Making the Most of your Car Insurance Policy
Posted on August 22nd, 2012
The purpose of car insurance is to have a policy that works for you, when you need it. There are many variables that affect coverage and pricing, so no two policies are the same. With the right knowledge, you can work with your insurer to get the most out of your car insurance.
When buying car insurance, you should always shop around to get the price and coverage you need. Insurers determine your rate based on a number of factors. Some factors are more important to some insurers than they are for others, which is why rates vary among providers. AIS provides rates from multiple California insurance companies so you can quickly see which is best for you.
Tags: Car Insurance, Policy
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Insurance Industry Shifts The Blame – Understanding Business Interruption Claims
Posted on August 15th, 2012
Last week, I posted . This week, A.M. Best Company – one of the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source- released similar content in a white paper titled “Emerging Opportunities in Business Interruption Coverages for Insurance Agents and Brokers.”
White papers are traditionally published to present solutions to arising issues, concerns or problems in a specific sector (i.e., public policy solutions in government). White papers are not open-ended or consultation documents – they identify specific problems and propose solutions that typically favor or benefit the drafter. In this c
Travel Tips for Dealing with Hotel Bed Bugs
Posted on August 13th, 2012
Bed bugs can show up anywhere, even in the most pristine and hygienic of environments, which is why we’ve developed these travel tips for dealing with hotel bed bugs. While bed bugs aren’t as common in developed countries, thanks to the advent of the powerful pesticide DDT, with a recent increase in International travel, Americans are bringing home accidental souvenirs and re-introducing these parasites to domestic turf. Whi
Tags: Bed Bugs, Bugs, Hotel Bed, Hotel Bed Bugs
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Report: Initial quality stellar among vehicle brands
Posted on August 9th, 2012
Consumers who are in the market to buy a new car may be delighted to know that the vehicle they end up purchasing is of superior craftsmanship, as indicated by a recent initial quality report.
Overall initial quality improved 5 percent, according to J.D. Power and Associates* 2012 U.S. Initial Quality Study, as there were fewer problems discovered for every 100 vehicles when compared with last year.
In-vehicle technology quality dwindles
However, there were some specific areas in which quality did not improve. All of them were unrelated to how the car actually drove, as there was an 8 percent uptick in the number of problems experienced with audio, entertainment and navigation systems.
Tags: Initial Quality, Vehicle
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IFB success in identity fraud pilot
Posted on July 20th, 2012
The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has reported that three suspected fraudsters have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police as a result of its involvement in one of the UK’s biggest investigations into identity fraud.
Working alongside the Metropolitan Police’s Amberhill Unit, the IFB has been investigating the insurance records of people suspected of having obtained a genuine driving licence using false or forged documents.
As part of the pilot project, the Bureau has focused on 579 suspected identity fraudsters across the UK and has already linked its sample of people to insurance claims now considered to be at high-risk of fraud.
In total the potential scams are worth in excess of £170,000 and alerts have been issued to insurers who may be affected.
Tags: Fraud, Fraud Pilot
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Benjamin Franklin is the Father of American Insurance
Posted on July 15th, 2012
Philadelphia is a fun city that brings back a lot of memories for me. I took a deposition of an insurance claims manager from Maiden Re yesterday and then spent some time with Kevin Healey of my firm wandering around Philadelphia thinking about the history of our country and this great historical American city.
Benjamin Franklin, a citizen of Philadelphia, has long been one of my favorite American heroes. In my mind, he is should be considered “the Father” of American insurance. A
Tags: Insurance
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CA Auto Insurance Code Seems Like No-Brainer
Posted on July 11th, 2012
After reading The San Francisco Chronicles What insurance companies can do to you by Jon Carroll, I am left scratching my head. Its quite apparent that comparing auto insurance companies is more important than ever, not only for good premium prices, but to find a company with ethical practices. The author received a legal form letter from his auto insurance company after filing a claim detailing Insurance Code 790.03.
The code has long, wordy sentences that seem to go around in a circle without really getting to a definitive point. Carroll says that it basically infers that auto insurance companies should not lie to their consumers or cheat them at all. But it is quite vague and doesnt say that insurance companies should never lie or cheat. It states that they shouldnt do it as a common practice. Its almost saying that it is okay to deceive consumers once in awhile, just not regularly.
Sixteen items are listed on the form detailing what California auto insurance companies should not do. One of the items says that insurers should not push consumers to take legal action in order to receive their settlement if the court will simply deem that what the consumer was fighting for was actually a fair amount. To me, the chances that someone will take an insurance company to court to prove they were expecting a fair amount of reimbursement is absurd. That costs a lot of money.
There is even a code saying that insurance companies shouldnt alter your paperwork, making it so that you dont get paid as much or at all. The author points out that this should actually be fraud or illegal, not simply a frowned upon practice. The bottom line is that you want to make sure you choose an auto insurance company that is ethical and follow all of your claims closely. Lets hope that these Codes dont actually need to be used by many consumers in fighting their insurer.
Tags: Auto Insurance, Insurance
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