The Other Two Credit Bureaus: Innovis and ChoicePoint

Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are "the big 3" credit reporting agencies in the US. But there are a couple others that should be mentioned.

Innovis Data Solutions (also called CBCInnovis) began in the information services industry 50 years ago. They were one of the first to use databases and automated processes to record and maintain consumer information. Today, they are considered the "fourth credit bureau," and some lenders may turn to them to learn information about you. You are entitled through the Fair Credit Reporting Act to a free credit report annually from each of the bureaus, including Innovis. 

Innovis
Attention: Consumer Assistance
P.O. Box 1358
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1358

1-800-540-2505
www.innovis.com

ChoicePoint is different from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion in that it doesn’t report your credit history, but rather your insurance claim history. ChoicePoint used to be the Insurance Services division of Equifax, but then spun off into its own company. Now, it sells your insurance claim history to insurers, just as the credit bureaus sell your credit history to lenders. And just as lenders report information about you to the bureaus, so do insurers report to ChoicePoint.

Insurance companies want to see how likely you are to file claims. Whenever you apply for auto or homeowner insurance, the insurer will most likely pull your insurance claim report from ChoicePoint. ChoicePoint calls these "CLUE Reports" or Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange Reports. You have both an auto CLUE Report and a homeowner's CLUE Report. If you have never filed an insurance claim, you do not have an insurance claim report. 

You are entitled through the Fair Credit Reporting Act to a free ChoicePoint insurance claim report annually.

In addition to your insurance claim report, ChoicePoint also issues an insurance claim score (called a "CP-Attract" score). Like your FICO, your CP-Attract score lets potential insurers know where you fall on the risk scale. You can get your home and auto insurance CP-Attract scores by going to ChoicePoint’s website, but they will cost you about $12.95 for each.  

ChoicePoint Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 105295
Atlanta, GA 30348

1-866-312-8076
www.choicepoint.com