J.D. Power Ranks 25 Auto Insurers by Claims Performance

Insurance Networking News, October 27, 2011
Justin Stephani

For the fourth consecutive year, Auto-Owners Insurance took the top spot of J.D. Power and Associates’ “U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.” On a 1,000-point scale, Auto-Owners achieved a score of 890 and was the only insurer included in the rankings to receive a five-star rating.

State Farm (878), Amica Mutual (865), American Family (862) and The Hartford (858) rounded out the top five, respectively; they were the only four to receive four-star ratings. The rest of the field received three stars or less, including big-spenders such as GEICO (840), Progressive (836), Allstate (834) and MetLife (824).

The industry average for this year’s survey was a score of 846 and a three-star rating.
At an industry level, customer satisfaction was markedly higher when filing claims for repairable damages, as opposed to claimants incurring a total vehicle loss. In cases of the latter, satisfaction averaged 811; 42 points lower than among those filing repairable damage claims.

Did You Know That Jason Shroot Has Access To a Majority of These Top Rated Insurance Companies & Can Provide You With a Home / Auto / Business Insurance Quote For Your Review Today.

Please Call Jason Shroot at 714-988-3325 or www.JasonSellsInsurance.com

The three main contributors to the low satisfaction rate are communication, insurers must explain the claims process as well as be available to deliver new information and answer follow-up questions; speed, total loss claimants has to wait an extra six days on average when compared to the 12-day average of repairable damage claims; and fairness, knowing and understanding policies ahead of time and being made aware of out-of-pocket expenses as early as possible can avoid unpleasant surprises.

Speaking to auto insurance customers, J.D. Power and Associates’ insurance practice Senior Director Jeremy Bowler said, “It’s important for customers to examine the settlement offer and, in particular, verify the vehicle content and condition. The majority of customers who disputed their vehicle’s valuation most often cited differences concerning comparable vehicles (56 percent), vehicle condition (53 percent) and aftermarket accessories (18 percent).”

The 2011 “U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study” is based on more than 11,500 responses from auto insurance customers who filed a claim within the past 12 months. The study excludes claimants whose vehicle only incurred glass/windshield damage or was stolen, or who only filed roadside assistance claims. The study was fielded March through July 2011.

The top 25 insurers surveyed with their satisfaction scores are listed below:


1. Auto-Owners Insurance (890)
2. State Farm (878)
3. Amica Mutual (865)
4. American Family (862)
5. The Hartford (858)
6. COUNTRY (853)
7. Erie Insurance (851)
8. Travelers (848)
9. Nationwide (841)
10. GEICO (840)
11. California State Automobile Association (839)
12. Safeco (838)
13. Progressive (836)
14. The Hanover (835)
15. Allstate (834)
16. Liberty Mutual (830)
17. Mercury (825)
18. Automobile Clue of Southern California (824)
19. MetLife (824)
20. Automobile Club Group (821)
21. Farmers (804)
22. Esurance (800)
23. Encompass (789)
24. Commerce (772)
25. 21st Century (771)

USAA was listed separately with a five-star satisfaction score of 889, though they were not included in the rankings because they are not open to the general public.

Please Call Jason Shroot at 714-988-3325 For a Free Competitive Insurance Quote Today.



Data Breach Insurance Caters To Small & Large Businesses

This Potential Gap in Coverage Should Not Be Overlooked...

Insurance companies tend to play the odds better than Las Vegas bookies; if they're starting to offer insurance to protect small business from hacks, you can bet the likelihood and potential cost of attacks has gone way up, even for Small Business Owners.


A survey released this year from Verizon Business estimates almost two thirds of the 760 data breaches recorded in 2010 involved small businesses.   Jason Shroot thinks that is crazy to believe!

The data-breach insurance can potentially covers lawyer fees, penalties, awards from lawsuits and other liability expenses. It also offers ways its customers can bring their security up to speed with regulatory requirements so their security problems won't be their own failure to prepare.
The average cost of a data breach went up five percent between 2009 and 2010, from $6.8 million to $7.2 million. On average, every file you lose to hacker or insider will cost you $214, according to 2010 figures from The Ponemon Insitute.

So, you think that just because your busienss is "SMALL" that it can't happen to you....
Do a quick search on the company name "HB Gary" and "LulzSec" and think again about that!
Not everyone agrees data-breach insurance is necessary, or at least that there aren't other issues to think about before paying for a sense of security you may not need and protection you may not get.
Between hackers trying to break in and regulators offering fines and penalties if you don't make your firewalls high enough, there is enough potential downside to spend a little time on the cost/benefit.


For More Information on  Data Breach Insurance Coverages Please Contact Jason Shroot at 714-988-3325 or jason@diversifiedinsurancequotes.com.  Please Also Visit Jason Shroot at http://www.jasonsellsinsurance.com/. 

Please Also Call Jason Shroot To Get Your FREE Breach Response Guide TODAY!



Are You Planning To Remodel Your Home?

Are You Looking To Remodel Your Home?



You may be looking for ways to improve your home. Perhaps you want to upgrade your heating system or replace a leaky roof. Or add on that sunroom you’ve always wanted. Before you get started, Jason Shroot Knows that you'll want to know how that remodeling project could affect your insurance needs.


Update Your California Homeowners Insurance....

Whether you're updating your kitchen or adding on another room, a remodeling project will likely add value to your home. As a result, you'll want to check the property coverage limits on your homeowners policy to make sure that they reflect any changes you make to your home, no matter how small or large the improvements may be.


And if you're adding on to your house, you'll want the addition specifically mentioned in your policy. If it's not, your insurance company may not provide coverage for damages that occur to the new room.


If You Hire Someone To Do The Remodeling . . .


If you hire someone to do the remodeling, you'll want to make sure that he or she is properly insured. Any contractor that you hire should have a certificate of coverage for both workers' compensation and contractor's liability insurance.


Workers' compensation coverage protects you from liability claims that can result from a contractor (or his or her employees) getting hurt on the job. Contractor's liability insurance provides coverage for damages to your property caused by the contractor during remodeling.


If you hire a general contractor who is planning on handing off some of the work to a subcontractor (or if you plan on acting as a general contractor yourself), you'll also want to get a copy of the subcontractor's proof of insurance.


For The Do-It-Yourself Remodeling Project . . .


Before jumping into a home improvement project, make sure that you're prepared in case an accident occurs. If someone helping you on a remodeling project is hurt, his or her injuries will be covered under the liability portion of your homeowners policy. You may also want to look into a personal umbrella liability policy, which provides coverage above and beyond your regular homeowners insurance and is especially important if you have significant assets that you need to protect.


Here Are Some Other Tips By Jason Shroot...


• Before you get started, make sure that your remodeling project meets local building codes--otherwise, damages may not be covered by insurance

• Check with your local Better Business Bureau to find out if any complaints have been filed against any contractor you are hiring, and ask to see the contractor's license


• Get copies of the contractor's insurance coverage--have the insurance agency or company send the certificate directly to you


• Check your homeowners policy (or your contractor's insurance policy) to make sure that building materials and other uninstalled items (e.g., carpet, tile, cabinets) stored on your property are covered against theft and vandalism


• Keep your insurance agent up-to-date about any improvements to your home--he or she can help make sure that you are adequately covered at all times

For More Information On How Updating  Your Home Could Effect Your Homeowners Insurance Policy Please Contact Jason Shroot at 714-988-3325 or jason@diversifiedinsurancequotes.com

 

 

 

 

 

Are Burglars Watching Your Social Media Updates?

Are Burglars Watching Your Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin Status Updates?

Spending your days tweeting away might be a great way to share news with friends and family, but it’s also an increasingly risky way to get robbed.

Social media applications like Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and other popular forms of real-time communication are also growing in popularity among the criminally-minded.

To put it plain and simple, real-time sharing may provide the perfect way to hook up with friends on short notice or simply stay in touch throughout the day, but it also informs others that you are away from home.

Recent reports on CBS News and information from police stations throughout the nation indicate a dramatic rise in opportunistic criminals that use information gained from social media websites to plan and target a home invasion while the owner is away.


There are several ways to help combat the risk of home invasion or robbery, but each requires a bit of discipline.

Following are some things to keep in mind.

Home Alone: Never share information about children or vulnerable persons who may be home alone.

True Friends: Limit your network to people you can really trust, or consider using two different accounts - one for casual friends and another for family.

After-Effects: Rather than sharing in real-time, consider sending out a status report after the big event. Remember, it’s still possible to use a cell phone to make actual calls rather than texting.

Please Contact Jason Shroot For The BEST Home / Auto / Business Insurance Rates & To Ensure Proper Insurance Coverages. 

Jason Shroot Can Be Reached Directly at 714-988-3325 or jason@diversifiedinsurancequotes.com.  Please Visit Jason @ www.JasonSELLSinsurance.com

Desperate Homeowners Turn To Arson - Insurance Fraud Alert

With the foreclosure crisis still rippling across the American economic landscape, some desperate property


owners may be turning to a drastic form of insurance fraud -- burning down their own homes.


Arson insurance fraud involves home and business owners setting fire to their properties so that they can get

insurance money to pay off loans and mortgages. While arson is nothing new, it may be especially enticing

to those who owe more on their mortgages than what their homes are worth, according to the Coalition

Against Insurance Fraud.

If a fire is an accident, or if a random arsonist sets fire to your property, your insurer will pay your claim.

However, if you set the fire on purpose (or if you hire someone to do it), your home or business insurance

company will not pay for it -- and you could end up in prison.


Arson is a serious crime in all 50 states, and the statistics are unsettling. According to the Insurance

Information Institute, more than 56,000 cases of arson were reported to the FBI in 2010. And this was

actually a drop from 2008, when 63,253 offenses were reported.


About 14 percent of arson cases are insurance-motivated, according to the Insurance Research Council,

and it's an expensive crime. Arson led to the destruction of nearly $800 million worth of property in 2010 --

down from about $1 billion worth of property damage in 2008, according to the National Fire Protection

Association.


Insurance companies and law enforcement alike have an interest in thoroughly investigating the true origin

of fires because arson can cause tragic loss of property and life -- and boost the cost of insurance for all

policyholders. In fact, many insurance companies now have special arson fraud divisions dedicated to

investigating suspected arson.

To See How Much Money You Could Save On Your

Home / Auto / Business Insurance.

Get Your Free Insurance Quotes Today By Calling Jason Shroot

at 714-988-3325

jason@diversifiedinsurancequotes.com

www.jasonsellsinsurance.com