April 16, 2019
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued fines in March totaling $158,000 against insurance companies, agents and brokers who violated state insurance regulations.
Insurance companies
United States Fire Insurance Co., Wilmington, Del.; fined $25,000, order 16-0192
United States Fire Insurance Co. sells pet insurance under the brand name ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. In July 2016, Kreidler fined the company $50,000 for several law violations, including charging customers the wrong rate, selling policies through unlicensed producers, issuing incorrect policy forms to customers and not disclosing the underwriter’s name to customers. At the time, Kreidler suspended $25,000 of the fine as long as the company followed a compliance plan to correct the violations.
Kreidler determined that the company has violated the compliance plan and is levying the remaining $25,000 fine. As recently as November 2018, the company continues to let unlicensed producers sell its pet insurance product and is selling pet insurance through an unappointed marketing website, www.policygenius.com.
Kreidler fined the following insurance companies for violating state insurance laws and rules:
- Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., Fort Wayne, Ind.; fined $100,000, order 19-0100
- IDS Property Casualty Insurance Co., De Pere, Wisc.; fined $7,500, order 19-0094
- USI Insurance Services National, Inc.; Seattle; ordered to pay premium taxes, order 17-0466
- Banner Life Insurance Co., Frederick, Md.; ordered to cease and desist, order 19-0048
Agents and brokers
- Paul Curtis Rhoton, Burien, Wash.; license revoked, order 19-0095
- Jack J. Barry, Vancouver, Wash.; license revoked, order 19-0092
- JetClosing, Inc., Seattle; fined $250, order 19-0018
- Noelia Clemons, Pickerington, OH; fined $250, order 19-0064
- Steven N. Farah, West Linn, Ore.; license revoked, order 19-0091
- Christopher Todd Price, Overland Park, Kan.; revocation rescinded, fined $500, order 19-0140
- Highland Health Direct and Daniel Strikowski, Deerfield Beach, Fla., and Ian McCauslin, Boca Raton, Fla..; fined $1,000, order 19-0097
- Stephanie F. Miller, Reading, Penn.; fined $250, order 19-0042
- Tabak Insurance Agency PLLC, Sugar Land, Texas; fined $250, order 19-0065
- Socius Insurance Services, Inc., San Francisco; fined $250, order 19-0068
- Hanna Perez, Phoenix; license revoked, order 19-0069
Other organizations
- International Hole in One Association dba Hole in One International, Reno, Nev.; ordered to cease and desist, fined $15,000 and ordered to pay premium tax, order 19-0113
- First Automotive Service Corp., Albuquerque, N.M.; fined $3,250, order 19-0067
- Apex Longevity, Avon, Ohio; fined $3,000, order 19-0070
- National Rural Letter Carriers Association, Alexandria, Va.; ordered to cease and desist, order 19-0098
- Landcar Agency, Inc., Sandy, Utah; ordered to cease and desist, order 19-0050
- BKL Holdings Inc. dba Insurance License Coach, Baton Rouge, La.; fined $1,500, order 19-0134
About the Office
Kreidler’s office oversees Washington’s insurance industry to ensure that companies, agents and brokers follow state laws. Since 2001, Kreidler has assessed more than $27 million in fines, which are deposited in the state's general fund to pay for state services.
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner publishes disciplinary orders against companies, agents and brokers.
For an insurance question or complaint, contact Kreidler’s consumer advocates online or by phone at 800-562-6900.