The NPSA has developed this member benefit to help members prevent themselves and others from becoming a victim of these cheats. The NPSA's new STAR Database (Status, Trend, Alert Reporting Database) is designed to allow members to search for accounts that other members have had difficulty with in the past. Members can also submit new entities into the database. Once an account is in the database, members will be able to search by the type of problem (such as Placed for Collection or Bankrupt) or the account itself. The types of problems members will be able to submit and search on include: bankruptcies, collection placements, NSF checks, final demands, broken promises, skips, past due over 90 days, payment plan and many other status changes.
Procedures to use the database are as follows:
1. You must be an NPSA Member to use this tool.
2. Once you access the link you will need to Register for the site to be able to use the database. Click on the 'Register Now' link. After you have filled out all of the information page, click on the 'Register' Button. NPSA will be notified that you have registered to use the site, we will activate your registration and you will receive an email informing you that your registration is now active. As the database is available to members only, we need to verify each registration.
3. After we have notified you that your registration has been approved, return to the STAR Database and click on the 'Secure Login' link. You will then be able to log into the database by using your email address, the password you selected during the registration process, and inputting the security code that appears on the login screen.
4. After logging in, you must agree to the STAR Database disclaimer. Misuse of the database can carry possible antitrust implications and you must agree that you have read and will abide by the disclaimer.
5. After you have agreed to the disclaimer you can then search for a company to see if they have previously been reported on; add a company to the database or search the database for specific alerts over a selected period of time (ie. "Show me all companies that have been reported in the database as being 'Placed For Collection' within the last thirty days.").
6. After you have completed searching or reporting into the database, you can then log out.
The database is not for use solely for negative information. Other types of information are also available such as to identity NPSA Sponsors or Exhibitors (and we encourage you to support these organizations that support our industry). Members are also encouraged to provide information important to others such as new owner, received payment or account now current.
