A specialty consumer report is a consumer report focused on a particular market or type of information rather than the broad traditional credit file most people associate with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Examples of specialty reporting categories
- Banking and deposit accounts: systems such as ChexSystems and Early Warning Services.
- Telecom and utilities: NCTUE.
- Alternative or non-prime lending: companies such as Clarity Services, FactorTrust, DataX and MicroBilt.
- Public records, identity and risk: LexisNexis Risk Solutions and related products.
- Rental and tenant screening: separate tenant-screening companies and databases.
- Employment and income: employment-verification databases such as The Work Number.
Why consumers request specialty reports
People often discover specialty reports after being denied a bank account, utility service, apartment, alternative loan or other service. Others request them proactively after identity theft or a major data breach.
Freeze vs. report copy
A freeze is about restricting certain access. A report copy is about visibility. If you want to understand what a company maintains about you, the report itself is essential.
Which ones should you check?
Start with the consumer decision you are concerned about. Banking problems point toward banking reports. Telecom or utility issues point toward NCTUE. Alternative-lending problems may point toward Clarity, FactorTrust, DataX or MicroBilt. Identity-theft prevention may justify a broader approach.