If you’ve searched for auto or home insurance, you may have had a conversation about past claims that your new insurance company sees in your history. You also have the right to see that information.
Read on to learn how to request a free annual copy of the report.
REVIEW OF PAST CLAIMS HISTORY
For real estate agent LaKisha McGee, finding the right home can take a lot of work, patience, and information.
“It’s your biggest investment,” McGee said. “That’s already a lot to go through when you’re buying or selling a home. As much security as I can give my clients, I would like to do that.”
One of the tools available is the past history of insurance claims. McGee said a seller can show potential buyers that there have been no claims. McGee said that if a buyer is closing on a home, he can request a summary of the claims history to compare with the seller’s disclosure.
“If you’re buying someone else’s car, someone else’s house, that’s a lot more due diligence at your fingertips,” said Jill Gonzalez, an analyst at WalletHub.
The CLUE or Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange report lists claims filed for a home or car during the last seven years.
González said that most insurance companies consult him when they take on a new client.
“Just like a credit card company is going to look at your credit report when they’re meeting your interest rates and approving you for a new credit card, that’s how most home and auto insurers look at a credit report. CLUE report,” González explained.
A CLUE report lists information such as the date, type of loss, and the amount paid on a claim.
NerdWallet insurance editor Caitlin Constantine explains that consumers can view their own annual report for free.
“It’s very important to review your report at least once a year to make sure it’s accurate and to dispute any errors you find. You could end up paying more for insurance than you should if your CLUE report has claims you didn’t actually file,” Constantine said.
HOW TO REQUEST YOUR REPORT
The CLUE database is maintained by LexisNexis. Consumers can request their own report by mail, phone, or this website.
If applying online, click the “request a consumer disclosure report” button. You are asked to provide your Social Security number or driver’s license. LexisNexis said it is requesting that information to confirm the identity of the person requesting the report.
Consumers can expect a response within two weeks.
When Diana Zoga, a reporter for NBC 5 Responds, ordered her report, a letter arrived in her mailbox within a week and a half. She provided instructions to reconnect and enter a unique web address and PIN. From there Zoga was able to download the report which was accurate.
“If you find an error in your CLUE report, please contact LexisNexis. You can contact them by email, phone, or mail to request a correction. Once they hear from you, they typically have 30 days to investigate the bug and decide whether to remove it,” Constantine said.
Consumers can also add a personal statement to a report item.
Consumers can only request a copy of their own report. If you want to see a report of a home you can buy, the owner must request and share it.
McGee said it may be something a buyer considers during an option period and a seller might have it ready to share.
“When you know better, you do better, right? So if I know this is available to me and I know how it can help me, then I know I can ask for it,” McGee explained.
On its website, LexisNexis says that more than 99% of auto insurers and more than 90% of home insurers provide claims data to the CLUE database.
Your claims history may also be in an A-PLUS loss history report run by the Verisk database.
You can make a habit of applying for both at the same time you review your free annual credit report.
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