Ga. Recovers $20.5M In Claims In '03
NU Online News Service, Jan. 14, 8:45 a.m. EST?Georgia's Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine has announced that in 2003 his consumer services division helped "tens of thousands of Georgia consumers" settle disputes with their insurers, recovering more than $20 million in insurance claims for the insureds.[@@]
Mr. Oxendine stated that representatives in the consumer services division assisted consumers and businesses in retrieving $20,514,224 in 2003.
"Many of the citizens who called my office had claim disputes with insurance companies, and our investigators were able to secure a settlement favorable to the consumer," he said.
Mr. Oxendine told National Underwriter that the amount of claims his consumer services division has been able to help recover for consumers is going up consistently. "In 2000, it was a little over $10 million. In 2001, it was almost $14 million, and in 2002 it was $18 million. So it's been consistently going up," he said.
"I took office in 1995, and we did a complete overhaul of consumer service division," Mr. Oxendine added. "We also started keeping our office open later. We put a big focus on consumer services, and every year we've been seeing remarkable increases on what we have been able to do. We have been more involved and have been able to do more to help people."
Georgia insurance consumers can call a toll-free number at the consumer services division to talk with specialists and discuss problems in life, health, auto and homeowners insurance. "Consumers can call even if they just want their insurance policy explained or reviewed," Mr. Oxendine said. "Our office takes calls Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., so we can offer the convenience of assisting consumers by phone after traditional working hours."
Mr. Oxendine also noted that he sends out field representatives to every Georgia county outside the metropolitan Atlanta area at least once a month, so that consumers can meet with an investigator for face-to-face advice on insurance problems.
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