Low-Cost Auto Insurance On Way: State Insurance Commissioner Hopes to Bring Program to County By Year's End
Posted 8:02 AM Sep-23-2006
Sep. 21--An estimated 27,000 uninsured drivers travel on Monterey County roads, but a new low-cost auto insurance program could help change that. The program will offer low-income drivers with good driving records the chance to purchase basic auto insurance for about $350 per year. On Wednesday, California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi hosted a sparsely attended public hearing at the Salinas Community Center to promote plans for expanding the program into Monterey County....
Auto Insurers' Use of Credit Scores Criticized
Posted 8:02 AM Sep-23-2006
For years, financial institutions have relied on credit-scoring to determine whether to make a home loan, car loan or provide a credit card to an applicant and what rate to charge. Auto insurers such as State Farm, USAA and Hartford Financial Services Group routinely use a driver's credit score when calculating rates. Milton Strawhand, vice president of the Savage & McPherson Insurance Agency Inc. in Chesapeake, said some of his customers have become annoyed when told that an insurer will use their credit score as part of the rate-making process....
''The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift'' HD DVD's Exclusive Bonus Feature Shows How Much It Costs to Fix Lots of Bent Sheet Metal Thanks to Progressive's On-Screen Repair Estimates
Posted 8:02 AM Sep-23-2006
Progressive Direct Works with Universal Studios HomeEntertainment to Promote HD DVD and DVD Releases of "The Fastand the Furious: Tokyo Drift" with Online Sweepstakes andInteractive Video Game; HD DVD Contains Innovative EstimatorBonus FeatureThe nation's third largest auto insurance group, The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, today announced that its Progressive Direct(R) brand, which is sold by phone and online, has signed a promotional agreement with Universal Studios Home Entertainment to promote the simultaneous HD DVD and DVD releases of "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" on September 26, 2006 with an online sweepstakes and interactive video game and is leveraging Progressive Claims Service's expertise by providing car repair estimates on the HD DVD. This unique "Bonus" feature allows viewers to pick from some of the movie's select crash scenes and get an on-screen estimate of the vehicles' damage. "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" - set in the colorful adrenaline-pumping underground world of drift racing - is the latest installment of the worldwide blockbuster hit franchise "The Fast and the Furious" and its sequel, "2 Fast 2 Furious."...
GEICO to Hire More Than 500 for Fredericksburg Office
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-21-2006
FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Since GEICO opened its Fredericksburg operations center in 1989, the office has grown to become one of the largest employers in Stafford County with nearly 3,000 associates -- and it has no plans of stopping. GEICO will participate in the first in a series of a career fairs on Thursday, Sept. 21, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at its Fredericksburg office location, One GEICO Blvd., Fredericksburg, Va., off Rt. 17.GEICO's other job fairs in the area will take place:...
Insurers Pass Profits to Drivers in Virginia
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-21-2006
Sep. 20--Safer cars and better enforcement of drunken-driving laws have been a boon to auto insurers' profitability in recent years. On Monday, State Farm reduced its auto rates in Virginia by an average of 5 percent. State Farm is the largest insurer of personal autos in Virginia and the country....
Aioi Insurance Nonpayment Cases More Numerous Than Earlier Reported
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-20-2006
Sep. 19--TOKYO -- Aioi Insurance Co. has been found to have failed to make insurance money payments in another 30,000 instances in addition to the 29,000 the insurer reported last September, sources close to the matter said Tuesday. The company's total payment failures in violation of policy contracts are expected to exceed the 46,000 or so of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., which was ordered by the Financial Services Agency in June to suspend some of its operations, according to the sources. The FSA earlier instructed 26 nonlife insurance companies to conduct second checks on their insurance payment practices and report the results by the end of this month....
Allstate Promotes Second in Command SHAKERS MARKETPLACE By Bloomberg
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-20-2006
Allstate, one of the largest U.S. home and auto insurers, said Monday that Thomas Wilson, No. 2 in command, will succeed the chief executive, Edward Liddy, at the start of next year. Wilson joined Allstate in 1995 as a vice president of finance and became president and chief operating officer last year....
Progressive Named One of the ''Best Places to Launch a Career'' By BusinessWeek
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-20-2006
Third Largest Auto Insurance Group in the U.S. Recognized byBusinessWeek in Its First-Ever Ranking of Employers That OfferNew College Graduates the Best Opportunities to SucceedThe Progressive Group of Insurance Companies has been named to BusinessWeek's inaugural list of the best places for new college graduates to begin their careers.Making BusinessWeek's ranking helps to signal to new graduates that we want the nation's best and brightest," said Matt Thornton, national recruiting director, Progressive....
GEICO Vice President Receives Prestigious Doughboy Award
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-20-2006
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Richard A. Kidd, 9th Sergeant Major of the Army (Retired) and GEICO vice president of GEICO field representatives and military marketing, was recently awarded the Doughboy Award for his outstanding contributions to the United States Army Infantry. The Doughboy award is the highest honor the Chief of Infantry can bestow on any infantryman.Kidd said, "There are many Soldiers out there that are worthy of this award, I am honored and humbled to the one selected to represent them and all Infantryman past, present and future -- Follow Me, I Am The Infantry -- Hooah!"...
ARNOLD BEHIND THE WHEEL ; Locals Win Insurance Firm Account
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-20-2006
Boston advertising agency Arnold Worldwide has won an estimated $200 million account from car insurer Progressive Direct Group of Insurance Cos., the agency said yesterday.The win is a big one for Arnold, which has had an up-and- down year following the loss of its marquee client Volkswagen of America late last year.The agency has taken home some new accounts over the past few months, including Chambord Liqueur and Trex Co., "but none to the degree and size of a Progressive," said Pam Hamlin, president of Arnold's Boston headquarters....
4 Charged in Allentown Insurance Scam Face Trial
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-20-2006
Sep. 20--Four of the six women accused of operating an Allentown insurance agency where they illegally provided Pennsylvania registrations and cheaper car insurance to New York drivers gave up their right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday. June Shepulski, ACE president and Pham's daughter, and Ilsa Lisbeth Zeno had their hearings postponed. Authorities say New York drivers paid $500 to $1,000 to a middleman to obtain Pennsylvania registration plates and insurance....
Briefcase
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-19-2006
21st Century will lower auto ratesThe state's fifth-largest auto insurer will lower its rates to comply with new regulations requiring rates to be based on driving record instead of ZIP code, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi said Thursday.At a news conference in Los Angeles, Garamendi announced that 21st Century Insurance Co. has applied for a rate reduction, which he said would lead to a savings of more than $60 million for the company's 740,000 policyholders statewide....
Progressive Direct Concludes Advertising Agency Review; Selects Arnold Worldwide
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-19-2006
The Progressive Direct Group of Insurance Companies, which sells auto insurance directly to consumers over the phone and the Internet, announced that it has concluded its search for a primary advertising agency and has selected Arnold Worldwide. "We're extremely pleased to announce that Arnold Worldwide will be our new primary agency," said Alex Ho, brand development director, Progressive Direct. "We are thrilled to have Progressive Direct as a client," said Pam Hamlin, president, Arnold Worldwide....
Insurance.Com Reports Drivers Should Compare Auto Insurance Rates During Life Events
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-19-2006
CLEVELAND, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurance.com, the nation's largest online auto insurance agency, reports that the best time for drivers to compare auto insurance rates is during major life events such as getting married or purchasing a new home."Many insurance companies offer discounts for insuring multiple cars," stated Dave Rosh, CEO of Insurance.com. "By taking advantage of this opportunity, Newlyweds can potentially save hundreds of dollars off their annual auto insurance premiums by shopping around and comparing prices....
GEICO Names Greg Kalinsky to Head California and West Coast Operations
Posted 10:11 AM Sep-19-2006
GEICO's board of directors this week announced that Greg Kalinsky will head GEICO's California and West Coast operations as regional vice president. Kalinsky previously served as vice president for the company's national underwriting practices in GEICO's Washington, D.C., headquarters.Kalinsky succeeds Nancy Pierce who was named regional vice president of GEICO's Washington, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia operations....
Money People: DRIVE FOR A BARGAIN ; It's Easy to Save on Car Insurance
Posted 10:10 AM Sep-17-2006
THERE'S never been a better time to buy car insurance - and no- one should be paying the full whack. A little black box installed in your car will soon help cut costs further by telling insurers when and where you drive. The more information firms have, the more they can tailor insurance to your driving habits....
Insurance Savings
Posted 10:10 AM Sep-16-2006
With car registration plates changing from September 1, the Post Office is so keen to boost sales of car insurance that it offers a pounds 50 cashback on every new policy. Phil Ashkuri, head of Post Office Car Insurance, reckons drivers save an average pounds 134 a year by shopping around to get the best value car cover. Post Office inquiries: 0800 169 6500 or through local branches....
Geico is Adding 600 More Jobs at Tucson Site
Posted 10:10 AM Sep-16-2006
Sep. 16--Insurance giant Geico has announced plans to hire at least 600 more people for its Tucson service center over the next 15 months. The company's Tucson location has grown to 550 employees since opening in 2003 and led Geico in sales growth in 2005. All jobs feature a benefits package that includes medical and dental insurance, profit-sharing and 401(k) plans, said Martha Furnas, assistant vice president for Geico's Tucson location at 930 N. Finance Center Drive....
Progressive Distributes August Results - 2005
Posted 10:10 AM Sep-15-2006
The Progressive Corporation today reported the following results for August 2006:See the complete monthly release at http://investors.progressive.com/releases/2006/pdf/mreport_0806.pdf for further month and year-to-date information.The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, ranks third in the nation for auto insurance based on premiums written and provides drivers with competitive rates and 24/7, in-person and online service....
California Insurance Commissioner Announces Intention to Approve 21st Century Insurance Company Rate Filing
Posted 10:10 AM Sep-15-2006
21st Century Insurance Company announced that California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi intends to approve a rate filing that will allow the Company to comply with the Commissioner's recent regulatory changes. We've been operating here for almost 50 years and have always complied with the state's regulations," said Chief Executive Officer & President Bruce Marlow. 21st Century Insurance Group is the seventh largest writer of personal automobile insurance in California and employs more than 2,700 people, with more than 1,600 employees at its headquarters in Woodland Hills, California....
Progressive Named One of the Best Places to Work in Northeast Ohio; Third Largest Auto Insurance Group Selected As a 2006 NorthCoast 99 Award Recipient
Posted 10:10 AM Sep-15-2006
At an awards ceremony held last night at Signature at LACENTRE in Westlake, The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies was named one of the best places to work in Northeast Ohio by the Employers Resource Council (ERC), Northeast Ohio's largest employers' association. "It's a true reflection of our goal to make Progressive a great place to work."The ERC compiles a comprehensive report from the winners' data to share with participating organizations as a guidebook on the most successful practices of the region's top companies....
Geico Ads Aren't so Funny to Attorney General
Posted 10:10 AM Sep-15-2006
Sep. 14--A series of Geico commercials featuring celebrities giving humorous interpretations of customers' auto insurance claims may play for laughs, but Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is not amused. On Wednesday, Blumenthal accused the auto insurance company of misleading consumers and possibly violating state law by running "false and misleading" television ads -- singling out one in particular that features actress Charo -- that say Geico repairs cars in a few days or less. "This advertisement is false, potentially misleading consumers to believe that Geico actually repairs motor vehicles," Blumenthal said in a statement....
CarInsurance.com Expands Products To New States
Posted 11:55 AM Sep-14-2006
CarInsurance.com now offers their online insurance agency solution in California, Texas, Arizona and Florida. CarInsurance.com has been a full service online car insurance agency in Florida since 2004 along with insurance company relationships in all 50 states, Canada and the United Kingdom....
21st Century Insurance Group Announces Quarterly Dividend Sep 13, 10:04 PM
Posted 10:09 AM Sep-14-2006
About 21st: Good people to callFounded in 1958, 21st Century Insurance Group is a direct-to-consumer provider of personal auto insurance. 21st Century Insurance Company, 21st Century Casualty Company, and 21st Century Insurance Company of the Southwest are rated A+ by Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's....
Progressive Named to InformationWeek 500; Progressive Recognized As a Leader in Technology and Innovation for Seventh Consecutive Year
Posted 10:09 AM Sep-14-2006
The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies has been named to the "InformationWeek" 500 - a top 500 ranking of the nation's largest and most innovative providers of information technology - for the seventh consecutive year. The company ranked 200th on the list."We're thrilled that our commitment to developing and deploying technology that makes car insurance easier to shop for, buy and own has been recognized by `InformationWeek' for the seventh year in a row," said Ray Voelker, chief information officer, Progressive....