Your confidential information isn't so secret
Posted
Jun 06 2008, 07:54 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Most of us -- or so we hope -- are aware of credit reports. But did you know about other databases that contain histories of your insurance claims, medical care and other personal information?
"Isn't it scary how much of your information is floating around out there?" says Jonathan at My Money Blog, who explains how you can get these reports for free.
Since they're used to determine how much you pay for -- and sometimes whether you get -- insurance and other necessities, it may be worth your time to find out if the information in these reports is accurate. It's bad enough that a prospective insurer can find out you're being treated for "American Idol" addiction, and even worse if you're really not.
Just in case you've never read a personal-finance blog before, we'll go back to the basics: You can get free copies of your three credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Who looks at these? Lenders, prospective landlords, insurance companies and employers, among others.
To read Jonathan's posts about the other databases, click here and here. Meanwhile, here's a brief description:
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Your banking history, including overdrafts, is kept for bankers' use by ChexSystems, and can be used to deny you an account.
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Insurance companies consult your medical history at MIB when you apply for health, life, disability and related types of insurance.
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The CLUE personal property and auto reports detail damage to your home and vehicle (and, we might add, sometimes even damage for which you didn't file claims). Another outfit that keeps such reports is A-PLUS. You can also make CLUE work for you. Jonathan says, "If you are seriously looking at buying a home, you should spend the $20 and get the CLUE report for the property and see its claim history."
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The ChoicePoint Workplace Solutions Inc. employment history report is provided to employers only with your consent. There's also a ChoicePoint tenant history report, and several other companies, like First Advantage SafeRent, keep such information.
