Just fyi: We're having some trouble with our telephone network this morning. Callers may get just a steady busy signal or will hear the phone ringing but the call won't go to voicemail.
This affects many of our lines, including our consumer hotline (1-800-562-6900) and our main number (360-725-7000).
The folks who maintain the network are aware of the problem and are working to fix it now.
Update (11:30 a.m.) We believe everything's fixed and working now. Thanks for your patience.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Sensible Home Warranty ordered to stop selling insurance in WA
A New York-based home warranty company has been ordered to stop selling insurance in Washington state.
Sensible Home Warranty LLC, formerly known as CHW, LLC, sold Washington consumers approximately 142 home warranty service contracts since 2009. The contracts were for parts and labor necessary to fix major systems and appliances that failed in a consumer's home. The company solicits customers through telemarketing and through a website: http://www.sensiblehomewarranty.com/.
In Washington, service contracts like the ones sold by Sensible Home Warranty are considered insurance. But neither the company nor its principals, Harrison Gindi and Elliot Dabah, are authorized to transact insurance in Washington state. Nor are they registered as service contract providers.
Nothing in the order, which took effect immediately Jan. 6, 2012, prevents the company from fulfilling the terms of its contracts or providing a refund to Washington consumers who ask for one.
The company has the right to demand a hearing.
Note: The company's registered office address is in Sparks, Nev., but its principal place of business and sales office is 1724 E. 12th St., Brooklyn, NY.
Sensible Home Warranty LLC, formerly known as CHW, LLC, sold Washington consumers approximately 142 home warranty service contracts since 2009. The contracts were for parts and labor necessary to fix major systems and appliances that failed in a consumer's home. The company solicits customers through telemarketing and through a website: http://www.sensiblehomewarranty.com/.
In Washington, service contracts like the ones sold by Sensible Home Warranty are considered insurance. But neither the company nor its principals, Harrison Gindi and Elliot Dabah, are authorized to transact insurance in Washington state. Nor are they registered as service contract providers.
Nothing in the order, which took effect immediately Jan. 6, 2012, prevents the company from fulfilling the terms of its contracts or providing a refund to Washington consumers who ask for one.
The company has the right to demand a hearing.
Note: The company's registered office address is in Sparks, Nev., but its principal place of business and sales office is 1724 E. 12th St., Brooklyn, NY.
Kreidler on nonprofit health insurer surpluses: "How much is enough?"
Commissioner Kreidler recently had an op-ed in the Seattle Times, talking about the large surpluses that have been built up by non-profit health insurers in recent years. From it:
We're working on a web page that explains this issue in more detail, and includes charts of the major insurers' surpluses over the past decade. Stay tuned...
In Washington, the three major health insurers — Premera Blue Cross, Regence BlueShield and Group Health Cooperative — are sitting on a total of more than $2.4 billion above and beyond what they expect to ever pay out in claims. All of them are not-for-profits. And they continue to propose substantial rate increases.He is proposing legislation that would give the insurance commissioner's office explicit authority to consider those surpluses when reviewing rate requests.
We're working on a web page that explains this issue in more detail, and includes charts of the major insurers' surpluses over the past decade. Stay tuned...
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Lynnwood auto repair shop charged with insurance fraud
A Snohomish County auto repair shop has been charged with insurance fraud after charging for repairs it didn't do and parts that it never installed.
Northwestern Collision, of Lynnwood, was charged Dec. 14 in Snohomish County Superior Court. Arraignment is set for Jan. 9.
In 2009, Farmers Insurance investigators inspected 11 vehicles that had been repaired by the shop between 2007 and 2009. Of the 11, 10 "had substantial and specific" deviations from the repair estimates that Farmers had agreed to.
Among the problems: parts missing and not replaced, repairs not performed, and repairing items that were supposed to be replaced.
On Dec. 8, 2010, officers from the state insurance commissioner's Special Investigations Unit, the State Patrol and the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office served a warrant at the company's Lynnwood office. They gathered up paper files on 10 of the 11 vehicles.
The records indicated that in some cases, new parts that were supposed to be installed were instead returned to the parts dealer.
The insurer was overcharged nearly $11,000, and had to buy one customer's car, which had been rendered unsafe to drive, for another $15,446.
Northwestern Collision, of Lynnwood, was charged Dec. 14 in Snohomish County Superior Court. Arraignment is set for Jan. 9.
In 2009, Farmers Insurance investigators inspected 11 vehicles that had been repaired by the shop between 2007 and 2009. Of the 11, 10 "had substantial and specific" deviations from the repair estimates that Farmers had agreed to.
Among the problems: parts missing and not replaced, repairs not performed, and repairing items that were supposed to be replaced.
On Dec. 8, 2010, officers from the state insurance commissioner's Special Investigations Unit, the State Patrol and the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office served a warrant at the company's Lynnwood office. They gathered up paper files on 10 of the 11 vehicles.
The records indicated that in some cases, new parts that were supposed to be installed were instead returned to the parts dealer.
The insurer was overcharged nearly $11,000, and had to buy one customer's car, which had been rendered unsafe to drive, for another $15,446.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Cease and desist order issued to TracGuard Services
The Washington state insurance commissioner's office has told a Florida-based vehicle service contract provider to stop selling unauthorized contracts in Washington state.
TracGuard Services LLC, Jose L. Terry and Alberto Tudela, all of North Miami, have been ordered "to immediately cease and desist from engaging in or transacting the unauthorized business of insurance" in Washington.
Neither the company nor the two men are authorized to solicit or transact insurance in the state. They have not registered as a motor vechicle service contract provider in Washington.
The three have been ordered to notify all Washington residents who have purchased a service contract from them. It also warns that, pursuant to Washington state law, unauthorized insurers "shall remain personally liable for performance of the contract."
TracGuard Services LLC, Jose L. Terry and Alberto Tudela, all of North Miami, have been ordered "to immediately cease and desist from engaging in or transacting the unauthorized business of insurance" in Washington.
Neither the company nor the two men are authorized to solicit or transact insurance in the state. They have not registered as a motor vechicle service contract provider in Washington.
The three have been ordered to notify all Washington residents who have purchased a service contract from them. It also warns that, pursuant to Washington state law, unauthorized insurers "shall remain personally liable for performance of the contract."
Cease and desist order issued to Mill Creek man
A Mill Creek man and company have been ordered to stop selling unauthorized vehicle service contracts.
The order names Scott L. Stevens and RVProtection.net, Inc., both of Mill Creek, Wash. In August of 2010, they sold a consumer a vehicle service contract offered by Genuine Warranty Solutions, Inc.
The problem: Genuine Warranty Solutions, Inc. is not a registered vehicle service contract provider in Washington.
The Dec. 19 order took effect immediately. Stevens and the company have the right to appeal the order.
The order names Scott L. Stevens and RVProtection.net, Inc., both of Mill Creek, Wash. In August of 2010, they sold a consumer a vehicle service contract offered by Genuine Warranty Solutions, Inc.
The problem: Genuine Warranty Solutions, Inc. is not a registered vehicle service contract provider in Washington.
The Dec. 19 order took effect immediately. Stevens and the company have the right to appeal the order.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Public notices and hearings: Change of incorporation, proposed acquisition, etc.
Notices and upcoming hearings from our public notices web page:
Proposed acquisition: Humana is proposing to become the sole owner of Arcadian Management Services and its affiliates. We've completed our review of the application for acquisition of control. No hearing's been scheduled yet, but will be soon.
Incorporation change: The Safeco Companies have requested approval to have New Hampshire be their state of incorporation. The companies, which were acquired by Boston-based Liberty Mutual in 2008, say the change would not affect any Washington policyholders, and that there would be no interruption in coverage. A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2012 at 10 a.m. in our Tumwater office, which is at 5000 Capitol Blvd. Annual reports and other documents re: the request are posted here.
Change in port of entry/redomestication: Industrial Alliance Pacific Insurance and Financial Services have filed documents to change their port of entry/redomestication to Texas. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2012 at 1 p.m. at our Tumwater office, which is at 5000 Capitol Blvd. Documents re: the request are posted here.
Proposed acquisition: Humana is proposing to become the sole owner of Arcadian Management Services and its affiliates. We've completed our review of the application for acquisition of control. No hearing's been scheduled yet, but will be soon.
Incorporation change: The Safeco Companies have requested approval to have New Hampshire be their state of incorporation. The companies, which were acquired by Boston-based Liberty Mutual in 2008, say the change would not affect any Washington policyholders, and that there would be no interruption in coverage. A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2012 at 10 a.m. in our Tumwater office, which is at 5000 Capitol Blvd. Annual reports and other documents re: the request are posted here.
Change in port of entry/redomestication: Industrial Alliance Pacific Insurance and Financial Services have filed documents to change their port of entry/redomestication to Texas. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2012 at 1 p.m. at our Tumwater office, which is at 5000 Capitol Blvd. Documents re: the request are posted here.
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