Tag Archive for: #ncdoi

Auto Owners, Brace Yourselves For Possible Insurance Rate Increase

/by

North Carolina insurance companies have requested a statewide average 22.6 percent increase in automobile insurance rates.

The North Carolina Rate Bureau, which represents the automobile insurance companies in the state and is not a part of the Department of Insurance, filed the request with the Department on Monday. The insurance companies requested that the rates take effect on Oct. 1.

State law gives the Commissioner of Insurance 60 days to review the rate request to determine if the increase is justified based on the data submitted.

If Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey does not agree with the requested increase, he and the Department of Insurance can negotiate a settlement or call for a hearing.

Settlements have been reached on automobile rate filings in the past. If the case goes to a hearing, a hearing officer would make a ruling on the request.

This rate filing follows a February 2023 filing in which the insurance companies requested a statewide 28.4 percent increase. That filing resulted in a settlement of an overall average 4.5 percent increase per year for two years.

NC Department of Insurance

Two Vance County men charged with acting as a bail bondsman without a license, breaking and entering, felonious restraint, simple assault

/by

— press release courtesy of NC Department of Insurance

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey (Friday, Oct 25, 2024) announced the arrests of James Otis Perry, 76, of 610 E. Montgomery St., Henderson, and James DeCarlo Alston, 44, of 177 Tungsten Mine Road, Henderson. Both were charged with felony breaking and entering and felonious restraint. The two were also charged with acting as a bail bondsman without a license and simple assault, both misdemeanors.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse the two of acting as bail bondsmen without a license when they broke into an apartment on Franklin Court in Louisburg, striking a man at the apartment, restraining him and taking him to the Franklin County Sheriff’s office.

The offenses occurred on Aug. 21.

The two were arrested on Oct. 14.

Special agents expect to arrest an additional person in the case.

“I encourage everyone to report illegal behavior, suspected scams or insurance fraud immediately by calling 919-807-6840 or toll free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684,” Commissioner Causey said.

You can anonymously report the scam or fraud. Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.