Insurance

CEO to Out of State Donors: Arnold is Our Insurance Policy

July 17, 2006  ·  Doug Heller

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The head of America's 7th largest insurance company recently wrote Illinois-based CEOs and big business barons about a $25,000 per head Schwarzenegger fundraiser originally scheduled for today...</font>

New System for Determining Auto Insurance Rates Backed

July 15, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"Californians have waited 17 years, six months and eight days to end the system of basing auto insurance premiums based on where you live, rather than how you drive," said Douglas Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, the successor to the organization that pushed Proposition 103. He predicted that "in coming months, we are going to see reform and it's going to feel good for a lot of motorists."</p>

Auto insurers pressed

July 13, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE</p> <p>This week, the Automobile Club of Southern California broke ranks with the industry and said it would voluntarily begin implementing the new rules by Dec. 1. It simultaneously announced plans to cut rates across the board by $134 million or 7 percent on average, thanks to an improvement in its claims-paying experience. As a result of the two moves, 88 percent of its customers will see lower rates and 12 percent will see higher rates.</p>

Strong Arm the Strong Man

July 13, 2006  ·  Carmen Balber

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">rnold has talked tough about prison reform since he took office, but the Strong Man's promises evaporated in 2006 when two successive corrections secretaries quit the job. Rod Hickman, who'd...</font>

Auto Club of SoCal to change how car insurance is calculated

July 11, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The Auto Club's decision sends a message to other insurers that "they can respect the wishes of the voters and make money at the same time," said Harvey Rosenfield of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. The Santa Monica attorney wrote Proposition 103 and has been working ever since to see it fully enforced.</p>

Push for auto rate change;

July 11, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>BAY AREA FIRMS RESIST INSURER'S MOVE TO BASE POLICY ON DRIVING RECORD</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>"Californians have been waiting since 1988 for their auto insurance premiums to be based on their driving records rather than their ZIP codes,'' said Douglas Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Some drivers’ insurance rates to be slashed

July 11, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Pasadena Star-News (California)</p> <p>"Across the state, certainly across the county, you see rate disparities from one ZIP code to the next that are so extreme as to be almost unbelievable," said Douglas Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica-based consumer advocacy group that wrote the proposition.</p>

California Auto Insurer Changes Rate Model

July 11, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Morning Edition - National Public Radio (NPR)</p> <p>Ratepayer advocates in California, have been fighting for nearly 20 years, to get auto insurers to set their rates on how and where you drive, rather than where you park your car at night. Back in 1988, voters passed a referendum to get insurers to do just that. Consumer advocate Harvey Rosenfield authored the bill, but years of court fights held up the plan. Yesterday, Rosenfield said, victory felt sweet.</p>

Who’s Afraid of Campaign Finance Reform?

July 11, 2006  ·  Jamie Court

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold has always talked a good game about cleaning up cash register politics even as he has raised more campaign cash than any politician in California history. Now he has a chance to do...</font>

Major Shift in Auto Policies;

July 10, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Rates would emphasize safety and mileage, not ZIP Codes, for drivers insured by Auto Club. Adherence to Prop. 103 is a win for Garamendi.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The Auto Club's decision to deemphasize ZIP Codes is historic and sends a message to other insurers that "they can respect the wishes of the voters and make money at the same time," said Harvey Rosenfield of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. The Santa Monica attorney wrote Proposition 103 and has been working ever since to see it fully enforced. "This will have tremendous consequences for the marketplace," Rosenfield said.</p>

Cingular Sued for Service Lapses

July 8, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Day To Day Radio Program (National Public Radio-NPR)</p> <p>The consumer watchdog group is arguing that these customers were charged for services that they shouldn't have had to pay for in the first place. Just last month, by the way, there was a ruling from a state appeals court in California, that it was upholding a $12 million fine against Cingular, for signing up customers faster than they could provide adequate service for.</p>

Is this the big moment?;

July 6, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Earthquake insurance rates just dropped 22% statewide. For those who don't have coverage -- most of us -- it might be time to consider it.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"With the new lower rates, it's time to go back and reconsider buying earthquake insurance because Californians are in a real precarious position without it," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. Still, he is concerned about the high deductible -- $60,000, for example, on a house that would cost $400,000 to rebuild.</p>