Metro 2 special comment code AU: paid for less than the full balance
You settled the account: the lender accepted less than the full amount owed as payment in full. Furnisher software allows it only with a paid status and a $0 balance. The remark tells anyone reading the report that the debt was resolved for less than the balance, which is different from paid in full.
How it shows on your report
A remark like "Paid for less than full balance" or "Settled."
How it affects your score
Lenders generally view a settlement less favorably than paying in full, but the delinquency that led to it usually does most of the damage. The remark's own weight in scoring isn't published.
What to check
After a settlement, the balance and past due should be $0. If your written agreement said the account would report as paid in full, a settlement remark doesn't match what you agreed to, so send the agreement with your dispute. Settling doesn't restart the seven-year clock.
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.
Glossary: special comment code, Metro 2
Sources
- Special comment codes (Genesys Latitude documentation)
- Special Comment Codes (The Mortgage Office help center)
- Special Comment Code (GoldPoint Systems CIM GOLD documentation)
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.