Most consumers don't realize that their credit score is factored into their insurance rates.

The Federal Trade Commission just did a big study on that, and their report basically endorses the practice. The insurance industry says, and the FTC apparently agrees, the lower your credit score, the more likely you are to file claims. Thus you pay higher premiums. Since some minorities and low-income American have lower credit scores, they often end up paying higher rates for things like car insurance. Thus, some consumer groups say this practice discriminates on the basis of race.

The FTC is taking some heat for the conclusions of this study.