Rutgers Law School Project Addresses ‘Use It And Lose It’ in Homeowners Insurance
Rutgers Law School Project Addresses ‘Use It And Lose It’ in Homeowners Insurance

The Essential Protections for Policyholders Project is a two-year project that focuses much of its research on consumers that file ordinary claims, examining what they are surprised or disappointed by and how some of the best states are protecting insurance consumers, Feinman said in a…
ConsumerWatch Weekend: Flood Insurance
ConsumerWatch Weekend: Flood Insurance

Consumer reporter Julie Watts spoke with Emily Rogan, with consumer advocacy group United Policyholders, about resources available to flood victims without insurance.
Help with flood insurance claims
Help with flood insurance claims

There are things you can do to make life easier when it’s time to file your insurance claims. We talked to the consumer advocacy group, United Policyholders and they said you should take pictures before and after the evacuation, document how much water entered your…
Oroville shows importance of flood insurance
Oroville shows importance of flood insurance

The near-disaster at Lake Oroville last week shows once again why homeowners and renters might consider buying flood insurance, even if their lender does not require it. Anyone with a federally backed mortgage is required to have flood insurance if they live in a high-risk…
Online DIY options to bolster your personal finances
Online DIY options to bolster your personal finances

USA TODAY – Once the optimistic glow surrounding New Year’s financial resolutions wears off — hello, February! — it’s time to roll up your sleeves before losing momentum altogether. Whether you aim to save money or get stuff organized, many apps and websites are available…
Calif. Regulation Revival Boosts Home Coverage Confidence
Calif. Regulation Revival Boosts Home Coverage Confidence

The California Supreme Court’s ruling Monday 2017) reviving the state insurance commissioner’s challenged regulation aimed at producing more accurate insurer estimates of home replacement costs provides greater certainty for homeowners on property coverage and should reduce litigation between policyholders and carriers, experts say. In a…
Press Release: United Policyholders Praises California Supreme Court Decision That Will Help Underinsured Wildfire Victims
Press Release: United Policyholders Praises California Supreme Court Decision That Will Help Underinsured Wildfire Victims

Insurance Companies now held to higher standard for setting homeowners policy limits; Court finds Insurance Commissioner has authority to regulate replacement cost estimates SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 23, 2017 – United Policyholders (UP), a nonprofit insurance consumer organization, today praised a California Supreme Court…
Court backs rules to protect fire victims from being underinsured
Court backs rules to protect fire victims from being underinsured

California’s insurance commissioner has the authority to adopt rules that protect homeowners whose policies fall far short of the amounts needed to rebuild or replace homes destroyed by wildfires or other disasters, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday. Insurance companies usually give homeowners estimates of…
Justices Back Calif. Insurance Commissioner in Feud With Industry
Justices Back Calif. Insurance Commissioner in Feud With Industry

The California Supreme Court dealt property insurers a blow on Monday, reversing lower court rulings that had limited the state insurance commissioner’s authority and blocked a rule the industry had slammed as overly prescriptive and burdensome. The lawsuit by two state industry trade associations challenged…
NAIC Announces 35 Consumer Representatives for 2017
NAIC Announces 35 Consumer Representatives for 2017

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners NAIC) recently named 35 consumer liaison representatives for 2017. The 22 funded and 13 unfunded consumer representatives began their terms Jan. 1. Eighteen of the funded consumer representatives participated in the program in 2017. Established in 1992, the Consumer…
Consumer Watchdog collects millions, but does it lower your insurance rates?
Consumer Watchdog collects millions, but does it lower your insurance rates?

Nearly 30 years ago, consumer activist Harvey Rosenfield wrote and helped qualify Proposition 103, the November 1988 ballot measure that overhauled state regulation of home and auto insurance rates. The initiative, dubbed by supporters as the “Voter Revolt to Cut Insurance Rates,” also contained a…
Commissioner Jones receives national consumer advocacy award
Commissioner Jones receives national consumer advocacy award

Today California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones received the Excellence in Consumer Advocacy award at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ NAIC) Fall National Meeting. The award, from consumer representatives, honors the insurance regulator found to most effectively represent and advance the interest of consumers. “I…
Florida Supreme Court rejects shift in insurance claims law
Florida Supreme Court rejects shift in insurance claims law

The Florida Supreme Court has overturned a lower-court ruling that would have made it harder for policyholders to collect on insurance policies when there is more than one cause for their losses. At issue in Sebo v. American Home Assurance Co. was competing doctrines for…
Court rules against insurer in property damage fight
Court rules against insurer in property damage fight

In a case watched by insurance-industry groups, the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday ruled against an insurer in a dispute about paying for damage to a multimillion-dollar Naples home that had to be demolished after a combination of construction defects and water intrusion. The case…
CLUE Report: This Surprising Database Can Drive Up Your Homeowners Insurance Premiums
CLUE Report: This Surprising Database Can Drive Up Your Homeowners Insurance Premiums

If you’re about to buy a home you’re also probably trying to save money wherever you can, which includes finding an affordable homeowners insurance policy. But guess what? If the seller has a history of one or more insurance claims on that property, you could…
Engaged Couple Learns Definition Of ‘Relative’ The Hard Way
Engaged Couple Learns Definition Of ‘Relative’ The Hard Way

SAN FRANCISCO CBS SF) — What is a relative? When it comes to insurance companies, the word can have different definitions. With their wedding only months away, Scott Garvey and Katie Fredrickson already consider themselves a family. “In the eyes of my parents, he’s already…
Rutgers Law School in New Jersey Launches Project to Improve Homeowners’ Insurance
Rutgers Law School in New Jersey Launches Project to Improve Homeowners’ Insurance

Rutgers Law School’s Camden, N.J., location, in collaboration with United Policyholders, is seeking to improve homeowners’ insurance nationally through its recently launched project. The Rutgers Center for Risk and Responsibility at Rutgers Law School in Camden and United Policyholders have launched a national project that…
Window Maker Gets Support In Coverage Battle At 7th Circ.
Window Maker Gets Support In Coverage Battle At 7th Circ.

Nonprofit policyholder advocacy group United Policyholders on Tuesday asked the Seventh Circuit to order two insurers to cover window maker Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co. Inc.’s costs to defend a class action over defective windows, arguing that the lower court’s ruling is contrary to Wisconsin…