San Diego, CA - The new Fair and
Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) which provides
consumers with a free copy of their individual credit
reports on an annualized basis also gives consumers the
right to one free report prepared by a "nationwide
specialty consumer reporting agency." ChoicePoint, founded
in 1997 by Equifax - now independent - is one of those
specialty agencies which has over 15 billion records about
American consumers.
ChoicePoint has been in the news recently because of the
major identity theft of tens of thousands of records
containing very private and personal information about
people's health, insurance coverage, driving records and
much more, by miscreants who outwitted ChoicePoint into
thinking they were legitimate reporting agencies.
ChoicePoint admits its credentialing process failed.
The OTHER free annual report is one prepared by a
"nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency" relating
to medical records, check writing history, Medical records
or payments, residential or tenant history, or employment
history and insurance claims, for example.
Consumers may request free "Specialty" consumer reports,
beginning December 1, 2004, that compiles files on
consumers relating to:
Medical records or payments (for example, the MIB -
Medical Bureau Information - Report).
Residential or tenant history. (for example, the UD -
Unlawful Detainer - Registry).
Check writing history (for example ChexSystems).
Employment history. (for example, background checks
provided by Choicepoint).
Insurance claims. (for example, CLUE - Comprehensive
Loss Underwriting Exchange).
Access to a "specialty" report is available now for all
consumers nationwide.
Obtaining your free specialty report is not subject to the
same phase-in schedule that applies to credit reports. FTC
regulations require companies that prepare reports on
consumers for employment, insurance claims, rental, check
writing, and medical records history, as a minimum, to
establish a toll free telephone number for ordering free
file disclosures. Specialty reporting companies may also
provide information on a web site.
"Not everyone has a need to obtain every free specialty
report. Consumers should order a "specialty" report before
shopping for new homeowners or automobile insurance,
opening a new checking account, applying for private
health or life insurance, or renting a home or apartment,"
said Beth Givens of the San Diego based Private Rights
Clearinghouse, a nonprofit consumer information and
advocacy organization (PrivacyRights.org).
"Job applicants who have consistently been turned down for
a job can also benefit from this new FACTA right.
Employers, landlords, insurance companies and banks that
use specialty consumer reports are obligated to give
consumers a free report if services are denied. However,
the new FACTA provision gives consumers the chance to get
their file free directly from the companies that prepare
these specialty reports," added Givens.
Consumers who find errors in a "specialty" report have the
same rights to dispute as with errors found in a credit
report.
For the MIB Report (Medical Information Bureau).
http://www.mib.com/html/request_your_record.html
For the UD Registry (Unlawful Detainer Registry).
For Choicepoint:
For CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange)