Insurance Archives

Consumer Watchdog Urges Denial of State Farm’s Emergency Rate Hike at Conclusion of Department of Insurance Hearing

Carmen Balber - April 10, 2025

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog delivers its closing argument today in a high-stakes hearing before the California Department of Insurance, urging the Insurance Commissioner...

Spectrum News 1 (San Fernando Valley) – Los Angeles, CA: State Farm Holds Hearing To Raise Rates

Will Pletcher - April 9, 2025

https://youtu.be/YKMs0A1YpWM

Consumer Watchdog: “State Farm’s Emergency Rate Hike is Not Justified”

Carmen Balber - April 8, 2025

Consumer group urges regulators to reject rate hike as unsupported and unfair Los Angeles, CA – In the first day of hearings, Consumer Watchdog made its...

At Hearing, Consumer Watchdog Will Oppose A Deal on State Farm’s “Emergency” Home & Renters’ Insurance Rate Hike

Consumer Watchdog - April 8, 2025

Sacramento, CA – On Tuesday, April 8, at 10:00 AM, Consumer Watchdog will be presenting its case at the California Department of Insurance against State...

Insurers Can’t Avoid Offering Premium Discounts to Good Drivers by Creating Bogus Club Memberships

Justin Kloczko - March 31, 2025

An auto insurance company must offer its lowest rate to all good drivers, and can’t hide behind so-called club memberships in order to overcharge...

State Farm Rate Hike Request Goes To Public Hearing

Carmen Balber - March 14, 2025

As urged by Consumer Watchdog, California's Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has called a hearing on State Farm’s unprecedented request for a $900 million "emergency"...

Consumer Watchdog Testifies, Calls on CA Lawmakers to Require Insurance Companies to Cover Fire Victims Who Build Back Better

Carmen Balber - March 13, 2025

Consumer Watchdog executive director Carmen Balber testified on March 12, 2025 to the State Senate Insurance Committee about the state of the insurance market...

Watchdog to Lara: State Farm Exec’s Startling Admission About Orchestrating Rate Hike Request Through Cancelled Coverage Should Be Disqualifying For Emergency Request

Jamie Court - March 7, 2025

Los Angeles, CA - Consumer Watchdog wrote a letter to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara with new information showing why State Farm should not...

Rate Hike Challenge Saves $25 Million for General Ins. Co. Homeowner Policyholders

Ben Powell - March 6, 2025

Los Angeles, CA - Consumer Watchdog reached a settlement this week with General Insurance Company of America and the California Department of Insurance, resolving the...

Consumer Watchdog Opposes State Farm’s Emergency Rate Hike Following Meeting with Insurance Commissioner Lara

Will Pletcher - February 26, 2025

Los Angeles, CA – Following today’s meeting with California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, State Farm General Insurance (SFG), and the California Department of Insurance...

Consumer Watchdog Agrees With Insurance Commissioner Lara That State Farm Needs To Provide More Information Before Getting Rate Hike, But Should Be Provided in...

Jamie Court - February 14, 2025

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog said that Insurance Commissioner Lara is right in asking for more information from State Farm before approving its...

Homeowner Surcharge to Bailout Insurers for FAIR Plan Losses Unfair and Illegal, Says Consumer Watchdog

Carmen Balber - February 11, 2025

Los Angeles, CA – Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced today he would let home insurance companies charge every homeowner in the state for losses...

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Insurance Commissioner to Reject State Farm’s Unjustified Emergency Rate Hike Request

Carmen Balber - February 7, 2025

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog has submitted two letters to Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara objecting to State Farm’s request for an emergency interim rate...

Insurance Industry, U.S. House GOP, Exploit California Wildfire Disaster to Promote Deregulation in Congress

Carmen Balber - February 6, 2025

Proven Consumer Protections, Investments in Disaster Resilience, and Eliminating Industry Subsidy of Fossil Fuels Are How to Keep American Homeowners Insured Los Angeles, CA – Consumer...

Trying to Cash in On Wildfire Tragedy, State Farm Demands Immediate $740 Million Bailout

Carmen Balber - February 3, 2025

Los Angeles, CA -- State Farm this morning asked Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to authorize an immediate 22% increase in State Farm’s home insurance rates,...

Consumer Watchdog: Wildfire and Windstorm Alert for Los Angeles County and Surrounding Areas

Will Pletcher - January 13, 2025

If your home has been destroyed or damaged by the recent wildfires or windstorms in California, it’s essential to know your rights and available resources.

Lara Reinsurance Regulation To Pump Up Homeowners Rates By 40% Without Guarantees of New Wildfire Coverage, No Opportunity For Public Input

Jamie Court - December 30, 2024

The new draft regulation proposed by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara would allow insurance companies to drive up home insurance rates by 40% to 50%

Consumer Watchdog Saves California Policyholders $47 Million in United Financial Auto Insurance Rate Hikes

Ben Powell - December 17, 2024

Los Angeles, CA -- Consumer Watchdog reached a settlement with United Financial Casualty Company and the California Department of Insurance last week, resolving the company’s application...

Secret Algorithms to Raise Home Insurance Rates, No Requirement for New Coverage, Under Lara Regulations Issued Today

Carmen Balber - December 13, 2024

Consumers should expect large rate hikes but not more insurance policies sold under new rules issued by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara

Insurance Commissioner Seeks to Avoid State Review of Regulation Permitting Insurers to Use Secret Black-Box Models to Set Rates

Ryan Mellino - December 11, 2024

On December 5, 2024, Consumer Watchdog sent a letter to California’s Office of Administrative Law (“OAL”) objecting to the Department of Insurance’s (“the Department”)...

KCBS-AM (Radio): On Average Rate Payers Will See A Nearly 7% Increase In Home Insurance Premiums

San Francisco Chronicle – California bills would tackle wildfire underinsurance and underpayment in wake of Chronicle investigation

To The Point with Alex Bell: California’s Insurance Crisis

KXTV-SAC (ABC): California’s Insurance Crisis

Smoke & Mirrors Podcast Exposes Troubling Tactics of Insurance Subcontractors in Wildfire Recovery

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