Specialty consumer reporting agencies collect and share information about your history including housing, employment, medical and banking records. This article from the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau breaks it down into more detail. From the article: Reports may be compiled for your history of: Opening or using bank accounts (including writing or bouncing checks or overdrafts) Apartment rental payments […]
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RSS feed for this sectionConsumer Financial Protection Bureau issues warning to specialty reporting agencies
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has repeatedly issued warning to specialty reporting agencies that are selling consumers information. Back in November “the agency released a bulletin to nationwide specialty consumer reporting agencies underscoring their obligation under the law to provide a streamlined process for consumers to request a free annual consumer report. After reviewing a number […]
How to Fact Check Your Specialty Consumer Report
This article from the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau explains why you should know what’s in your specialty reports. From the article, ” You probably already know that when you apply for a loan, many lenders will get information about your credit history from one of the big three consumer reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). This […]
Hospitals are Selling Data and Credit Agencies are Buying
Public and privacy corporations, including corporations designated as “credit reporting agencies” are the most frequent buyers of hospital data sales. For more, see the list of the top purchasers of medical data in 2011, ranked by the total number of states that purchasers bought from, as well as the corresponding states. (more…)
Equifax Received $330 Million to Provide Credit Reports to Healthcare.gov
The contract between Department of HHS and Equifax is for an initial 12-month period, with yearly options to renew, bringing its potential value to $329.4 million over five years. As reported, “Equifax Workforce Solutions will provide information [about individuals] that is more current than what is available on federal income tax returns.” (more…)
Hundreds of Companies are Dealing Your Data
This is a central directory of all the “other” consumer reporting companies – companies that collect information and provide reports on consumers that are used to decide whether to provide consumers credit, insurance, or employment, and for other purposes. (more…)