DCBS Media Release

December 21, 2001
For More Information:
John Piper, 503-947-7213

Complaint report helps consumers choose an insurance company

SALEM – Oregonians can learn how their insurance company treats its policyholders from the latest edition of the Consumer Guide to Oregon Insurance Complaints. The report, published annually by the Oregon Insurance Division, ranks insurance companies from best to worst based on the number of consumer complaints to the division.

Complaint statistics give consumers another way to measure an insurance company against its competitors. A smart shopper looks not only at a company's premiums and financial strength, but also at its complaint record, which is a good indicator of customer satisfaction.

The latest report covers complaints closed by the Insurance Division in 2000 in six major lines of insurance: personal auto, homeowner, health, health care service contractors, life, and annuities. The Insurance Division resolved 4,040 complaints in those lines during 2000, compared with 4,128 complaints in 1999.

In addition to the complaint rankings, the booklet includes tips consumers can use to help make informed insurance decisions and to save money.

A free copy of the booklet can be ordered by writing to: Publications, Oregon Insurance Division, 350 Winter St. NE, Room 440, Salem, OR 97301-3883; or by calling 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free in Oregon).

The booklet also is available on the Insurance Division's Web site (www.oregoninsurance.org).