News Releases

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...

Consumer Watchdog Petitions Commissioner to Stop Travelers from Overcharging Small Business Owners

June 21, 2017  ·  Carmen Balber

Santa Monica, CA – Consumer Watchdog has filed a petition challenging the insurance rates that two companies in the Travelers Group want to charge small...

Consumers Win $246 Million in Savings From Prop 103 Rate Challenges in 2016

January 19, 2017  ·  Carmen Balber

<p>Santa Monica, CA – California consumers and small business owners saved $246 million dollars on their insurance in 2016 thanks to public rate challenges brought by Consumer Watchdog under insurance reform initiative Proposition 103.</p> <p><img class=" size-full wp-image-21175" alt="" height="296" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/images_2016prop103savings.png" width="569" /></p>

Consumer Watchdog Opposes Delay in $256 Million in Refunds and Rate Savings for State Farm Customers

December 15, 2016  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-21092" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/images_statefarmlogo-1_0.png" style="width: 200px; height: 155px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="1200" height="927" />Santa Monica, CA – Consumer Watchdog will be in court tomorrow to oppose a request by State Farm, California’s largest insurance company, to postpone refunds of more than $100 million in overcharges on home, condo and renters insurance, and delay a 7% rate cut that would save customers $156 million per year (including the savings from denying the 6.9% rate increase sought by State Farm).

Consumer Watchdog Challenges $210 Million Excessive State Farm Rate Hike on 1.7 Million California Renters and Homeowners

October 20, 2015  ·  Carmen Balber

Santa Monica, CA — Consumer Watchdog has challenged a rate increase proposed by State Farm, the state’s largest homeowners insurance company, that would overcharge consumers...

Top 10 Reasons You Can’t Trust Mercury Insurance

August 4, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

For years, Mercury Insurance illegally overcharged hundreds of thousands of California drivers hundreds of dollars per year, until they were forced to stop in the wake of a Court of Appeal decision in 2005.

Insurance Industry Files Ballot Initiatives to Repeal Prop. 103, Raise Auto, Home and Business Rates by Hundreds of Dollars Per Year

January 5, 2006  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

Consumer Advocates See Rematch of $80 Million 1988 Battle