Insurance

Consumer Watchdog Raises Concerns About Occupation-Based Auto Insurance Discounts

February 8, 2017 · Evan Thomas King

Consumer Watchdog is urging the California Department of Insurance to deny auto insurance rate proposals from insurers <a href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/business/financial-business-services/insurance/geico-ORCRP017257-topic.html">Geico</a> and Progressive that the consumer group says will dole out unfair discounts based on occupation.

L.A. Woman Says She Is Victim Of Insurance Scam

January 26, 2017 · Mark Reback

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Mid-City woman said she was duped by an insurance company that sold her junk insurance. A year and a half ago, DeeAnn Davis lost her health insurance along with her job. “The Cobra insurance they extended was $900 a month. So I had to search for my own policy,” she said. So Davis called the 800 number listed on the <a href="http://www.coveredca.com/">Covered California</a> website.

Consumer Group Criticizes Los Angeles Private Attorney Fees

January 24, 2017 · Evan Thomas King

A consumer advocacy group is criticizing the city of Los Angeles for paying outside private counsel more than $1.8 million to defend a water mis-billing lawsuit and then taking a cut as plaintiff counsel in another related case. Consumer Watchdog, advocating on behalf of taxpayers, requested the disclosure of contingency fees regarding two lawsuits in which the city hired private counsel to defend and prosecute its cases, including Paul Kiesel of Kiesel Law and Paul Paradis of the Paradis Law Group PLLC.

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

January 19, 2017 · Carmen Balber

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. <img class=" size-full wp-image-21175" alt="" height="296" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/images_2016prop103savings.png" width="569" />

Surprise! Insurance Industry Hands Revealed Behind Prop 103 Attack

January 18, 2017 · Carmen Balber

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2960" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/images_hoinsurance_6.jpg" style="width: 139px; height: 139px; float: right;" width="120" height="120" />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.

State Farm Could Be Fined Billions; The Firm Isn’t Cutting Rates Fast Enough, California Insurance Regulator Says

January 17, 2017 · Mark Reback

The California Department of Insurance says State Farm is not moving fast enough to lower its rates for homeowners and renters and it could face billions of dollars in fines if it doesn't speed up the process. The threat of hefty fines, sent Friday to State Farm, escalates an increasingly bitter fight between the department and the Bloomington, Ill., insurance giant. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones ordered a rate cut as of Dec. 8, but State Farm has challenged that order in court and does not plan on cutting rates until Feb. 13.

Letter To The Editor – Sacramento Bee: Prop. 103 Has Saved Consumers

January 16, 2017 · Mark Reback

<h3>Prop. 103 has saved consumers </h3> Re “<a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/investigations/the-public-eye/article126279069.html" target="_blank" title="" rel="noopener">Are insurance rates better under Prop. 103?</a>” (Insight, Jan. 13): The article about consumer rate challenges under Proposition 103 misleads the public about where its critique comes from.

Healthcare Insurance Hell: If At First Your Claim Is Denied, Try, Try Again

January 13, 2017 · Mark Reback

One focus of the planned repeal of Obamacare is maintaining coverage for people with preexisting conditions. Republican lawmakers say the current law’s safeguards won’t change, but they have yet to explain how they’ll accomplish this without also keeping the mandate that everyone buy insurance.

DWP Bill of Rights Fit for Russian Gulag, Says Consumer Advocate

January 5, 2017 · Mark Reback

Notwithstanding the fact that DWP kept the lights on in Los Angeles while Enron left the rest of the state in the dark back in 2000, there are a number of people who believe the city-owned utility sucks big time and is in dire need of a major overhaul. Among them is Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court, who says Angelenos are no better off that Soviet-era political prisoners once were when it comes to getting straight answers about a bill.

2016 In Review: Wells Fargo, PG&E, Exploding Phones Draw Ire Of Consumers

December 29, 2016 · Mark Reback

A banking scandal, exploding phones and the ongoing roller coaster of PG&E rate changes were among the top stories raising the ire of consumers this years.

Judge Orders State Farm To Cut Rates

December 20, 2016 · Mark Reback

State Farm customers in California could soon be paying lower premiums for homeowner, condo and renter insurance but will have to wait for the outcome of a lawsuit to know whether they will also get refunds from the company. A judge ruled late Friday that State Farm must abide by a state order to cut its premiums but can hold off on repaying customers, allegedly for overcharging, as it challenges Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones' authority to demand refunds under landmark insurance law Proposition 103.

Google The ‘Serial Abuser’ Faces Federal Complaint Over User ‘Super Profiles’

December 19, 2016 · Mark Reback

Two consumer groups have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission alleging that Google broke the law by deceptively forcing a privacy-policy change onto users that allows the firm to build much more comprehensive files on individuals. Consumer Watchdog, a prominent Google <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/03/15/google-asks-senate-committee-for-fast-tracked-rules-on-self-driving-cars/">adversary </a>on self-driving cars, joined Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in filing the FTC complaint on Monday.

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

New Bill Requires Insurance Companies to Offer and Renew Insurance Coverage for Fire-Safe Homes

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers