Three Ways Green Drivers Can Save on Maine Car Insurance

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Even Maine’s most environmentally conscious citizens usually own a vehicle. You might own more fuel-efficient or hybrid model, or you may drive fewer miles than average, but in a rural state like Maine, few people can live a car-free lifestyle.

If you own a vehicle, auto liability insurance is mandatory in Maine. But green auto insurance discounts can help you reduce your costs and your carbon footprint at the same time. Here are three ways to save money on insurance by going green.

Drive Less

Recently introduced in Maine, Progressive Snapshot discount offers you up to a 30% discount for driving less, driving more safely, and avoiding driving during those dangerous post-midnight hours. Other insurance companies are following suit.

Some people call this as Pay-as-You-Drive insurance, or PAYD. Organizations like the Better World Club, consumer advocates and public planners have advocated this type of discount. A study by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (,pdf) concludes that “…PAYD changes insurance into a variable cost, so motorists save money when they reduce their mileage. As a result, they tend to drive less.”

While it’s not for everyone, many people who drive only when necessary could rack up significant car insurance savings. Do you qualify for the Snapshot discount? Check our recent blog post, or call your local Maine Progressive Insurance Agent.

Get a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Companies like Travelers Insurance offer Maine insurance discounts for electric and hybrid vehicles.  Would you like a Maine Electric or Hybrid car insurance quote? Click on the link to the left or contact Noyes Hall & Allen at 207-799-5541.

Go Paperless

There are two ways to save money on your insurance by going paperless.

  • Paperless policy delivery – The insurance company produces electronic copies of your documents, which you can retrieve on your computer, smartphone or iPad. Paperless insurance discounts pass the savings along in the form of lower rates.
  • Paperless billing (electronic funds transfer, or EFT) – You can save $60 a year on your car insurance by setting up automatic monthly withdrawal of your premiums. Instead of the insurance company mailing you a bill, they take the money from your checking account. This saves paper, time and postage. It also avoids a potentially catastrophic lapse in insurance coverage due to late payments.

By being a green insurance buyer, you do good for the environment AND your budget. For more information about green insurance discounts contact our Greater Portland, Maine insurance agency.    We’re independent and committed to you!

Three Ways to Keep Epsilon Spammers from Phishing Your Money!

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On March 30, Epsilon, one of the world’s largest email marketing companies, reported a breach of their system.  Epsilon sends more than 40 billion emails a year to consumers who register on one of their clients’ websites or who give their email addresses while shopping.

Have You Received an Email Like This One?

“Dear Valued Customer,
On March 30th, we were informed by Epsilon, a company we use to send emails to our customers, that files containing the email addresses of some [company name here] customers were accessed without authorization.”

Millions of people have. As of April 18, 2011, clients of more than 100 companies and brands have been hit, including big names like GlaxoSmithKline, Shell, Radio Shack, PacSun, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, J. Jill, Sears, Crate & Barrel, Walgreens and Abercrombie & Fitch.

According to Epsilon, the breach was limited to email addresses or customer names only; they report that no other personal identifiable information was stolen. Despite that, many security experts are concerned about the implications.

Having even a person’s email address and their spending habits or favorite brands may make it easier to craft a sophisticated phishing attack. For example, you could get an email that appears to be from a company you know and trust, asking you to log in and provide  information that may seem harmless. This nefarious technique is called “spear-phishing”.

Prevent Phishing Attacks

1.  Stay on guard – especially now. Be extra careful about where you click and what information you enter on a website.

2.  Scrutinize emails from any company. Look for typos and strange URLs. Look at the email address of the sender. Don’t click on those links!

3.  Call the company in question if you get a suspicious email,. No company should be asking you for sensitive information by email.

If you have questions about identity theft in Maine, contact Noyes Hall & Allen, a Maine Trusted Choice independent insurance agent. If you’re looking for Maine data breach business insurance, our business insurance specialists can help.  Call us at 207-799-5541.

Thanks to Steve Anderson for sharing these tips, which we’re sharing with his permission.

Progressive Snapshot Debuts in Maine. 5 Questions To Ask to See if It’s Right for You

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Progressive Insurance’s Snapshot auto insurance discount launches in Maine today, featuring rates up to 30% less than before. Our South Portland, Maine insurance agency has been certified to sell this ground-breaking safe driving and low-mileage auto insurance discount. It features a small device that you install in your vehicle, which monitors your driving habits and may provide an auto insurance discount depending upon the results.

Our March 15 blog post featured a detailed explanation of Progressive’s Snapshot auto insurance discount, along with our opinion about it. We received a lot of compliments about that review, from other agents, vendors – even Progressive itself.

Is it Right For You?

The answers to these 5 questions will probably tell you.

1. Do you avoid driving regularly between midnight and 4am?

2. Do you avoid driving in heavily congested traffic?

3. Do you drive fewer than 8,000 miles a year?

4. Are you a “patient driver” (rarelybrake hard or accelerate rapidly)?

5. Will you plug a device into your car that automatically reports your driving information directly to your insurance company?

If you answered “yes” to 2 or 3 of the first 4 questions, Snapshot may be a good fit for you. If you answered “no” to question 5, forget it; you can only earn Snapshot discounts by installing (and leaving) the device in your vehicle. Remember, Snapshot is optional, and you can choose which of your vehicles you want to enroll in the discount program.

Your Maine Progressive insurance agent can advise you best. If you live in the Portland, Maine auto insurance market, call Noyes Hall & Allen at 207-799-5541. If you’re outside our market area, call your local Progressive agent.

Game Changer: Pay as You Drive Car Insurance in Maine – Is Progressive Snapshot a Good Deal for You?

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

Let’s face it. Everyone thinks they’re a better-than-average driver. Most people think they drive fewer miles than the norm. And lots of us think that we’re paying too much for insurance because we subsidize those who are more aggressive,  less attentive,  less responsible drivers than we are. Soon, we will have a chance to put our money where our mouth is.

For years, green organizations like the Better World Club,  consumer advocates and transportation planners have called for lower insurance rates for people who drive less than average. Some call it ‘pay as you drive”; others call it “usage-based insurance”.

We’ve been watching this issue for years. We’ve shared our reservations about pay as you drive insurance and its cost – not only in dollars, but in lack of professional advice and lost privacy. While the concept sounded intriguing, we haven’t found a product we were comfortable recommending to our clients.

Until now.

“This is Our iPod”

Progressive Insurance is bringing its Snapshot auto insurance to Maine next month. With this product, they’ve refined the concept and addressed many of the concerns that we identified with the previous generation of usage based insurance.

Progressive says “this is our iPod”, a product that will change the way people buy and use car insurance. With Snapshot, Progressive offers discounts for quantity (driving less) and quality (driving better).

We think that usage-based Maine auto insurance has a good chance to redefine how car insurance is rated, and empower consumers as never before. It rewards safe driving habits by offering car insurance discounts for risk-reducing behaviors such as gradual starts and stops, driving fewer miles, and staying off the roads during the most dangerous hours.

Progressive appears to have respected the line between information gathering and privacy invasion. They’ve also removed the cost uncertainty that concerned us in the first generation product. Finally, they’ve integrated a cool feedback tool that allows drivers to self-monitor and compare their driving to others on the road.

We haven’t been fully briefed on Snapshot auto insurance, but these are some of the coolest rumored features:

Discounts!

Depending on your driving behaviors, you may earn up to a 30% auto insurance discount. You’re eligible for your first discount after 30 days. Your “final” discount will be set after your first 6 month policy term. Because the discount is based upon individual vehicle data, a different discount percentage will probably apply to each of your vehicles.

Voluntary and Flexible

You will be able to choose whether or not you want Snapshot or traditional rating. You’ll even be able to choose which vehicles you want to be rated in Snapshot. Let’s say you drive from South Portland to Augusta every day, but your spouse stays home to care for your toddler. You might choose traditional rating for the commute vehicle, and Snapshot for the other.

Truly Rewards Responsible Behavior

Maybe you’re a safe driving advocate, gas mileage fanatic or carpool rider. Maybe you use public transit or commute by bike. Snapshot is the first Maine car insurance that rewards your green behavior with green in your pocket.

We think that this may lead to safer roads, however marginally at first. Snapshot drivers are likely to try to reduce their car insurance rates by driving less and driving more safely. Who knows, maybe classes like Maine Clean Communities EcoDriving Workshop (offered in April for fleet drivers) will become popular with individuals, too?

Professional Advice

Snapshot is not a good idea for everyone. Because it will be sold by an independent Maine insurance agent, you will be able to talk with a professional about your situation, and determine if it’s a likely fit for you. If it’s not, an independent agent has other options for you.

No Up-front Cost

Unlike the first generation of pay as you drive car insurance, you don’t have to pay for the monitoring equipment. Progressive gives it to you; when your monitoring period (about 6 months) is over,  you simply mail it back to them in a prepaid envelope.

Cool Monitoring Tools

You can view your driving data up to the minute online. This just cries for an an update to the Progressive iPhone app. You will be able to see if you are tracking to get a discount within ten days of installing your device. Progressive will report how your driving compares to others. They will report how you drive, when you drive, and how much you drive. You’ll be able to use this feedback to improve your driving – and get a  lower car insurance rate.

Sounds Good. What are the Drawbacks?

Privacy Concerns

The devil of this concept has always been in the details of monitoring and reporting. Just what information does Snapshot capture? With whom is it shared? The Snapshot device is not a GPS. It doesn’t record where you drive – only how and when. It records mileage, speed and time driven. It also uses an accelerometer (the way Toyota’s “glass of water” iPhone app does) to measure hard braking and jack rabbit starts. It transmits this information to Progressive via cell signal.

Progressive says they will not share this information with any third parties. But what if their data is subpoenaed following an accident? We have no doubt that the data would be provided. – and possibly become public information. And, while the device doesn’t have a GPS, it does use cellular technology. It’s not too crazy to think that one could identify where your vehicle is or was by what cell tower picked up your Snapshot signal. Whether that’s good or bad might depend on whether you’re trying to recover your stolen car or whether someone accuses you of causing an accident, and reports your license plate number to the police.

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a consumer privacy advocacy group, has testified their objections to pay as you drive insurance in the past. The publisher of Privacy Journal also expressed concern in this USA Today article. But as long as Snapshot remains an “opt in only” product, you can simply say no  if you think the cost of your lost privacy outweighs the insurance discount.

How Do You Know if You’re a Good Candidate?

Don’t drive much?  Have more vehicles than drivers? Have a “toy” for the weekends, or a truck that you only use for yard work and dump runs? Chances are good that usage based insurance will save you money.

Have Questions?

If you live in the Greater Portland area, contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance at 799-5541. If you live elsewhere, call your Maine independent agent who sells Progressive products. You can also see Progressive’s Snapshot page for more information.

Identity Theft in Maine – Can Insurance Help?

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Identity theft has been a hot topic in Maine recently. It’s a nearly unavoidable risk in our digital age. Many of our clients have asked about “identity theft insurance”.  We’re not aware of any insurance that can prevent identity fraud from occurring, or pay for fraudulent charges someone may make on your account. Some of the insurers we represent do offer solutions that can help if your information has already been compromised.

Experts recommend using the  3 D’s” to help you reduce the chance of identity theft, and deal with it if it does happen: Deter, Detect and Defend.

DETER Identity Theft

  • Shred financial documents before you throw them away.
  • Don’t give out personal info to anyone unless you have initiated the contact and know who you are dealing with.
  • Lock personal information at home, especially if you are having work done at your house, or have roommates.
  • Choose complex passwords. Avoid birth dates or easily guessed numbers or phrases.
  • Don’t print your Social Security Number on checks,  carry your card in your wallet, or give it out unless absolutely necessary (insurance agents may ask for it to quote your home or auto insurance; it’s not required, but does provide the most accurate quote).

DETECT by Monitoring Your Accounts

  • Inspect financial statements for charges you did not make.
  • Check your credit report for information that seems incorrect.
  • Be alert to bills that do not arrive as expected.

DEFEND Yourself as Soon as You Suspect a Problem

  • Place a “fraud alert” on your credit reports. To place an initial 90-day fraud alert, call one of the three nationwide credit reporting companies:
    • Equifax:             800-525-6285
    • Experian:          888-397-3742
    • TransUnion:     800-680-7289
  • Close accounts that have been affected. Ask for written verification that the account has been closed and any fraudulent debts wiped out.
  • File a police report.

Identity Fraud Insurance in Maine

Your Maine insurance agency probably sells products that can reimburse you from expenses incurred to help you recover from identity theft.

 Identity Fraud Insurance May Pay for:

  • Cost of notifying merchants, credit agencies and lenders.
  • Lost wages and incurred daycare expenses for time you spend notifying authorities and lenders.
  • A “resolution service” to work with you through the process.
  • Fees for re-applying and re-issuing government-issued personal documentation.
  • Loan application fees for re-applying if your application was rejected because of incorrect credit information.
  • Attorney fees for defense of lawsuits from creditors, criminal charges, or contesting wrongfully incurred tax liability.

 

Identity Fraud Insurance Does NOT pay for:

  • Fraudulent charges on a credit card (these are usually wiped out by the lender, provided you notify them promptly).
  • Extra expenses you may incur because your credit was frozen due to suspected identity fraud.

Many of the insurance companies we represent sell Identity Fraud Expense Reimbursement coverage. To speak with an experienced Maine insurance agent, contact us at 207-799-5541.  For more information about identity theft, we recommend the FTC’s consumer web site.

 

Avoiding Commercial Building Roof Collapse: Removing Snow from a Roof

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This week’s snow has accumulated on the roofs of Maine homes and commercial buildings, increasing the risk of collapse and ice dams. The snow has finally stopped in Portland, Maine – at least temporarily. It’s a good time to evaluate whether you need to remove snow from a roof.

High-Risk Areas – Heavy Snow Load Can Cause Roof Collapse

  • Large, flat roofs, or those with less than a 30º slope.
  • Heavily insulated roofs
  • Roofs with previous structural damage or stress.
  • Shaded areas, where snow can freeze into ice.

Evaluate Your Commercial Roof Before Snow Load is Critical

  • Create a plot plan to identify skylights, drains and scuppers, wiring and equipment.
  • Monitor rooftop conditions throughout the winter to identify ice buildup, blocked drains and snow drifts.
  • Use experienced, knowledgeable employees or (preferably) hire an outside contractor.
  • Hire only experienced contractors who can provide proof of business general liability insurance.

Warning Signs of Roof Collapse

  • Improper operation of doors or windows.
  • Deflection of ceiling finishes or exposed beams.
  • Roof leaks
  • Sprinklers moved from their normal positions
  • If you notice these, contact a structural engineer or your local building inspector.

How to Safely Remove Snow from a Roof

  • Do not remove snow all the way down to the roof membrane.
  • Use plastic shovels – never metal – on your roof.
  • Fill a plastic tarp with snow and release over the side of the building, carefully watching where snow is landing to avoid people and property.
  • If using a snow blower, adjust to prevent rotating components from contacting the roof surface.

Most Maine business property insurance policies cover roof collapse. Policies do not typically cover maintenance such as snow removal or other prudent loss prevention measures. If you have questions about commercial building insurance, contact the experienced Maine insurance agents at Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance at 207-799-5541.

We’re proud to be agents of Acadia Insurance, MMG Insurance and Hanover Insurance,  whose loss control tips which were used in this blog post.

What Should I Do When Someone Hit My Parked Car in Maine?

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This week alone, two of my friends’ parked cars have been hit by someone else. One in Portland Maine. The other in Westbrook, Maine. A responsible person would leave their contact information for the poor victim, but that doesn’t always happen. If you can’t identify who hit your car, you have little recourse but to use your own insurance.  However, if you can identify the other party, this information may be helpful.

Flickr photo by gillicious
Flickr photo by gillicious

What To Do If Someone Hits Your Car in Maine

  • If it’s safe to do so, get the person’s name, address, phone number and insurance company information – BEFORE the police arrive!
  • Call the police if the total damage (both vehicles) appears to be more than $1,000. If there’s visible damage – even minor – it’s probably more than $1,000.
  • Give your statement to the police. Don’t admit any fault to the other driver, or argue about whose fault the accident was.
  • Report the accident to your Maine auto insurance agent.

Should I Use My Insurance or Theirs?

If the accident was clearly the other driver’s fault (e.g. you were legally parked), try their insurance first.  Using their insurance avoids having to pay your collision deductible, allows you to keep your Maine car insurance discounts, and contains no daily limit on rental coverage. Of course, if  you’re a victim of a hit-and-run accident, you have no choice but to use your own insurance. Your own local insurance agent can help you start the process.

Use their insurance if:

  • You got their insurance information at the scene, or can quickly get the Maine police report (many police reports aren’t available for several days).
  • Their insurance company accepts responsibility quickly (within 24 hours after you contact them).
  • You did not buy collision coverage on your own policy.

The Other Company Isn’t Responding After the Accident

The other insurance company must confirm liability before they accept responsibility to fix your car. They do this in one of three ways:

  • Their customer admits to them that they were clearly at fault (e.g. hit your parked car, rear-ended you at a stop light).
  • The police report says the other driver was at fault (police reports may not be available for several days).
  • After their own investigation, the insurance company determines that their customer was at fault.

If it’s taking too long for the insurance company to accept responsibility, you may choose to make a claim on your own policy.  You’ll have to pay your collision deductible, but at least you’ll get your car fixed, and get on with your life.

Will I Get My Deductible Back if My Insurance Company Collects from the Other Insurance Company?

Yes. if they collect from the other insurance company (a process called “subrogation”), your Maine insurance company will reimburse your deductible, and wipe the accident off your record.

Who Will Help Me Deal With The Other Insurance Company?

That depends on where you bought your insurance.  If you bought your car insurance or Maine commercial vehicle insurance from an independent local Maine insurance agent like Noyes Hall & Allen, they can help you report that claim to the other company. Your claim against the other insurance company should not affect your insurance company or your policy.

If you bought your Maine car insurance online, you’re probably on your own. One more reason to buy insurance from a local agency instead of a computer or 800 number. 

Of course, if you have no insurance at all on your vehicle, you’re really on your own.

 

How to Remove An Ice Dam From Your Roof

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After a few mild years, Maine is in the middle of an “old-fashioned winter”, which means plenty of snow and cold temperatures. Our Maine insurance agency is prepared for homeowners insurance claims for damage caused by frozen pipes, weight of snow, and ice dams.

What is an Ice Dam?

icicles_Ice_DamIf you have icicles hanging from your roof, there’s probably an ice dam behind them.  An ice dam is a ridge of ice that builds at the edge of a roof which prevents melting snow from draining off the roof. The melting snow above feeds the dam below. Draining water backs up behind the dammed ice. It flows into your attic through cracks and openings in your roof covering. From the attic it flows into your home, damaging walls, insulation and ceilings.

How to Prevent Ice Dams

Differences in temperature of various areas of your roof cause ice dams. The best prevention is a combination of insulation and ventilation. A well-ventilated attic keeps cold air circulating, maintaining a constant temperature. Proper insulation keeps the warm air in your home, allowing the ventilation to do its job.

Remove snow from the lowest 5′ of your roof with a snow rake if possible. Leave 2-3 inches of snow on the roof to prevent shingle damage. It’s safest to work from the ground. If you must get on a ladder, have someone to “spot” you. Make sure your ladder is on secure footing, and stay away from electrical lines.

How to Remove an Ice Dam

Raking Snow from RoofRemoving an ice dam is delicate and dangerous work. You should not attempt it yourself unless you are physically capable. You can damage your roof or injure yourself if you do it improperly.

  • Remove snow from your roof. If you DIY, use a “roof rake” and a push broom. If not, plenty of local contractors are available to do this for you.
  • If water is flowing into your home, you can ease the flow by making a channel through the dam with warm water. DO NOT use a sharp object to break the dam. You will damage your roof!
  • Some people use a thawing agent to help melt the dam. Some put the melting agent in nylon netting (womens’ hosiery in a pinch) to hold it in place over the dam. Others recommend against this,  saying that it can damage shingles.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Ice Dams?

Many Maine homeowners policies cover interior water damage caused by ice dams. Typically not covered are the cost to remove the dam.

Ice dams do not usually damage a roof that’s in good condition. Once the ice melts, the shingles lay back down. If your shingles were in good condition, and ice damages them, your policy might pay to replace them. Policies and conditions vary.  Check with your agent or insurance company to be sure.

For answers to your questions about Maine homeowners insurance or Maine business property insurance , call 207-799-5541. Your personal or business insurance agent at Noyes Hall & Allen is ready to help.

Is Mold Covered by Maine Homeowners Insurance?

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Mold is nasty. It’s hazardous to health, hard to eradicate, and may be undetected for a long time. Even worse,  Maine Homeowners Insurance policies provide very little protection against mold damage.

The standard homeowners policy excludes damage from mold, fungus and wet rot. Then, it gives back a small amount of coverage – often $5,000 – for mold damage in very limited cases. Even if the cause of the mold is covered, your policy excludes mold damage unless it was hidden. In other words, you shouldn’t expect much help from your home insurer. And, we know of no other insurance source either.

OUTLINE* OF MOLD COVERAGE UNDER
MAINE HOMEOWNERS POLICIES

Determining how an insurance policy responds – or doesn’t –  to mold is tricky, even for experienced local insurance agents. It’s impossible to tell whether you’ll have coverage until an adjuster sees the damage. If you discover mold in your home, contact your local Maine insurance agency to discuss it. They can help you report an insurance claim to your insurer. They can also help explain your policy coverage and exclusions. An agent can also advocate for you if your claim is unfairly denied.

For answers to questions about your home, condo, or Maine business property, contact your agent at Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance at 207-799-5541.

_ _ _ _

*This outline is for discussion purposes only, and is not meant to imply or deny coverage. Refer to your policy for actual coverage wording.

Real Claims: Is Your Property Insurance Ready?

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In the last week of the year, everyone in the news, sports and entertainment world seems to present a “year in review”. We thought we would look at some of the claims our clients had in 2010. We’ll start with property insurance, in the hopes that it might help you manage risks and make decisions about your own Maine homeowners insurance or business property insurance.

When you report an insurance claim to Noyes Hall & Allen, we categorize them and engage your insurer for proper handling. Here’s a comparison of the property claims we initiated in the past 3 years. They give a good indication of the protection that your insurance provides.

Graph of property insurance claims for a Maine Insurance Agency

2010 – Four Strong Winds

If wind damaged your home, or tree limbs fell on your property last year, you were in good company. In a typical year, wind claims represent 10% of the total property claims reported to us. In 2010, it was 36%. From February to August to December, the coast of Maine was blasted by unusually strong winds.

2009 – The Water Was Wide

People usually think of fire insurance when they insure their property. But water damage is the most common property insurance claim in Maine. Normally, 35% of homeowners and business property claims report water damage. In 2009, it was almost double that amount. Frozen pipes, leaking pipes, ice dams, toilets, tubs and sinks overflowing – even burst washing machine hoses – are all covered by most Maine insurance policies. We saw them all in 2009. Fortunately, it was a quiet year for claims overall. The clear winter resulted in 15% fewer claims than usual.

2008 – Fire and Rain

Although 2008 brought a normal number of claims, we saw an unusual number of winter fires – typically the most expensive claims – and lightning damage from summer storms. Fire and lightning losses occurred at 3 times the usual rate.

What Deductible Should I Carry?

As these graphs show, property losses happen all too often. This means that you should choose a property deductible carefully. Pick the highest one that you can afford to pay out of pocket in case of a loss, in order to get the best insurance discounts available.

The table below shows the average cost of different types of insurance claims in our agency in 2010. Use this information to help you determine the best deductible for your budget.

Table of average property claims from Noyes Hall & Allen

For specific advice about your insurance situation, contact your Noyes Hall & Allen agent at 207-799-5541.