Insurance

State Farm Ordered To Cut Homeowners Insurance Rates In California

December 19, 2016 · Mark Reback

State Farm Insurance must reduce rates by an average of 7 percent for 1.7 million homeowners and renters in California while it challenges Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones' findings that its rates were excessive, a judge ruled Monday.

Aggressive Sales Goals Pressure T-Mobile Workers To Sell Unwanted Services, Labor Group Alleges

December 16, 2016 · Mark Reback

T-Mobile employees under pressure to meet sales goals are sometimes driven to mislead customers or to enroll them in services they didn’t ask for, alleges <a href="http://callingouttmobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Under.Pressure_Dec2016.pdf">a report from a labor coalition</a>. In a complaint that Change to Win said they filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Friday, the labor group claimed that T-Mobile sets “unrealistic sales targets” that encourage workers to act in ways that may not benefit consumers.

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

December 15, 2016 · Harvey Rosenfield

<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).

Judge To Weigh In On Insurer Refunds

December 9, 2016 · Mark Reback

A request by State Farm to block an order requiring it to issue more than $100 million in premium refunds will be considered next week in San Diego County Superior Court. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, citing authority of the state's landmark Proposition 103, ordered the Bloomington, Ill., insurer in November to issue the refunds and lower its homeowner and rental insurance rates.

State Farm Files Lawsuit To Block Historic Rollback in Insurance Rates

December 7, 2016 · Mark Reback

Last month, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones ordered more than $100 million in refunds for nearly 2 million State Farm policy owners, alleging the company charged excessive rates for its homeowners and renters insurance. It apparently was the first such refund approved since California’s landmark Proposition 103 rolled back a wide swath of insurance rates nearly three decades ago, marking a significant win for consumer groups.

NHTSA Needs Enforceable Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for Robot Cars

November 23, 2016 · John M. Simpson

The National Highway Safety Administration has apparently bought into the hype from robot car manufacturers<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2951" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/images_nhtsa_0.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 76px; float: right; margin: 3px;" width="525" height="200" /> and has failed to take necessary steps to protect the nation’s highways.

Plaintiffs Suing Over Anthem Blue Cross Of California Cuts Denied TRO

November 16, 2016 · Mark Reback

(Reuters) - The plaintiff in a proposed class action accusing Anthem Blue Cross of California of engaging in a "bait and switch" by telling its individual customers that it will renew their health insurance plans for next year while actually slashing benefits has lost a motion for a temporary restraining order.

Watch Out Trump & Feds, Consumer Watchdog Is Watching

November 13, 2016 · Mark Reback

Consumer Watchdog continues to look out for automotive safety including the safety of self-driving cars. The advocacy organization is also committed to keeping track of the Trump adminstration. After the presidental election results were announced, Consumer Watchdog’s Jamie Court sent an email to subscribers, supporters and the media. He wrote: <blockquote> “If ever the world needed the Consumer Watchdog community, it is today.

Judge Is Asked To Stop Anthem From Ending Out-Of-Network Coverage For 500,000 Californians

November 12, 2016 · Mark Reback

A consumer group has asked a judge to immediately stop <a href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/business/anthem-inc.-ORCRP001017-topic.html" id="ORCRP001017" title="Anthem Inc.">Anthem</a> Blue Cross from switching 500,000 Californians to health plans offering no coverage for out-of-network care. The dispute is over a change Anthem made to its 2017 plans known as preferred provider organizations, or PPOs, throughout much of the state.

What Now?

November 9, 2016 · Jamie Court

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2949" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/images_protesterscwd.png" style="width: 200px; height: 120px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="1902" height="1144" />The balance of power in American politics shifted fundamentally yesterday. I know it’s tough for all of us to wrap our minds around.

California Orders State Farm To Reduce Homeowners’ And Renters’ Rates

November 9, 2016 · Mark Reback

Insurer also ordered to issue refunds California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones issued an order Monday requiring State Farm General Insurance Co. to reduce its dwelling insurance rates by an average of 7 percent, resulting in an estimated $78.6 million in annual savings for California policyholders, according to an announcement by the commissioner’s office. This follows Jones’s announcement on Oct. 19 that State Farm agreed to reduce its rental dwelling rates statewide by an average of 40 percent, effective Feb. 1.

State Farm Rates Going Down For Some After Rate Hikes Deemed Excessive

November 8, 2016 · Mark Reback

If you’re a State Farm Insurance customer, you could be in for a rate reduction from the company. The company has been ordered to reduce its homeowner and rental insurance rates by an average of 7 percent, state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced Monday. The 7 percent decrease will amount to $78.6 million. The homeowner insurance rate will be reduced by an average of 5.37 percent. Renter insurance will be reduced by an average of 20.39 percent. Condominium insurance rate will be reduced by an average of 13.81 percent.

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

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

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers