California Bush Fire Victims Discover Belatedly They Are Underinsured
California Bush Fire Victims Discover Belatedly They Are Underinsured

Los Angeles, CA AHN) – A survey by United Policyholders slated for release Friday states widespread underinsurance of properties in California, unveiled by the recent wild bushfires. The San Francisco-based consumer organization surveyed 274 residents on the extent of the damage the wildfires caused on…
Companies, underinsured homeowners still in dispute over settlements stemming from 2007 wildfires
Companies, underinsured homeowners still in dispute over settlements stemming from 2007 wildfires

They spent a recent Saturday creating detailed lists of the contents of their houses – everything from dishes and bed linens to socks and unopened tubes of toothpaste. When memories failed, they turned to each other’s lists to jar their recollections. It was a long…
County has provided mental health services for victims of ’07 fires
County has provided mental health services for victims of ’07 fires

After his Fallbrook home was destroyed in the 2007 wildfires, Richard McDonnell realized that his friends didn’t understand his sense of loss, the grieving for destroyed heirlooms or the frustration over the the slow rebuilding process. Then McDonnell, 63, began attending the weekly group meetings…
Family Deals With Fire Aftermath, Insurance Issues
Family Deals With Fire Aftermath, Insurance Issues

SAN DIEGO — Lee and Shirley Taylor aren’t alone. They are victims of the October wildfires that destroyed their Ramona home. They’re also underinsured. “That was our request, insure us against total loss,” said Lee Taylor. He said his agent handed him a 108-page insurance…
Homeowners allege firms underinsured them for wildfires
Homeowners allege firms underinsured them for wildfires

San Diego County residents, saying they were misled into believing they had enough coverage, urge the state insurance commissioner to take action. Insurers say it’s not a severe problem. Reporting from Sacramento — As a wildfire sparked evacuations in Southern California on Wednesday morning, victims…
Insurance firms face fire probe: Poizner’s response to UP’s Oct. 23rd Press Conference
Insurance firms face fire probe: Poizner’s response to UP’s Oct. 23rd Press Conference

California’s insurance commissioner has ordered his auditors to examine how insurance companies handled claims from last year’s devastating wildfires amid allegations from homeowners that some insurers misled them about how much coverage they needed. “We’ll be looking for patterns of behavior by insurance companies, of…
Insurers likely to weather California firestorm
Insurers likely to weather California firestorm

Industry observers say damage payouts shouldn’t pose any difficulty, but the weak global economy could lead to eventual premium increases. Once again, thousands of Southern Californians reeling from days of destructive wildfires have been forced to exercise the home insurance policies they hoped they would…
Many Struggle to Rebuild After Last Year’s Wildfires
Many Struggle to Rebuild After Last Year’s Wildfires

Victims of last October’s wildfires gathered for a news conference in Rancho Bernardo on Wednesday, asking for help from Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. Many say they have not resolved their claims with their insurance companies because they were grossly underinsured. “He needs to follow through…
Most S.D. Wildfire Victims Still in Struggle with Insurance Companies to Rebuild
Most S.D. Wildfire Victims Still in Struggle with Insurance Companies to Rebuild

Even though it’s been six months since wildfires ravaged more than 1,600 homes in the San Diego area, only a handful have begun to rebuild. That’s because for many wildfire survivors, dealing with their insurance companies was like a second disaster. Reporter David Nogueras has…
Under-insured fire families in a tough spot
Under-insured fire families in a tough spot

Scores of Witch Creek fire victims are learning they do not have enough insurance to rebuild an equivalent home. Valerie Brown, RB United project coordinator, said at least 110 families she is helping navigate through the recovery process have discovered their homes were 30 to…
Wildfire victims demand help fighting insurance companies
Wildfire victims demand help fighting insurance companies

Homeowners’ policies not covering costs of rebuilding This story has been modified since its original posting. RANCHO BERNARDO —- Stan Newman and about two dozen others who lost their homes in last year’s Witch Creek fire complained Wednesday they had made almost no progress toward…
Wildfires heat up debate on rising rebuilding costs
Wildfires heat up debate on rising rebuilding costs

Are policies adequate to help make homeowners whole? Stan Newman figures it will cost him close to $400,000 to rebuild his three-bedroom home, which burned to the ground in the fall when a wildfire swept through his neighborhood in the San Diego County community of…
California fires an insurance wake-up call
California fires an insurance wake-up call

Many homeowners in California have discovered that their homes that were destroyed by recent wildfires were underinsured. So who is to blame, the homeowners or insurance agents? When Dave Wilder and his wife, Lynn, surveyed the remains of their house after it burned to the…
Tips To Get Your Insurance Claim Approved
Tips To Get Your Insurance Claim Approved

San Francisco, California – Insurance companies are in the business of making money. So consumers need to know these tips to avoid getting the runaround. Charles Thomas still isn’t sure which was worse: The fire that broke out on the deck of his San Francisco…
Underinsured wildfire victims feel burned again
Underinsured wildfire victims feel burned again

Some policyholders believe companies deliberately sold them less coverage than they would need to rebuild. An industry group says the issue is overblown. When Dave Wilder and his wife, Lynn, surveyed the remains of their Running Springs house after it burned to the ground in…
UP wildfire recovery resources featured in The Rotary Club of Montecito
UP wildfire recovery resources featured in The Rotary Club of Montecito

The Tea Fire is out but many of our neighbors are just beginning the process of putting their lives back together from the ashes that remain. Montecito Rotary Club President-elect shared the following information from Karen Reimus, who has experience in the aftermath of fire…
We’re Covered! Fire Insurers Say They Can Handle Claims
We’re Covered! Fire Insurers Say They Can Handle Claims

LOS ANGELES– Experts say insurance companies are sufficiently well capitalized to handle the flood of claims that will arise from the Southland’s latest wildfires, it was reported today. “The majority of those who lost their homes do not need to worry about the solvency of…
Poizner rule changes criticized as a nod to insurance industry
Poizner rule changes criticized as a nod to insurance industry

SACRAMENTO – Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner rode to victory in 2006 partly on the effects of a TV ad ridiculing his opponent, Cruz Bustamante, for taking bagloads of cash from the industry he wanted to regulate. Two years later, Poizner has held firm to his…