Insurance

Honda Civic Owner’s Court Win Could Change MPG Testing

February 7, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> American Honda’s recent loss in small-claims court to a Southern California woman who argued she was misled about the fuel efficiency of her ’06 Civic Hybrid does not bode well for five class-action suits the auto maker still faces regarding the mileage of ’03-’09 Civic Hybrids.</p> <p> Honda also faces a potential onslaught of disgruntled Civic owners who may decide to take their cases through the small-claims system after learning Heather Peters was awarded $9,867.</p>

Woman Wins Lawsuit Against Honda Over Disappointing Fuel Economy

February 6, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Honda presented misleading information to the owner of a 2006 Civic Hybrid when it claimed the car could get as many as 50 miles per gallon, according to a legal ruling issued Wednesday.<br /> <br /> Heather Peters, a Los Angeles resident, said her Civic achieved far less than that, and sued American Honda Motor Co. in Los Angeles Small Claims Court.<br /> <br />

Long-Time California Lobbyist Looks to 2012 Legislation That May Impact Insurance

February 6, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> John Norwood is one of California’s best known legislative advocates for the insurance and financial services sectors.</p> <p> Norwood, principal of Norwood & Associates, has garnered recognition for his political work dating back to the early 1980s, including political battles to amend the state’s insurance rate regulations, and reforming insurance agents and brokers licensing laws.</p>

Hyundai Removes Its 40 Miles Per Gallon Claim

February 6, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <span class="cap" title="H"><span>H</span></span>yundai, the popular automotive company, has confirmed that it will be removing the “40 Miles Per Gallon” claim that it made about one of its vehicles, the Elantra, which was featured during the Super Bowl on Sunday. The Consumer Watchdog wanted this claim omitted because they believe it is misleading to consumers. However, Hyundai says that while they have omitted the claim from the advertisement, their decision was not influenced by the opinions of Consumer Watchdog.</p>

Feinstein, Advocates Push Review Of Calif. Health Insurance Rate Hikes

February 6, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a San Francisco Democrat, has joined forces with those seeking approval of an initiative that would allow California to regulate health insurance rates.</p>

Did Hyundai Pull MPG Claims From Super Bowl Ad Due To Watchdog Group Pressure?

February 5, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

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What Hyundai Didn’t Include In Its Super Bowl Ad

February 5, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Like many other automakers Hyundai ran a series of ads on this year’s Super Bowl broadcast, including one for its popular Elantra line of cars. This one was a straightforward affair, focusing more on the vehicle than on, say, raging zombies, barking/singing dogs or Soup Nazis. Still, there’s one element that was missing from the commercial that’s appeared in other of the automaker’s ads for car, namely its “40 miles per gallon” fuel economy rating.</p>

Ford’s Farley Says ‘Real World’ Mileage Key to Avoid Owner Anger

February 5, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Ford Motor Co.'s global marketing chief says the automaker is focused on high “real world” fuel efficiency in its vehicles after a California woman won a case against Honda Motor Co. for failing to meet mileage claims.</p> <p class="indent"> Heather Peters, owner of a 2006 Civic Hybrid, won $9,867 in small claims court in Los Angeles last week, alleging Tokyo- based Honda overstated the model's fuel economy. Honda has said it will appeal the ruling, and that the car's efficiency rating was determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.</p>

Did Hyundai Omit 40MPG Claim on Elantra Super Bowl Ad Because of Consumer Watchdog?

February 3, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> It happens to every new car buyer: you look at the car’s specs and among other things; you take notice of its official fuel economy numbers. Then you may discover that in real-world conditions, the mileage you eke out of a single tank is nowhere near the quoted figure.</p> <p> The discrepancy is sometimes so big that you are either driving like a maniac (which in some cases may be true), or there’s something’s fishy with the official mileage estimates. Are consumers tricked by carmakers as far as fuel consumption is concerned, as some claim.</p>

Insurance Modernization Report Past Due

February 3, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (LID) – The recently created Federal Insurance Office (FIO) within the U.S. Department of Treasury has missed its deadline to report to Congress on how best to improve oversight of the insurance industry.</p> <p> Title V of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 (Pub.L. 111-203), which created the FIO, called for the study to be submitted to Congress no later than 18 months after the date the so-called Dodd-Frank Act took effect.</p>

Consumer Watchdog Campaign Begins Battle for Rate Regulation in the Health Insurance Industry

February 2, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <img alt="" height="217" src="http://a.scpr.org/i/2bba14ac62c4da8edc5bba415b80ed0d/33301-lead.jpg" width="324" /></p> <div class="asset_byline" style="font-size:10px;text-align:left;color:#777"> Steve Rhodes/Flickr</div> <p> Health care reform protest at Blue Shield of California, October, 2009.</p> <p> <a href="http://www.scpr.org/programs/patt-morrison/2012/02/02/22380/consumer-watchdog-campaign-begins-battle-for-rate-">Click here to listen to the audio of this news broadcast</a>.</p>

Consumer Watchdog Wants California To Regulate Health Insurance Hikes

February 2, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> There’s a grassroots movement underway to change insurance law, giving California the power to regulate health insurance rate hikes.</p> <p> The proposed initiative by Consumer Watchdog, a group based in Santa Monica, will require health insurance companies to ask permission from the state insurance commissioner before raising premiums. It’s modeled after Proposition 103, the organization’s 1988 ballot measure that now regulates how much auto insurance companies can charge.</p>