Insurance

Common Dreams – Wildfire Survivors ‘Deserve Better,’ Advocates Say as California Approves State Farm Rate Hike

May 14, 2025  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Regulators like California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara “need to hold insurance giants like State Farm accountable to paying out what they owe, not reward them...

Commissioner Lara Approves Unjustified $749 Million State Farm Home Insurance Rate Hike

May 13, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

UPDATED 1:40PM Los Angeles, CA – A proposed decision recommending approval of State Farm General’s request for an interim rate hike was issued by an Administrative...

Consumer Watchdog Sues to Stop Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Unjustified Surcharges from Being Imposed on California Homeowners

April 15, 2025  ·  Ryan Mellino

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog sued the California Department of Insurance and Commissioner Ricardo Lara to protect California homeowners from hundreds of millions in surcharges...

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

April 10, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

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 to...

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

April 9, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

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

April 8, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

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

April 8, 2025  ·  Consumer Watchdog

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 Farm’s...

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

March 31, 2025  ·  Justin Kloczko

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 motorists. ...

State Farm Rate Hike Request Goes To Public Hearing 

March 14, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

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” rate...

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

March 13, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

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

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers

March 10, 2025  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Read the stories of Los Angeles homeowners who face unconscionable treatment by the insurance industry.

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

March 7, 2025  ·  Jamie Court

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