Base Segment ErrorsWarning
B021Invalid ZIP Code
The ZIP Code is malformed or contains non-numeric characters
Affected Field
#42ZIP Code
Description
The ZIP Code field must contain either a five-digit ZIP or a nine-digit ZIP+4, left-justified with no hyphen. Embedded hyphens, letters, or fewer than five digits cause matching failures and may be rejected.
Common Causes
- Hyphen left in a ZIP+4 value
- Canadian postal codes placed in a US ZIP field
- Fewer than five digits
How to Fix
- 1Strip hyphens; store 5 or 9 contiguous digits
- 2For non-US addresses, set the Country Code appropriately
- 3Validate ZIP length before file generation
Examples
Invalid
78701-4321Valid
787014321Remove the hyphen; ZIP+4 is nine contiguous digits
Related Errors
More Base Segment Errors
Catch Errors Before Submission
Metro2 software validates every field and catches errors like B021 before you submit to the credit bureaus.