3 Proposals on the Table to Cut Auto Insure Rates
Thursday, October 19, 2006
BOSTON - Two state agencies urged the state insurance commissioner yesterday to give motorists a bigger reduction on auto insurance rates than the one that an industry group is seeking.Attorney General Tom Reilly's office filed a proposal that aims to reduce insurance rates by 18.2 percent, while the State Rating Bureau seeks a decrease of 8.3 percent.The two agencies' proposals follow a 3.7 percent rate reduction proposal that the Automobile Insurers Bureau of Massachusetts filed last month....
GEICO to Present Consumer Safety and Fraud Awareness Open House
Thursday, October 19, 2006
FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to better educate its associates and local residents, GEICO is hosting a consumer safety and fraud awareness open house Tuesday, Oct. 24. Several exhibits will be on display to demonstrate the latest in fraud prevention and safety.NASCAR driver Mike Wallace will also make an appearance from noon until 2 p.m....
Movers
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Neurologix, Fort Lee, developer of nervous system gene therapies, has appointed Cornelius E. Golding, 58, to its board of directors as a Class II member.A certified public accountant, Golding also will serve on the audit committee.From 1981 to 2003, he was with the Mutual Insurance Co. in Madison....
Roeyksopp "Remind Me" Featured in New GEICO Ad
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Astralwerks is pleased to announce that the latest ad in the hugely popular (and hilarious) "Caveman" series for GEICO Auto Insurance, created by the Martin Agency, features "Remind Me" by Roeyksopp. The classic song from their album "Melody A.M." features vocals from Erlend Oye (Kings Of Convenience, Whitest Boy Alive).See the ad here: http://www.astralwerks.com/royksopp/...
Your Money: Pound Notes - COST GEARS UP
Sunday, October 15, 2006
pounds CAR insurance has risen for the second quarter in succession, reveals the AA British Insurance Premium Index. The average annual premium for drivers aged 25 and under is now around pounds 1,000.Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning....
Warning to Car Owners
Saturday, October 14, 2006
CARELESS car owners are practically inviting thieves to steal from their vehicles, it was claimed today. A total of 95 per cent of drivers leave items unattended in their cars and 12 per cent rarely or never attempt to cover or hide valuables, Post Office Car Insurance found. On average, car owners leave pounds 134 worth of goods in their cars, with 18 per cent leaving valuables worth more than pounds 200....
GEICO and Mike Wallace Back Together for the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series
Saturday, October 14, 2006
CONCORD, N.C., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Mike Wallace, veteran NASCAR driver, will team with GEICO for the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series racing season that begins in February. Wallace will pilot the #7 GEICO Chevrolet and will remain with Phoenix Racing for the next three seasons.Wallace now races behind the wheel of the #1 Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts Dodge for Phoenix Racing in the current NASCAR Busch Series....
The Salt Lake Tribune Business Digest Column
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Oct. 12--CONSUMER DEBT -- MASCOT FINANCIAL FINED FOR VIOLATING STATE REGULATIONS: The Division of Consumer Protection has cited Provo-based Mascot Financial, a consumer debt reduction company, and its officers, Scot Stobbe, Sam Ashton and Blake Reynolds. The firm violated state regulations by taking up-front fees from consumers, not delivering debt-reduction services and in some cases failing to pay off consumers' bills to creditors, said Francine Giani, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce. Mascot Financial and its three officers have been ordered to pay a $270,000 fine, Giani said....
Auto Claims Service Stepping Up
Friday, October 13, 2006
Oct. 12--Low auto premium rates combined with attention-grabbing ads with talking geckos, Fabio or shocking crashes presided over by somber actors may sell auto insurance, but it's taking a lot more to keep those customers. As competition among auto insurance companies heats up, more companies are competing on high-tech and highly personal customer care to keep the business. Progressive is offering what it calls "concierge claims service" at its new service center in San Antonio, a process that cuts the customer's time involved in the repair process to 15 minutes or less....
October 2008: Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation Declares Quarterly Dividend
Thursday, October 12, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation expects to release its third quarter 2006 results on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 before the market opens. The earnings release will be available shortly thereafter on Infinity's website at http://www.ipacc.com/.In connection with its earnings release, Infinity will hold a conference call to discuss the third quarter results on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. ET....
The Rate Crashers
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
pounds THIRD-party car insurance rates rose by nearly five per cent in the past three months and average nearly pounds 1,000, says the AA. AA spokesman Kevin Sinclair says: "One in eight drivers is under 25, yet account for a quarter of all road fatalities." The AA's latest quarterly insurance survey shows that fully comp cover went up by 1.24 per cent to average pounds 772....
Letter: Your Say - Disc Solution
Monday, October 09, 2006
IT'S not often I agree with Karren Brady but on this occasion she has my total agreement. The answer to this problem is quite simple and solved by the introduction of a disc, similar to a tax disc, which would be issued by the appropriate car insurance companies stating the insurance reference number and premium for the next 12 months on the vehicle has been paid. Failure to display the disc would mean the police would have the power to quiz the driver or owner and confiscate the vehicle if the appropriate insurance documentation could not be provided....
Letter: Your Say - Young Drivers Not to Blame
Monday, October 09, 2006
NORWICH UNION and its subsidiaries say they are increasing their car insurance prices. Young drivers should not be berated' many of them, and their parents, have wisely spent hundreds of pounds in driving lessons.The reason for motor insurance hikes can clearly be laid at companies which regularly advertise on TV, offering to help people claim for a big toe that still gives pain after 40 years that is attributed to an accident that was not the claimant's fault....
Motors: On the Road to Romance
Sunday, October 08, 2006
THE UK's favourite passion wagon is the Volvo estate, according to a survey of more than 4,000 motorists. Following the Volvo estate in second place in the hearts of frisky motorists is the Mercedes Benz Sprinter. The poll placed the VW Camper van in third place with the BMW 3- Series and Ford Escort completing the top five....
12% of Drivers Are Illegal ; Number of Uninsured Londoners is Soaring
Saturday, October 07, 2006
THE number of illegal drivers in London has risen dramatically, figures reveal today. The figures, obtained by the Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly, also showed uninsured drivers are 10 times more likely to have been convicted of drink-driving, six times more likely to have been convicted of driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition and nine times more likely to crash. Geoff Pope, Lib-Dem transport spokesman on the Assembly, blamed uninsured drivers for an explosion in hit-and-run accidents, fuelled by "insignificant" fines for those convicted....
1 in 8 London Drivers Illegal ; Fears As 'Motoring Underclass' Rises Six-Fold
Saturday, October 07, 2006
THE number of illegal drivers in London has risen six-fold, figures reveal today. The figures, obtained by the Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly, also showed that uninsured drivers are 10 times more likely to have been convicted of drink-driving, six times more likely to have been convicted of driving a vehicle in dangerous condition, and nine times more likely to crash. Geoff Pope, Lib-Dem transport spokesman, blamed uninsured drivers for an explosion in hitandrun accidents, fuelled by "insignificant"fines for those caught....
GEICO Web Site Earns 2 Awards
Saturday, October 07, 2006
GEICO earned high honors for its www.geico.com Web site by making it still easier for visitors to access the site for rate quotes, customer service updates and claims inquiries.Two WebAwards were presented by the Web Marketing Association (WMA) recently, which named geico.com the winner of the "Insurance Standard of Excellence" award and named www.geicoenespanol.com the winner of the "Outstanding Web Site."Jess Reed, GEICO group vice president and CIO, noted, "We are very honored to receive these awards....
YourLIFE: That Price Disney Make Any Sense
Saturday, October 07, 2006
GETTING to Disney in Florida for pounds 199 might sound like a bit of joke but just like Mickey Mouse, this is no laughing matter. Departing throughout October, with from Manchester pounds 199pp will get you 14 nights at the Quality Inn Plaza or the Quality Inn International. The same trip will cost pounds 249pp flying from Glasgow and from pounds 269pp flying from Gatwick....
Rivals Still Holding Fire After Bold Move By Norwich Union
Saturday, October 07, 2006
When Norwich Union announced a big hike in motor insurance premiums - from 16 per cent to 40 per cent, depending on a driver's claims history - it entered territory where rivals have long feared to tread. There was little surprise, then, when Patrick Snowball, head of UK operations at Avi-va, which owns Norwich Union, announced: "We are determined to lead the market on this and we would expect some sensible discipline in the market. "The pendulum has swung too far and rates have been too low....
GEICO Associates Show Love for Local Children By Donating $101,000 for Children's Hospital
Friday, October 06, 2006
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- GEICO associates and the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation are donating $101,000 to Children's Hospital as a result of the company's 26th annual fund-raising campaign. The money will be used by Children's Hospital to support a number of programs including its Care for Children Fund, National Safe Kids Campaign and Teens Against the Spread of AIDS (TASA)."As GEICO associates, we participate in this annual fundraiser as a labor of love," said Rynthia Rost, vice president of GEICO public affairs....
Motoring NEWS Oct 06, 01:48 AM
Friday, October 06, 2006
DRIVERS often agree to pay a large excess to get the cheapest motor insurance quote.However a new product from Insure4excess.com allows policyholders to insure the excess, so their exposure in the event of a claim could still be zero.With this product, drivers can get the best of both worlds - a low insurance premium and a refund of some or all of the excess in the event of a claim....
Auto Premium Rating Error Cost U.S. Auto Insurers More Than $16 Billion In 2005
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Quality Planning Corporation (QPC), the rating integrity solutions company, today released its annual Premium Rating Error report, showing premium rating errors remain a drag on auto insurer profitability. QPC estimates $16.2 billion of premium revenues were foregone in 2005 by insurers that use inaccurate rating information to calculate premiums.Dr. Daniel Finnegan, founder and president of QPC, noted, "For the average auto insurer, each percent of rating error loss translates into a 20 percent reduction in profitability....
Imperfect Presents
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
pounds MORE than pounds 926million of unwanted Xmas presents were returned to shops last year - one in every 10 gifts received. ValueLink, which offers gift vouchers for Asda, Harrods and Habitat, conducted a survey after the last festive season. THE government Homebuy scheme for key workers and families on housing waiting lists is now available through four lenders....
Kwik-Fit Admin Error Costs Drivers
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
An administrative error made by the car insurance business of Kwik-Fit means that around 800 drivers will have their insurance policies terminated.Kwik-Fit is contacting the affected customers and giving them 10 days' notice that their insurance policies are about to come to an end, even though many of the policies still have months left to run.According to a report on This is Money, the affected customers are those who searched online for the best quote by using a comparison engine....
Resilient Northern Rock is Not Easy to Knock ; THE INVESTMENT COLUMN
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Our view: Take profits Here is a well-run mortgage bank that knows its business inside-out and makes a point of delivering on promises. Hard on the heels of upbeat figures on the UK mortgage market at the end of last week, yesterday's trading update was never going to be anything other than ebullient....