DCBS Media Release

January 20, 2000
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 award-winning report, published annually by the Oregon Insurance Division, ranks insurance companies from best to worst based on the premiums they earned in Oregon and the number of consumer complaints received by the division.

"Complaint statistics give consumers another way to measure an insurance company against its competitors," according to Kathy Barrie, consumer advocate for the Insurance Division. "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 1998 in six major lines of insurance: personal auto, homeowner, health, health care service contractors, life, and annuities. In addition to the complaint rankings, the booklet includes tips consumers can use to help make informed insurance decisions and to save money.

Oregon was one of only six states to receive an "A+" grade from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) last year for publishing comprehensive information about complaints against insurance companies.

The booklet is available on the Insurance Division's Web site (www.cbs.state.or.us/ins or www.oregoninsurance.org) or a free printed copy can be ordered by writing to: Publications, Oregon Insurance Division, 350 Winter St. NE, Room 440, Salem, OR 97301-3883.

A more detailed report that shows how consumer complaints were resolved is available for $25. To order a copy of the Complaint Report, Part II, send a check payable to "Department of Consumer and Business Services" to the same address.