Lampton Engle Agency

Announcement: Erie Insurance Announces $200 Million in Immediate Relief for Customers

Broadening ERIE’s Financial Support for Personal and Commercial Auto Insurance Customers

Erie, Pa. (April 21, 2020) – Erie Insurance today announced it will provide $200 million in dividends directly to personal and commercial auto insurance customers in the 12 states and the District of Columbia where the company does business. This immediate relief represents about 30% of related auto insurance premiums over a two-month period or 5% of their annual premium.

Today’s announcement is in addition to the $200 million in rate reductions announced earlier this month.  Together these efforts provide a combined $400 million in immediate relief and longer-term rate reductions for ERIE auto insurance customers. This is in response to the significant decline in miles driven due to the stay-at-home directives for COVID-19.

ERIE plans to distribute checks to customers in mid-May 2020. There is no need for customers to call ERIE or their agent to request the payment. Checks will be mailed directly to customers with policies in force as of April 1, 2020.

“We are fortunate to have built up the financial strength we have over our 95 years that allows us to further support our customers during this challenging time,” said Erie Insurance President and CEO Tim NeCastro. “We stand by our customers during times of hardship and catastrophe and our response reflects who we’ve been for 95 years: a company that’s always there for our customers and a company that is truly Above All in Service.”

To further support local communities throughout its footprint, ERIE is also granting nearly $2.5 million to agents and branch offices to boost their charitable work in local communities.

“Our agents and employees have also stepped up to provide much-needed support to their local communities,” added NeCastro. “They’re feeding first responders and healthcare workers, purchasing gift cards from restaurants and retailers to thank those on the front lines and so much more. This infusion of funding will give them even more opportunities to continue these good works.”

In addition to these measures, the company also continues to help hundreds of individual customers each day with flexible payment and billing options, coverage adjustments and other steps aimed at addressing specific customer and community needs:

Flexible Payment and Billing Options

ERIE understands that each customer’s situation is unique and we continue to offer flexibility to customers facing hardship. ERIE agents can help customers with updating coverages. Customers can contact ERIE’s Customer Care team at (800) 458-0811 with assistance on delaying payment dates, adjusting installments, changing pay plans and waiving penalties and fees.  In addition, some billing requests including deferring payments and nonpay cancellations can also be requested through erieinsurance.com/help or through their ERIE Online Account.Customers can also access their personal lines and life policies, view current and previous invoices, pay their bill and monitor a claim through Online Account.

Making Life Insurance Attainable

For a limited time, Erie Family Life is offering applicants a path to life insurance coverage without the requirement of a paramedical exam. The option to waive the exam is aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance to maintain social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19. The waiver provides Erie Insurance customers the ability to obtain life insurance without in-person interaction. The offer is available for customers up to age 55 and policy face amounts up to $500,000.

Gift Card and Gift Certificate Reimbursement Coverage

Pending regulatory approval in several states, Erie Insurance is adding gift card and gift certificate reimbursement coverage to the company’s ErieSecure Home® policies. The additional feature, included at no additional cost, would reimburse customers for remaining balances on gift cards that can no longer be used at independently owned and operated local businesses due to business closures. There is no requirement that the business be insured by ERIE. While the additional protection was introduced to help promote buying new gift cards to help small businesses with their cash flows during this challenging time, it is not a temporary addition and will become part of ERIE’s base ErieSecure Home policies.

Support for Community COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Erie Insurance provided a lead gift to support a new COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund recently established in Erie, Pennsylvania. The COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund will directly support 501(c)(3) organizations in Erie County, Pennsylvania — the location of our headquarters — that are providing support to those in need, administering care for children, serving elderly populations who are most vulnerable and helping those suffering hardships and job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Announcement: Rates here are among the lowest

“Rates here are among the lowest”

“The average Ohio homeowner insurance premium is projected to rise by 3.4 percent to $834 on average, more than $300 less than the national average and the ninth lowest in the U.S.  When it comes to our vehicles Ohio’s premiums are expected to increase 3.3% to $715 about $200 less than the national average – the 12th lowest in the country.  Despite rate hikes Ohioans still pay some of the lowest insurance rates in the nation.”

 

Source:  Dayton Daily News Sunday October 30, 2016 written by Rich Gillette

Announcement: Distracted Drivers: You Did WHAT Behind the Wheel?

People Admit to Odd Behavior in New Distracted Driving Survey

Read the full article on Eriesense.com

“A distraction is anything that causes a driver to take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel, or their mind off their primary task of driving safely,” said Doug Smith, senior vice president, Personal Lines, at Erie Insurance. “Our survey found drivers unfortunately are engaging in a wide range of distracting and potentially dangerous behaviors.”

ERIE's distracted driving survey revealed some pretty interesting things.

Announcement: Ohio’s premiums among lowest in country

Insurance Department Announces Auto and Homeowners Insurance Rates
??Ohio’s premiums among lowest in country

COLUMBUS — Lieutenant Governor and Department of Insurance Director Mary Taylor announced Ohio’s 2012 auto and homeowners insurance average rates, information that is annually compiled by the Department.
“Ohio’s historically competitive insurance marketplace continues to provide consumers with choice and affordable options for auto and homeowners insurance,” Taylor said. “Our strong, but fair regulatory standards and emphasis on reducing regulatory red-tape for insurers are benefiting consumers.”
Ohio has the 6th lowest homeowners ($624; national average $906) and 9th lowest auto insurance ($619; national average $791) average premiums in the county, according to 2010 data, the most recent figures available from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
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Announcement: Hondros College Announces July Instructor of the Month- Brian Lampton

Hondros College Announces

July Instructor of the Month- Brian Lampton

Brian Lampton has been a part of the insurance industry for 22 years. He began his career in insurance in 1990 when he heard through the University of Dayton Alumni placement office that there was an opening for an insurance agent. He has been teaching off and on now for 19 years. “I taught LUTC (life insurance) classes early on in my career,” says Brian. He has taught leadership classes through the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and taught other adult courses with the Greene County Career Center before coming to Hondros College.
Brian began teaching years ago to save money for his son’s college tuition. “My good friend and previous teacher, Ed White, told me it was a good gig and thought I would like teaching at Hondros,” says Lampton. Brian has been teaching at Hondros for three years now and says “Hondros has been great when dealing with my crazy schedule.”
“I enjoy teaching because I like meeting new people and hearing their stories. I find it interesting why people get into the insurance business and I like to hear their insurance stories,” says Lambert. His goal in his classes is to stress how difficult the state test is, and how important it is to study and prepare for it!
Lampton says “The insurance business is a people oriented service business and it can be very rewarding.” He enjoys working in the industry because he gets the opportunity to “meet and deal with a wide variety of people, all age groups, different social- economic backgrounds, and different cultures.”
Congratulations Brian for being this months Instructor of the Month!

Announcement: Brian Lampton recognized in Insurance Newsletter

Brian Lampton was singled out with customer appreciation in the July 27, 2011 edition of “The Bulletin.”

Great Agent…
Brian Lampton
Lampton-Engle & Associates, Columbus Branch

” I recently had a roof damage claim and some auto damage too, and I called to say how nice and helpful everyone involved was. Thank you, especially to my Agent Brian and [Claims Supervisor] Donna Carpenter.”

–Customer Jane B., via a phone conversation with Branch Manager Joe Wilkerson

[ Newsletter ]

Ohio among the lowest rates in the US

http://www.insurance.ohio.gov/Newsroom/Pages/08102011AutoHomeRates.aspx

Press Release – August 10, 2010

STATE OF OHIO
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
8/10/2011

Lt. Governor Taylor Announces Ohio Auto and Homeowners Rates Remain Competitive in 2010

COLUMBUS — Lieutenant Governor and Department of Insurance Director Mary Taylor announced Ohio’s 2010 average auto and homeowners insurance rates were among the most competitive in the United States. The Department annually compiles the state’s average auto and homeowners insurance rates.

“Ohioans can count on the state’s dynamic insurance marketplace producing some of the lowest auto and homeowners rates in the country,” Taylor said. “We will continue to focus on attracting insurance companies to our great state to the benefit of the state’s consumers.”

Ohio has the 11th lowest auto insurance and 9th lowest homeowners insurance average premiums in the country, according to the most recent figures from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

In 2010, the average rate change for the state’s top 10 private passenger auto insurance groups increased 1.5 percent. The average rate change for the state’s top 10 homeowners insurance groups increased 8.7 percent.  The top 10 insurance groups represent approximately 70 percent of the market.

The average increases in 2010 were less than the previous year, which saw average increases of 2.8 percent and 9.7 percent for auto and homeowners, respectively.  The historical rate change information is an average.  Individual insurance consumers may have experienced rate changes that differ from the average. The Department makes sure the rating plans comply with Ohio insurance law and the rates are actuarially sound.

Ohio insurers continued to experience claims from the multitude of weather events that have impacted the state over the last few years.

Based on rate activity so far this year and industry data, Department analysts expect 2011 rate activity to follow a similar pattern. Changes in auto insurance rates are associated with medical costs, weather-related claims, the number of cars on Ohio roads and repairs costs. Changes in homeowners rates can be attributed to weather-related claims, and building and material costs.

Ohioans with insurance questions or concerns can call the Department’s consumer hotline at 1-800-686-1526. Free information, including guides and tip sheets about auto and homeowners insurance, is available atwww.insurance.ohio.gov.