What does my credit rating have to do with purchasing insurance?
Everyone knows that credit scores are an evaluation of your payment history on a variety of consumer debt items like your home, credit cards, auto loans, etc. Credit scores are also used for a variety of other purposes such finding a place to live, getting a cell phone, and, most recently, buying insurance.
Insurance companies have found a direct correlation between one’s credit score and likelihood of filing an insurance claim at some point in the future. According to the actuarial tables and statistics the lower your credit score, the more likely you are to file a claim. So insurance companies are knowing using credit scores to generate an “insurance score” as part of the underwriting process. Your insurance score plays a large role in determining the premiums charged by your homeowners and auto insurance companies.
Therefore a solid credit history can go a long way to decreasing your insurance premiums. We recommend checking your credit score regularly and requesting that any discovered errors are immediately corrected.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. For more information, go to the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site on credit.
