Good article with useful links

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-15-2003
Good article with useful links
Thu, 06-02-2005 - 6:11am

Please read this article. There are some good links in the bottom.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Banking/Yourcreditrating/P100244.asp

Where and how to get the goods
Here are the categories of information that are covered by FACTA, and the companies you can contact for free reports:
Medical information. If you’ve applied for life, health, disability or long-term care policies, information about your health may have been reported to the Medical Information Bureau. This membership association of 600 companies is designed to help insurers detect fraud and deter applicants from lying on applications.

Tenant history. No one company dominates this field, but some of the larger screening agencies include Registry Safe-Rent and U.D. Registry.

Auto and homeowners insurance claims. ChoicePoint’s CLUE reports can be ordered at ChoiceTrust.com, while ISO’s A-PLUS reports can be ordered by calling (800) 709-8842 or by writing A-PLUS Consumer Inquiry Center, 545 Washington Blvd. 22nd Floor, Jersey City, NY 07310-1686.

Check-writing history. ChexSystems is the largest player in this arena. It maintains a database of people who have “mishandled” their bank accounts (typically by repeatedly bouncing checks). You can order a report online (ignore any reference to a "small fee") or call (800) 428-9623 or send snail-mail to ChexSystems, Attn: Consumer Relations, 7805 Hudson Road, Suite 100, Woodbury, MN 55125.

Employment screeners. Companies that provide background checks to employers have to abide by other FACTA rules, but they typically don’t have to provide free reports to consumers, said Les Rosen, co-chairman of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners. That’s because the typical background-checking firm doesn’t maintain “permanent” files on consumers and instead puts together a one-time report for employers. Only companies that maintain databases of information on consumers must provide free reports. However, employers must get your written permission before a third party can run a background check, and you're entitled to see the report if it's used to deny you a job or promotion.