may 4, 2008 show
Topics
A National Network of Respect for the Insurance Consumer
Diminished Value
Don't leave your money on the table. Resources available to the insurance consumer
Insurance In The News:
Where do you think Phoenix ranks among vehicle theft rates?
Insurance trivia:
Have a question or a comment. Call the show. 480-949-1310
Special Guest
J.D. Howard
The Insurance Consumer Advocate Network
www.ican2000.com
WHO?
The J. D. Howard Story
Incorporated into this section is a recap of "Insurance Career Experience", a partial list of insurance companies and government agencies whom J. D. Howard represented in the 1980's and a partial list of Attorneys with whom he has worked in his consumer advocacy practice.
J. D. Howard started his insurance career with Allstate Insurance in 1965. He was a licensed independent adjuster [Az # 0055079], in Arizona, from 1974 - 2002.
On Diminished Value: Back in the 1960's, J. D. Howard appraised, negotiated and settled Diminished Value Claims, involving both 1st party Policyholders and 3rd party Claimants, on behalf of Allstate Insurance Company.
While an independent adjuster, his Diminished Value opinions were sought and honored by virtually all of his insurance industry clients. Over the past 35 [+] years, J.D. Howard’s Diminished Value opinions have been accepted by Insurance Companies, Courts and the IRS.
In 1986, when the insurance industry was sponsoring a ballot proposition that would have compromised the rights of the insurance consumer, J. D. Howard campaigned against and helped defeat that proposition. Following that campaign, he took his independent practice in the direction of assisting consumers involved in Auto and/or Homeowner's Insurance claims.
In 1991, J. D. Howard was diagnosed as "severely and permanently disabled", due to a condition known as Post-Polio Syndrome. However, that was not the end of the J. D. Howard story. For three more years he continued to run his consumer advocacy practice from a wheelchair. In 1994 he had to defer to his declining physical abilities and retire. But that was still not the end of the story. J. D. Howard created I-Can to continue his Consumer Advocacy efforts via the internet.
J. D. Howard is my husband and my very best friend. I hope you will enjoy your visit to the I-Can Web site. More than that, I hope you will be able to use what you have learned here to your own benefit. You are invited to use the Contact Us feature to reach J. D. Howard with any questions, comments or suggestions you may have.
Respectfully yours,
Susan Howard
Insurance Career Experience
Writer / Lecturer / Litigation Consultant / Author of Policyholders’ Bill of Rights (1994 - Present)
Written numerous insurance related articles published in trade publications - Lectured at trade and Continuing Legal Education seminars - Provided litigation consulting and/or expert witness testimony on insurance related matters - Authored the Policyholders’ Bill of Rights in an effort to address the inequities and/or abuses that exist in the relationship between Consumers and the Property and Casualty Insurance industry - Founded the Insurance Consumer Advocate Network.
Executive Director / the Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence (1999 - 2000)
Provided and coordinated administrative efforts for the CCRE during a period of unprecedented growth and necessary restructuring. The CCRE is a National Network of Independent Collision Repair Facilities whose members are pro-consumer and have a history of challenging any effort to compromise consumers' rights. CCRE members regularly testify on consumer related insurance issues.
Radio Talk Show Host / K.U.K.Q. (1994)
Conducted open forum discussions involving guests and listeners, covering all facets of insurance. Notable guests included Ina DeLong, Wm Shernoff, Bob Isham, Jim Roush and Zig Ziglar.
Independent Adjuster / Consumer Advocate (1989-1994)
Self-employed (dba J.D. Howard and Associates) to investigate, evaluate and pursue the rights of the policyholder involved in a claim against their own insurance company, including Arbitration and Appraisal Clause representation.
Independent Adjuster / Carrier Rep. (1980-1989)
Self-Employed (dba Realistic Adjustment / Appraisal Service) to perform any and all duties defined under "Staff Claims Adjuster" (above) on a fee-per-file basis for more than twenty (20) foreign and domestic insurance companies, as well as the City of Phoenix and the State of Arizona.
Insurance Sales Agent (1975-1980)
Develop, counsel and assist individual consumers, groups and corporations in acquiring appropriate insurance coverage to meet specific needs; provide general policyholder services; assist in processing claims (Farmers, Prudential).
Staff Claims Adjuster (1968-1975)
Inspect & appraise damage; interpret & apply policy coverage; evaluate liability; negotiate claim settlement values with policyholders or third party claimants (and/or their representatives); select and supervise Defense Counsel (Allstate, TransAmerica, Farmers).
Policyholder Services (1965-1967)
Handle all forms of policyholder requests for service (non-claims); review, recommend and process coverage endorsements; Audit premium charges; respond to State Insurance Department inquiries and initiate corrective measures as warranted (Allstate Insurance Company).
WHAT?
The Insurance Consumer Advocate Network (“I-Can”) was formed in 1994 by a retired adjuster (J. D. Howard) as a Consumer Advocacy Effort local to Arizona. In 1996, the Web Site was developed to Empower Consumers Nationwide.
MISSION?
I-Can has been created to be a National Support Network of Respect for the Insurance Consumer that will:
1. Provide consumers with information that will help them . . .
A. Determine what kind of Auto/Homeowner insurance best fits their needs
B. Identify which insurance companies offer the best premium rates in their state for their specific underwriting situation
C. Identify which insurance companies consumers may wish to avoid based upon their State's Department of Insurance complaints and/or other documented patterns of consumer mis-treatment
D. Understand an overview of their rights and options when involved in an auto damage, homeowner damage or personal injury insurance claim
E. Find local advocates that may be relied upon to help consumers resolve ANY challenges that could arise in their dealings with Auto and/or Homeowner insurance companies
2. Be a centralized information "clearing house" that will disseminate general information on a two-way basis that will...
A. Make insurance/claims professionals aware of consumer experiences
B. Make consumers aware of insurance industry trends and activities
C. Encourage consumer contact with their respective State Legislature and/or Department of Insurance when insurance industry trends, activities or local pending legislation may impact the best interest of the consumer
D. Increase consumers' awareness of, and encourage consumers' involvement in, any effort which will defend or enhance the rights of consumers as may apply to insurance related matters
3. Provide an effective Web presence for those insurance/claims professionals (agents, adjusters/appraisers, attorneys, body shops, contractors, health care providers, etc.) that will be . . .
A. Low Cost
B. Easily found
C. Highly effective
WHERE ?
The Insurance Consumer Advocate Network www.ican2000.com
The Insurance Term of the Week
To help you build your insurance vocabulary and be a more informed insurance consumer
Direct Repair Shops
In most states insurance companies refer policy holders to body shops they have contracts with. Essentially the shop meets the insurance companies criteria and the shop agrees to provide many of the administrative duties for the insurance company referral.
Larry's Tip of the Week:
Although insurance companies will strongly suggest that you use their preferred body shop, you are not required to do so. Often times at the insurance companies preferred body shops your car is repaired with other than the original equipment manufacture parts. Often times insurance companies make deals with repair shops. Sometimes costs are cut by the insurance company leaving the repair shop to cut costs.
If you choose a shop that isn't on your insurance companies preferred list, your insurance company may likely try to steer you toward one of their preferred shops.
Keep in mind it is your vehicle and you have the right to have your vehicle repaired at a body shop of your choice. If you are not comfortable with the body shop the insurer refers you to, you are not obligated to use them.
In either case you need to take the responsibility that the body shop will repair your car properly. Go to a repair shop you can trust.