After the Storm: Use Caution When Hiring Contractors

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug 31, 2011 - As New Jerseyans clean up from the rains and flooding as a result of Hurricane Irene, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company suggests some tips to protect you and your property from unscrupulous contractors. A good, trustworthy contractor can be your key partner in the rebuilding process.

“It is not uncommon for unscrupulous contractors to take advantage of people who have experienced a catastrophic event,” said Bill Ballinger, president of Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company. “Recovery is about partnership. It takes the government, businesses, and private citizens. So what we need is partnership, not price gouging."

According to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, New Jersey’s price gouging law automatically activated when Gov. Christie declared a state of emergency. The law deems price increases excessive if they are more than 10 percent higher than the price at which a good or service was sold in the usual course of business prior to the state of emergency.

Ten tips to avoid getting scammed:

1.   Take your time in choosing true professionals to repair your home.

2.   Get estimates from several licensed, bonded contractors.

3.   Check their credentials with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs or your local Better Business Bureau.

4.   Inspect contractors’ licenses and proof of liability insurance.

5.   Get a contract or estimate in writing.

6.   Avoid paying money up-front. Some reputable contractors will require partial, up-front payment, but these pre-work payments should not exceed the cost of materials or 20 percent of the total estimate.  

7.   Follow local building codes and inspection procedures.

8.   If anyone performs unauthorized work on your house or property and demands payment, consider contacting local authorities.

9.   Do not sign over an insurance settlement check to the contractor.

10.   Immediately report any suspicious behavior to local law enforcement or the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file a complaint with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting www.nj.gov/oag/ca/ or by calling 1-800-242-5846.

About Allstate New Jersey
Known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company and its affiliates help individuals in more than a half  million New Jersey households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 270 agents and financial representatives. Customers can access Allstate New Jersey products and services through Allstate agencies, or at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.

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AutoCricket.com Host LeadsCon 2011 After Party

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug 04, 2011 - West Palm Beach, FL (August 4th, 2011) – AutoCricket.com, a leading automotive insurance quote website prepares to host what is expected to be one of the largest and most prestigious after parties of the LeadsCon East 2011 Tradeshow in New York City.

‘Your Ticket to the Top’ will be held on August 24th from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. on top of the Rock Observation Deck, on the 67th floor of the 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The party is scheduled to follow the first day of activities at LeadsCon.

With over 2,000+ companies in attendance, LeadsCon brings together the leading minds from premier companies in the online customer acquisition space. It also serves as an intellectual and physical gathering point for those not only interested in the tactics of online customer acquisition but also in gaining a better grasp of performance-based marketing.

“The purpose for this event is to network and meet potential new partners within the LeadsCon conference and to show appreciation for current partners and our team,” says event coordinator Alyssa Ramos.

The 2-day exhibition will consist of several keynote speakers such as, Nick Hedges, President & CEO of Leads360, David Kidder, Co-Founder & CEO of Clickable, Inc and Carrie Seifer, Regional Vice President of Sales for Millennial Media, as well as over 80 more speakers.

Topics range anywhere from ‘Sneak Peak: Super Cool Technologies’ to ‘What B2C Can Learn From B2B’. This years major sponsors include doublePOSITIVE Marketing Group, Inc, Vantage Media, All Web Leads, Leads360 and a multitude of others.

Guests will be permitted entrance with an R.S.V.P or an invitation and can expect to enjoy an open premium bar, ice sculpture luges, hors d’oeuvres, music and open access to the observation deck.

Prior to LeadsCon, the Affiliate Summit East 2011 Conference will be held from August 21-23 in New York City. This three-day conference includes an exhibit hall with affiliate merchants, vendors, and networks, as well as multiple educational sessions covering the latest trends and information from marketing experts. Keynote speakers include Entrepreneur Marc Oftrofsky, SEO Guru Wil Reynolds and Bryan Eisenberg Co-Founder of FutureNow Inc.

For more information about AutoCricket.com please visit www.AutoCricket.com.

AutoCricket.com
AutoCricket.com is a multifaceted company with a consumer-friendly interface enabling consumers to meet all of their automotive needs.  The simple forms with drop down menus and self-generated answers have made searching for automotive insurance and new vehicle prices easier for consumers. AutoCricket.com strives to provide a simple solution for those who have automotive needs, whether it is to search, finance or insure.

For more information about AutoCricket.com, contact Ashley Frazier at 561.845.2391.

Auto Cricket is committed to providing our clients with the best revenue increasing products in the market while employing those who continually show themselves to be professional, ethical, and have a total commitment to the company.

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Buying Health Insurance After Healthcare Reform: Webinar

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 25, 2011 – There is so much confusion on the horizon since the healthcare reform bill was signed into law.  Many are not sure if they will even have health insurance in the next 36 months.  With the growing number of medical bankruptcies, how will you know you will not be joining those ranks?

This is why Elite Benefits of America is putting on a webinar on July 28th at 10am CST about buying health insurance after healthcare reform.  "You may have already have a trusted advisor for your health insurance, and I appreciate that.  However, you may enjoy this call.  I will share with you some of my own insights on how to help prevent medical bankruptcy by insuring against it." Says Butch Zemar, Chief Sales Officer at Elite Benefits of America.

Medical bankruptcies are on a rise according to a Harvard University study*.  Updated in 2009, they indicated that 62% of bankruptcies are due to medical bankruptcies.  "The sad thing is that nearly three-quarters of  them had health insurance at the time of the onset*.  So was health insurance the real problem?" Zemar adds.  The study also mentioned that medical expenses reached an out-of-pocket of just under $14,000*.  This includes deductibles, co-pays and services not covered by insurance.  Yes, there are services not covered by insurance or you exceeded your inter nal limit of the policy - virtually every policy out there has limits.  This money can add up but I'm sure most, not all,  working Americans can manage that size of a bill if their health depended on it.

So what is the real cause that put these Americans over the edge to file medical bankruptcy?  If most of them had health insurance the out-of-pocket was manageable, then why so many bankruptcies?  This is why Elite Benefits of America is holding a webinar on just that.

"There are already little known things that can help you avoid medical bankruptcy.  It's important that you are on this call.  Space is limited", Zemar continues.  Those who are interested in in attending the webinar will need to go to http://www.EliteBenefits.net/Webinar Do not delay. You need to do this by July 26th in order to be let in on insights from the experts.  We will be sending the information out the day before the webinar.  

Bonus:  As an added bonus, for those who join us on the call will receive a copy of our "The Introduction to Buying Health Insurance After Healthcare Reform".  This report is a new release as of May 2011.  Make sure you attend to receive a copy.

*http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6895896/ns/business-personal ...

Elite Benefits of America are insurance Gurus to handle the details about insurance so business owners can focus on their passion. For more information please visit http://www.elitebenefits.net/

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Dealing with Insurance Adjusters after an Automobile Crash

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 17, 2011 – Stress and emotions set in right after a car accident. Dealing with insurance adjusters, both your own insurance company's adjuster, and the at-fault driver's insurance adjuster, are equally as stressful and oftentimes frustrating. Showing emotion and anger toward the insurance company adjusters is not the way to go. It is important that you keep your cool and understand that cooperation, rather than tension, will likely lead to a better resolution.  

Usually within a day after your car accident you will not only deal with telephone calls by both insurance company adjusters. Do not let these phone calls get in the way of your treatment for your injuries.

Although you will need to cooperate with your own insurance company's adjusters when reporting a car accident, as former insurance company attorney, I do not recommend agreeing to a recorded statement by the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident. They are doing this to use against you later in court if necessary. If you do not speak with an attorney first, or wish to retain a lawyer first,  I suggest, if requested by the adverse driver's insurance company, that  that you ask why the adjuster needs a recorded statement and why they cannot get the same information from a police report. The adjuster will likely say that it "is for our file", etc. If you decide to go through with the recorded statement, get the adjuster to agree that your own insurance company can take the recorded statement from their own insured driver. Also try to have the adjuster commit to an agreement that your statement cannot be introduced in court. If so, have them fax or mail such a written agreement to you.

Oftentimes the adjuster for the other insurance company will send medical releases for you to sign. I do not suggest signing these agreements. Simply tell the adjuster that you will provide them with medical records. You do not wish for them to try to use these medical authorizations to go on a fishing expedition. Believe me, they will.

Although space for this article does not permit a long discussion on what you should do, or not do, after a car accident, remember these seven simple rules:

1. Call the police immediately. Do not let the other driver to simply give you his or her insurance information.

2. Seek medical attention immediately. If you feel pain right after the crash, tell the officer and request an ambulance.

2. Write down the names, telephone numbers and addresses of all witnesses. Don't rely that the police officer will do so.

4. Take photographs of the scene of the crash and the damage to the vehicles, even if it is with a camera phone. Immediately email them to yourself or a family member in case you lose your phone.

5. Report the crash to your insurance company.

6. Follow up and cooperate with your doctors. Show the doctor your photographs of your damaged car so that he may understand the severity of the crash. If you have previous -1241067585  injuries, do not be afraid to tell your doctor.

7. Speak with a personal injury attorney. The consultation will be free. A skilled and compassionate attorney will visit you at your home and also take photographs of the damage to your car and your injuries.

For more information about the automobile claim process, please visit http://www.vanriperandnies.com.

Veteran-owned law firm practicing in personal injury litigation, maritime injuries, Longshore claims, commercial litigation, and criminal defense with offices in Stuart, West Palm Beach, Deerfield Beach and Jensen Beach, Florida.

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