Are insurance rates going up for people on the fire line? and other FAQ about fire insurance)
Are insurance rates going up for people on the fire line? and other FAQ about fire insurance)

As of midday Friday, the Soberanes Fire in Monterey County had destroyed at least 41 homes and put at least 2,000 homes and other buildings at risk. Meanwhile, the Sand Fire, which has burned more than 38,800 acres in the Santa Clarita hillsides, is 85…
Why Insurance Companies Don’t Renew Policies
Why Insurance Companies Don’t Renew Policies

FOR the better part of a week last year, Nancy Wergeles searched her home in Weston, Conn., for the engagement ring her husband had given her 53 years before. They had had a string of health care aides in their home and were also putting…
Bach Talk – Forced Arbitration Exposed
Bach Talk – Forced Arbitration Exposed

UP and the consumer advocate community have been fighting for decades against mandatory arbitration wording in banking and other commercial contracts that force people to use private binding arbitration instead of public courts to resolve disputes.  Although some health insurance and most commercial property policies…
Insurance emergency bulletin issued for West Virginia flood victims
Insurance emergency bulletin issued for West Virginia flood victims

Flash floods are doubly devastating because they often hit areas that had not been classified as flood risk zones.  Because most people only buy flood insurance if they’re in a zone where mortgage lenders by law make them buy it, flash flood victims rarely have…
You better not be reading this while driving!
You better not be reading this while driving!

Cell phones are powerfully addictive. People rarely put them down – even when driving. Insurance companies are citing an increase in distracted driving accidents and raising car insurance rates across the country. Buckle your seat belts – figuratively and literally, and be a savvy consumer:…
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Kamiah, Idaho
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Kamiah, Idaho

UP is partnering with WUNCCIL (long term recovery group) to host a Roadmap to Recovery workshop for wildfire survivors in Kamiah, Idaho on June 28th at 6pm at the Kamiah Fire Station on Main St. This workshop will cover: Navigating your insurance claim Extending deadlines Recovering “held-back”…
Advocacy and Action Update
Advocacy and Action Update

In addition to educating the 400,000 people that used our website last year and the people that call us on the phone or use the buying and claim guidance we distribute through partners like the American Red Cross and United Methodist Committee on Relief, we…
Trust but verify
Trust but verify

If an insurance company rep gives you a dollar figure – get a second opinion. Whether it’s an estimate to repair damage or a quote to insure your property – trust but verify that it’s accurate. This same adage applies to medical diagnoses for serious…
Bach Talk: Preserving the promise of liability protection
Bach Talk: Preserving the promise of liability protection

I had the privilege of working with Gail Hillebrand in the early 90’s when she was a Senior Attorney in Consumers Union’s West Coast regional office.  Our offices were in the same building, and I was representing Voter Revolt (the predecessor to Consumer Watchdog) in implementing Proposition 103.  Gail…
2 Wins in 2 Weeks!
2 Wins in 2 Weeks!

Every day, UP staff and volunteers fight to level the playing field for insurance consumers. UP added 35 policyholder attorneys to our Amicus Project volunteer corps over the last 12 months, bringing our total count to 275! Thanks to these heroes, we are celebrating two…
Aid may be available to repair or replace a vehicle damaged by April floods
Aid may be available to repair or replace a vehicle damaged by April floods

Texans whose vehicles were damaged or destroyed by this April’s flooding may be eligible to receive federal assistance to repair or replace the vehicle. “Those who may be eligible include not just residents of the designated counties, but also those who were working in or…
Sandy advocate calls for investigation of FEMA
Sandy advocate calls for investigation of FEMA

TOMS RIVER — Saying the Jersey Shore’s recovery has been “cut off at the knees” because of lowball flood insurance payments, a Sandy advocate has repeated the call for an investigation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Sue Marticek, executive director of the Ocean County…
Spring UPward: A Roadmap to Recovery™ UPdate
Spring UPward: A Roadmap to Recovery™ UPdate

Bach Talk As we work to stay the course in two communities ravaged by wildfires and strive to raise the necessary funds to cover the costs, we are connecting with flood victims and our partners in the Lone Star State.  We are beefing up our Flood…
Portland Harbor Superfund litigation has “super” implications for policyholders
Portland Harbor Superfund litigation has “super” implications for policyholders

Today was a big day for policyholders involved in the legendary Portland Harbor (Oregon) Superfund Site: two cases in which United Policyholders submitted amicus curiae briefs were up for argument before the Ninth Circuit.  Both cases involve the duty to defend under “long-tail” CGL policies and the…
Insurance Check UP
Insurance Check UP

Yes the Internet makes it easy to insure your home or business without actually meeting the person who’s selling you the policy. But given how valuable your assets are to you, don’t you want to be confident in that person’s expertise and ethics? United Policyholders…
Caps on punitive damages are harmful to consumers
Caps on punitive damages are harmful to consumers

This week UP filed an important brief on the issue of punitive damages in the great state of Tennessee. Punitive damages, those awarded by a jury to compensate an injured plaintiff above-and-beyond the amount owed to compensate for the harm caused, are an important component…
Bach Talk – Why the CA Supreme Court needs to have Commissioner Jones’ back
Bach Talk – Why the CA Supreme Court needs to have Commissioner Jones’ back

Have you ever contacted an insurance agent or company and asked them to insure your home for a specific dollar amount?  If so, you’re probably in the .00001% of insurance consumers.  That’s just not how it works in real life. In real life, we rely…
Common Cents
Common Cents

It’s common to be nervous about the money you’re spending on your wedding and honeymoon. It’s also common now for brides or grooms to buy wedding insurance. But do wedding policies exclude more than they cover? That depends on what you buy. But for under…