Did You Know There's a Fourth Major Credit Bureau?

The forgotten credit bureau that identity thieves love to exploit

Written by Robert J Wilkins IV

What Is Innovis?

4 major credit bureaus, not 3

Innovis is the fourth largest consumer credit bureau in the United States, owned by CBC Companies and based in Columbus, Ohio. While smaller than the Big 3, Innovis maintains files on tens of millions of consumers and is used by some lenders, insurers, and telecommunications companies for credit decisions.

• Collects credit data from some lenders and creditors
• Does NOT generate its own credit score
• Used by GMAC, Verizon, and other companies for credit decisions
• Less comprehensive than Big 3 but still important
• Often forgotten in identity theft protection strategies

Forgetting to freeze Innovis is like locking three doors but leaving the fourth wide open.

Why Innovis Matters for Identity Protection

Identity thieves know that most consumers only freeze the Big 3 bureaus. By applying for credit through lenders that pull Innovis, they can slip through your defenses. A complete identity protection strategy must include all four bureaus.

• Some creditors only pull Innovis for credit decisions
• Identity thieves exploit the 'forgotten' fourth bureau
• Innovis freeze is free under federal law
• Fraud alerts should be placed at all four bureaus
• Errors at Innovis can still affect credit applications

Legal Insight: Under federal law, security freezes at all four major bureaus are free. There's no excuse not to freeze Innovis too.

How to Get Your Free Innovis Report

Like the Big 3, you're entitled to one free Innovis credit report every 12 months. Innovis is NOT available through AnnualCreditReport.com - you must request directly from Innovis.

• Request online at innovis.com/personal/creditReport
• Call 1-800-540-2505 for phone requests
• Mail requests to P.O. Box 1689, Pittsburgh, PA 15230-1689
• Free security freeze at innovis.com/personal/securityFreeze
• Dispute online at innovis.com/personal/disputeResolution

How Credit1Solutions Can Help

Our comprehensive credit improvement process includes Innovis analysis because we know that complete credit protection requires all four bureaus. We help you check, dispute, and freeze your Innovis report alongside the Big 3.

• Request and analyze your Innovis Consumer Disclosure
• Identify any accounts or inquiries that shouldn't be there
• Dispute inaccurate or fraudulent information
• Place security freezes across ALL FOUR bureaus
• Ensure your identity protection strategy is complete

True credit protection means protecting all four bureaus. We make sure nothing is forgotten.