Home Insurance Claim History Database Explained in Detail

A home insurance claim history database is a centralized repository of information on past claims filed by homeowners. It's a valuable resource for insurance companies to assess the risk of insuring a particular property.

This database is typically maintained by insurance companies themselves, and it can be accessed by authorized personnel only.

The database contains detailed information about each claim, including the type of damage, the amount of the claim, and the outcome of the claim.

This information is crucial in determining the likelihood of future claims and the premium rates for homeowners.

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The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) database is a treasure trove of information for homebuyers and sellers alike. It contains a comprehensive overview of a home's insurance claims within the past seven years, including damage reports of repairs made by the owner.

This database is owned and operated by LexisNexis, and it allows insurers to track auto, home, and renters claims. Insurance companies provide the following information for the C.L.U.E. report: policy number, insurance company's name, date of loss, type of loss, and the amount that the homeowners insurance company paid for the loss.

Types of claims you may find on a C.L.U.E. report include contamination, damage to other people's property, dog bites, earthquakes, fires, floods, freezing water, hail, liability, lightning, medical payments, slip/fall, smoke, theft/burglary, vandalism, water damage, and wind.

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A CLUE report is a database that tracks auto, home, and renters claims, but it's not a complete picture of a home's claims history because insurance companies don't have to provide the data to CLUE.

The report only includes information that homeowners insurance companies choose to provide, which typically includes policy number, insurance company's name, date of loss, type of loss, and the amount paid for the loss.

Here are some examples of the types of claims you may find on a CLUE report:

Buying a house with outstanding claims can be a bit tricky, but it's not impossible. You can buy a home with an open insurance claim, but it's essential to understand the options and potential consequences.

If you're the seller, you can lower the selling price and sell the house "as is." This way, you get out of the hassle of having any damage repaired, and the buyer gets a deal on the property. However, the new homeowner will have to pay out of their own pocket to fix the issues.

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A more complicated option is to assign the claim's benefits to the new homeowner. This way, the seller is relieved of all hassle, but the new homeowner will have to find their own contractors and deal with the repairs.

Either way, the house will still have an insurance claims history, which will appear on the CLUE report and likely temporarily increase home insurance rates. This is because most home insurance companies provide information to the CLUE report, so your claims history follows you, even if the claims were made before you owned the home.

Here are the two options for buying a home with an open insurance claim:

Having a clean claims history can save you money on home insurance premiums.

Insurers use CLUE reports to determine rates, and each company has its own methodology.

A history of claims can increase your premium, especially if you've made claims for damage from natural disasters like hurricanes or windstorms.

The extent of the claims history matters – if it's too extensive, the insurer may refuse to sell you a policy.

You can avoid higher rates by keeping your insurance history claim-free and ensuring the home you buy has a clean claims history.

Here's what insurers look for in a CLUE report:

A CLUE report is a record of all insurance claims made on a property over a period of up to seven years. It's generated by LexisNexis and can be requested by homebuyers or insurers.

The report contains details about any reported insurance claims, including the date, type of loss, and amount paid out. It's not a score or a recommendation, but rather a factual record of past claims.

A CLUE report typically includes the name of the insurance company, policy number, and claim number. It may also include the property address and information about the policyholder.

If the report is blank, it doesn't necessarily mean that no damage occurred. Instead, it might indicate that the owner didn't make any insurance claims in the past seven years or that the insurance company doesn't report claims to LexisNexis.

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Here's what a CLUE report typically includes:

Keep in mind that a CLUE report doesn't take the place of a home inspection, which can provide a more thorough assessment of a property's condition.

Your home's insurance claims history is a crucial factor in determining your home insurance premiums. Most home insurance companies provide information to the CLUE report, so your claims history follows you.

Claims going back up to seven years will be on the CLUE report, which includes information about all the claims you've made in the past seven years, as well as claims that were filed on the property even before you lived there. This can impact your ability to obtain an insurance policy on a property with a history of claims.

You can request a free CLUE report for your home once a year, and if you find any inaccuracies, you can file a dispute to correct them. Common errors in CLUE reports include car accidents attributed to the wrong driver, mistakenly being designated as responsible for an accident, incorrect claim amounts, and calls requesting information from an insurer that mistakenly are recorded as claims.

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Here are some examples of the types of claims that may be included on a CLUE report:

It's essential to review your CLUE report carefully to ensure the information is accurate and up-to-date. If you find any errors, you can dispute them with the company that maintains the CLUE report.

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Your home's claims history can significantly impact your insurance rates, even if you didn't make the claims yourself. If a previous owner filed a claim, it will appear on your CLUE report and affect your premiums.

A CLUE report can show claims going back up to seven years, and these claims can influence your insurance rates. You can expect a claim to remain on your CLUE report for at least seven years.

If you find a mistake in your CLUE report, you can dispute it with LexisNexis, the company that maintains the report. You'll need to provide records of the claim you question, such as damage estimates and copies of correspondence.

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Claims can be attributed to the wrong driver, or you may be mistakenly designated as responsible for an accident. A claim for property damage within your deductible resulting in no insurance payments being made should not appear as an insurance claim on your CLUE report.

Some states have laws preventing inquiries from being marked as claims, but not all do. This can lead to a homeowner struggling to sell and a buyer struggling to purchase home insurance.

Here are some types of claims that may appear on a CLUE report:

Claims can be made for issues that the owner decided to take care of themselves, and these claims may be marked as "claims" on your CLUE report.

Theft is a relatively rare occurrence, accounting for only 0.6% of homeowners insurance claims in 2020.

This low rate of loss is likely due to the popularity of home protection services like security cameras and video doorbells, which can deter potential burglars.

The average home insurance claim for theft was $4,415, a significant amount that can be reduced with the help of insurance.

Having insurance can greatly reduce the financial burden on homeowners in the event of a theft.

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Major repairs can be a significant factor in a home's insurance claim history, and even if the homeowner paid for the repair themselves, it can still affect your ability to get insurance.

A small issue that a homeowner decides to fix on their own can still be marked as a claim, even if they used their own money.

In some states, laws prevent inquiries from being marked as claims, but this isn't the case everywhere, which can lead to problems for both buyers and sellers.

A seller who provides you with a C.L.U.E. report is showing that they're willing to be transparent about the home's history.

Negotiating a lower price for the home can be possible if you use the claims history to your advantage, such as inquiring about security measures after a past robbery.

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A CLUE report is a document that details a home's insurance claims within the past seven years. You can request a free CLUE report for your home once a year.

Claims going back up to seven years will be on the CLUE report. This includes claims made by previous owners, even if you didn't own the home when they made the claim.

The CLUE report is property-based, not policyholder-based. This means claims made by previous owners will also appear on your report.

Here are some types of claims that may be included in a CLUE report: BurglaryContaminationEarthquakeFireFloodFreezing waterLightningVandalismWater damageWind

CLUE reports can affect your home insurance rates. Insurers use the home insurance claim history to underwrite policies and set premiums.

Claims in the past seven years may lead to higher premiums, though it depends on the quantity and extent of those claims.

Insurance companies share your claims history on the CLUE report, which they use to assess risk when you apply for a policy.

This report contains information about all the claims you've made in the past seven years, including those filed on the property before you lived there.

Specialty consumer reporting agencies collect this information and insurers access it when deciding whether to offer coverage and how much to charge in premiums.

You can get free copies of reports from many specialty consumer reporting agencies, but others may charge for them.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau maintains a list of these agencies and information on how to request copies of your reports.

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act allows consumers to get a free copy of the CLUE report every year upon request.

Most home insurance companies provide information to the CLUE report, so your claims history follows you.

Even if you didn't own the property when the claims were made, they'll still be on the report and influence your rates.

Claims going back up to seven years will be on the CLUE report, and insurers may have their own records of inquiries, even if they don't appear on the report.