Mercury Insurance illegally steered 'good drivers' toward higher … – California Department of Insurance
News: 2022 Press Release
LOS ANGELES — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced a major legal action against Mercury Insurance for violating consumer protection laws, including by selling Mercury’s highest-priced policy to “good drivers” instead of the lowest-priced policy for which good drivers qualify. This legal enforcement action comes after a Department investigation found numerous areas where Mercury’s business practices harmed policyholders across its private passenger auto, homeowners, commercial auto, and commercial multi-policy lines of insurance.
By passing Proposition 103 in 1988, California voters mandated a 20 percent “good driver discount” for consumers who maintain a safe driving record. The Department’s investigation found that Mercury attempted to evade the requirements of Proposition 103 by steering good drivers into a higher-priced plan.
“Failing to sell good drivers the lowest priced policy for which they qualify is illegal, and my Department will act on behalf of consumers and pursue the maximum penalties against Mercury for acting in bad faith,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “My message to Mercury and other insurance companies that try to evade the law is clear: unfair and illegal practices will not be tolerated and I will fight to ensure consumers get the discounts they are entitled to under the law.”
Mercury maintains two insurance companies in California: Mercury Insurance Company (MIC), which is exclusively for “good drivers” and charges lower rates, and California Automobile Insurance Company (CAIC), which charges higher rates for nearly identical coverage and insures all drivers. The Department’s investigation found a number of ways that Mercury illegally sold and steered drivers to its company with the higher-priced plan, including:
Directing its agents to provide quotes in its higher-priced plan using artificially low mileage, giving the appearance of lower rates in order to entice consumers.
The Department alleges that Mercury also overcharged businesses and homeowners in other lines of insurance through a variety of illegal practices that resulted in unfairly discriminatory rates. For instance, Mercury increased premiums for commercial drivers who had been in an accident where they were not at fault and charged a higher premium for commercial drivers who had previously held a Mercury policy but failed to satisfy a requirement that they be listed as the named policyholder with another company for the previous two years, treating them as if they were new drivers.The allegations – 34 in all – are detailed in the Department’s Notice of Non-Compliance.
Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation’s largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.
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