News Releases

Commissioner Lara Should Reject Farmers’ Auto Insurance Rate Hikes and Stop Surcharges Aimed At COVID-19 First Responders and Emergency Workers, Says Consumer Watchdog

March 31, 2020  ·  Daniel Sternberg

Los Angeles, CA – Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara should reject Farmers Insurance Group’s proposed 6.5–6.9% auto insurance rate increases and its 3-tiered rating system based...

Insurance Lobbyists Launch Propaganda Campaign to Protect Their Ability To Overcharge Poor & Minority Drivers

March 10, 2020  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA — The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) has launched a deceptive website, at http://www.protectourdiscounts.org, and advertising campaign to protect insurers’ ability to...

Proposed Rule Moves Department of Insurance Closer to Banning Illegal Price Discrimination Against Low-Income Drivers and Communities of Color

March 2, 2020  ·  Daniel Sternberg

In comments submitted on proposed regulations Consumer Watchdog said rule could ban discrimination based on drivers’ occupation and education level; called for key amendments to...

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara Sued for Failure to Provide Public Records of Dealings With Insurance Executives in Pay-to-Play Scandal

February 18, 2020  ·  Jerry Flanagan

Los Angeles, CA — A non-profit consumer group filed a lawsuit to compel California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the Department of Insurance to hand...

Pacific Specialty Insurance Company To Cut California Homeowners And Renters Insurance Rates By Over $800,000

February 6, 2020  ·  Daniel Sternberg

Consumer Watchdog’s Challenge Using Prop 103’s Consumer Participation Process Leads To An Overall 3.1% Rate Decrease Los Angeles, CA — As a result of Consumer...

Commissioner Lara Should Reject Job & Education-Based Insurance Discrimination, Says Consumer Watchdog

January 27, 2020  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog said in a letter today that Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara should reject a proposed 5% auto insurance rate increase...

Reaction To New CA Insurance Department Rules To Limit Education & Occupation In Auto Insurance

December 23, 2019  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA –  “A year ago, Consumer Watchdog and organizations representing consumers, low-income workers and communities of color petitioned Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to...

Data Shows Insurance Companies Use Occupation and Education to Segregate and Overcharge Communities of Color And Blue-Collar California Drivers

October 1, 2019  ·  Pam Pressley

Los Angeles, CA — An analysis of new data obtained from insurance companies by the California Department of Insurance (“CDI”) confirms complaints by Consumer Watchdog and...

Insure Our Future Campaign Calls on Insurance Companies to Cut Ties with Fossil Fuels in the Wake of Climate-Related Rate Hikes and Policy Cancellations

September 25, 2019  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA — As the 2019 wildfire season begins, many homeowners in at-risk areas have once again seen their insurance rates go up, or their insurance...

Consumer Watchdog Writes Attorney General & District Attorneys To Investigate IC Ricardo Lara Over Bribery and Money Laundering

September 23, 2019  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA – The nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog has written California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the District Attorneys of Sacramento, San Francisco, and...

Release of Lara’s Calendar and Public Records Suggest Lara Made First Contact In “Pay to Play” Insurance Scandal

September 19, 2019  ·  Carmen Balber

UPDATE: 9/20 Consumer Watchdog sent this letter to the California Attorney General and District Attorneys for Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles along with the information...

Consumer Watchdog Asks Attorney General And DAs To Investigate CA Insurance Commissioner Over Apparently Illegal Payments For Second Home In Sacramento

September 9, 2019  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA –  Following a Politico report that California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara billed the state for his Sacramento apartment, Consumer Watchdog has called...