Consumer complaint received 2024-08-10
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Other personal consumer report
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: LEXISNEXIS (FL)

I am writing to express my deep frustration and anger regarding my recent experience with LexisNexis, a consumer reporting agency that I had never even heard of until they intruded into my life in the most unsettling way. All I was trying to do was shop for cheaper car insurance while diligently working on improving my credit scorea task that is hard enough without interference. However, what I discovered has left me outraged. 

Imagine my shock when I was informed by XXXX that they had obtained a report on me from LexisNexis. This report, which I had never authorized, detailed how many times I had shopped for car insurance this year. Let me be clear : I never shared this information with LexisNexis or any other third party. I was under the impression that I was simply looking at prices, browsing quotes, and gathering information. I had no idea that every click was being monitored, stored, and shared behind my back. 

But that wasnt the end of it. The report also contained details about my driving history. Again, I askhow did this information find its way into LexisNexis hands? I never gave them permission to collect or store such personal data. The fact that a company I have never interacted with can so easily compile and distribute such sensitive information without my consent is not just troublingits terrifying. 

What makes this situation even more infuriating is the impact it has had on my life. Since LexisNexis provided this unauthorized report to XXXX, I have noticed that 15 to 20 insurance companies now refuse to even provide me with a quote, let alone sell me a policy. I was just trying to find a more affordable option, and instead, Ive been effectively blacklisted, through no fault of my own. The system that was supposed to help me is now working against me, and it all leads back to LexisNexis. 

In an effort to understand how this could happen, I decided to order a consumer report on myself directly from LexisNexis. I provided them with all the necessary information : my full name, Social Security number, drivers license numbereverything they requested. Yet, in return, I received a letter stating that they couldnt identify any account associated with my name. This was not just confusingit was enraging. How is it that they couldnt find my account when I gave them all this personal information, but had no problem identifying me when XXXX requested my data? Whats even more bewildering is that XXXX doesnt have access to my Social Security number, yet LexisNexis had no trouble pulling together a report on me. 

Determined to get answers, I called LexisNexis, only to be told that I would need to provide the same personal information over the phone to verify my identity. I can not express how infuriating it was to hear that I needed to verify myself to a company that has been collecting my data without my consent for who knows how long. When I pressed the customer service representative on whether LexisNexis follows any data ethics practices, his response was chilling : " Im afraid I dont know what that is, '' followed by a blunt admission that " No, we just buy data from third parties ; we dont follow any data ethics premises. '' This entire experience has been nothing short of a nightmare. I feel violated, angry, and helpless. My privacy has been invaded, my personal information has been collected and shared without my consent, and now Im being penalized by insurance companies as a result. Its clear to me that LexisNexis operates with a complete disregard for consumer privacy and data ethics. 

I am filing this report with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) because this kind of behavior can not go unchecked. No company should be allowed to operate with such blatant disregard for the rights and privacy of consumers. I urge the CFPB to investigate LexisNexis and hold them accountable for their actions. This is not just about methis is about protecting every consumer from the reckless and unethical practices of companies like LexisNexis.