Insurance

Can Consumers Trust The EPA Mileage Stickers On Cars?

February 16, 2013 · Mark Reback

When consumers buy a car, they take the EPA’s mileage sticker — such as 33 miles per gallon highway, 27 city — as a fair comparison with other vehicles. But does the sticker always deserve that trust? The United States is thought to have the toughest fuel economy standards and enforcement in the world. But that reputation suffered a black eye in November when the Environmental Protection Agency announced that Hyundai and Kia had overstated the fuel mileage for 900,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. by as much as 6 miles a gallon.

Should Socioeconomic Factors Affect The Price Of Car Insurance?

February 10, 2013 · Mark Reback

What you pay for car insurance depends on more than what you drive and how you drive it. It depends on where you live, your credit score, and sometimes your occupation and education level<a href="http://www.carinsurance.com/rate-comparison.aspx?zc=63101" title="http://www.carinsurance.com/rate-comparison.aspx?zc=63101">.</a>

State Farm To Cut Homeowners’ Insurance Rates In California

February 8, 2013 · Mark Reback

Rates will fall an average of 12.6% statewide beginning April 15 State Farm, California's biggest homeowners' insurer, is dropping rates an average of 12.6% for more than 1 million policyholders in the state beginning April 15. Customers are expected to see average annual premiums cut by $100 this year. Rates are expected to fall 12.3% in Los Angeles County, 14.1% in Orange County and 12.4% in San Diego County.

Anthem Blue Cross Rates Rise 17.5 Percent Today; Critics Call For Ballot initiative To Cap Costs

January 31, 2013 · Mark Reback

Initiative would allow state to oversee health plans As about 730,000 California health insurance consumers' rates rise an average 17.5 percent today, a consumer group is renewing its support for a ballot initiative to rein in costs.

Consumer Watchdog Reminding Voters of Ballot Initiative As Health Insurance Rate Hikes Take Effect

January 31, 2013 · Mark Reback

As California consumers prepare for health insurance rate hikes to take effect on Friday, a consumer watchdog group wants to remind them of a ballot initiative that would give the state the authority to publicly review health insurance rate increases and reject those that are excessive. Consumer Watchdog's reminder comes as 730,000 Californians who carry Anthem Blue Cross insurance will see their rates increase by up to 26 percent. The nonprofit consumer education and advocacy organization has singled out Anthem Blue Cross.

Mercury Insurance Company Losing Its War Against Consumers

January 29, 2013 · Laura Antonini

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2584" alt="" height="251" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/images_mecurypoisonlogo_2.gif" style="float: right;" width="251" />Mercury Insurance – the company that California regulators say “has a deserved reputation for abusing its customers and intentionally violating the law with arrogance and indifference” – is infamous for playing every angle in its effort to avoid accountability for cheating its customers.

Cable Rates On Rise As Users Fall

January 29, 2013 · Mark Reback

Prices for most of the firm's TV services are set to rise. The move comes as it cuts a deal for a baseball channel and as the cable industry loses subscribers.

California Stem Cell Agency Addressing Conflict Of Interest Concerns

January 29, 2013 · Mark Reback

California's stem cell agency, which oversees $3 billion in research funds, has announced plans to address long-standing conflict of interest concerns involving its governing board. Under the new policy, tentatively approved last week, the 13 board members of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine who represent institutions eligible for funding from the agency would no longer vote on grants brought before the board.

California Insurance Company Faces Discrimination Lawsuit

January 25, 2013 · Mark Reback

San Diego, CA: An <a href="https://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/lawsuit/california-insurance.html">insurance lawsuit</a> has been filed against Blue Cross of California, alleging a new program run by the company amounts to discrimination. In addition to claims of discrimination, the lawsuit alleges Blue Cross is guilty of bad faith insurance, not because policyholders have had their insurance claim denied, but because the new program allegedly discriminates against patients with HIV/AIDS.

Safe Drivers Might Surrender Privacy For A Discount

January 20, 2013 · Mark Reback

People who don't volunteer for snitching device may end up with higher rates by default. More auto insurance companies are asking customers to ride around with a little electronic tattletale. The device is the size of your palm. Plug it into your car and it will tattle to the insurer about how fast you drive, the time of day and the mileage. It will snitch if you peel out from stop signs or brake hard. Some versions measure how hard you turn. The insurer will use all that to decide how much to charge you.

AT&T, Dependably in Forefront of Consumer Abuse

January 19, 2013 · Judy Dugan

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2576" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/images_att_logo.png" style="width: 250px; height: 160px; float: right;" width="1000" height="641" />Comedy is funnier when it hits you in the gut. That's what made<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9e3dTOJi0o"> a famous skit by Lily Tomlin</a> about the phone company's abuse of customers so memorable, one tag line being "We are omnipotent."

Farmers Insurance to Face Trial For Deceptive Refund Practices

January 18, 2013 · Doug Heller

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2573" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/images_farmerslogo_0.gif" style="width: 301px; height: 162px; float: right;" width="600" height="323" />Last month a California Court of Appeal overturned the Superior Court ruling in Streit v. Farmers Group, Inc. and allowed California consumers to pursue a lawsuit against Farmers Insurance for cheating customers out of fair refunds if they cancel their insurance policy. Consumer Watchdog’s attorneys authored a key “Friend of the Court” brief that laid the groundwork for the Appellate Court’s decision.

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

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

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers