San Diego, CA - The new Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) which provides consumers with a free copy of their individual credit reports on an annualized basis also gives consumers the right to one free report prepared by a "nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency." ChoicePoint, founded in 1997 by Equifax - now independent - is one of those specialty agencies which has over 15 billion records about American consumers.
ChoicePoint has been in the news recently because of the major identity theft of tens of thousands of records containing very private and personal information about people's health, insurance coverage, driving records and much more, by miscreants who outwitted ChoicePoint into thinking they were legitimate reporting agencies. ChoicePoint admits its credentialing process failed.

The OTHER free annual report is one prepared by a "nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency" relating to medical records, check writing history, Medical records or payments, residential or tenant history, or employment history and insurance claims, for example.
Consumers may request free "Specialty" consumer reports, beginning December 1, 2004, that compiles files on consumers relating to:
• Medical records or payments (for example, the MIB - Medical Bureau Information - Report).
• Residential or tenant history. (for example, the UD - Unlawful Detainer - Registry).
• Check writing history (for example ChexSystems).
• Employment history. (for example, background checks provided by Choicepoint).
• Insurance claims. (for example, CLUE - Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange).
Access to a "specialty" report is available now for all consumers nationwide.
Obtaining your free specialty report is not subject to the same phase-in schedule that applies to credit reports. FTC regulations require companies that prepare reports on consumers for employment, insurance claims, rental, check writing, and medical records history, as a minimum, to establish a toll free telephone number for ordering free file disclosures. Specialty reporting companies may also provide information on a web site.

"Not everyone has a need to obtain every free specialty report. Consumers should order a "specialty" report before shopping for new homeowners or automobile insurance, opening a new checking account, applying for private health or life insurance, or renting a home or apartment," said Beth Givens of the San Diego based Private Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit consumer information and advocacy organization (PrivacyRights.org).

"Job applicants who have consistently been turned down for a job can also benefit from this new FACTA right. Employers, landlords, insurance companies and banks that use specialty consumer reports are obligated to give consumers a free report if services are denied. However, the new FACTA provision gives consumers the chance to get their file free directly from the companies that prepare these specialty reports," added Givens.
Consumers who find errors in a "specialty" report have the same rights to dispute as with errors found in a credit report.

For the MIB Report (Medical Information Bureau).

http://www.mib.com/html/request_your_record.html

For the UD Registry  (Unlawful Detainer Registry).

http://www.udregistry.com/

For Choicepoint:

http://www.choicepoint.com/

For CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange)

http://www.choicetrust.com/