In recent weeks we’ve had many calls from concerned clients about their policies, their premiums, and what the insurance companies are doing to help during this crisis. Every company we work with has responded differently to the ongoing concerns and additional measures may be taken at a later date.

Cincinnati Insurance has put in place an automatic 15% decrease in premiums for the months of April and May for all personal auto policies. You don’t have to do anything to get this 15% as the credit will be automatically applied to your balance due or a check issued in June if premiums are paid in full.

State Auto Insurance will be giving a one-time 5% discount applied to the next policy term for all personal auto policies in effect with them as of June 1, 2020. They are also encouraging those who qualify to enroll in their “Safety 360” program which could save insureds up to an additional 50%.

Progressive Insurance is offering 20% off personal auto premiums for the months of April & May. If your policy is in force by April 30, 2020 the discount will be applied in May. If your policy is in force as of May 31, 2020 it will be applied in June.

Hastings Mutual Insurance - UPDATE! As of 4/27/2020 Hastings Mutual has announced they will be giving all of their personal auto customers a 15% discount on their policies for the months of March and April. This discount will be applied to any premium remaining due on the policy or a check will be sent out some time in May.

Central Mutual Insurance has also not announced any discounts at this time. They have also suspended cancellation of policies due to non-payment of premiums for 60 days and no late fees will be charged during that time.

Again, these measures are just what we know today. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via phone or email as we are happy to help. Please check back for updates. 

Battles Insurance is open for business, the best way to reach us by phone is 419-668-4402 and by email using the first name and last name initial of your contact.  For example: for Perry Dryden it’s perryd@battlesinsurance.com.  All employees are working either at the office or from home and are available on their cell phones.

Our agency is exercising many precautions while we remain open.  The following requirements and precautions will be taken in our physical agency location:

• Our rear entrance is locked but the front door is open for interaction that will help ensure employees and customers are six feet from each other.

• 8:30 a.m.to 9:30 a.m. office visits will be for 65 and over or those with health issues only.

• We will have hand sanitizer available for our employees and customers.

Battles Insurance will continue to maintain our normal business hours of

Monday through Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM during this difficult time our nation is facing concerning the COVID-19 Virus.

 Although our doors remain open, we encourage you to utilize our Company websites as much as possible or call the office to make payments, request ID cards, policy changes, etc. Many of your requests can also be handled promptly via e-mail.

   In order to ensure the safety of our clients, employees and their families along with honoring the policy of social distancing, we are requesting that clients who’s situation require they come into the office use the front entrance on Whittlesey Avenue and stop at the counter.  One of our helpful staff members will be happy to assist you.

Thank you for your understanding during this trying time for all of us.

SERVICE IS FOREMOST AT BATTLES AND SO ARE OUR CUSTOMERS!

Many homeowners don’t recognize the plumbing leak risk that lies in plain sight within their home or condo: water supply lines.

It has become common to connect a home’s water to appliances using flexible water supply hoses. They are used not only for water connections to washing machines, but also for toilets, sinks, air conditioning cooling water, water softeners and many other appliances and fixtures. To make this issue more personal and relevant, ask yourself: “When is the last time I inspected my water supply lines?”

Every hose in a home or condo is at risk of failure that could lead to extensive water damage. Considering that a typical home has at least three hoses per bathroom (two under the sink and one under the toilet) and two in the laundry room, it is clear the possibility for loss exists in even the most modest homes. Regardless of design or materials, all hoses will deteriorate over time and fail.

Make regular inspection of the water supply lines a key part of routine home maintenance. If there is any outward sign of corrosion, excessive wear and tear or bulging, replace the supply line immediately.

In general:

• All hoses used in the home should be replaced every five years at a minimum
• Replacing them all at the same time makes it easier to track the age of all the hoses in your home
• Everyone in your family should know where the main water shut-off to your home is located
• Consider turning off your water supply to the home when leaving for vacation or an extended period

The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety provides additional tips to help protect your home from water damage caused by water supply lines.

This loss control information is advisory only. The authors assume no responsibility for management or control of loss control activities. Not all exposures are identified in this article. Contact your local, independent insurance agent for coverage advice and policy service.

https://blog.cinfin.com/2020/02/11/risk-management-plumbing-leak/

There’s no doubt people spend A LOT of time on the Internet. Hence the need for an annual Data Privacy Day! The Digital 2019 Report reveals that the average Internet user spends more than a quarter of their life on the World Wide Web. Also, consumers are online an average of 6 hours and 42 minutes each day, whereas mobile devices continue to be a popular mode for connecting to the digital world [1]. Society relies on these gadgets for so many different things (like I rely on my smartphone’s GPS to get me everywhere), and since we’re constantly connected, there’s a continuous and growing concern for cybercrime and maintaining online safety.

In 2020, forecasts suggest there will be approximately 6.58 network-connected devices per person around the globe. With a total world population of over 7.5 billion people, this means there could be nearly 50 billion network-connected devices in use this year [2]. You might be (unknowingly) allowing thieves to spy on you through your electronic devices right now because many come with privacy insecurities, making it easy for a hacker or thief to get in and get your personal data. There are viruses and programs thieves can create to steal the information you enter into your devices. We have to be smarter and safer about our data privacy than ever!

While it can be scary to think about, we shouldn’t live in fear of hackers and identity thieves. Here are seven ways to fight back and keep your personal data safe and secure online:

1. Always use a strong password with at least eight characters. Be sure to use a combination of lower and upper case letters, numbers, and at least one symbol.
2. Never save passwords in your web browser.
3. Use trusted antivirus software on your computers, such as McAfee or Avast.
4. Never enter personal data into a website that is insecure or looks unprofessional. A secure website’s URL should begin with “https” as opposed to “http”. The “s” at the end stands for “secure” and uses an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) connection.
5. Disable your webcam when it’s not in use.
6. When using social media or other communication apps like Skype or FaceTime, only accept friend requests from people who you know and trust.
7. Identity thieves love your credit cards so keep that information private and do not share it, especially when you are using an ATM or entering your card number online. Also, just like your passwords, never save your credit card online.

For additional protection, consider cyber protection insurance. This coverage protects against things like unwanted attacks, extortion threats, online fraud, and more. The coverage may have a very broad definition of “connected home device” and contemplates items such as smartphones, thermostats, entertainment systems, appliances, and home security monitoring systems.

For example, Central’s Personal Cyber Protection Coverage endorsement provides the type of coverage you might expect from a first-party cyber liability endorsement: data recovery and restoration, cyber extortion, financial loss due to online fraud, and breach of personal data. However, it also takes things a step further and covers psychiatric counseling services, legal expenses, temporary relocation expenses, and additional expenses related to cyberbullying attacks. This is a terrific feature to include, especially given how serious cyberbullying threats have become.

Take precautions to ensure your peace of mind online. Contact your local independent agent to learn more about protecting yourself from the threat of cyber thieves!

Sources:

[1] https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2019/02/internet-users-spend-more-than-a-quarter-of-their-lives-online.html

[2] https://www.statista.com/statistics/678739/forecast-on-connected-devices-per-person/

The information above is of a general nature and your policy and coverages provided may differ from the examples provided. Please read your policy in its entirety to determine your actual coverage available.

Copyright © 2020 Central Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved.