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.
State Consumer Group Proposes New Approach To Health Insurance Rate Hikes

State Consumer Group Proposes New Approach To Health Insurance Rate Hikes

<p> <a href="http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/?podcast_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.podtrac.com%2Fpts%2Fredirect.mp3%2Fnyc.podcast.play.it%2Fmedia%2Fd0%2Fd0%2Fd0%2FdZ%2FdK%2FdO%2Fd2%2FZKO2_4.MP3&podcast_name=State+Consumer+Group+Proposes+Fair+Health+Insurance+Rate+Hikes&podcast_artist=KCBS%E2%80%99+Rebecca+Corral&station_id=&audio_link=true&config_file=config.xml&dcid=CBS.SF">Click here to listen to the audio broadcast of this news segment</a>.</p>
Lies, Damned Lies and Fuel Economy Numbers

Lies, Damned Lies and Fuel Economy Numbers

<h1 class="gl_headline"> <img alt="" height="232" id="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/120104_heather_peters.jpg" src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/120104_heather_peters.380;380;7;70.jpg" width="380" /></h1> <div class="inlinePhoto photo_landscape photo_align_right " data-contentid="9953826" id="vine-inlinePhoto__9953826" style="width:380px;"> <div class="photo_credit_container"> <p> Heather Peters with her 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid.</p> </div> </div> <p>  </p>
Don’t Let Them Kill Us Too

Don’t Let Them Kill Us Too

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2250" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/images_jamiepic-new1.jpg" style="width: 133px; height: 200px;" width="133" height="200" />Congress has shut down President Obama’s financial consumer watchdog agency by refusing to confirm its director. Our Consumer Watchdog has a lot of powerful enemies too and they are trying to put us out of business.</p>
Looking Back and Looking Forward

Looking Back and Looking Forward

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2333" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/images_cwd-crewinblue.png" style="width: 272px; height: 131px; float: right; margin: 3px;" width="272" height="131" />At the beginning of this year the advocates, organizers and lawyers at Consumer Watchdog promised to take on insurance and healthcare companies, fight for online privacy and build a community of activists who could spread the word about our work for consumer protection and social change.<br /> <br /> Here’s a quick look at some of Consumer Watchdog’s 2011 successes by the numbers:<br /> <br />
Did South Carolina Insurance Chief Quit Over Fallout?

Did South Carolina Insurance Chief Quit Over Fallout?

<p class="subhead"> <strong>Insurance chief's exit follows Haley grant controversy</strong></p> <p> South Carolina officials remained tight-lipped Thursday about the abrupt resignation of the state's top insurance regulator less than a year after Gov. Nikki Haley appointed him.</p> <p> But several Democrats and others who worked with the former director said he wants out of an administration embroiled in a controversy that entangles his agency.</p> <p> David Black, director of the S.C. Department of Insurance, resigned Wednesday but hasn't said why.</p>
Best Corporate Flip-Flop of 2011

Best Corporate Flip-Flop of 2011

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2330" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/images_protestblueshield.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 129px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="250" height="129" />It was a shocking figure. Some Blue Shield policyholders were going to pay rate increases of 86%. Consumer Watchdog, together with nurses and patients, showed up at Blue Shield's headquarters in San Francisco to protest the greed that could lead to such an attempted rip-off.</p>
Time Warner Rate Hike Punishes Loyalty

Time Warner Rate Hike Punishes Loyalty

<p>  Happy holidays. Your cable rates are going up. Again. <br /> <br /> In its most Grinch-like fashion, Time Warner Cable, the dominant cable company in Southern California, is alerting customers that rates for nearly all its services will increase as of the next bill. <br /> <br /> Some rates will be significantly higher, such as a 27.4% increase to $17 from $13.34 just to receive local broadcast channels. <br /> <br />
Consumer Group Hammers Mercury Rate Increase Filing in California

Consumer Group Hammers Mercury Rate Increase Filing in California

<p> A California consumer group is challenging a rate hike bid by Mercury Insurance because the group claims the company is trying to pass along the costs of its political campaigning.</p> <p> But the insurer says those costs are not included in the rate hike.</p> <p> Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog says the costs involve millions of dollars in political contributions for a 2010 campaign the group viewed an “anti-consumer” proposition on the California ballot.</p>