You might not know much about LexisNexis, but odds are the big aggregator and seller of consumer data knows a lot about you.
Tolbert says he eventually traced the bad information to his Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, or C.L.U.E. auto report, a collection of data LexisNexis sells to auto insurers to help them approve clients and set premiums. The C.L.U.E. report and others like it can streamline the approval process for financial products, which is typically a good thing. But in this case, LexisNexis had assigned a motorcycle belonging to a different Thomas Tolbert to his report. (The other Tolbert could not be located for comment.)
According to the report, which Tolbert provided to NerdWallet, the two men both live in Florida and at one time used the same insurer. They have different middle initials and different home addresses. Tolbert says this situation has forced him to reduce his coverage and go without for a period of time. And the time he spends disputing the report is time he can’t devote to his work in real estate.
The lost time and high premium are “taking money out of my pocket,” he says.
In a written statement, LexisNexis spokesperson Jennifer Grigas Richman declined to comment on specific cases, but emphasized that the company’s data procedures meet or exceed industry and regulatory requirements. “We cannot underscore enough our commitment to accuracy,” she says.
Nevertheless, situations like this show why it’s a good idea to periodically review your LexisNexis file and correct any errors, the way you would with a credit report. Here’s how:
Because the reports LexisNexis provides to businesses are made to order—and the company probably won’t provide you a copy of all of them—what you get won’t necessarily be the exact report a business would receive. Still, the reports could reveal major errors in your record.
When you return this paperwork, you’ll want to include a copy of your report that notes the errors and a letter that explains why you think the information is wrong. For each error, try to provide documentation as proof. For example, if your LexisNexis report erroneously says you were involved in a car accident, include evidence that you weren’t in the area when the accident supposedly happened. That could be a receipt from a grocery store 100 miles away, a note from your employer stating you were at work, or a letter from your car insurer that says it has no record of that incident.
For example, Tolbert was able to obtain a letter from his previous insurer stating that he had not been involved in an incident with a motorcycle.
Paul Stephens, director of policy and advocacy at the San Diego-based Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, suggests that consumers don’t leave it up to LexisNexis to investigate errors. James Francis, a consumer lawyer based in Philadelphia who has handled many lawsuits against LexisNexis, adds that saying you’re open to litigation can help convey to the company how seriously you take errors in your file.
3. Send in the paperwork—and wait
LexisNexis will mail you a judgment after it has completed an investigation. It may take about 35 days from the time the company receives your dispute paperwork to the time you receive its answer, according to the company’s website.
Tolbert says that a representative of LexisNexis told him it would take 30 to 60 days to investigate his claim. He says his dispute was initially resolved during this time.
Keep in mind that mixed-file cases, like most civil cases, typically settle, and payouts vary, according to Virginia-based consumer lawyer Kristi Kelly.
Even if you get the information removed from your report, that might not be the end of the story. When Tolbert tried to switch insurers again, he says he was initially quoted about $370 per month for his cars. But, he adds, that quote was soon revised to about $620 because he was mixed up with the same individual again.
Rather than attempt the traditional dispute process with LexisNexis again, Tolbert says, he served the company with an intent to file suit. As of June, he said he had not received a response.
“It just scares me that they’ve got this kind of power to basically ruin somebody’s life with very little recourse against them,” Tolbert says. “I just want to get this thing resolved once and for all and be able to go on with my life.”
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