Overview
This page contains all documents related to Consumer and Commercial CAIS, as well as CATO. If you can't find what you need, please get in touch via email at: Cais.Control@experian.com.
Consumer CAIS
CAIS membership guide: A good starting point, this document talks through the onboarding process, CAIS access levels, industry regulations and membership requirements.
CAIS testing process flow: All new CAIS members must load a test file of data within three months of joining. This diagram shows the process for submitting a test data file.
CRAIN notification document: Experian, working with UK Finance, have made changes to the fair processing notices that will be used for credit account information sharing.
Example CAIS test report: Before your data goes live, as a new CAIS member you'll need to go through a test process to pick up on any potential issues with the data and formatting. This is an example of the test report.
Welcome to CAIS: CAIS starter pack.
What we expect from a CAIS provider: What should a CAIS member do?
What to expect as a CAIS provider: What does a CAIS member get?
What to do if things go wrong: Some helpful information when things go wrong.
Things to watch out for: Ongoing maintenance of CAIS membership.
Benefits of being a CAIS member: What benefits does CAIS membership bring?
Contact information: Useful contacts.
CAIS 2007 file specification: All CAIS members agreed to supply monthly updates to their data file. This document outlines the correct format, helping you to ensure data files are complete, fair and accurate.
Standard Industry Reporting Format v1 file specification: From August 2024 there is a common data format that all CRAs will accept when members have agreed to supply monthly updates to their data file. This document outlines the correct format, helping you to ensure data files are complete, fair and accurate.
The below examples for for demonstrative purposes only and do not contain genuine account data. These files will download immediately to your device.
CAIS Utility Example with Guidance: Information to go alongside the file specification documents. This contains examples of the entries required for each field within the spec for utility accounts.
CAIS Rental Example with Guidance: Information to go alongside the file specification documents. This contains examples of the entries required for each field within the spec for rental accounts.
CAIS Unsecured Loans Example with Guidance: Information to go alongside the file specification documents. This contains examples of the entries required for each field within the spec for unsecured loan accounts.
CAIS Hire Purchase Conditional Sale Example with Guidance: Information to go alongside the file specification documents. This contains examples of the entries required for each field within the spec for hire purchase/conditional sale accounts.
CAIS Insurance Example with Guidance: Information to go alongside the file specification documents. This contains examples of the entries required for each field within the spec for insurance accounts.
CAIS Mortgage Example with Guidance: Information to go alongside the file specification documents. This contains examples of the entries required for each field within the spec for mortgage accounts.
CAIS Current Accounts Example with Guidance: Information to go alongside the file specification documents. This contains examples of the entries required for each field within the spec for current accounts.
CAIS DPC Example with Guidance: Information to go alongside the file specification documents. This contains examples of the entries required for each field within the spec for DPC (Deferred Payment Credit) accounts.
CAIS Card Example with Guidance: Information to go alongside the file specification documents. This contains examples of the entries required for each field within the spec for credit/store/charge card accounts.
CAIS Communications Example with Guidance: Information to go alongside the file specification documents. This contains examples of the entries required for each field within the spec for communication accounts.
CAIS Budget (Revolving Account) Example with Guidance: Information to go alongside the file specification documents. This contains examples of the entries required for each field within the spec for budget (revolving credit) accounts.
Active Without Updates (AWU): An Active Without Update (also referred to as AWU) is an open record that has not received an update on the most recent input file and has not been correctly closed. Please download our guide to AWUs here.
Data Quality Report: All CAIS members will receive a Data Quality Report after processing your latest monthly submission file. Delivered to your STS account, it includes statistics from your quality check reports and additional metrics for better data quality understanding.
Metric Report: All CAIS members will receive a Metric Report after processing your latest monthly submission file. Delivered to your STS account, this provides a high-level view on key data quality metrics and how we can work together to improve the quality of your data.
Principles of Reciprocity: The document which governs CAIS data sharing.
Principles for the Reporting of Arrears Arrangements and Defaults (PRAAD): Industry guidance on reporting arrears, arrangements and defaults.
Data Quality Reference Guide: Industry guidance on how to provide the best data quality during CAIS reporting.
British Forces Postal Address (BFPO) guidance: The CRAs have created guidance on reporting on these types of address.
Debt sale guidance: Guidance on debt sale reporting.
Deferred Payment Credit CAIS reporting guidance: Guidance on deferred payment reporting.
Breathing Space credit reporting guidance: Information about the scheme brought in to help consumers.
Consumer Manual Amends (CMA) CAIS External User Guide: User guide for our manual amend system.
Data Query Console (DQC) User Guide: User guide for our queries console.
Secure Transport Service (STS) UK User Guide: User guide for our secure data transfer system.
Experian credit report: Guide to an Experian credit report.
Aperture Data Studio Data Quality for CAIS: Information about Aperture Data Studio for Data Quality.
Commercial CAIS
Commercial CAIS file layout specification: As Commercial CAIS members make sure you can deliver to this spec month in month out, if you are doing a platform change, make sure you liaise with the Data Office to plan the change.
CCDS File Layout Specification: As CCDS members make sure you can deliver to this spec month in month out, if you are doing a platform change, make sure you liaise with the Data Office to plan the change.
Current Account Turnover (CATO)
CATO File Specification Layout: All CATO members agreed to supply monthly updates to their data file. This document outlines the correct format, helping you to ensure data files are complete, fair and accurate.