How did they know about that claim?

To get an accurate claim history on consumers, many insurance companies use a service called CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange). CLUE is a centralized database that provides a seven year history of auto and homeowner insurance claims. The database enables homeowner and auto insurance companies to exchange your claim history. The CLUE database is maintained by ChoicePoint, a consumer reporting agency. 

Information provided on the reports include the date of the loss, the type of loss, the name of the insurance company, policy number, the amount paid, and other general information. As with any report that is collected by a consumer reporting agency, you have the right to obtain a free copy annually. Information on how to obtain your CLUE report can be found on the CLUE Reports website. 

Your insurance premiums are determined by the information provided on these reports, therefore, it is recommended to check them periodically. In the event you find a discrepancy on your report, you have the right by law to dispute it. Checking your CLUE report prior to shopping for insurance coverage will give you the time needed to fix any discrepancies before purchasing a policy.