Understanding A-PLUS Property Insurance Reports
Learn how A-PLUS property insurance reports work, what they contain, and how to request, read, and dispute them effectively.
A-PLUS Property is a consumer reporting system used by many home and auto insurers to share and review past insurance claims. Understanding how this database works can help you protect your wallet, your privacy, and your ability to get affordable insurance.
This guide explains what an A-PLUS Property report is, how it affects your insurance options, how to request your free report, and what to do if you find errors.
What Is A-PLUS Property and Who Runs It?
A-PLUS Property is a claims and loss history database maintained by Verisk, a data and analytics company that provides information services to the insurance industry. Insurers send information about property and auto claims to A-PLUS, and in turn they can access the consolidated history when you apply for coverage.
The system is designed to help insurers:
- Evaluate the level of risk associated with a home, vehicle, or applicant
- Confirm whether there were prior losses at an address or involving a vehicle
- Set premiums and eligibility rules more accurately
- Detect possible misrepresentation or fraud
Because A-PLUS supplies personal and household claim histories to insurers, it is treated as a type of consumer report and is subject to federal consumer protection laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
What Types of Claims Does A-PLUS Property Include?
A-PLUS was built to capture a broad range of loss information for personal and commercial property and auto insurance. For consumers, the most important categories are:
- Homeowners and renters claims (e.g., fire, theft, wind, water damage)
- Personal auto claims (e.g., collision, comprehensive, liability)
- Other personal property losses attached to an insurance policy
According to consumer privacy advocates, these reports often include up to about seven years of claim history for home and auto policies. Insurers contributing to A-PLUS may report:
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- Dates of losses and the general type of each loss
- The insurer that handled the claim
- Amounts paid (where applicable)
- Policy and claim identifiers
- Address or vehicle information linked to the loss
How Insurers Use A-PLUS Property Reports
When you apply for a new homeowners or auto policy, or request changes to an existing one, the insurer may order an A-PLUS report to evaluate your risk profile. Verisk markets the A-PLUS system as a way for underwriters to assess both individual applicants and risk locations—such as a specific house or building—using shared industry data.
Insurers typically use A-PLUS data to:
- Confirm past losses you reported on your application
- Identify undisclosed claims at your current or prior address
- Price premiums based on the frequency and severity of prior claims
- Decide eligibility for certain policies or coverage tiers
- Flag unusual patterns that may warrant deeper review
| Factor in A-PLUS Report | Possible Impact on Insurance |
|---|---|
| Multiple prior home claims in a short period | Higher homeowners premium, stricter conditions, or potential denial |
| Single small auto claim several years ago | Often limited impact, depending on insurer’s underwriting rules |
| Large fire or water damage loss at the property | Closer underwriting review; possible coverage limitations or higher deductible |
| Errors or claims belonging to someone else | Incorrectly high premiums or denials until the data is corrected |
Your Legal Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
Because A-PLUS Property functions as a consumer reporting system, it is subject to the FCRA, which grants you several important rights. These rights are similar to the rights you have with credit bureaus.
Key protections you have
- Access: You can request a copy of your A-PLUS consumer report.
- Free annual report: You are entitled to at least one free report every 12 months upon request.
- Adverse action notice: If an insurer raises rates, limits coverage, or denies you based in part on information from a consumer report, the company generally must notify you and tell you which consumer reporting company supplied the data.
- Dispute rights: If information is inaccurate or incomplete, you can dispute it, and the consumer reporting company must investigate free of charge.
- Correction of errors: If the investigation confirms an error, the information must be corrected or removed, and the furnisher of the data must notify other consumer reporting agencies that received the same inaccurate information.
How to Request Your A-PLUS Property Report
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) encourages consumers to regularly review specialty consumer reports, including insurance loss history reports, for accuracy. Here is a general step-by-step approach to requesting your A-PLUS report.
1. Gather identifying information
Have the following information ready so the company can locate your file:
- Full legal name (including middle initial and suffix, if applicable)
- Current address and prior addresses for several years
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of your Social Security number (or full SSN, if required)
- Contact phone number and email address
2. Contact the company listed on your adverse action notice (if any)
If an insurer has already given you an adverse action notice—for example, a letter stating that you were charged a higher premium because of information from A-PLUS—the notice should list the name and contact details of the consumer reporting company used. Follow the contact instructions on that notice to request your report.
3. Request your free annual A-PLUS Property report
If you have not recently received an adverse action notice, you can still request a free A-PLUS Property report at least once every 12 months. A typical request can be made by:
- Phone: Calling the customer service number provided by the A-PLUS operator
- Mail: Sending a written request with your identifying information
- Online: Using any web form or portal that the company may provide
According to the CFPB, when a specialty consumer reporting company is required to provide a free report, it must generally respond within 15 days of receiving your request.
4. Confirm whether you have multiple records
If you have used different names, lived at multiple addresses, or shared properties with relatives or roommates, ask the representative to check for possible mixed files. This can help detect whether someone else’s claims are showing up on your report.
How to Read and Review Your A-PLUS Property Report
Once you receive your report, review it carefully and methodically. A typical A-PLUS Property report may be organized by policy type or property, listing one or more claims tied to each address or vehicle.
Information commonly found on the report
- Personal identifiers: Your name and address history
- Policy details: Type of policy (homeowners, auto), insurer name, policy numbers
- Claim descriptions: Date of loss, general type of incident (e.g., theft, collision)
- Financial fields: Amounts paid or reserved (if reported by the insurer)
- Status indicators: Whether a claim is closed, open, or was denied
Red flags to look for
- Claims you do not recognize or that clearly belong to someone else
- Claims at properties where you have never lived or owned
- Duplicate entries for the same loss
- Incorrect dates or loss types that could make a small claim look worse
- Claims reported as unpaid when the insurer actually paid and closed the matter
Common Problems Found in Insurance Loss History Reports
Consumer advocates report that insurance loss history databases such as A-PLUS and similar systems sometimes contain information that does not accurately reflect a consumer’s true claim history. Some issues include:
- Mixed files: Claims for another person with a similar name or address appearing on your report
- Outdated data: Older claims that should no longer be reported based on the reporting period used by the system
- Non-claim inquiries: Notations that an insurer recorded a call where you only asked about coverage or potential claims
- Denied or withdrawn claims: Entries for losses that were never paid or were below your deductible
- Repaired damage: Claims that accurately occurred but where the property has been fully restored
While some of these entries may be technically accurate, they can still influence how insurers view your risk profile. That is why it is important to understand—not just read—your report and to use your dispute rights when something is wrong or misleading.
How to Dispute Errors in Your A-PLUS Property Report
If you find information that is inaccurate or incomplete, the FCRA gives you the right to dispute the problem with both the consumer reporting company and the business that supplied the data (often your insurer).
Step-by-step dispute process
1. Collect documentation
- Copy of your A-PLUS report with the disputed items clearly highlighted
- Insurance policy declarations pages
- Letters from insurers showing claim outcomes or corrections
- Police reports, contractor invoices, or repair bills where relevant
2. Write to the consumer reporting company
Send a written dispute that includes:
- Your full name, current address, and contact details
- A clear description of each item you are disputing
- An explanation of why the information is wrong or incomplete
- Copies (not originals) of your supporting documents
Keep a copy of your letter and send it by a method that provides proof of delivery, such as certified mail.
3. Contact the furnisher of the information
Next, send a similar dispute letter to the insurance company or other business that reported the claim. Under the FCRA, furnishers that receive a dispute must investigate and report the results back to the consumer reporting company.
4. Wait for the investigation
The consumer reporting company generally must investigate disputes within a set time frame (often around 30 days) and must provide you with written results when the investigation is complete. If the disputed information is found to be inaccurate or incomplete, it must be corrected or removed.
5. Add a statement of dispute if needed
If you disagree with the outcome, you may have the right to add a brief statement of dispute to your file. Future report users will then see your explanation alongside the item.
When A-PLUS Property May Affect Insurance Pricing the Most
Not all claims carry the same weight in underwriting. Insurers often pay particular attention to:
- Frequent small claims: A pattern of frequent, relatively minor claims may suggest a higher likelihood of future losses or a lower tolerance for risk retention.
- Large catastrophic events: Major fire, water, or liability claims can significantly affect how insurers view a property.
- Recent losses: Claims in the last three to five years may matter more than older ones, though systems like A-PLUS can provide up to several years of history.
- Liability-related incidents: Injuries to others or lawsuits can influence eligibility for certain coverages.
Because insurers may rely heavily on this information, confirming accuracy is essential before you shop for quotes or switch carriers.
Tips to Protect Yourself When Dealing With Insurance Loss History
While you cannot eliminate valid claims from your history, you can manage how loss information affects you by combining good recordkeeping with proactive oversight.
- Request your report before you shop: Consider obtaining your A-PLUS (and other loss history) reports before applying for new policies so you can correct errors in advance.
- Ask your agent questions: If a quote seems unexpectedly high, ask whether a loss history report was used and which company supplied it.
- Be cautious with claim inquiries: Before calling your insurer to ask about a potential claim, ask if the conversation could be logged in a loss history file, even if you never file a formal claim.
- Maintain your own records: Keep copies of claim settlement letters, repair receipts, and correspondence; they are invaluable for disputes.
- Monitor long-term: Make reviewing specialty consumer reports a regular part of your financial checkup, just like checking your credit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is A-PLUS Property the same as a credit report?
No. An A-PLUS Property report focuses on your insurance loss history for property and auto coverage, not on loans, credit cards, or payment history. However, both types of reports are covered by the FCRA and come with similar access and dispute rights.
Q2: Does requesting my own A-PLUS report hurt my credit score or insurance rates?
Requesting a copy of your own consumer report does not affect your credit scores, and simply asking for the report should not change your insurance premiums. The CFPB explicitly notes that obtaining your own consumer report will not damage your credit profile.
Q3: How often can I get a free A-PLUS report?
You are generally entitled to at least one free report every 12 months from each nationwide or specialty consumer reporting company, including those that track insurance claims, and an additional free copy if an adverse action is taken against you based on information in the report.
Q4: Can an old claim prevent me from getting homeowners insurance?
It depends on the insurer’s underwriting rules and the nature of the claim. Some companies may decline or restrict coverage after certain types of major losses, while others may accept you with a higher premium or particular conditions. Reviewing your A-PLUS report lets you understand what the insurer sees when assessing your risk.
Q5: What should I do if the same loss appears twice on my report?
Treat duplicate entries as potential errors. Gather your claim documentation and file a dispute with both the consumer reporting company that provided your A-PLUS report and the insurer that reported the claim. Ask that the duplicate entry be removed or correctly merged.
References
- A-PLUS Property (by Verisk) — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 2023-10-01 (page last modified date may vary). https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/consumer-reporting-companies/companies-list/a-plus-property-verisk/
- ISO’s A-Plus Auto Claims History Database Reaches New Milestone — Verisk (ISO). 2006-04-11. https://www.verisk.com/company/newsroom/iso-s-a-plus-auto-claims-history-database-reaches-new-milestone-more-then-900-companies-contributin/
- ISO’s Automobile-Property Loss Underwriting Service (A-PLUS) — Verisk/ISO product description. Date not specified (original description of system). https://www.insuranceandtechguide.com/company/600988/products/177365/iso-s-automobile-property-loss-underwriting-service-a-plustm
- A-PLUS: Loss History Reports for Personal Lines — Verisk. 2024-06-01 (approximate based on page updates). https://www.verisk.com/products/a-plus-personal-lines-loss-history-solutions/
- Loss History: CLUE and A-Plus Reports — Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. 2019-07-12. https://privacyrights.org/resources-tools/articles/loss-history-clue-and-plus-reports
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