Whether you know it or not, you have a C.L.U.E. report (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange). 82% of Americans don’t know they even have a CLUE report. Essentially, this is the report insurance companies use to determine how much you pay. You might compare it to your credit report, but for insurance. There are two types of CLUE reports, one for home and one for auto.
Stop and Think Before Filing an Insurance Claim
Even just a call to your insurance company can lead to a negative entry on your CLUE report, which can in turn, raise your insurance rates or even potentially cancel your policy. Call a mitigation expert first to help assess the damage and determine if you want to contact your insurance company to file a claim or not.
CLUE reports are compiled by insurers to provide all dates of claims, what insurance companies were involved, your policy, location/property of loss, whether the loss was related to a named catastrophe (flood, hurricane, etc.), and finally, the amount paid for the loss. These reports generally go back five years, however some go back as long as seven years. Once a year, you can order your report for free from research firm LexusNexis. This allows you the opportunity to review the information and dispute anything that you believe to be false.
What’s in my CLUE Report?
Detailed information about any and all claims you’ve made on your insurance. If you haven’t made any claims you shouldn’t have anything in the report.
- Date of loss
- Loss type
- Amount the company paid
- Policy number
- Claim number
- Insurance company name
Help When Buying or Selling a Home
If you’re in the market for a new home, consider requesting a CLUE report from the seller. This can help determine the history of the house and any major damage or repairs done to the property. If you’re selling your house, you might want to provide potential buyers a copy of your CLUE report. This can ease any potential worries they may have about the property’s history. It can also provide assurance that any past repairs, especially structural, were handled correctly, giving the buyer peace of mind.
Knowledge Saves You Money
Knowing about your CLUE report is key to making the right decisions about insurance. When to file a claim and when to pay out-of-pocket. Even very small claims can impact your insurance rates and are reflected in your CLUE report. All your claims add up and can lead to your insurance rates being raised. Taking the time to calculate the cost before filing a claim can save you hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars.
Call the Experts at R4!
Don’t get overwhelmed, there are professionals that can assist with all aspects of the restoration process. An expert will be able to help you with everything from the initial inspection, to identifying the source of loss, documenting, and cleanup work. Everything is done according to IICRC industry standards, while on call 24/7/365.
Contact us day or night at 404.428.1255 or use our Contact Form