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Texas Insurance Commissioner Reminds Insurers about State’s Steering Laws
Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin issued a bulletin Aug. 2 reminding insurers writing PC insurance about their responsibilities under the state’s steering laws. The notification also specifically stated that it is an “unfair claim settlement practice for insurers to pay claimants an amount for the repair of the vehicle, including parts, that is not a reasonable amount for repairing or replacing the property with other of like kind and quality.” The commissioner’s notification was addressed to “ALL COMPANIES, CORPORATIONS, EXCHANGES, MUTUALS, RECIPROCALS, ASSOCIATIONS, LLOYDS, COUNTY MUTUALS OR OTHER INSURERS
WRITING PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND
TO AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES AND
THE PUBLIC GENERALLY.”
The bulletin reminded insurers that the law prohibits an insurer from directly or indirectly limiting coverage under a policy by “specifying the brand, type, kind, age, vendor, supplier, or condition of parts or products that may be used to repair the vehicle; or limiting the beneficiary of the policy from selecting a repair person or facility to repair damage to the vehicle.” As with other states’ laws prohibiting steering, the Texas Insurance See Texas Steering Laws, Page 4
CIC Discussions: Repair Standards and Ford Compares Non-OEM Parts
See CIC Meeting, Page 6
P.O. BOX 1400, OCEANSIDE, CA 92051-1400
Let’s say the industry developed a formal set of “repair standards” for collision repair. What then? This was the question a Collision Industry Conference (CIC) committee introduced at CIC’s meeting in Chicago in July. Jeff Patti, chairman of the Industry Standards Committee, said his committee felt that, in addition to working on the proposed set of standards, it should also begin the process of considering what might be
the next step. He outlined the proposed creation of a non-profit organization that would oversee the final development and implementation of the standards. Although designed primarily to prompt discussion of the topic, Patti’s proposal included details down to the level of potential costs for launching such an organization and possible fees for those wishing to participate. Such an organization, Patti said, would be limited to one focus: the development and implementation of the standards.
Change Service Requested
by John Yoswick Special to Autobody News
VOL. 28 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER 2010
California Congresswoman
JACKIE SPEIER
talks with Autobody News about her long-time interests, including finance reform, insurance and automotive repair, replacement parts and steering. Collision repairers nationwide need to pay attention. Here’s why...
“You first came to national prominence as a shooting victim in the prelude to the grisly nine hundred murdersuicides in Jonestown, Guyana, in 1978. At that time you were a 28-year old lawyer and legislative aide accompanying Congressman Leo Ryan to inquire about Jim Jones’ Peoples’ Temple cult. Many of our readers know that five of your party, including Congressman Ryan, were killed, and that you were left for dead for nearly 24 hours before help arrived. What readers likely don’t know is that after your rescue you endured a dozen surgeries to recover from five gunshot wounds, and that you still had bullet fragments in you when you first ran for Congress. Tragedy struck again in 1994 when your first husband was killed when his car was hit by an unlicensed driver with faulty brakes. What no one but you knows is how these horrific experiences shaped your political views and perceptions. Tell us how they did” see page 25 inside
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Ontario, Ca. Permit No. 1