Consumer Watchdog

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Consumer Watchdog

Insurance

Insurance news, investigations, and reform — auto, home, and health insurance rates, claims denials, and industry accountability.
A Dimension with No Contribution Limits

A Dimension with No Contribution Limits

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Recently ArnoldWatch called on the Governor to divest his $1 million-plus holdings in Dimensional Fund Advisors - a private mutual fund company that has a contract to manage $636 million for...</font>
Telemortgaging;

Telemortgaging;

<h3>Be careful where you click! Too-good-to-be-true loan offers on the Web can lead to a barage of phone calls.</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"This is a deceptive practice, and it may be a violation of state unfair business practice laws" because these e-mailers are competing in the marketplace essentially by lying, said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights</p>
Insurance carriers curb risk;

Insurance carriers curb risk;

<h3>More home policies canceled, rates hiked</h3><p class="source">Bangor Daily News (Maine)</p> <p>"Jacking up the rates has a double function," said Douglas Heller, senior consumer advocate for the California-based FTCR. "Those people that are buying the product are paying a much higher premium for their coverage. But it also serves as a deterrent:</p>
Governor finally holds capital fund-raiser

Governor finally holds capital fund-raiser

<h3>600 contributors pay at least $500 to attend twice-canceled event.</h3><p class="source">The Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"He hasn't met with a single consumer group since taking office," protester Jerry Flanagan said. "And the policies he's been rolling out reflect the interests of the insurance industry executives he's in there wining and dining with."</p>
Access Denied

Access Denied

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">"People here tonight are paying more for dinner with Arnold Schwarzenegger than I make in an entire year as a disabled worker on workers compensation," Jodi Greggs of Sacramento said...</font>
Sky-Boxing with Arnold

Sky-Boxing with Arnold

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">ArnoldWatch was understandably disappointed when the Lakers refused us a jumbo-tron advertisement at Staples Center for last Friday's basketball game -- where donors paid at least $10,000 per...</font>
Insurer may stay on legal hot seat

Insurer may stay on legal hot seat

<p class="source">Copley News Service</p> <p>"State insurance regulators don't consistently hear about these kinds of cases, but when we start seeing lawsuits and settlements, it indicates there is a deeper problem and regulators should investigate," said Doug Heller, a spokesman for FTCR.</p>
Insurance rates face scrutiny

Insurance rates face scrutiny

<h3>ZIP codes often determine how much drivers pay</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Consumer groups are seeking to tighten a loophole in a state regulation that allows car insurers to charge higher rates to customers based on where they live instead of how they drive.</p>
Insurance based on ZIP code irks drivers

Insurance based on ZIP code irks drivers

<h3>'It's insurance company larceny. We're being penalized because of where we live.'</h3><p class="source">The Oakland Tribune</p> <p>Consumer groups want Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi to adopt a petition filed in May that would make insurance companies give less weight to ZIP codes and more to a person's driving record when setting premiums.</p>