The following is a transcript of a report by Call 4 Action reporter Aaron Saykin that first aired June 18, 2007, on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m.

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For anyone with less-than-stellar credit, you know how difficult and expensive it can be to take out a loan.

What you might not realize is that your credit score also affects how much you pay for car insurance, but is that fair? One local legislator wants to put a stop to it.

Like so many others, Steve Mills is one of those drivers whose credit is far from perfect and his car insurance, as a result, is far from inexpensive.

"It shouldn't depend on your credit score," said Mills. "It should depend on your driving record."

In Pennsylvania, auto insurance companies look at both before determining what you pay.

Critics said it unfairly penalizes the poor, seniors and students, who use less credit.

State Rep. Jesse White is now trying to stop the practice.

"It hurts so many people," White said. "It's a way to really jack up the different premium for different groups."

But the state Insurance Federation said drivers with poor credit are not as careful, pointing to studies that show they file claims averaging more than $900, which is 53 percent above the average.

Compare that to drivers with the best credit, who file claims averaging $550 or 25 percent below the average.

The system rewards people like Lynn Haines.

"It's went down, like, every year, because I don't have nothing against me," said Haines. "No debts, no nothing."

Haines would pay more if the system changes.

White said credit reports are not always accurate.

"Most people don't even know what their credit score is," he said. "And there are always different things on a credit report that can have a credit report that you may or may not know about. So, I think that's a ridiculous argument to be totally honest with you."

White's bill is expected to be voted on this summer.

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Related Links:

www.AnnualCreditReport.com

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