The Salt Lake Tribune Business Briefs Column
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Oct. 24--MICROSOFT CHIEF TO SPEAK: Microsoft chief Steven Ballmer will be the keynote speaker for Friday night's Hall of Fame induction banquet for Utah technology luminaries Dinesh Patel and Jim Kajiya. The black-tie, invitation dinner at downtown Salt Lake City's Little America Hotel annually honors people with Utah ties who have made key contributions to the information technology and life science industries. Kajiya earned a doctorate in computer science from the University of Utah and spent 15 years at the California Institute of Technology teaching computer science....
NJ Cure Becomes Official Auto Insurance Sponsor of Rutgers University's Athletics Department
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- New Jersey Citizens United Reciprocal Exchange, (NJ CURE), a leading not-for-profit auto insurer in New Jersey, recently entered into a multi-year agreement with the Rutgers University Athletic Department to be the official auto insurance sponsor of Rutgers Athletics."These high standards of excellence mirror those of NJ CURE and how we service New Jersey drivers with the services they want and need."NJ CURE auto insurance is the first official car insurance sponsor in the history of Rutgers Athletics, and NJ CURE believes it will be a long-term mutually beneficial relationship....
State Farm to Cut Auto Insurance Rates in Colorado Starting Next Week
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Oct. 24--State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. said Monday that it will cut auto-insurance rates in Colorado an average of 7.5 percent starting next week, saving drivers $42.9 million in premiums a year. "The move away from a no-fault and to a tort environment has helped us," said State Farm spokeswoman Teresa Tuschhoff. "We have taken abuse, misuse and overuse out of the system."...
Auto Injury Referral Service Out of Georgia
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Oct. 21--The 1-800-ASK-GARY medical and legal referral service no longer has Georgia on its mind. After a blistering expansion across Florida -- its 40 auto-accident clinics stretch from Naples to Jacksonville -- Physicians Group LLC appears to have stumbled in Georgia. The change comes a relatively short time after the company entered the Atlanta market, which happened in late 2005 or early this year, said Greg Zitani, a Sarasota lawyer who represents Physicians Group....
Let's Be Clear, the Public is Tired of Hype
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
There are limits, I suppose, to what the Plain English Campaign can achieve. Cynics, of course, would suggest that many companies find it only too useful to cover up their blatant attempts to fool potential customers by hiding behind a facade of linguistic incompetence. Nought per cent interest on balance transfers* (the asterisk is important)....
Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation Declares Quarterly Dividend
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation announced today that it declared a quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share of Infinity Property and Casualty Common Stock. The dividend is payable on November 17, 2006 to holders of record on November 7, 2006.Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation is a national provider of personal automobile insurance with a concentration on nonstandard auto insurance....
Is It Time to Upgrade?
Monday, October 23, 2006
You're driving down Route 1 and see a promotion for a local car dealership. Type them into your cell-phone and within seconds, a text message tells you the asking price, square footage, and more.Back in the car, you listen to a podcast from your lawyer about new legal issues affecting your business....
Protection is Not Just for the Wealthy ; Wealth Management
Saturday, October 21, 2006
THERE are many people who believe that using the services of an independent financial advisor is not for them, that it's only for those with a huge income and masses of disposable income. Yet nothing can be further from the truth and smart money management is something that affects everyone regardless of how much cash they have. Award-winning financial advisor Alok Dhanda believes that too many people live for today and don't think about the future until it's too late....
Cost of Motoring is on the Rise Says RAC
Saturday, October 21, 2006
The cost of running a car has risen by pounds 539 in a year, despite a dip in petrol prices, an RAC report showed today. Motorists fork out an average of more than pounds 5,500 a year on vehicles. The index results will be unwelcome news for many, but motorists must better understand the true cost."...
Candidates Exploit Their Offices to Grab Headlines
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office issues daily bulletins to the media about his upcoming appearances and, if that day's events are under the aegis of his re-election campaign, his aides primly refer reporters to his campaign office.From his elaborate ceremonies to sign high-profile bills in September to visiting New York to tout his program to combat global warming, Schwarzenegger's official agenda is packed with campaign-style events.In using his office as a campaign vehicle, Schwarzenegger is tramping a well-worn path -- one whose footprints include those of his Democratic foe, Phil Angelides....
Motorists Must Pay Pounds 539 More
Saturday, October 21, 2006
THE cost of running a car has risen by an average of pounds 539 in the last year despite the recent dip in fuel prices, an RAC report showed today. Motorists now fork out an average of more than pounds 5,500 a year to operate their vehicles. Depreciation is the biggest single expense, accounting for pounds 2,420 on average in 2006 - a 22 per cent increase on 2005....
Motoring NEWS
Friday, October 20, 2006
TOO many drivers in the UK are driving without insurance, according to tempcover.com, the new way to buy short-term car insurance.Research shows that nearly 35 per cent of UK drivers borrow a car from a friend or family member on a regular basis.On top of the results, figures from the DVLA indicate that at any one time, 5 per cent of vehicles on the road (1.25million) in the UK are not insured....
State to Launch Auto-Insure Changes
Friday, October 20, 2006
Oct. 19--The Romney administration is pushing ahead with a major change in the state's auto insurance system that could affect hundreds of thousands to possibly a million drivers. Officials briefed on Bowler's so-called assigned risk plan say she intends to drop a provision that had been included in an earlier proposal that would have kept drivers with clean records for the last three years from being labeled high-risk. A top aide to Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly , who has pushed for an assigned risk plan, said she was troubled by reports that Bowler intends to remove the so-called clean-in-three provision....
Allstate to Refund $17 Million: Md. Also Fines Insurer; Letters on Rates Failed to Comply With Law
Friday, October 20, 2006
Oct. 20--The Maryland Insurance Administration ordered Allstate Insurance Co. yesterday to pay refunds averaging $850 to more than 20,000 drivers in the state who were improperly notified by the insurer to pay higher premiums after they caused an accident or received a speeding ticket. Allstate owes the money -- $17.5 million and a $100,000 fine -- because it failed to use specific language required by Maryland law when it sent letters to customers outlining the higher rates. State officials characterized the refund as one of the largest in Maryland's recent history, and the fine is just shy of the $125,000 that the agency is legally allowed to impose....
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....
Infinity Property and Casualty to Announce Third Quarter Results
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....