Insurance

State tries to reduce title fees

August 31, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE</p> <p>"I think it's going to save a lot of people a lot of money," said Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, who supports the proposal but was not at the meeting. "I think the insurers will fight. They'll file a lawsuit I suspect. Garamendi has a pretty good track record in terms of beating the insurers when they try to avoid reforms."</p>

Juice, Grease and Muscle Can Beat Merit

August 31, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, estimates the two phone companies and their employees contributed more than $1 million to lawmakers and political parties. The "cable bill" measure, which passed the Senate Wednesday night, may have gotten through the Legislature merely on its merits. But it couldn't have sailed through with such overwhelming, bipartisan support without all that nourishing juice.</p>

Checks Roll In as Laws Flow Out;

August 31, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>As legislators vote on hundreds of bills before their session ends, special interests affected by the measures donate thousands of dollars.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"The fundraisers are being held at the moment of maximum leverage, and lobbyists are desperate to make one final good showing," said Doug Heller, of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. His group is advocating a measure on the November ballot, Proposition 89, to create a system for public financing of political campaigns. </p>

California Assembly passes bill to provide universal health care

August 28, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Under the measure, "the billions of dollars now wasted on insurance middlemen, CEO pay, record corporate profits, overhead and advertising will be used to provide good, affordable care for all who need it," said Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer advocacy group based in Santa Monica.</p>

Insurance commissioner’s proposal to roll back service fee goes to court Wednesday

August 27, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, says sky-high title and escrow fees, not rising home prices, have fueled interest in insurance reform. "This problem has been identified all around the country," Heller said. "Nowhere has it been addressed."</p>

Finally, fair car insurance rates

August 24, 2006  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Marketplace Radio Program (American Public Media)</p> <p>California insurers are phasing out the practice of using ZIP codes as a major factor for calculating auto insurance premiums. Consumer advocate and commentator Jamie Court says it's about time.</p>

Governor Moves to Undercut Angelides

August 24, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"He (Arnold) is telling everyone to 'hold your breath and trust me,' " said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica advocacy group. "History makes me leery of believing there's any real reform contained in any of these last-minute legislative deals."</p>

CHANGE HURTS SOME DRIVERS;

August 21, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insurance: Emphasizing Driving Records Over Zip Codes Will Cost Certain People Money, Experts Say.</h3><p class="source">The Press Enterprise (Riverside, CA)</p> <p>"If you are on the road more than the average driver, some of the savings will be less for you," said Doug Heller, executive of director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "That is the way the rules should be." "Mileage is going to get the attention it deserves," said Mark Savage, a senior attorney at Consumers' Union in San Francisco. "Good drivers will pay less, and a good driver who drives a low number of miles will pay even less."</p>

State Farm Abandons ZIP Code Rates Plan;

August 18, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Under pressure, the auto insurer agrees to comply with new pricing criteria and also will reduce fees.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>State Farm's decision to comply with the new rate-setting criteria means that most other auto insurers will be forced to follow suit if they want to be competitive, predicted Harvey Rosenfield, a Santa Monica consumer activist and the attorney who wrote Proposition 103. "I'm declaring victory after a 30-year battle to make insurance rates fairer," he said. "This is a matter of marketplace competition and economics. No insurance company can afford to defy Proposition 103 any longer."</p>

Lawmakers rake in end-of-session cash

August 17, 2006  ·  Doug Heller

<p class="source">Ventura County Star</p> <p>FTCR is promoting Proposition 89 on the Nov. 7 ballot, an initiative sponsored by the California Nurses Association that would create a system of voluntary public financing for campaigns for state offices. Under its terms, candidates who agreed to foreswear private contributions could qualify for public financing of their campaigns by first raising a threshold number of $5 contributions to prove their earnestness. </p>

REBELLING AGAINST REBATES: RED TAPE, RIP-OFFS SOUR SOME STORES ON CASH-BACK OFFERS

August 13, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Charlotte Observer (North Carolina)</p> <p>Groups like the nonprofit Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights have railed against rebate programs, saying some have become rip-offs. Many store advertisements, the group says, display the sales price in large letters while showing the "after rebate" tag in small letters. Sometimes customers leave with few or no instructions on how to claim the rebate, the group says.</p>

Auto insurers take hit on judge’s ruling

August 11, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Inside Bay Area (California)</p> <p>"The decision is a very, very powerful statement in support of Commissioner Garamendi's rules," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "The old system is unfair."</p>