Card Briefs: Trans Union Appeals Data List Sales Ruling

Trans Union Corp. has appealed to the Federal Trade Commission to overturn a ruling that the credit bureau improperly sells consumer marketing lists. The FTC said these lists-which comprise consumers' names, addresses, Social Security numbers, telephone numbers, and loan data- qualify as consumer credit reports and therefore cannot be sold to direct marketers.

Trans Union vice president and general counsel Oscar Marquis said the lists "are not consumer reports because they do not disclose credit- performance information."

The appeal is the latest salvo in a six-year legal battle between the government and Trans Union over this issue. Trans Union said it will continue to sell the lists while it waits for an answer from the agency.