News

New Participants Authorized in 2005 under the General Statutes:

Three more groups have been added to the list of participants with the Clearinghouse:

1) Public Health Authority created under Part 1B of Article 2 of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes

2) Metropolitan sewerage district created under Article 5 of Chapter 162A of the General Statutes

3) Sanitary district created under Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes

New Participants Authorized in 2004 under the General Statutes:

Two more groups have been added to the list of participants with the Clearinghouse:

1)  Water & Sewer Authorities created under Article 1 of Chapter 162A of the General Statutes

2) Joint Regional Agencies created by inter-local agreement under Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes

Automated Emails

These emails are automatically generated when any file associated activity occurs in your assigned folder. Your assigned folder is in the format of NCCnnn for Counties and NCMnnn for Municipalities where the nnn is your assigned entity code.

We have created separate and secure folders for each participating local government.  This allows us to receive your data files and allows us to send you files such as the semi-monthly setoff data and new versions of the software. 

You will receive automated email messages for these situations:

•  Upload Confirmation (when you upload your data file) using one of the two methods:            a) Client Software - 

          b) Secure Web Browser:

•  The following is a status report of all debt transactions for "your entity name" (when we send the weekly file to the Department of Revenue)

ASCII (Unicode) file names changing in 2007: 

Currently, the file name an ASCII (Unicode) participant uses when sending its weekly update file to the Clearinghouse is currently unrestricted. Most entities use the original Clearinghouse file name recommendation: data.zip even though it does not have to be compressed or encrypted but the ".zip" extension implies it is compressed.  The Clearinghouse's Web Browser system automatically encrypts the data during transmission an only the Clearinghouse can decrypt the file to its original and readable content.  The previous format of ".zip" was useful before the implementation of the secure Web Browser system.   In late 2007 a change will go into effect that changes the file name to the following format: Entity Code + trans.txt.

New file names examples:

•  County Entity 078: C078trans.txt

•  Municipality 312:   M312trans.txt

This will assist in ensuring that the file belongs to the Entity and aids in the archival and auditing processes that occur periodically. Notification will be distributed weeks before this goes into affect.

The Clearinghouse will send an email notification and provide an effective date.  For more information contact the Clearinghouse.

Security Tips

1) If the Clearinghouse provides you with installation files of our Client software application, it is only for use at your office location.  Do not attempt to install at your home or another computer or network outside your local government office. 

2) Establish User IDs and Passwords for ALL users of the Client system. This will make it easier to audit transactions as the User ID that performs each function on an Individual/Debtor is retained in the database.  See the Online Help system under Tools - Passwords for information about initiating this process.

3) Keep you passwords hidden.  Do not use a Post-it note at your workstation that lists the User ID and/or Smart Password to the Secure Web Browser or Client application.

4) When staff turnover occurs, request a new password from the Clearinghouse.

User IDs and Passwords:

The Clearinghouse will assign you a User ID and Smart Password to access the Clearinghouse secure server in order to transmit and receive data files.  The Smart Password may be difficult to remember but it is for the highest level of security.