Insurance

Watchdog to Lara: State Farm Exec’s Startling Admission About Orchestrating Rate Hike Request Through Cancelled Coverage Should Be Disqualifying For Emergency Request

March 7, 2025  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog wrote a letter to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara with new information showing why State Farm should not be...

Rate Hike Challenge Saves $25 Million for General Ins. Co. Homeowner Policyholders

March 6, 2025  ·  Ben Powell

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog reached a settlement this week with General Insurance Company of America and the California Department of Insurance, resolving the company’s...

Consumer Watchdog Opposes State Farm’s Emergency Rate Hike Following Meeting with Insurance Commissioner Lara

February 26, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Los Angeles, CA – Following today’s meeting with California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, State Farm General Insurance (SFG), and the California Department of Insurance (CDI),...

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Insurance Commissioner to Reject State Farm’s Unjustified Emergency Rate Hike Request

February 7, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog has submitted two letters to Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara objecting to State Farm’s request for an emergency interim rate increase,...

Consumer Watchdog Saves California Policyholders $47 Million in United Financial Auto Insurance Rate Hikes

December 17, 2024  ·  Ben Powell

Los Angeles, CA —  Consumer Watchdog reached a settlement with United Financial Casualty Company and the California Department of Insurance last week, resolving the company’s application with...

Consumer Watchdog Saves Policyholders Over $325 Million from State Farm Auto Rate Hike; Dispute Erupts Between Commissioner Lara and Chief Administrative Law Judge Who Finds Department of Insurance Is Not Ensuring Rate Cases Are “Fundamentally Fair” 

December 11, 2024  ·  Ryan Mellino

As a result of Consumer Watchdog’s intervention, State Farm agreed to a lower rate increase of 17.7% compared to its initial 23.4% request

State Farm, Allstate and Insurance Lobbyists Ask Lara to Override Judge’s Decision

November 15, 2024  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

Chief Judge Says CA Insurance Regulators Flouted Consumer Protections Los Angeles, CA – The Chief Administrative Law Judge of the California Department of Insurance has...

Consumer Watchdog Saves Policyholders More Than $53 million with 21st Century, USAA, and Liberty Insurance Rate Hike Challenges

November 1, 2024  ·  Ben Powell

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog recently reached settlement in three challenges to double-digit rate hikes requested by 21st Century Insurance Company for its auto policies,...

Consumer Watchdog Achieves Increased Transparency, Enhanced Wildfire Risk Disclosures for Consumers in Settlement with Allstate

August 22, 2024  ·  Ben Powell

Consumer Watchdog reached a settlement with Allstate and the California Department of Insurance, resolving the company’s application with the Department for a rate increase of...

Consumer Participation In Insurance Rate Review, Billions In Consumer Savings, At Risk From Commissioner Lara’s Actions

August 9, 2024  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog issued the following statement about Commissioner Lara’s action today threatening consumers’ voice in insurance rate review. “For the past two...

Consumer Watchdog Responds To Industry Attack On Its Right To Challenge Unjustified Rate Hikes; Calls On Insurance Commissioner Lara To Follow Law & Confirm Its Eligibility

July 15, 2024  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA  — Consumer Watchdog called on the Department of Insurance to stop erecting roadblocks to public oversight and confirm the organization’s eligibility to challenge...

Wildfire Mitigation Discounts Too Low, Insurance Companies Fail to Explain How They Rank Homeowners’ Wildfire Risk, Consumer Watchdog Challenges

May 1, 2024  ·  Carmen Balber

Consumer Watchdog Challenged State Farm for failure to properly disclose or explain to consumers their wildfire risk classifications