Modern institutions store information about individuals in many databases. Perhaps the most visible locations of such records are credit-reporting agencies.

Other institutions that store personal information include banks and financial institutions; cable TV, telephone, and utilities companies; employers; mortgage companies; hospitals; schools and universities; retail establishments; government agencies (Internal Revenue Service, your state, your municipality); and many others.

There are several concerns about the information you provide to these record keepers.

Some of the major concerns are:

• Do you know where the records are?
• Are the records accurate?
• Can you change inaccurate data?
• How long will it take to make a change?
• Under what circumstances will personal data be released?
• How are the data used?
• To whom are the data given or sold?
• How secure are the data against access by unauthorized people?