Metro 2 ECOA code 7: maker (primary borrower with a cosigner)
You're the primary borrower on an account that someone else guaranteed or cosigned. You're responsible for the payments, and the co-maker is on the hook if you don't pay. The cosigner's report shows the same account under code 5. One public reference describes this code differently, so its exact use is less settled than the others.
Sources describe this code with some variation. Public documentation doesn't agree on every detail of how ECOA code 7 is used, so treat this as a general explanation. If it's on your report, the company that reported it can tell you exactly what it meant.
How it shows on your report
"Maker" or a primary-borrower label, depending on the bureau.
How it affects your score
Counts on your file like any account you owe.
What to check
If you took the loan alone with no cosigner, this code is technically off but rarely matters. What matters is that the cosigner's tradeline shows the same history you do.
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)
- Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) codes (Finvi 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.