Big data very revealing
Request free reports and then fix what reporting agencies know about you
Government agencies also consult The Work Number files to fight unemployment fraud and determine eligibility for public benefits. That alone is a good reason to check your file for errors, said consumer advocate Chi Chi Wu, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.
I thought I knew all about the information that consumer reporting agencies were collecting on me. Then I discovered The Work Number — a database that reports every paycheck I’ve received from my company, with net and gross amounts, going back to my hire date six years ago.
“Any data point that someone can track, there’s going to be a bureau or someone gathering information and selling that information,” said Matthew Loker, a consumer protection attorney in Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Not all the information being reported is accurate and mistakes can have serious consequences. People have been denied insurance, apartments, bank accounts and government benefits because of database errors. But correcting mistakes is no small task.
Tracking us
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau maintains a list of consumer reporting agencies that’s 38 pages long. In addition to the big three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — the list includes 22 employment screeners, 10 tenant screeners, six check and bank screeners, four insurance reporting agencies and two medical information companies.
Pick your targets
Privacy advocate Evan Hendricks recommends targeting some of the larger databases.
One of the largest consumer data aggregators is LexisNexis, which provides various types of background screening. The report you get back could be hundreds of pages long, detailing everything from traffic tickets and concealed weapons permits to the amount of every mortgage you’ve ever had, bankruptcies, tax liens, evictions and criminal records. LexisNexis also operates the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, which collects and reports auto and personal property claims. Request your comprehensive report at https:// consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/consumer.
The Work Number, which is owned by Equifax, has payroll data for more than 136 million jobs. If your salary information is there, you’ll also see which companies and government agencies have checked it recently.
Government agencies also consult The Work Number files to fight unemployment fraud and determine eligibility for public benefits. That alone is a good reason to check your file for errors, said consumer advocate Chi Chi Wu, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.
Request your ChexSystems report if you plan to open a new bank account or had problems with a previous account.
If you plan to apply for individual life, health, long-term care or disability insurance, request your files from MIB and Milliman IntelliScript. MIB collects information about medical conditions. Milliman IntelliScript collects prescription drug purchase history.
Obtain your reports
You don’t have to pay to request your data, but you may have to wait to get it. Some companies allow you to see your files online, but many require you to submit a form or call a toll-free number to request a report. A company has 15 days to respond to your request, the CFPB said.
If you find errors, follow the company’s dispute process. If you can’t get the problem resolved, you can file a complaint with the CFPB.