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

    1. 1Strip hyphens; store 5 or 9 contiguous digits
    2. 2For non-US addresses, set the Country Code appropriately
    3. 3Validate ZIP length before file generation

    Examples

    Invalid
    78701-4321
    Valid
    787014321
    Remove 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.

    B021: Invalid ZIP Code - Metro 2 Error