Auto Loan Adverse Action Notice: What It Means

Free Consumer Reports You May Not Know About

Your Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports are not the only consumer reports that may affect your financial life. Separate companies may keep records about your checking accounts, insurance claims, employment, income, rental history, utility payments, nonprime loans and even certain retail returns.

These lesser-known files are commonly called specialty consumer reports. A bank, insurer, employer, landlord, utility provider or lender may use one when deciding whether to approve your application, how much to charge or whether to require a deposit. Many of these reports are available free, but you normally must request them separately from each company.

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Free Consumer Reports You May Not Know About

Quick Answer

Consumer reporting does not stop with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Specialty companies may provide reports used for checking accounts, insurance, employment, apartment rentals, phone service, utilities and nonprime loans.

You do not need to request a report from every company. Concentrate on reports connected with products you use, an application you plan to make, an adverse-action notice you received or an identity-theft concern.

The reports most consumers should know about include:

  • Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports
  • Innovis credit report
  • ChexSystems consumer disclosure
  • Early Warning file disclosure
  • NCTUE telecom and utility report
  • LexisNexis consumer disclosure
  • C.L.U.E. auto and property insurance reports
  • MIB insurance underwriting file
  • The Work Number employment data report
  • Tenant and employment screening reports
  • Clarity, FactorTrust and DataX nonprime lending reports
  • The Retail Equation Retail Activity Report

You may not have a file with every company. A “no record found” response can simply mean that the company has never received information about you.

What Is a Consumer Report?

A consumer report is information compiled by a consumer reporting company and provided to another business for an allowed purpose.

It may be used when you apply for:

  • A credit card or loan
  • A checking account
  • An apartment
  • A job
  • Life or health insurance
  • Auto, homeowners or renters insurance
  • Telephone, internet or utility service
  • A payday, installment or other nonprime loan

A specialty report may contain information such as:

  • Bounced checks and involuntary bank-account closures
  • Suspected bank-account or payment fraud
  • Insurance claims
  • Employment and income data
  • Evictions and rental debts
  • Utility and telephone account history
  • Short-term loan repayment history
  • Public records and addresses
  • Retail return transactions

A consumer reporting company is normally a private business, not a government agency. Terms such as bureau, agency and exchange do not make the company part of the government.

Why These Reports Matter

A mistake in a specialty report may contribute to:

  • Denial of a checking account
  • A higher insurance premium
  • Denial of an apartment application
  • A larger utility or phone deposit
  • Employment screening problems
  • Denial of a short-term or personal loan
  • A retailer refusing a return
  • Delays while a company verifies your identity

You may not learn that the report exists until a business denies an application or offers less favorable terms.

Review relevant reports before an important application when possible. Correcting an error beforehand may be easier than trying to resolve it after a bank, landlord, insurer or employer has already acted.

Your Rights to Free Consumer Reports

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act:

  • You have the right to request the information maintained about you by a consumer reporting company.
  • Nationwide specialty consumer reporting companies generally must provide one free disclosure every 12 months.
  • Many other reporting companies voluntarily provide free reports.
  • You may qualify for another free report after an adverse action.
  • You have the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • The reporting company must investigate a qualifying dispute without charging you.

A company that is not required to provide a blanket annual free report may charge a reasonable fee unless another free-report right applies. Check the CFPB directory and the company’s current instructions before ordering.

A file disclosure may be more detailed than the report sold to a business. Request the company’s complete consumer disclosure or file disclosure rather than asking only for a score.

Free Consumer Reports Worth Checking

Report category Examples When it may matter
Traditional credit Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and Innovis Loans, credit cards, identity theft and account accuracy
Bank account screening ChexSystems and Early Warning Opening a checking or savings account
Telecom and utilities NCTUE Phone, internet, pay TV and utility applications
Insurance claims LexisNexis C.L.U.E. Auto, homeowners and renters insurance
Insurance underwriting MIB Individually underwritten life or health insurance
Employment and income The Work Number Jobs, loans, government benefits and rental applications
Tenant screening Company selected by the landlord Apartment and rental applications
Employment screening Company selected by the employer Job or volunteer background checks
Nonprime lending Clarity, FactorTrust and DataX Payday, installment, title and other nonprime credit
Retail returns The Retail Equation A warned or denied merchandise return

Equifax, Experian and TransUnion Credit Reports

The three nationwide credit reports contain information about:

  • Credit cards
  • Mortgages
  • Auto and personal loans
  • Payment history
  • Collections
  • Public-record bankruptcy information
  • Credit inquiries
  • Names and addresses associated with your file

You can currently request each report online free once a week through:

AnnualCreditReport.com

AnnualCreditReport.com is the federally authorized source for these reports. You do not need a paid monitoring subscription to use it.

Watch for look-alike websites. Do not click a search advertisement or enter personal information into a site with a misspelled address.

Charge Decoded guides:

Innovis Credit Report

Innovis maintains a separate credit report that may include:

  • Your identifying information
  • Account history
  • Companies that reviewed the report
  • Addresses and telephone numbers associated with the file

Innovis provides free copies of its consumer credit report and offers separate processes for disputes, fraud alerts, identity-theft blocks and security freezes.

Request it through:

Innovis Credit Report Request

Consider checking Innovis when:

  • You are responding to identity theft.
  • A company identifies Innovis in an adverse-action notice.
  • You are placing freezes on lesser-known credit files.
  • Your identifying information has been exposed.

An Innovis report does not replace the three nationwide reports. It is an additional file that must be requested and reviewed separately.

ChexSystems Bank Account Report

ChexSystems provides consumer information used by many banks and credit unions when reviewing applications for deposit accounts.

A ChexSystems disclosure may include:

  • Accounts closed with unpaid balances
  • Suspected account misuse
  • Returned or unpaid checks
  • Inquiries from financial institutions
  • Information reported by banks and credit unions

ChexSystems states that its consumer disclosure reports and consumer score reports are provided free of charge.

Request your disclosure through:

ChexSystems Consumer Disclosure Request

Check this report when:

  • A bank denied your checking-account application.
  • An old account closed with an unpaid overdraft.
  • You suspect someone opened a deposit account in your name.
  • A financial institution says it cannot verify your banking history.

Paying an old bank balance does not necessarily delete accurate history immediately. Make sure the balance and status are updated correctly and dispute information that is inaccurate.

Early Warning Bank and Payment Report

Early Warning provides information used by financial institutions for account and payment risk management.

Your file disclosure may be relevant to:

  • Bank-account applications
  • Account ownership and status
  • Deposits and payments
  • Suspected fraud or account misuse
  • Transactions reported by participating financial institutions

Request your file through:

Early Warning Consumer Information

Early Warning requires identity verification before releasing information. Its secure transfer process should be used when supporting documents contain sensitive personal information.

Early Warning is also the company behind the Zelle network, but a Zelle transaction history and an Early Warning FCRA file disclosure are not necessarily the same document.

NCTUE Telecom and Utility Report

The National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange, or NCTUE, collects information reported by participating:

  • Telephone companies
  • Internet providers
  • Pay television providers
  • Home security companies
  • Electric, gas and other utility providers

An NCTUE data report may include:

  • Service applications
  • Account history
  • Unpaid closed accounts
  • Identifying information
  • Information provided by exchange members

Request it through:

NCTUE Consumer Portal

Check NCTUE when:

  • A phone or utility company requires an unexpected deposit.
  • Your application for service was denied.
  • An unfamiliar utility account may have been opened in your name.
  • You are responding to identity theft.

NCTUE is separate from your three nationwide credit reports. Correcting one file does not automatically correct another company’s records.

LexisNexis Consumer Disclosure

The LexisNexis Risk Solutions consumer disclosure can contain a broad range of identifying and public-record information.

Depending on the available file, it may include:

  • Historical addresses
  • Real estate ownership and transaction information
  • Liens, judgments and bankruptcy records
  • Professional licenses
  • Other identity and public-record information

Request a disclosure through:

LexisNexis Risk Solutions Consumer Portal

LexisNexis may verify the request online and then mail instructions explaining how to access the disclosure.

Review identifying information carefully. Incorrect addresses, names or public records can contribute to mixed-file and identity-verification problems.

C.L.U.E. Auto and Property Insurance Reports

LexisNexis also maintains Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange reports, commonly called C.L.U.E. reports.

These reports may include claims information connected with:

  • Auto insurance
  • Homeowners insurance
  • Renters insurance
  • Vehicles or insured property
  • Reported losses and claim dates
  • Amounts paid or reserved

Insurers may use claims history when reviewing an application or setting terms. An incorrect claim could affect pricing or underwriting.

Request the applicable insurance disclosure through:

LexisNexis FACT Act Disclosure Request

Check C.L.U.E. before:

  • Shopping for auto insurance
  • Buying or insuring a home
  • Questioning an insurance premium increase
  • Disputing a claim that does not belong to you

A claim inquiry and a paid claim may not be treated the same way. Review the exact claim type, status, date, property and amount rather than assuming every listed event is incorrect.

MIB Insurance Underwriting File

MIB maintains coded underwriting information contributed by member insurance companies during individually underwritten life and health insurance applications.

An MIB file may include information related to:

  • Medical conditions reported during underwriting
  • Personal underwriting factors
  • Hazardous occupations or activities
  • The member company that submitted information
  • The date the information was reported

MIB says you generally will not have a consumer file unless you applied for individually underwritten life or health insurance during the previous seven years.

You may request your file once per year free through:

MIB Consumer File Request

MIB does not provide your complete medical record. It maintains coded insurance-underwriting information and translates the codes when providing your disclosure.

Check MIB when:

  • You are applying for individually underwritten life insurance.
  • An insurer identifies MIB in an adverse underwriting notice.
  • You believe incorrect medical or personal information may have been reported.

The Work Number Employment Data Report

The Work Number is operated by Equifax Workforce Solutions and may contain employment and income information received from employers and payroll processors.

The information may be used for:

  • Employment verification
  • Loan and mortgage applications
  • Apartment applications
  • Government benefit eligibility
  • Child-support administration
  • Other permitted verification purposes

Your Employment Data Report may show:

  • Employers reporting information
  • Employment status
  • Job information
  • Income or payroll information
  • Organizations that obtained your information

Request the report through:

The Work Number Employee Portal

CFPB company information:

CFPB: The Work Number

Review employment and income data before a mortgage, rental or benefit application when possible. Incorrect employer, status or earnings information can cause delays even when your traditional credit reports are accurate.

Tenant Screening Reports

Landlords and property managers may use tenant screening companies to review:

  • Rental history
  • Eviction records
  • Unpaid rent or property charges
  • Credit information
  • Criminal public records
  • Identity information
  • Landlord references

There is no single tenant report used by every landlord. Ask the property manager:

  • Which screening company will be used?
  • Will more than one report be ordered?
  • How can you request your disclosure?
  • What criteria are used for approval?

Use the CFPB directory to locate tenant screening companies:

CFPB Consumer Reporting Company List

Do not order a random tenant report and assume it is the one your landlord will use. Obtain the screening company’s exact legal name first.

Employment Background Reports

Employment screening reports may contain information about:

  • Employment history
  • Education and professional licenses
  • Criminal public records
  • Driving records
  • Drug or alcohol testing where permitted
  • Identity information
  • Volunteer or nonprofit activity verification

An employer generally must obtain your written permission before ordering an employment background report.

Ask the employer which screening company it will use. Then request your report from that specific company.

Many employment screening companies may have no standing file about you. They may create the report only after an authorized employer requests a screening.

If an employer is considering negative action based on a background report, review the copy provided and challenge errors promptly.

Nonprime and Short-Term Lending Reports

Some reporting companies focus on consumers who use or apply for:

  • Payday loans
  • Short-term installment loans
  • Title loans
  • Rent-to-own financing
  • Nonprime personal loans
  • Other alternative credit products

Examples include:

Clarity Services

Clarity, part of Experian, provides reports used in the subprime and thin-file lending market.

Request a Clarity Credit Report

FactorTrust

FactorTrust, part of TransUnion, provides alternative lending and consumer reporting information.

Request a FactorTrust Consumer Report

DataX

DataX provides information used in nonprime lending decisions and offers a free annual consumer report.

Request a DataX Consumer Report

Check these reports when:

  • A nonprime lender denied your application.
  • You see evidence of an unfamiliar short-term loan.
  • A lender identifies one of these companies in an adverse-action notice.
  • You are responding to identity theft involving alternative loans.

Do not pay a company promising to erase accurate nonprime loan history. You can request reports and dispute genuine errors yourself.

Retail Return Activity Report

Some retailers use The Retail Equation to evaluate merchandise return activity.

A Retail Activity Report may include information connected with:

  • A warned or denied return
  • The retailer involved
  • The date of the transaction
  • The identification used
  • Return transaction details

The Retail Equation states that a consumer can request a Retail Activity Report through its portal within 60 days after the applicable transaction was processed. You may need the transaction identification number printed on the warning or denial receipt.

Request information through:

The Retail Equation Consumer Portal

This is not necessarily a general annual report covering every purchase or return. The available report process is tied to a warned or denied retail transaction and its identifying information.

How to Find Out Which Reporting Company Was Used

Look for the company’s name in:

  • An adverse-action notice
  • A bank-account denial letter
  • An insurance underwriting notice
  • A tenant screening disclosure
  • An employer background-check authorization
  • A utility deposit notice
  • A loan application disclosure
  • A retail return receipt

Ask the business:

  • What is the reporting company’s complete legal name?
  • What type of report or score was used?
  • Was more than one reporting company used?
  • How can I request my file?
  • What information contributed to the decision?

Use the exact company name from the notice. Several companies may have similar names, parent companies, brands or affiliated reporting services.

When Should You Check These Reports?

Situation Reports to consider
Opening a bank account ChexSystems and Early Warning
Shopping for auto or home insurance C.L.U.E. and relevant credit reports
Applying for life insurance MIB when applicable
Applying for an apartment The landlord’s tenant screening company, credit reports and employment data
Applying for a job The employer’s background screening company and The Work Number
Starting utility or phone service NCTUE and relevant credit reports
Applying for a nonprime loan Clarity, FactorTrust, DataX or the company named by the lender
Recovering from identity theft Credit, bank-account, telecom, employment and nonprime reports
Retail return denied The Retail Equation report when identified

How to Request a Specialty Consumer Report

Identify the relevant reporting company

Use an adverse-action notice, application disclosure or the CFPB company directory.

Use the company’s official consumer portal

Avoid third-party websites that charge for obtaining a report you can request yourself.

Select the correct report

Choose a consumer disclosure, file disclosure or annual report rather than a marketing product.

Complete identity verification

Provide only the documents requested through the company’s secure process.

Save the request confirmation

Record the submission date, confirmation number and expected delivery method.

Review the complete disclosure

Check personal information, accounts, transactions, inquiries and report users.

Dispute errors with supporting evidence

Contact both the reporting company and the business that supplied the information.

Consumer Report Request Letter

[Your full name]
[Your current address]
[City, state and ZIP code]
[Telephone number]
[Email address]

[Date]

[Consumer reporting company name]
[Consumer disclosure address]

Subject: Request for my consumer file disclosure

Dear Consumer Relations Department:

I am requesting a complete copy of the consumer file or consumer disclosure your company maintains about me.

My identifying information is:

  • Full legal name: [name]
  • Previous names: [names, when applicable]
  • Current address: [address]
  • Previous address: [address, when applicable]
  • Date of birth: [date]
  • Last four digits of Social Security number: [digits]

I am requesting this disclosure under [my annual free-report right/an adverse-action notice dated [date]/another applicable right].

Please include:

  • All information maintained in my consumer file
  • The sources of the information
  • A list of companies that obtained my report where required
  • Instructions for disputing inaccurate or incomplete information

I have enclosed copies of the identity and address documents required by your current instructions. Please do not use these documents for any purpose unrelated to verifying and processing this request.

Please send the disclosure to the address listed above.

Sincerely,

[Signature]
[Printed name]

Follow the reporting company’s current instructions. Some companies require a particular form, full Social Security number, identification or proof of address and may reject a generic letter that lacks required documentation.

Identity Verification Requirements

A reporting company may ask for:

  • Your complete name
  • Current and previous addresses
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security number
  • A government-issued identification document
  • Proof of current address
  • Answers to identity-verification questions

Common proof-of-address documents may include:

  • A utility bill
  • A bank statement
  • A lease
  • A pay statement
  • Another official document showing your address

Do not send sensitive identification through ordinary email unless the company’s verified instructions expressly designate that email as a secure method. Use the official portal, secure upload, fax or mailing process provided by the reporting company.

What Does “No Report Found” Mean?

A no-file or no-record response may mean:

  • The company has never received information about you.
  • None of its current clients reported your accounts.
  • Your identifying information did not match its records.
  • The company creates reports only after a business requests one.
  • Older information was removed under its retention practices.

A no-record response does not necessarily mean:

  • Your traditional credit reports are empty.
  • No other specialty reporting company has information.
  • Your identity has never been used fraudulently.
  • Every future application will be approved.

Save the no-record response. It documents what the company reported at that time and may be useful if unfamiliar information appears later.

What to Check in Each Report

Review:

  • Your legal name and previous names
  • Current and previous addresses
  • Telephone numbers and email addresses
  • Social Security number variations
  • Account ownership
  • Balances and account statuses
  • Dates opened, closed or reported
  • Payment and transaction history
  • Employers and income information
  • Insurance claims
  • Rental addresses and eviction records
  • Companies that requested the report

Look for:

  • Accounts that are not yours
  • Duplicate information
  • Paid balances still listed as unpaid
  • Incorrect dates
  • Information belonging to someone with a similar name
  • Unknown employers, addresses or inquiries
  • Claims or transactions you never made

Download or print the original report before disputing anything. You may need to compare it with the updated version after the investigation.

How to Dispute an Error

Dispute inaccurate or incomplete information with:

  • The consumer reporting company displaying it
  • The bank, employer, insurer, landlord, utility, lender or other business that supplied it

Your dispute should identify:

  • The report and disputed item
  • The account or reference number
  • What is inaccurate
  • Why it is inaccurate
  • The correction requested
  • The documents supporting your position

Correcting the source company’s records is important. Otherwise, the business may send the same inaccurate information to the reporting company again.

Charge Decoded guides:

Free Report After an Adverse Action

An adverse action may include:

  • Denial of a loan or credit card
  • Denial of a checking account
  • Denial of insurance or higher insurance pricing
  • Denial of an apartment application
  • An unfavorable employment decision
  • A larger utility or service deposit
  • Less favorable terms based on a consumer report

The notice should identify:

  • The consumer reporting company used
  • Its address and telephone number
  • Your right to request a free report
  • Your right to dispute inaccurate information

You generally must request the free report within 60 days after receiving the notice.

Do not discard the adverse-action notice. It identifies the report you need and may establish your right to an additional free copy.

Freezes on Specialty Consumer Reports

Some specialty reporting companies allow consumers to restrict access through a security freeze.

Companies offering some form of freeze include:

  • Innovis
  • ChexSystems
  • NCTUE
  • LexisNexis
  • The Work Number
  • FactorTrust
  • DataX
  • Clarity Services

A specialty freeze may help reduce certain types of identity theft, but:

  • It applies only to that company’s report.
  • It does not automatically freeze Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.
  • It may delay an application that requires the report.
  • You may need to lift it separately.

Keep every confirmation number, PIN or account credential. You may need it to lift or remove the freeze later.

For the three nationwide bureaus, see:

How to Freeze Your Credit for Free

Reports to Check After Identity Theft

Depending on what information was stolen, check:

  • Equifax, Experian and TransUnion for new credit accounts
  • Innovis for additional credit-file activity
  • ChexSystems and Early Warning for bank accounts
  • NCTUE for phone and utility accounts
  • The Work Number for employment-data problems
  • Clarity, FactorTrust and DataX for nonprime loans
  • LexisNexis for unfamiliar addresses and identity information
  • Tenant screening reports when rental fraud is suspected

Also consider placing applicable freezes and creating an FTC Identity Theft Report.

Use:

Does Requesting a Consumer Report Hurt Your Credit Score?

No. Requesting your own consumer or credit report is not an application for new credit and does not lower your credit scores.

Your own request may appear as a consumer-access or soft inquiry visible only to you. It is different from a hard inquiry generated when a lender reviews your report for a credit application.

Requesting a specialty report also does not create a new debt or application. You are exercising your right to review data maintained about you.

How to Request Reports Safely

  • Start with the CFPB company directory.
  • Use the reporting company’s official consumer portal.
  • Type known website addresses rather than clicking advertisements.
  • Check the spelling and domain before entering information.
  • Use a private internet connection.
  • Do not request sensitive reports on a public computer.
  • Use secure upload tools for identity documents.
  • Do not email passwords or one-time security codes.
  • Save reports in an encrypted or protected location.
  • Shred printed copies before disposal.

A company should not require gift cards, cryptocurrency or a payment-app transfer to release your consumer report. Stop when someone demands an unusual payment or remote access to your device.

Create a Consumer Report Review Plan

You do not need to order every report every month.

Review occasion Reports to consider
Regular financial review Equifax, Experian and TransUnion
Before opening a bank account ChexSystems and Early Warning
Before shopping for insurance C.L.U.E. and MIB when relevant
Before a major job, rental or loan application The Work Number and the named screening companies
After a data breach Credit, bank, telecom and nonprime reports
After an application denial The exact company named in the adverse-action notice
After a denied retail return The Retail Equation when identified

Keep a simple record showing the company, request date, report date, errors found, disputes submitted and final result.

Mistakes to Avoid

Checking only the three major credit bureaus

Traditional reports may not show bank screening, insurance, employment, utility or nonprime lending data.

Requesting every possible report without a reason

Focus on companies connected with your applications, accounts, adverse-action notices or identity-theft risks.

Ordering a random tenant or employment report

Ask which company the landlord or employer actually uses.

Requesting only a score

A score does not show the underlying information you need to review and dispute.

Paying someone to obtain a free disclosure

Request reports directly from the reporting companies.

Discarding a no-file response

Save it as evidence of what the company reported at that time.

Disputing with the wrong company

Use the exact reporting company and information provider identified in the report.

Emailing sensitive identification

Use official secure portals or the designated mailing process.

Failing to save the original report

You need the original to confirm whether disputed information was corrected.

Avoiding reports because of credit-score concerns

Accessing your own consumer report does not lower your credit scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a specialty consumer report?

A specialty consumer report is a report focused on a particular product, industry or type of transaction rather than general borrowing history. Examples include reports about checking accounts, insurance claims, employment and income, apartment rentals, utility accounts and short-term loans. Banks, landlords, insurers, employers, utilities and lenders may use these reports when evaluating an application. Specialty reporting companies are private businesses and are separate from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You generally must request each report individually. Review reports relevant to your accounts and upcoming applications rather than assuming that one traditional credit report contains every piece of information used about you.

Are specialty consumer reports really free?

Nationwide specialty consumer reporting companies generally must provide one free file disclosure every 12 months when requested. Many companies in the CFPB directory also voluntarily provide free reports, while others may charge a reasonable fee unless a separate free-report right applies. You may qualify for another free report when a business takes adverse action based on the company’s information. Review the reporting company’s current instructions before submitting the request. Do not pay a third-party credit repair or data service merely to obtain a report that the reporting company provides directly for free.

Which consumer reports should I check?

Choose reports based on your situation. Check ChexSystems and Early Warning before opening a bank account or after a bank denial. Check C.L.U.E. before shopping for auto, homeowners or renters insurance. Review The Work Number before a mortgage, rental or benefit application when your employer contributes data. Check NCTUE after a phone or utility denial or unexpected deposit request. Consumers applying for nonprime loans may review Clarity, FactorTrust or DataX. After identity theft, consider checking several categories because criminals may open bank, phone, utility and short-term loan accounts that do not appear on traditional credit reports.

Should I request every consumer report at once?

Usually not. The CFPB directory contains dozens of reporting companies, and many will have no information about you. Requesting every report can create unnecessary paperwork and require you to submit sensitive identity documents repeatedly. Start with the three nationwide credit reports, then identify reports connected with your existing accounts, planned applications, adverse-action notices or identity-theft risk. Ask a prospective landlord, employer, insurer or lender which company it will use. This targeted approach gives you time to review the reports that are most likely to affect an upcoming decision without distributing personal information to companies that have no file on you.

What report can stop me from opening a bank account?

Banks and credit unions commonly use deposit-account screening information from companies such as ChexSystems or Early Warning. These files may contain reported unpaid overdrafts, involuntary account closures, returned checks, inquiries or suspected account misuse. A traditional credit report may not show the same information. When a bank denies your application, review the adverse-action notice to identify the reporting company. Request your file promptly, compare the account and balance with your records and dispute inaccurate information with both the reporting company and the financial institution that supplied it. Paying an accurate old balance may update the status but does not necessarily require immediate deletion.

What consumer report affects insurance rates?

LexisNexis C.L.U.E. reports may contain auto, homeowners and renters insurance claim information that insurers use during underwriting. The report can identify losses, claim dates, vehicles or properties and amounts connected with reported claims. MIB maintains a different file containing coded underwriting information from individually underwritten life and health insurance applications. Check the applicable report when an insurer identifies it in an adverse-action notice, when a claim appears incorrect or before an important insurance application. These reports are separate from one another and from traditional credit reports, so correcting your Equifax, Experian or TransUnion file will not automatically correct insurance information.

Can I see the employment information companies have about me?

Yes. The Work Number provides a free Employment Data Report containing available employment and income information received from participating employers and payroll providers. Other employment screening companies may create reports containing employment, education, criminal public records, driving records or professional license information. Ask the employer which screening company it will use and request your report from that company. Some screeners may have no report until an employer orders one with your permission. Review employer names, dates, job status, income data and the list of report users. Dispute mistakes with both the screening company and the employer or payroll provider that supplied the information.

What is an adverse-action notice?

An adverse-action notice tells you that a business denied your application, changed your terms or took another unfavorable action based partly or entirely on a consumer report. It should identify the reporting company and explain your rights to obtain the report and dispute inaccurate information. Examples include denial of credit, insurance, a checking account, an apartment or another service. You generally have 60 days after receiving the notice to request a free copy from the identified reporting company. Save the entire notice because it may include a report reference number, company address and instructions needed to exercise your rights.

Will requesting specialty consumer reports hurt my credit score?

No. Requesting your own credit or specialty consumer report is a consumer-access inquiry, not an application for new credit. It does not lower your credit scores. The request may appear in information visible to you, but it is not treated like a lender’s hard inquiry. You can therefore review ChexSystems, Early Warning, Innovis, NCTUE, C.L.U.E., The Work Number and other relevant reports without creating new debt or reducing your score. Checking reports can help you catch identity theft and correct errors before an important application, which is generally more useful than avoiding your own information because of an unfounded score concern.

What does it mean when a reporting company says it has no file on me?

A no-record response normally means the company could not locate reportable information that matched your verified identity. The company may never have received information about you, its clients may not report your accounts or it may create a report only after a business orders one. It does not mean that every other reporting company also has no file. Save the response with the request date. When you expected a record, verify that your name, previous address and identifying information were entered correctly. Contact the company through its official consumer service if the response appears inconsistent with an adverse-action notice naming that company.

Official Consumer Report Resources

Bottom Line

Your traditional credit reports are only part of the consumer reporting system. Separate companies may maintain files about bank accounts, insurance claims, employment, rental history, utility service, short-term loans and retail returns.

Identify the reports connected with your accounts and upcoming applications, request them directly from the official reporting companies and review identifying information, balances, dates and transactions carefully. When a report contains an error, dispute it with both the reporting company and the business that supplied the information.

The practical rule: Before an important application—or after a denial—find out which consumer report will be used and check the actual data behind the decision.

Charge Decoded provides general U.S. consumer information and does not provide individualized legal, credit, employment, insurance or financial advice. Report availability, file contents, verification requirements and consumer rights can depend on the reporting company, applicable law and individual circumstances.