In America, credit reports and credit scores are widely used for essential financial transactions.

In addition to credit reports and credit scores for credit history, there are also hundreds of additional “special credit reports” and “special credit scores” that determine access to other, essential financial products, including:

·      Housing

·      Banking

·      Personal insurance

·      Medicine and healthcare

·      Employment

·      Telecommunications

·      Utilities

The companies that sell these special credit reports and special credit scores are known as “nationwide specialty consumer reporting agencies”. Their products include special credit reports and special credit scores for the following areas:

·      Employment screening;

·      Residential tenant history;

·      Bank accounts and checking history;

·      Personal insurance (automobile, homeowners/ renters, life);

·      Medical records, payments, and prescription history;

·      Telecommunications and utilities payment history;

·      Retail return and exchange history; and

·      Gaming and sports betting history.

These “nationwide specialty consumer reporting agencies” create targeted, special credit reports and special credit scores. Then, they sell the special reports and special scores directly—to employers, banks, insurers, utility providers, retailers, and landlords—to help screen individuals and determine prices.

Employers and landlords cannot obtain your employment history reports or your residential tenant history reports without your prior consent and authorization. Insurers, banks, medical providers, utilities, and telecommunications companies do not need prior consent to obtain your special reports and special scores.

Individuals have some limited consumer rights. Under federal law, individuals have the right to request a free copy of their special credit reports and special credit scores, from each nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency, once per year.