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Frequently Asked Questions About C.L.U.E.

​​​​​​Last Updated: June 6, 2024​

Printable version of publication: Frequently Asked Questions About C.L.U.E.​

C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) is a claims history database generated by LexisNexis® enabling insurance companies to access consumer claims information when they are underwriting or rating an insurance policy.

Insurance companies contributing loss data to C.L.U.E. can gather and obtain information from the exchange. In addition, some insurance agents, with the authority of the company they represent, can access and withdraw data.

C.L.U.E. reports are used almost exclusively to underwrite and rate new policies. Most insurers renewing existing policies do not access C.L.U.E. reports at renewal, largely because they already have loss histories for existing policyholders and properties in their own databases.

It includes policy information such as name, date of birth, policy number, claim information (such as date of loss, type of loss and amounts paid), and a description of the property covered. For homeowners coverage the report includes the property address and for auto coverage it includes specific vehicle information.

Consumer claims information includes any losses you have requested the insurance company to cover, whether or not the insurance company paid for it.

Only policy information, including loss history, is stored in the database. No other sources of data, such as credit reports, criminal records, civil lawsuits, or legal judgments are incorporated into C.L.U.E. reports.

The database contains up to seven years of personal property claims history.

Only insurance companies subscribing to C.L.U.E. are able to contribute loss data and access C.L.U.E. reports. It should be noted consumers can access C.L.U.E. reports on themselves and their own properties.

Some companies choose not to subscribe to C.L.U.E. Therefore, losses filed with nonparticipating companies will not appear on a C.L.U.E. report.

Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, LexisNexis® is allowed to produce a C.L.U.E. report for the following insurance-related purposes:

  • When used in connection with underwriting an insurance policy—This includes situations where the consumer asks for an insurance quote or applies for insurance.

  • When the request for the C.L.U.E. report is initiated by or at the request of the insurance company or agent.

No. Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, C.L.U.E. reports can be accessed only by the owner, insurer, or lender of the property. However, you can ask the current owner of the property to order a C.L.U.E. report.

Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act you can request a copy of your C.L.U.E. report from LexisNexis® toll-free at 1-866-312-8076 or by visiting consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/ .

If you discover an error on your C.L.U.E. report, for example, an invalid  claim report or an incorrect loss payment, you can contact LexisNexis® directly and report the problem. LexisNexis® will then contact theinsurance company on your behalf, ask for clarification on the matter, and notify you of the results within 30 days. If you feel an item in the C.L.U.E. report deserves an explanation, you may submit a personal statement that LexisNexis® will add to all future C.L.U.E. reports.

No. Insurance companies are not allowed to add notations to the database. Only consumers can add notations to their individual C.L.U.E. reports. For instance, if a dog-bite claim occurs and the homeowner gets rid of the dog, the consumer can add this notation to the C.L.U.E report for the property.

If a company can demonstrate a correlation exists between the prior owner’s loss and the probability of a future loss to the home, they are not prohibited from using the information. There are no laws that specifically govern the use of the prior owner’s loss history in determining your eligibility for coverage.

If you have a specific complaint about your insurance, refer it first to the insurance company or agent involved. If you do not receive satisfactory answers, contact the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI).

File a complaint online or to print a complaint form: oci.wi.gov/Complaints.

Phone
(608) 266-0103 (Madison)
or
(800) 236-8517 (Statewide)

Mailing Address
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
P.O. Box 7873
Madison, WI 53707-7873

Email
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