VERSION 4
                                                       Informational #1
                                                        August 27, 1999
                                                            Page 1 of 1

                    CIVIL JUDGMENTS AND CREDIT REPORTS

It has come to our attention that several District Justice offices have
been contacted by individuals who have had civil judgments entered
against them in their District Courts.  These judgments will appear on
credit reports as outstanding even though they may have been paid or
satisfied.  This situation results from the fact that the Rules of
Court that Govern the Civil Procedure for Actions Before Magisterial
District Courts do not provide for a satisfaction document to be filed
or recorded in the Magisterial District Courts when a judgment has been
paid.  Therefore, any one who reviews a civil court file for a
Magisterial District Court case will see that a judgment was entered,
but will not see any indication as to whether that judgment has been
satisfied.

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts is aware of this issue
and has: 

(1) notified in writing all organizations that obtain civil judgment
information from us that the information that we provide to their
organization regarding judgments entered in Magisterial District Courts
will not identify whether that particular judgment has been satisfied.
In addition, we have requested that each organization provide the above
caveat whenever it relays to a third party information regarding
judgments in Magisterial District Courts.

(2) authored a letter to the Chair of the Minor Court Rules Committee
requesting that the Committee review this issue and consider a possible
amendment to the Rules of Court that Govern the Civil Procedure for
Actions Before Magisterial District Courts.