with a monetary amount.

0500 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide text information related to a monetary amount.

0510 Segment Group 10: QTY-FTX

A group of segments to provide quantity information related to the entity. The segment group is primarily used in conjunction with other segment groups at this level that provide meaning to the quantity information.

0520 QTY, Quantity

A segment to provide quantity information related to the entity, such as number of employees, number of square feet in a facility, etc.

0530 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide text information related to a quantity.

0540 Segment Group 11: BUS-PYT-DTM-RNG-PCD

A group of segments to provide the underlying business function, including payment terms (i.e., net terms, discount, terms, discount percent and discount periods) provided by a vendor(s) to the entity over a period of time.

0550 BUS, Business function

A segment to identify the specific business function, e.g., discount.

0560 PYT, Payment terms

A segment to provide the type of payment terms.

0570 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to provide the dates related to the payment terms.

0580 RNG, Range details

A segment to identify the discount percent range or discount period range, or both, usually expressed in days.

0590 PCD, Percentage details

A segment to specify the percent of a specific payment to total payments.

0600 Segment Group 12: GEI-IMD-CAV-PCD-EQN-RFF-SG13

A group of segments to provide information about the assets of a company and their ownership. This may include, but is not limited to, securities, inventory, and facilities.

0610 GEI, Processing information

A segment to specify a processing indicator.

0620 IMD, Item description

A segment to identify a type of asset.

0630 CAV, Characteristic value

A segment to identify characteristics related to the asset.

0640 PCD, Percentage details

A segment to identify the percentage of the asset as specified in the processing indicator.

0650 EQN, Number of units

A segment to identify the number of units of the asset.

0660 RFF, Reference

A segment to identify references associated with an asset.

0670 Segment Group 13: MOA-ARD-FTX

A group of segments to provide information related to the monetary value of the assets.

0680 MOA, Monetary amount

A segment to provide a monetary amount related to the asset(s).

0690 ARD, Monetary amount function

A segment to identify one or more incremental relationships associated with a monetary amount.

0700 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide text information related to a monetary amount.

0710 Segment Group 14: REL-ATT

A group of segments to identify a relationship and its attributes. This may be used to specify the type of financial relationship between the entity and a financial institution.

0720 REL, Relationship

A segment to identify the type of relationship of the entity with a financial institution, such as a checking account or an outstanding loan.

0730 ATT, Attribute

A segment to identify attributes of the relationship, such as the type of loan.

0740 Segment Group 15: STS-ATT

A group of segments to provide status information and related attributes. The segment group may be used for information related to status or process codes on a specific public record filing.

0750 STS, Status

A segment to provide a status of an associated attribute.

0760 ATT, Attribute

A segment specifying the attribute.

0770 Segment Group 16: PNA-REL-ADR-FII-ATT-PDI-EMP-NAT-RFF-

LAN-DTM-IFD-PCD-COM-QTY-FTX-SG17 A group of segments providing information about companies or individuals, pertinent dates, percentages and quantities of information details related to the entity.

0780 PNA, Party identification

A segment to identify a company or individual related to the entity. Some examples of names are the property owner, name associated with a business (such as business name change) or name associated with a legal filing.

0790 REL, Relationship

A segment to identify the relationships among entities.

0800 ADR, Address

A segment to provide address information for a named company or individual.

0810 FII, Financial institution information

A segment that provides financial institution account details of the party identified in the preceding segment identifying the entity name.

0820 ATT, Attribute

A segment to provide attribute information for a named individual, such as a business or professional title, ethnicity code, etc.

0830 PDI, Person demographic information

A segment to specify the gender or marital status of a named individual.

0840 EMP, Employment details

A segment to identify employment details related to a named individual.

0850 NAT, Nationality

A segment to specify the nationality of a named individual.

0860 RFF, Reference

A segment to provide reference numbers related to a company or individual, such as a social security number.

0870 LAN, Language

A segment to specify the language of an individual either for oral or written communication.

0880 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to specify related dates.

0890 IFD, Information detail

A segment to provide information details.

0900 PCD, Percentage details

A segment to provide percent information for details related to a company or individual.

0910 COM, Communication contact

A segment to provide a communications contact for a named company or individual.

0920 QTY, Quantity

A segment to provide quantity information related to a company or individual.

0930 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide any associated text data.

0940 Segment Group 17: MOA-ARD-FTX

A group of segments to provide monetary values and other information related to the named parties.

0950 MOA, Monetary amount

A segment to provide a monetary amount related to the subject area.

0960 ARD, Monetary amount function

A segment to identify one or more incremental relationships associated with a monetary amount.

0970 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide text information related to a monetary amount.

0980 Segment Group 18: EVE-DTM-IFD-FTX

A group of segments to provide information related to legal filings. Included is type of public filing, related dates, related information details and associated historical events.

0990 EVE, Event

A segment to identify the type of legal event or a public filing.

1000 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to provide relevant dates, such as date of filing or date of resolution.

1010 IFD, Information detail

A segment to provide detailed information about the legal event. It may include bankruptcy or reasons for law suits codes. Historical information related to a public filing or legal event may be included.

1020 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide any textual information related to the legal event or for non-coded information such as contingency statements from the court.

1030 Segment Group 19: LOC-REL-ADR-DTM-COM-IFD-FTX-SG20-SG21

A group of segments to provide location information related to the entity as well as addresses, dates, names and communication contacts associated with the location.

1040 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to specify the type and/or function of a location, such as an industrial or central business area.

1050 REL, Relationship

A segment to identify the relationship between the data related t the location and the other information attributed to the entity.

1060 ADR, Address

A segment to provide the address of the entity at this location.

1070 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to provide related date information, such as the date the entity located there.

1080 COM, Communication contact

A segment to provide the communication contact of the entity at this location.

1090 IFD, Information detail

A segment to provide detailed information about the entity at this location, such as type of construction of a building or fire protection capabilities.

1100 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide textual information related to the location when the data is not codified.

1110 Segment Group 20: PNA-REL

A group of segments to identify the entity and parties associated with the entity at the location.

1120 PNA, Party identification

A segment to identify the name of an entity related to this location, such as a building manager or owner.

1130 REL, Relationship

A segment to identify the relationship between the entity and the location, e.g., the spouse of the corporate officer for the entity at this location.

1140 Segment Group 21: MOA-ARD-FTX

A group of segments to provide monetary information related to the entity location.

1150 MOA, Monetary amount

A segment to provide monetary information related to the location, such as insurance coverage or value of goods produced at the location.

1160 ARD, Monetary amount function

A segment to identify one or more incremental relationships associated with a monetary amount.

1170 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide text information related to a monetary amount.

1180 Segment Group 22: APR-LOC-PCD-FTX

A group of segments to provide class of trade information and associated percentages specific to a location.

1190 APR, Additional price information

A segment to provide the class of trade of an entity.

1200 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to identify the territory such as a region of a country or a country for the stated class of trade.

1210 PCD, Percentage details

A segment to specify the percent of the total volume of business in a class of trade. If a specific location is identified, the percent is that of the class of trade in the stated location.

1220 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide text information on class of trade when the information is not codified.

1230 UNT, Message trailer

A service segment ending a message, giving the total number of segments in the message (including the UNH & UNT) and the control reference number of the message.