Metro 2 ECOA code 5: co-maker or guarantor
You signed to back someone else's loan or account. You're responsible for it if the main borrower doesn't pay, which is what cosigning means in practice. The lender can come after you for the balance, and the account appears on your report much as if you'd borrowed the money yourself.
How it shows on your report
"Co-signer," "Co-maker" or "Guarantor" in the responsibility line.
How it affects your score
The account and every late payment the main borrower makes can affect your scores as if it were your own.
What to check
The history on your report should match the main borrower's tradeline exactly. If you never cosigned, dispute it. If you were released from the obligation in writing, your association should end rather than keep reporting.
If this code is wrong on your report
- Metro 2 explained: the data format behind your credit reportHow lenders send coded data to the bureaus, and how disputes travel back to them.
- How to dispute a credit report error, step by stepA step-by-step guide to disputing credit report errors with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion: online vs. mail, what to include, and how to keep proof.
- Letter builderWrite dispute, goodwill, validation and identity theft letters. Free, printed by you, sent by you.
Sources
- ECOA codes (Genesys Latitude documentation)
- What is an ECOA code on a credit report? (Chase)
- Metro 2 ECOA Codes (Bureau Relay reference)
These explanations are ScoreTuner's plain-English summaries. The official specification is the CDIA Credit Reporting Resource Guide, which is copyrighted and not reproduced here. This is education, not legal advice.