How credit applications work
Credit Applications let a distributor collect the information needed to extend credit terms to a new customer, without paper forms or a separate tool.
The flow has four steps:
Build a form. Click View & Edit Forms and build the application from text, number, date, checkbox, signature and file upload fields. You choose which fields appear and which are required.
Send it to the applicant. Each form has its own link. The applicant opens it in a browser, fills it out, signs and attaches any documents you asked for. They don’t need a Pepper login.
Review the submission. Completed applications appear on your Customer Applications dashboard. There you can read every answer, open uploaded documents and correct applicant information. Every edit is logged.
Decide. Approve or deny the application. Pepper can also email the applicant your decision.
Note: An optional credit check can be run on an application when you need a credit report to make the decision. Credit checks are off by default and are enabled per form.
Finding Customer Applications
Customer Applications live in the Pepper Management Console (PMC).
Log in to PMC and click Tools in the top navigation.
Select Customer Applications Dashboard. This opens your review dashboard. It shows pending, resolved and total applications, and how many credit checks you’ve run this month.
To build or edit an application form, click View & Edit Forms in the top right.
To change settings for the tool, click Settings.
Don’t see it? Pepper turns on Customer Applications for each distributor. If it isn’t in your Tools menu, contact your Pepper Customer Success Manager.
Building a form
Open the Form Builder and add fields. Available field types:
Field type | Use it for |
Short text | Names, single-line answers |
Long text | Addresses, notes, multi-line answers |
Number | Numeric values |
Date | Dates |
Checkbox | Yes/no or "I agree" style inputs |
Radio | Choose one from a set of options |
Signature | A signature captured on the form — drawn, typed, or applicant's choice |
File upload | Documents the applicant attaches (see Collecting documents) |
Bank verification | Bank information for the applicant |
Text content | Static instructions or headings for the applicant to read (not an input) |
Mark any field required so the applicant can't submit without it.
Note: Pepper does not store an applicant's full Social Security number, ITIN or date of birth on the application. Where a credit check needs that information, it is collected on the separate credit-check consent page and used only for the report. The application record keeps no more than the last four digits of the SSN.
Collecting documents (File Upload)
The File Upload field lets an applicant attach documents to their application — for example a W-9, a resale or tax-exemption certificate, or financial statements.
When you add a File Upload field, you configure two rules:
Allowed file types — restrict what the applicant can attach. To accept PDFs only, set the allowed type to PDF. You can allow more than one type (for example, PDF plus common image types) if you'd rather let applicants send a photo of a document.
Maximum file size — the largest file the applicant can upload. You set this limit when you configure the field.
Note: If an applicant tries to upload a file that isn't an allowed type, they're told the type isn't accepted. If the file is an allowed type but too large, they're told it exceeds the size limit. They can then attach a corrected file and continue.
Uploaded documents are stored securely and are viewable from the submission in your review dashboard.
Sending the application
Each form has its own link you can share with an applicant. Forms can also be shared across your organization so related businesses can use the same application.
Reviewing and deciding
Completed applications appear in your review dashboard. For each submission you can:
Read every answer and open any uploaded documents.
Edit applicant information if a correction is needed — every change is recorded in an audit trail.
Run a credit check (if enabled for that form) — this sends the applicant a consent page where they provide the details required for the report. The report comes back attached to the application.
Approve or deny the application.
Viewing an application
Click an application to open Application Details, which shows its status, which form it came from, when it was submitted, and every answer, grouped by your form’s sections. Use Prev and Next to move between applications.
When a business credit check finishes, Application Details also shows the applicant’s Business Risk rating, Intelliscore, and any Derogatories. It also lists the main factors behind the score and a link to the full report (View File).
To act on several applications at once, check the boxes next to them and choose Approve, Deny, Run credit check, Download Excel, or Delete.
Applicant decision emails and adverse-action notices
Pepper can email applicants their approval or denial decision. This is a per-distributor setting and is off by default — you opt in.
Important (compliance): If a denial is based on information in a credit report, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA §615) requires the applicant to be notified within 30 days. If Pepper's applicant decision emails are turned off, you are responsible for sending that adverse-action notice through your own process.
Limits
Credit checks are off by default and enabled per form.
Applicant decision emails are off by default (per distributor).
File Upload: allowed file types and maximum file size are set by you on each File Upload field; there is no fixed default — an unconfigured field accepts any type and size, so set both.
SSN / DOB / ITIN cannot be added as form fields; they are collected only during a credit check and are not stored.
Per-distributor limit on the number of forms.
FAQ
What file types can applicants upload? Whatever you allow on the File Upload field. To accept PDFs only, set the allowed type to PDF. You can allow additional types (such as images) if you want.
Is there a size limit on uploads? Yes — you set the maximum file size when you configure the File Upload field. Applicants who exceed it are asked to attach a smaller file.
Can I require a signature? Yes. Add a Signature field and mark it required. Applicants can draw or type their signature (or you can let them choose).
Do applicants need a Pepper account? No. They open the form link in a browser and submit without logging in.
Do you store the applicant's SSN or date of birth? No. That information is only collected on the credit-check consent page when a credit check is run, and it is used for the report — not stored on the application.
What happens if I deny an applicant after a credit check? If the denial is based on the credit report, an adverse-action notice must reach the applicant within 30 days. Pepper can send decision emails if you enable them; otherwise send the notice through your own process.