20 years after Oakland firestorm, insurance snags remain
20 years after Oakland firestorm, insurance snags remain

Reporting from Oakland— For months after the 1991 Oakland hills fire reduced his home to a charred heap, Howard Matis would return from work, then close his eyes and imagine the contents of every drawer, shelf, cupboard and closet of his two-story bungalow. His was…
Oakland hills fire: homeowners in high-risk areas must make sure they have adequate coverage
Oakland hills fire: homeowners in high-risk areas must make sure they have adequate coverage

For months after the 1991 Oakland hills fire reduced his home on Sherwick Drive to a charred heap, Howard Matis would return from work, then close his eyes and imagine the contents of every drawer, shelf, cupboard and closet of his two-story bungalow. But how…
San Bruno fire victims struggle with insurance companies
San Bruno fire victims struggle with insurance companies

SAN BRUNO, Calif. KGO) — More than a year after the San Bruno pipeline explosion, recovering and rebuilding is slow-going. Homeowners are having a hard time getting what they need from their insurance companies. The intersection where a PG&E pipeline exploded over a year ago…
Does bundling your insurance policies really save you money?
Does bundling your insurance policies really save you money?

When you buy an insurance policy of any sort — be it home, auto, renter’s or another type of insurance — your agent typically will ask whether you want to purchase other insurance products from the same company. This tactic, known as bundling, is smart…
Denied! 6 Foolish Moves That destroy a Car Insurance Claim
Denied! 6 Foolish Moves That destroy a Car Insurance Claim

When you purchase car insurance, you hope your claims will be paid. But in many situations, your insurer can deny your claim because of things you’ve done. Negligence, criminal activity or simple forgetfulness all can cost you. Here are six things you may do that…
California Earthquake Authority CEO Praises Bipartisan Effort to Help Reduce Costs of Disaster Recovery
California Earthquake Authority CEO Praises Bipartisan Effort to Help Reduce Costs of Disaster Recovery

The California Earthquake Authority applauds California’s U.S. Rep. John Campbell R-48), who today introduced H.R.3125 – companion legislation to S.637 introduced by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein earlier this year. Both bills would strengthen the nation’s natural disaster recovery system by enacting the Earthquake Insurance Affordability…
Is quake insurance worth it with little equity?
Is quake insurance worth it with little equity?

Q: Reader Clare S. of El Cerrito asks: “Are there any advantages to carrying earthquake insurance if we have little equity in our home?” A: Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, says earthquake insurance protects three things: your equity, the structure itself and your…
ConsumerWatch: Does Your Insurance Policy Protect?
ConsumerWatch: Does Your Insurance Policy Protect?

The next day, a larger storm came. Water came through sewers and manhole covers to flood the streets, turning Capitola into a lake. Home to many mom and pop shops already struggling to survive, dealing with the aftermath may have been even tougher than the…
Hills fire fueled changes in insurance practices
Hills fire fueled changes in insurance practices

After surviving the 1991 firestorm, thousands of Oakland residents faced a new nightmare: fighting insurance companies that stalled on making payouts and tried to lowball the costs of rebuilding. “People don’t realize that you have the first disaster of the fire itself, then the disaster…
Fourmile Fire reveals snags in insurance claim process
Fourmile Fire reveals snags in insurance claim process

The frustrations of area residents who lost their homes last year in the Fourmile Fire could lead to changes in the way the state regulates insurance companies and how insurance agents work with clients. The Fourmile Fire, which started Sept. 6, 2010, burned more than…
Quake near D.C. can help us prepare for the ‘Big One’
Quake near D.C. can help us prepare for the ‘Big One’

It’s been an interesting year as fellow Americans on the East Coast have faced more than their fair share of natural disasters. And the most shocking revelation was the false assumption that earthquakes are exclusive to the West Coast. But this summer’s earthquake centered in…
Consumer alert: Allstate seeks premium hike
Consumer alert: Allstate seeks premium hike

If you’re a Pennsylvania resident with Allstate Property & Casualty homeowners insurance, you may face an unpleasant surprise this fall: a sizable boost in your insurance premium. You can just suck it up – as Allstate undoubtedly expects most policyholders to do – or you…
Health Insurance CheckUP
Health Insurance CheckUP

If you’re looking at health insurance options, remember to compare features and costs “apples to apples.” Try using new tips and a shopping checklist from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. If your insurer/HMO has dropped you and you suspect it was because you have…
Be smart with claims
Be smart with claims

If you’ve opted for a high deductible, it won’t pay to make a claim for small losses. If a loss is only moderately greater than your deductible, you should also consider not filing a claim, because it could prompt a premium hike or flag you…
Settling an Insurance Claim: When to Hire a Professional
Settling an Insurance Claim: When to Hire a Professional

A few days ago I wrote about how to challenge the first offer your insurance company makes in respect to a claim you have filed. In that column, I stressed the importance of carefully reviewing the adjusters report and using the documentation you gathered to…
Where can Irene & Lee flood victims find assistance?
Where can Irene & Lee flood victims find assistance?

Listen to the Radio Broadcast Ben Lawsky, Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services joins us. Homeowners affected by recent floods are eligible for free legal consultation through the New York State Bar Association. Volunteer attorneys are available to answer questions about insurance, property disputes,…
One year after blast, San Bruno still isn’t whole
One year after blast, San Bruno still isn’t whole

Walk around Crestmoor, the San Bruno neighborhood where a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. natural gas pipe blew up one year ago today, and one thing is clear through the coastal mist and construction dust: What took minutes to ruin will take years to restore.…
Report: 64 percent of Fourmile fire victims underinsured
Report: 64 percent of Fourmile fire victims underinsured

A new survey shows that nearly two-thirds [2] of victims of last year’s Fourmile Canyon wildfire were underinsured by more than $200,000. The survey, conducted by United Policyholders [3], included responses from 51 residents who said their home was destroyed and seven who said their…