June 14, 2010 Is Earthquake Insurance Worth the Cost? I am not much of a fan of “could it happen here” stories, but the earthquake in Haiti does remind us that much of the United States, in fact much of the world, lives along fault zones. In the last 110 years, quakes have shaken…
June 14, 2010 Hijacked On Home Insurance? Let Angie’s List Help You Save When Jen Freeland and her husband bought their house in Chattanooga, Tenn., they purchased a homeowners policy with an annual premium of $680. Two years later, the bill jumped to nearly double that. “We’ve never had a claim on our homeowners insurance and we’d like…
June 10, 2010 Homeowner’s Insurance: Make Sure You Are Covered As Tropical Storm Ida works its way north, it’s a good reminder to check your homeowners insurance and make sure you have the proper coverage. After all, you don’t want to end up like Daniel Zwerdling and Barbara Zwerdling-Rothschild. On a stormy night six years…
June 10, 2010 Rising Home Insurance Rates Spur Some To Shop Around When Jen Freeland and her husband bought their house in Chattanooga, Tenn., they purchased a homeowners policy with an annual premium of $680. Two years later, the bill jumped to nearly double that. “We’ve never had a claim on our homeowners insurance and we’d like…
June 10, 2010 The Perfect Gift May Be The Most Practical One Scratching your head about what to get those on your gift list this year? You may want to consider something practical like a gift certificate for groceries or a prepaid calling card. This holiday season, 34 percent of adults said they are more likely to…
June 10, 2010 Haiti quake stirs concern in California The devastating 7.0 earthquake in Haiti last month has shaken up residents in other earthquake-prone areas, including the Bay Area, prompting renewed interest in earthquake insurance. “The horrible tragedy in Haiti has focused people a little more on earthquake risk,” said Glenn Pomeroy, the CEO…
June 9, 2010 Allstate selling policies again along Alabama coast through lightly regulated company Allstate Corp., which has been dropping wind coverage from home insurance policies in Mobile and Baldwin counties, began in April to sell homeowner policies through a new unit called North Light Specialty Insurance Co. Because North Light is a lightly regulated surplus lines company, it…
June 9, 2010 Is AARP Looking Out for You? Auto and Homeowners Insurance The way insurance companies barrage you with television ads promising to save you money, you might think they were paying you instead of the other way around. In the case of the GEICO googly eyes or actor Dennis Haysbert hawking Allstate policies, at least it’s…
June 9, 2010 Natural Disaster Insurance: Do You Need It? With the news media filled with stories lately about natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires, many consumers may be wondering when to purchase additional insurance to protect their homes from Mother Nature. My husband and I certainly have been concerned with the topic since…
June 9, 2010 New company could help Allstate keep agents and other business Besides giving Allstate Corp. more control over prices, North Light Specialty Insurance Co. could help the parent company retain its agents and other insurance business. Unlike an independent insurance agent, who can sell policies from a number of different companies, Allstate employs what are called…
June 9, 2010 Southland homeowners at risk for mudslides have trouble finding insurance Some residents of areas burned by the Station fire are buying flood policies on top of fire and earthquake plans, hoping that at least one will accept mudslide damage claims. Charred slopes in the foothills towering above William Johnson’s La Cañada Flintridge home are now…
June 9, 2010 Three of the four largest homeowners insurance companies in the state are raising their rates Three of Alabama’s four largest home insurers are raising rates, although State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., the state’s largest, is giving coastal residents something of a break. No. 1 State Farm, No. 2 Alfa Mutual group and No. 4 Farmers Insurance Group — the…
June 9, 2010 Tips on flood insurance Contact your insurance agent to determine what exactly your current homeowner insurance policies cover and whether they’re up to date, then assess whether flood insurance is necessary. If you need flood insurance, act fast. Policies usually go into effect 30 days after purchase, and the…
June 9, 2010 Why Earthquake Insurance Is Tough Sell, Even In Bay Area Bill Clingan was around when the Loma Prieta earthquake sucker-punched the Bay Area 20 years ago. His Walnut Creek home suffered no damage, which is why he feels comfortable today not having earthquake insurance. “It’s very expensive. Deductibles are high. It’s just not worth it,”…
