Nothing But Silence From Choicepoint

During the past few months, the three national credit bureaus announced new options for consumers to lock down or "freeze" their credit reports. This new option provides far stronger protections for consumers against identity theft, compared to the older Fraud Alert option.

Anyway, I was wondering when Choicepoint, the dominant provider of C.L.U.E. insurance reports through its Choicetrust site, would offer a similar nationwide Security Freeze option for its insurance reports. According to the Choicetrust site, the Security Freeze option for insurance reports is available in 12 states: Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia.

I sent my first letter in September 2007. No answer. I sent a second letter last week. Still no answer.

My letter to Choicepoint:

"Hello. I am an independent journalist and I am also a customer of your C.L.U.E. reports. As you probably know, TransUnion and Equifax have announced a nationwide credit report freeze service available in October. They are not waiting for legislation in additional states. When will Choice Trust offer a similar, nationwide freeze service? As the dominant provider of C.L.U.E. reports, this is an opportunity for you to take a leadership position. I look forward to your reply."

I spent good money ordering my two insurance reports (e.g., auto and homeowners property) from Choicetrust. It does not seem to be good customer relations to ignore a customer.

While the Choicetrust site does provide the Security Freeze option for my state (Massachusetts), the site does not explain why for my state I can freeze my Employment and Tenant reports but not my C.L.U.E. insurance reports.

Moreover, identity thieves are not stupid. They will take the path of least resistance to steal consumers' sensitive data. If consumers' credit reports are locked down, of course they will try to access insurance and medical reports. So, it seems wise (for both Choicepoint and consumers) for the Choicetrust site to offer a nationwide Security Freeze option.

What do you think? If you have written to Choicepoint, share your letter and response you've received from Chicepoint. I've Been Mugged readers want to know.