A computer system creates and maintains an index for tracking information relating
to individuals. Such information can include, but is not limited to, social security
numbers, names, address information, credit bureau identification numbers, and
credit history information on individuals. The invention employs logical rules
to this information in order to create and maintain a set of files for each individual.
The logical rules can include social security rules, geography rules, and address
ranking rules. The invention is designed to evaluate slight variations in information
very carefully in order to insure that appropriate files are assigned the same
index identification number or that appropriate records are assigned separate and
different index identification numbers as a situation warrants. The present invention
is designed to maintain numerous files for each individual being tracked instead
of merging and purging files as is done in the conventional art.