Consumer Watchdog Podcast

A rare glimpse into the widespread, but hidden practice of insurers quietly altering wildfire home cleanup estimates before presenting final payouts to policyholders. In many cases, policyholders only see the final, reduced version without knowing about insurance company redlines. But by mere accident, policyholders are finding out what’s happening behind the scenes. We explore some new legislative solutions to the troubling practices by major insurance companies that are leaving wildfire survivors underpaid, exposed to toxic contamination, and trapped in months of delays. Guests: Justin Kloczko,  host  Rossana Valverde, Altadena fire survivor Claire Thompson, Altadena fire survivor Sasha Renée Pérez, California State Senator

By Staff Reporters, KNX-AM – Los Angeles, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post KNX-AM (Radio): The California Fair Plan Is Taking On More Home Insurance Policies appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

By Staff Reporters, KCBS-AM – Los Angeles, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post KCBS-AM (Radio): On Average Rate Payers Will See A Nearly 7% Increase In Home Insurance Premiums appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

By Staff Reporters, KNX-AM – Los Angeles, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post KNX-AM (Radio): We Pay Some Of The Highest Electric Bills In The Country Here In California, State Regulators Voted To Keep Them Expensive appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

By Staff Reporters, Capitol Public Radio: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post CAP Radio: More Than 200 Groups Have Signed A Letter To Congress Asking For A National Moratorium On New Data Centers appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

We explore a recent investigative story by the New York Times about how industry-favored loopholes crafted behind closed doors at the California Department of Insurance have undermined fire recovery, and how Los Angeles fire survivors are now calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to ask Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to resign.  Guests: Branislav Kecman, Altadena fire survivor Jill Spivack, Pacific Palisades, fire survivor Zaire Calvin, Altadena fire survivor Joy Chen, executive director, Eaton Fire Survivors Network Carmen Balber, executive director, Consumer Watchdog Jo Becker, reporter, New York Times

By Staff Reporters, KFI-AM – Los Angeles, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post KFI AM (Radio): La County Says It’s Investigating State Farm Over Insurance Claims Related To January’s Wildfires appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

By Staff Reporters, Cap Radio– Los Angeles, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post CapRadio: California Fire Insurance Investigation appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

In this episode we examine how technology has increasingly taken over every aspect of our home insurance policies, from the algorithm that decides how much insurance we need when we sign up, to the algorithm that determines what it'll cost to rebuild after a disaster, to the ones that set your fire risk score and decide how much companies get to charge for future disasters. The data that feeds this technology is often incorrect and always hidden from public view. And there is a big company behind it: Verisk.  Guests: Barbara Holub, Marshall Fire survivor  Bill May, Palisades Fire survivor  Thomas Loeser, attorney Harvey Rosenfield, Consumer Watchdog founder Ben Armstrong, Actuary Dave Cortese, California state senator

By Staff Reporters, KNX-AM – Los Angeles, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post KNX-AM (Radio): Newsom’s Promise Opened The Door For Lara, Allowing For Backroom Deals appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

By Staff Reporters, KPCC-FM – Los Angeles, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post KPCC-FM (Radio): Car Insurance Is Getting More Expensive We; Premiums Are Up 5% Since 2020 appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

There are many planets in the insurance claims galaxy. Once you file a claim, in come industrial hygienists to perform testing, and remediation companies to do clean up. Many only work for insurance companies. There are high-end consultants who are brought in and downplay the damage, and contractors that use fancy language to dress up all the work they don’t do. But too often, they are instruments to underpay and under clean homes. Stay with us as we pull the curtain back. Guests: Dylan Schaffer, attorney Jesse Morrow, Altadena fire survivor  Karen Girard, Altadena fire survivor  Dawn Bolstad-Johnson, industrial hygienist  Jenny Kampmeier, Altadena fire survivor Links ConsumerWatchdog.org/SmokeAndMirrors

By Staff Reporters, KNX-AM – Los Angeles, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post KNX-AM (Radio): Some Insurers Have State Approval To Pass That Cost On To You appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

Smoke damage has become a major issue for wildfire victims of the Eaton and Palisades fires. In this episode, we go present a tip guide for policyholders on getting smoke damage claims paid from those who know best: folks who have gone through it. You’ll be hearing from fire survivors who have fought and won, public adjusters who seek to get claims paid on behalf of policyholders, attorneys who litigate in court against insurance companies, and experts in toxins and testing. You’ll hear from: Fire Survivors who fought back and successfully claimed compensation Public Adjusters who advocate for homeowners Attorneys who litigate against insurance companies Environmental & Toxin Experts who test for smoke contamination Whether you’re filing a new claim, appealing a denial, or preparing your home for inspection, this episode provides a practical roadmap to maximize your insurance recovery. Guests: Justin Kloczko, Dylan Schaffer, Dawn Bolstad-Johnson, Wendy Davis, Tim McCune Links  https://consumerwatchdog.org/smokeandmirrors

Guests: Guests: Justin Kloczko, XXX, XXX Topics: ConsumerWatchdog.org https://consumerwatchdog.org Smoke & Mirrors Podcast https://consumerwatchdog.org/smokeandmirrors The post Smoke & Mirrors – Trailer appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

By Staff Reporters, KNX-AM – Los Angeles, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post KNX-AM (Radio): Governor Newsom And The California Energy Commission Will Be Partly To Blame If Gas Prices Shoot Up Because Of The Fire appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

By Staff Reporters, KPCC-FM – Los Angeles, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post KPCC-FM (Radio): The New Ballot Measure Would Address A Problem LA Fire Survivors Are Experiencing appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

By Staff Reporters, CAP Radio – Sacramento, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post Capital Public Radio: Consumer Watchdog Opposes A Governor Newsom Just Signed Making It Easier To Drill Oil In Kern County appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

By Staff Reporters, KFBK-AM – Sacramento, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post KFBK-AM (Radio): Lara’s New Insurance Rule Is An Act Of Retaliation appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.

By Staff Reporters, KPCC-FM – Los Angeles, CA: Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The post KPCC-FM (Radio): Carmen Balber Discusses The New Insurance Ballot Measure appeared first on Consumer Watchdog.