New TransUnion Analysis Finds Using Court Record Violation Data Helps Predict Homeowners Policy Claims and Losses

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - February 09, 2016) -  A new TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) study showed a clear correlation between court record violation activity and homeowners insurance loss ratio performance. In fact, the non-weather loss ratio was approximately two times greater for those with the most severe court violations compared to a clean household.

Court record data, which includes criminal and traffic violations, is an alternative data source which provides additional behavioral insight into homeowners policies.

"The homeowners insurance industry is expanding its use of underwriting variables and rating techniques and is more closely evaluating those that are traditionally used in the personal automobile insurance underwriting process," said Mark McElroy, executive vice president of TransUnion's insurance business unit. "The findings clearly show that the use of alternative data assets such as court record violations can help property insurance carriers better assess a homeowner's risk. As insurance carriers incorporate driving records to properly price riskier policies, consumers with clean driving records can benefit."

The study found that 25% of policies had at least one criminal or traffic violation based on the primary named insured. However, TransUnion's householding technology identified and confirmed additional members of a household based on identifying information for one individual. As a result, additional household members were found for 60% of the policies analyzed, and the violation hit rate increased from 25% to 34%.

"The current macro-economic trends and the consumer market show there is a greater demand for using broader data attributes to deliver better predictive analytics," said Geoff Hakel, senior vice president of TransUnion's insurance business unit. "Incorporating court record violation data into the pricing and underwriting process provides property insurance carriers greater pricing sophistication and profitability."

Homeowners insurance carriers can benefit in the following ways by incorporating court record violation data into their pricing and/or underwriting process:

• Improve risk segmentation to accurately price risks where violation behavior adversely impacts homeowners loss ratios.
• Right-price the one-third of your homeowners risks that have approximately a 29% higher loss ratio.

For more information about the study, please click here.

For more insights, click here to visit TransUnion's insurance solutions blog.

About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)
Information is a powerful thing. At TransUnion, we realize that. We are dedicated to finding innovative ways information can be used to help individuals make better and smarter decisions. We help uncover unique stories, trends and insights behind each data point, using historical information as well as alternative data sources. This allows a variety of markets and businesses to better manage risk and consumers to better manage their credit, personal information and identity. Today, TransUnion has a global presence in more than 30 countries and a leading presence in several international markets across North America, Africa, Latin America and Asia. Through the power of information, TransUnion is working to build stronger economies and families and safer communities worldwide.

We call this Information for Good. http://www.transunion.com/business

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