News Releases

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...

Consumer Watchdog Identifies Three Homeowner Insurance Rules Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara Can Issue Immediately

August 27, 2019  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA– In a letter sent today, Consumer Watchdog called on Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to use the full authority of his office to...

CA Supreme Court Puts an End to Mercury Insurance Company’s 20-Year Battle to Escape Accountability for Unlawful Fees 

August 15, 2019  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

Los Angeles, CA — Mercury Insurance Company will pay at least $27.6 million in civil penalties for overcharging hundreds of thousands of California motorists in violation...

Vote Cancelled on Commissioner Lara’s “Creative” Wildfire Insurance Bill

August 14, 2019  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA – A wildfire insurance bill sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara stalled in the state Assembly today in the face of objections raised by...

Advocates Call for Withdrawal of Insurance Commissioner Lara’s Bill to Give Insurers & Wall Street Blank Check From CA Taxpayers

August 13, 2019  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog said legislation sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and scheduled for a vote Wednesday would needlessly expose California taxpayers to...

Insurance Commissioner Promises Hearings – But Sets No Timeline To Stop Auto Insurance Discrimination

March 26, 2019  ·  Carmen Balber

Statement of Consumer Watchdog: “Thirty days ago, Consumer Watchdog and ten other organizations petitioned Insurance Commissioner Riccardo Lara to stop insurance companies’ discrimination against low-income...