Connecticut House Fails to Act on Anti-Steering Bill
The Connecticut House of Representatives concluded its legislative session last week without taking action on H.B. 5283, a bill that would have required insureds to disclose the insured’s right to choose where auto repair or replacement work will be performed. The bill stated that an insurance company, agent or adjuster must not: • Require any
COLLISION WORLD NEWS: Canadian Shops Fighting Insurers Over Steering
It probably will come as no surprise to collision repair facilities in the U.S., but shops in Canada are also experiencing steering and are reaching out to their provincial and federal governments to enact change. A coalition of collision repair facilities in the Muskokas region of Ontario recently took out a half-page ad in local
Insurers Challenge Rhode Island’s Anti-Steering Act
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) has sued Rhode Island Director of Business Regulation Paul McGreevy and Attorney General Peter Kilmartin in Federal Court, challenging the constitutionality of Rhode Island’s Anti-Steering Act, online legal journal Courthouse News reported. The act prohibits insurers from recommending repair and body shops to customers and third-party claimants
Rental Car Anti-Steering Legislation Introduced in Maine
The Maine Legislature is considering a bill stating that insurers providing rental vehicle reimbursement coverage may not require an insured to use or not use a particular rental vehicle company or rental vehicle company location. It also establishes disclosure requirements when insurers process a claim or write motor vehicle insurance. The bill defines "rental vehicle
NICB Launches National ‘Know Before You Tow’ Campaign to Prevent Steering by Tow Operators
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has embarked on a national campaign to warn and educate consumers about unethical and illegal practices among what the organization calls "rogue" towing and storage operators and repair shops around the nation that may charge unfair fees or attempt to steer vehicles to certain repair shops. Beginning this week
NCOIL Defeats Proposed Anti-Steering Legislation
Legislators at the NCOIL annual meeting – responding to what it called aggressive and near-universal opposition from interested parties – set aside a proposed Model Act Regarding Insurer Auto Body Steering and will consider it further in 2011. NCOIL says the overwhelming Nov. 20 vote in Austin, Texas, marked the Property-Casualty Insurance Committee’s latest action
Attorney Prepares Letter Ohio Repairers Can Use to Voice Support for Anti-Steering Bill
Frank Lanza, owner of Highway CARSTAR Collision in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is an adamant proponent of consumers’ right to select the collision repair facility of their choice. But he admits he’s no writer — which is why he hired Attorney Erica Eversman to pen a letter that his fellow collision repairers can send to their
Ammo to Fight Steering
I don’t know if you noticed (and I hope you did because that would mean you’re an avid reader of our weekly e-newsletter, BodyShop News, which is e-mailed to over 24,000 shop owners and managers every Thursday), but steering took the spotlight in the August 26 edition. The lead story concerned a new anti-steering law
Ameriprise Insurance Fined $71,100 for Steering
Ameriprise Auto and Home Insurance Co. – also known as IDS Property Casualty Insurance Co. – has been fined $71,100 by the Colorado Division of Insurance for steering. Records show that between September 2006 and January 2010, more than 700 Colorado consumers participated in the Ameriprise incentive program, for which they received a discount of
Maine TV Station Spotlights Insurer Steering Against Body Shops
A TV news station in Maine, WGME 13, recently put the spotlight on steering with a special “13 On Your Side” report on how insurance companies are interfering with the relationships collision repair facilities have worked hard to build with customers. In the report, a female customer talks about how she was “bullied” into taking