Blog

August 17

Trampolines and Home Insurance

Having grown up with a trampoline, I know how much fun they are. There's no bettery way to kill time as kid jumping and doing flips all day. It gets out that excess energy, it's fun, all the kids in the neighborhood want to be your "friend" and it doubles as a a great place to camp out and look at stars from.

Trampolines today seem to be be safer than the ones I grew up with. Now I see safety nets surrounding the trampoline, the springs have been replaced by elastic bands (which is a good idea becase as the springs got older and wore out they would shoot out from the trampoline... I'm surprised no one got hit by one).

Despite the advancements in safety, insurance companies still frown on trampolines... and for good reason.

Depending on the insurance company you're with, they may raise your rates because of the added risk or they may simply have you sign a form acknowledging there will be no coverage for bodily injury resulting from the trampoline. Either way, having a trampoline may end up costing you more than it's purchase price.

I know how beneficial and fun it was to have a trampoline, though. When my wife and I have kids, we'll definitely buy a trampoline for them (and me).

10:55 AM GMT | Read comments(0)

June 28

Dog Bite Insurance?!

If you own a dog and a home, you'll want to make sure your Home Owner's insurance will cover you if you dog bites someone.

Most Home Owner's insurance policies include this coverage under the Personal Liability portion of your coverage (be sure to check, though). Many insurance companies offer a discount if you sign a "Dog Liability Exclusion Form". If you own a small dog or your dog is very well-mannered then you probably will want to take advantage of this discount.

If it's been a long time since you looked at your Home Owner's insurance and you're not sure where you stand on this issue, be sure to take a look again.

If you've recently purchase a large dog and have already signed a Dog Liability Exclusion form for a previous smaller dog, you may want to consider removing this exclusion from your policy.

12:59 PM GMT | Read comments(0)

June 23

Most Overlooked Feature of Insurance

One of the most overlooked coverage options of car insurance is the Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD).

This coverage option applies if you do not have Comprehensive (covers your car if it's stolen, vandalized, scratched... just about anything except for you causing the damage) or Collision (covers your car when you're at fault for the damage). It provides ~$3,500 to help pay for your car if it's hit by an uninsured driver.

The other party that hit you is responsible to pay for your damages, however, in this case they don't have insurance... good luck with your lawsuit trying to get them to personally pay.

The UMPD coverage will help pay for ~$3,500 of damage to your car.

This coverage option is really cheap at only a couple of extra dollars for the entire policy. So if you don't carry Comprehensive or Collision coverage, look into adding Uninsured Motorist Property Damage.

4:12 PM GMT | Read comments(0)

June 21

Cheapest Car Insurance in San Diego

Finding the cheapest car insurance in San Diego comes down to two things: the insurance company you're being quoted with and the information you provide for the free quote.

Finding the right company is as simple as make a few phone calls or visiting their websites. My office offers a number of insurance carriers but by far Mercury Insurance beats all of them. Obviously, it makes sense to shop around and check many insurance companies but I suggest starting with Mercury.

The information you provide for your insurance quote is important. It needs to be the same with every company you quote otherwise you won't be able to compare apples to apples and know who truly has a better rate.

The simplest and easiest things you can do to bring down the price of your insurance (with any company) are:

figure out a low but realistic estimate of mileage you might put on your car in the year
ask about what discount are available
make sure you're getting a discount for having an alarm or other anti-theft device
if possible, add your roommates and/or their cars to your policy to take advantage of the multiple-car discount (everyone saves money in this case)
look into getting Renter's insurance (even if you don't really need it) as the discount on your auto policy may be greater than the cost of the Renter's insurance

Feel free to reach me for a free Mercury Insurance quote.

(858) 541-2222

http://www.DPInsuranceServices.com

DPInsuranceServices@yahoo.com.

9:54 AM GMT | Read comments(0)

June 10

The Worst Insurance Agent in The World

I recently came across an insurance agent who may be the worst in the business. I won't say his name but I wouldn't be surprised if many insurance agents fall into this same category or are guilty of the same mistakes.

A new Mercury client of mine was previously with another Mercury insurance agent. I took a look at her policy and discovered she had a perfect driving record and qualified for Mercury's best rates (which requires her policy to be rewritten). Perhaps in the past she didn't have a good driving record and didn't qualify but she did now. Where the other agent failed was that he didn't bother to offer to rewrite her policy.

Either it was an honest mistake or he chose not to inform her as he wanted to keep her premium higher which meant more of a commission for him. Either way, he wasn't keeping his client's best interests at heart.

My approach to the insurance business is that you'll be much more successful in the long run when you act in your client's best interest. I may make a little less money short term but my clients are more likely to stick with me long term.

I review every client's policy every 6 months and get in touch with them to see if there's any questions, changes or possible way to bring the premium down. Seems like a common sense way to do business, right?

If your insurance agent/company doesn't do this, feel free to give me a call (858-541-2222). I'd be happy to work up a free comparison quote to see where I can save you money and perhaps even increase your coverage.

Have you had any horror stories with an old insurance agent? Please share.

2:01 PM GMT | Read comments(0)

March 31

Laughable "Claims" of Other Insurance Companies

I find it laughable some of the claims insurance companies make in their commercials of what sets them apart from other companies.

For example:

Progressive claims that they're the only company that allows you to customize your policy so you have as much or as little coverage as you want. In reality, EVERY insurance company does this.
I think it was GEICO that claimed they review your policy everytime it renews to see if there have been changes to your driving record and if they can save you anymore money. In reality, EVERY insurance company does this. When your driving record changes, whether it's a point falling off or an additional one showing up, the insurance companies adjust their rates accordingly. Duh, that's partly how they determine the type of risk you are and how much to charge you. They are required by law to do that.
Progressive says they'll give you the rates of other top companies... except for Mercury. Why? Mercury generally beats them. If they wanted to be completely honest, they'd say, "We'll give you the rates only of other companies that we beat."

3:37 PM GMT | Read comments(0)

May 11

YES ON PROP 17 Means Lower Rates for You!

VOTE YES ON PROP 17

Continuous Coverage Auto Insurance Discount Act

To learn more, please visit www.YesProp17.org

The June statewide election is almost upon us, and if you're like most California voters, you may be starting to think about the various measures on the ballot. I'm writing to encourage you to join Daron Payne Insurance Services, Inc., Mercury Insurance and a broad coalition of business, taxpayer and consumer groups in supporting Proposition 17, the Continuous Coverage Auto Insurance Discount Act.

From 1995-2005, a continuous coverage discount was available to all California drivers who maintained continuous insurance coverage with any insurer. During this time Mercury provided up to a 25% discount to all customers who maintained continuous coverage. The amount of the discount was based on the length of time the customer was continuously insured. Subsequently, a new Insurance Commissioner changed the regulation so that insurers were prohibited from offering this discount to new customers. Proposition 17 restores Mercury's ability to apply the pre-2005 rules to their customers.

The 2005 change in regulations limited the continuous coverage discount to drivers who stay insured with the same insurance company. This punishes responsible dirvers by prohibiting them from taking their continuous coverage discount with them if they switch insurance companies. Daron Payne Insurance Services Inc. does not agree with this restriction.

That is why I support Proposition 17, the Continuous Coverage Auto Insurance Discount Act, which ensures that all drivers who continually maintain their auto insurance are eligible for this discount even if they change their insurance company.

Just like you take your good dirver discount with you when you change insurers, we think you should get a discount for your coverage history even if you change insurers. This is no different than stores honoring their competitors' coupons or the law allowing cell phone customers to keep their phone numbers when changing telephone companies. In these tough economic times, consumers need all the discounts they can get. Proposition 17 also includes new grace periods and protections drivers don't get now.

FACTS ABOUT PROPOSITION 17

Expanded Discount, More Choice and Lower Rates

- Drivers take their good driver discount when they change insurers. They should be able to take their continuous coverage discount, too. Proposition 17 ends the penalty for changing insurers.

- Prop 17 rewards the more than 80% of drivers who maintain automobile insurance. Under current regulations they are penalized and lose their discount if they change insurance companies.

- This discount can save California families hundres of dollars every year.

Additional Grace Periods and Protections

- Prop 17 adds a 90-day grace perios to protect drivers who have lapses in coverage for any reason ther than non-payment of premiu, and insurers are allowed to extend that grace period, too. Example: a driver's lapsed insurance during a period of temporary non-ownership of a car.

- It also protects our military so they can maintain their continuous coverage discount if they cancel insurance while serving overseas.

- Under current law, all these drivers lose their discount if they have a lapse in coverage for just one day.

Prop 17 Supporters

*Partial List:

California Chamber of Commerce, Consumer Coalition of California, California HIspanic Chambers of Commerce, American GI Forum, Small Business Association of California, California Senior Action League, Alliance of Insurance Agents and Brokers, California Alliance for Consumer Protection, California Black Chamber of Commerce, California Taxpayer Protection Committee, Bay Area Council, Balley Industry and commerce Association, Mercury Insurance Group, Small Manufacturers Association of California.

VOTE YES ON PROP 17

Continuous Coverage Auto Insurance Discount Act

2:14 PM GMT | Read comments(0)

May 03

Got Called a "Mother F*#cker" by an Ex-Client

I have to laugh a little when people get angry with me when THEY don't pay their bill.

I don't know why people sometimes believe the insurance companies should just cover them out of sympathy or because they made a mistake and forgot to a pay the bill, or because they were on vacation (or for whatever excuse they come up with).

If you don't pay your electricity bill, your electricity gets turned off. If you don't pay your cable bill, your cable gets turned off. Likewise, if you don't pay your insurance bill, your insurance gets "turned off".

It's important to prioritize your bills. If you have to let one bill go without being paid, I imagine you can do without cable, phone or even electricity for a little while till you can make the payment. Without insurance, though, if you get into an accident YOU are completely responsible. Plus the DMV will end up suspending your registration.

So save yourself a big headache and pay your insurance bill when it's due.

2:16 PM GMT | Read comments(0)

April 29

Illegal Immigration and How It Effects Your Car Insurance

Regardless of your stance on illegal immigration, it's important to understand that many of the illegal immigrants in California drive without insurance, let alone a driver's license.

How does that effect your car insurance? Well, if an illegal immigrant that doesn't have car insurance hits your car, YOU will be responsible to repair your car and pay for your or your passengers' injuries. Is this unfair? Absolutely... but that's what happens when your federal and state government chooses not to enforce immigration laws. However, you can remedy this by carrying uninsured motorist coverage.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI) covers you and your passengers injuries (up to the limits you've chosen) if an uninsured driver hits you.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) covers your car (up to ~$3,500) to help pay for repairs. If you have a Collission deductible, then the UMPD changes to a Collission Deductible Waiver (CDW). CDW simply waives you having to pay your Collission deductible to have you car repaired.

If you don't have either of these coverage options on your policy, take a moment to ask me how much it would be to add it to your policy. It's generally one of the least expensive parts of an insurance policy and it's there to protect YOU.

Another aspect of how illegal immigration effects your insurance (and this is my opinion, I have no data or facts to back this up) is the increased likelihood that if an illegal immigrant causes an accident they may be more likely to leave the scene (hit-and-run) for fear of being deported. That means more Hit-And-Run accidents which lead to a higher cost of insurance for everyone.

So again, do yourself a favor and consider adding UMBI and/or UMPD to your policy.

Please note, I support people coming to this country to work and provide a better way of life for their families... legally.

10:22 AM GMT | Read comments(0)

April 13

Proposition 17 and How It Will Save You Money

Mercury is trying to get Proposition 17 on to this year's ballot.

What Prop 17 would do if passed is give drivers that continuously keep car insurance (regardless of if they switch companies all the time or if it's just one company for years and years) an additional discount.

Mercury gave this discount in the past. They called it the "Persistency Discount". Other insurance companies didn't like that as they didn't want to offer a similar discount and were getting beaten left and right price wise by Mercury.

What these other insurance companies did was claim that such a discount is discriminatory and that it's not fair to the drivers who are not responsible and do not carry continuous insurance (i.e. drive without insurance which endangers us all, ultimately raising everyone's premiums to pick up the slack for injuries and damages they cause).

Being as liberal and sue-happy as our government is, they agreed that such a discount wasn't fair and told Mercury they could no longer offer it.

That decision is bizare to me as California requires you to have car insurance at all times, otherwise they will suspend your registration. Isn't that discriminatory (by their standards)?

The large majority of drivers are responsible people who pay their bills on time and don't drive without insurance. If you're one of these people, you should vote "YES" on Prop 17.

If passed, Prop 17 will allow Mercury (and any other company) to offer that discount again.

So again, vote YES on Prop 17, and save more money on your car insurance... if you're a responsible driver.

1:58 PM GMT | Read comments(0)

Daron Payne Insurance Services, Inc.

Your Local, Personal Insurance Agent