"Unfortunately, some residential customers change providers regularly, never intending to pay for service. The NCTUE was designed by risk management professionals within the telecom and utility industries to alert fellow members of these and other credit/fraud risks. Based upon our participation since 1998 NCTUE has done its job in helping us control bad debt."

Satisfied NCTUE Member

Purpose

The National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange, Inc. (NCTUE) is a member-owned database housed and managed by Equifax. Membership is available to the nation's leading telecommunication and utility companies.

NCTUE exchanges information on new connects and defaulted and/or fraudulent accounts among members. It provides access to current contact information on defaulted consumers and customized treatment and collection strategies for new applicants and existing customers who have unpaid final bills. In addition, information is available to assist in determining objective methodology for assessing deposits and identification of higher-risk consumer applicants.

Objectives

• Early identification of higher-risk accounts from new residential service applicants.
• Location of former customers whose service was terminated with an unpaid balance.
• Identification and implentation of additional uses of the data to benefit members.