One Side of a Mini Saga

The mini saga of Ed Higgins’s experience vis-à-vis what he identifies as a misleading element in a direct writer’s internet sales program, gets a full, yet clearly one-sided airing in this issue. We have fact checked and read all of the materials provided to us by Mr. Higgins with respect to his experience and found his recounting of the story to be factually accurate. We give him the space in this magazine to relate just what happened to him after setting out to educate fellow agents as to the scope and nature of the competition they face from direct writers. We have known Ed for many years as a courageous advocate for independent insurance agents and, by the same token, a true gentleman. We will spare our comments on his experience in this column, not because we are neutral but because we have not heard from the other side. We invite GEICO, Progressive, and any of the parties’ response to Mr. Higgins’s article. We will run these replies, as we have run his article, without altering the text whatsoever. After both sides of this matter are expressed to the agents, brokers, company representatives, legislators, regulators, company brass and association leaders who make up the several thousand subscribers this publication boasts, we will offer our viewpoint. This publication has no particular opposition to either Progressive, GEICO or any of the parties named in Mr. Higgins article. We have however, gained a reputation as advocates for independent insurance agents and brokers and for the independent agency system, one which we personally believe in very strongly and have defended on many occasions. Yet, we understand that the consumer may be well served in several ways, according to the consumer’s personal standards. Several companies over the years have adopted dual systems of marketing in some ways to the detriment of agents, but, on the other hand, to their advantage and, they report, to consumer’s benefit. Another issue here is the potential tilting of the playing field with info provided over the internet. Again, we invite all interested parties to submit to us as complete an article as it wishes, which we will publish completely and unaltered in these pages. We hope that the matter will gain the attention of those who will ensure that the consuming public is properly served by any online or other mechanism to which the buyer is directed and that the playing field is thus assuredly level…We note with great interest that Jonathan Bing has left the New York Liquidation Bureau. As of September 10th he joins the New York office of Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker LLP. We wish Jonathan the best of luck… One last comment is kudos to the Insurances Information Institute. whose media advisories and availability to consumers on several levels during the recent Hurricane Isaac that hit some southern states, was exemplary. We note the availability of the top brass at the I.I.I. all holiday weekend and Labor Day. This is the kind of activity that gives insurance a good name. Thank you I.I.I.