A new report by InsuranceQuotes.com unveils some surprising actions that can hike up your insurance rates. There are plenty of hidden car and home insurance gotchas that could derail your efforts to save money this coming year. For example, did you know that if your claim is denied this could still lead to higher car and homeowner’s insurance rates? The same goes for claims that were discussed with an insurance agent but never filed. In addition, claims made by a previous owner can also raise the costs for homeowner’s insurance.
Laura Adams, Senior Insurance Analyst for Bankrate Insurance, a division of Bankrate.com, is here to tell us more about the survey and explain the importance of the C.L.U.E. report.
BlackEnterprise.com: What is a C.L.U.E report?
Laura Adams:
BlackEnterprise.com: Why is the C.L.U.E. report important?
Adams: Your claims history is
BlackEnterprise.com: Can consumers order a C.L.U.E. report? How much does it cost?
Adams: To order a C.L.U.E. report, consumers can learn more in C.L.U.E. Report: The “Secret†Report That Affects What You Pay for Insurance. The report is available for free once every 12 months. You can order your own report or request that the current owner
BlackEnterprise.com: Why does a denied claim or even a claim that was discussed but never filed hike up rates? Do these scenarios apply to both home and car insurance?
Adams: When an insurance company evaluates a consumer’s claim history, they may consider any claim or even discussion about a specific loss as an indication that future losses may occur. That potential future loss may make both an auto and a home insurance consumer more risky in the eyes of the insurer, so they may raise rates to compensate for it.
BlackEnterprise.com: How can consumers prevent getting into a situation that would cause a rate hike? What are some examples?
Adams: Consumer should check their C.L.U.E. reports on an annual basis to make sure no errors exist that may be causing them to overpay for auto or home insurance. They should also be cautious when discussing property losses or damage with an insurance company or agent. It’s important to clearly state whether you are filing a formal claim or just making an inquiry about what may or may not be covered under your policy.