I have personally spoke to many of our loyal clients and have found this data slowly becoming true. It is time, as independent insurance professionals ,that we proactively review our books of business and offer support and guidance to struggling clients. I cannot stress enough, that we are here to help and can 99% of the time, offer a quality solution to reduce premium, yet not compromise on liability coverages. If you or someone you know is considering dropping your auto insurance, please call us first....we understand the current situation and look forward to helping anyone with insurance needs work through these tough times.

The fine balance between coverage and premium is something you can ONLY achieve through a qualified agent or broker. This service does not cost anything additional and you as a consumer  deserve to sleep well at night knowing you are properly covered.

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead put “PHOTO ID REQUIRED.”

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card Accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the “For” line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. This will prevent anyone who might handle your check from having unnecessary access to your account.

3. Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone number. Also, use a PO Box address if applicable, and NEVER have your Social Security Number printed on your checks.

4. Make sure to keep a photocopy of all the important documents you keep in your wallet somewhere safe. Copy both sides of each license and credit card, as the back side is where all of the contact/reporting information is located. In case of an emergency you will be able to call and cancel all your credit cards, and will still be able to have proof of ID.

5. Keep the toll free numbers to your bank and credit cards handy so that you may inform your companies and have your cards cancelled IMMEDIATELY. The sooner you call, the more damage you can prevent.

6. File a police report IMMEDIATELY in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc, were stolen.

7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations IMMEDIATELY to place a fraud alert on your name. Also call the Social Security fraud line number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

When it comes to reporting Identity Theft time is of the essence. The faster you report a stolen wallet, purse, or mail, the more likely you are to prevent or decrease the damage from occurring. Along with the phone numbers for your bank and credit card companies, you will also need the phone numbers for the 3 credit reporting agencies and the social security administration. For your convenience we have provided those numbers below.

1. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2. Experian: 1-888-397-3742
3. Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4. Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Or maybe…

You make it home after your hectic day at the office, climb out of the car, and drag yourself into the house. As you walk in the door you are greeted by your 10 year son, 8 year old daughter, and your golden retriever. They beg you to go outside, and you have the privilege of ending your day playing ball with “the gang.”

Pets grow into our families, and become a part of them. They are a source of joy for all of us. But if we are not careful, they can also become a source of strife. The news is heavy with people who have raised aggressive dogs for their own personal gain. What happens when these animals have fulfilled their use? They end up in animal shelters, where families are looking to adopt a new member of the family. There are certain breeds that can be more dangerous than others; Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, English Bull Terriers, German Shepherds, Dobermans, and St. Bernard’s can all have aggressive tendencies. But more important than the breed is who owned the dog before and what was the dog’s purpose? These are questions that can’t always be answered at a human society or animal shelter. However, it is very important to understand the dog’s temperament before you commit to claiming it as part of your family. Watch the dog play with other people and dogs. Ask the workers who feed and walk it on a daily basis. Does it shy in a corner, or cuddle up to your feet looking for attention?

It is also important to protect your family and neighbors in the event your pet has a change in temperament. By securing liability insurance you can protect yourself from the unthinkable. As pet owners we are responsible for the actions of our pet. If your dog was to bite someone, destroy property, or knock over a biker, you will be held liable for the damage of property and health. It could only happen once, it could just be an accident, but the bottom line is that it could happen, and are you going to be prepared when it does? Statistics from the New York Times and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that, “each year, roughly 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs and about 800,000, half of them children, seek medical attention.” If you own pets, or are thinking of getting a pet, we highly recommend you talk with your local insurance agent to make sure your insurance company is aware you have a dog, and that you have the coverage you need in the event that your source of joy becomes your source of strife.

The same is true of pricing insurance. Many Insurance Companies are advertising that they can quote insurance without using personal information. It’s true any agency can give you a quote, but how accurate that quote will be is a different matter. In WashingtonState your insurance is rated based upon your insurance score. Social Security numbers are used to determine your insurance score. It is not a credit report. An insurance score shows your payment history and overall financial stability. People with higher insurance scores qualify for better markets, and receive better rates. If you receive a quote without giving your personal information there is no telling how accurate it may be, and when you do decide to purchase the insurance you are likely in for a big surprise. It may be a good surprise, and your insurance rate may actually go down, but it may also be a bad surprise, with your rates going much higher than you had anticipated. Insurance can be frustrating and costly on its own, but finding out it’s more than you were originally told is a whole different story.

At Eagle Harbor Insurance we will ask for your social security number, but that’s because we believe honesty is the best policy. At the same time we guarantee that your security is our number one priority. We are here to serve you, and provide you with all the information you need up front. You can trust that the quote you receive is as accurate as possible, and that means you can relax, knowing there will be no surprises when it comes time to pay the bill. We will do everything we can to find you the best insurance possible at the best price possible.

There is a very simple way to avoid this extra cost. By adding a Water Backup and Sump Pump Overflow Endorsement to your homeowner’s policy, you can prevent yourself from stepping into a very sticky situation. A Water Backup and Sump Pump Overflow Endorsement provides coverage for the back-up of internal drains in your home (including kitchens, bathrooms, sinks, tubs, and toilets), as well as coverage in the event your sump-pump overflows. This Endorsement costs between $15-50, and can provide you $5,000-15,000 dollars in coverage. This is a simple and easy way to protect yourself from the damage, stress, cost, and repairs of water damage inside your home.

 - Article taken from Progressive Newsletter - Winter 2006

Earthquake Insurance can be added as an endorsement to your existing policies, or it can be purchased as a stand-alone policy. There are certain underwriting guidelines when purchasing one of these policies. These guidelines are:

• What year was home built?
• Type of foundation?
• Type of construction; frame or masonry?
• Approximate distance to water?
• Is the home located on a steep bank?

Many insurance companies in the State of Washington no longer offer Earthquake Insurance. Consumers may not even be aware that their insurance company is no longer offering this coverage. It is important to call your current insurance company and specifically ask them if they carry Earthquake Insurance.

At Eagle Harbor Insurance we have several different markets that provide Earthquake Insurance, and we will work with you to find the type of coverage you need.

Take for example auto insurance. There are several coverage options you can add to your auto insurance policy that will provide you with a much deeper level of coverage. The first is Personal Injury Protection or PIP. This is an endorsement that costs very little, but will give you a huge level of coverage. Personal Injury Protection covers you in any type of road accident, if you get in a car accident, if you get hit as a pedestrian in a crosswalk, if you get hit on your bike. The beauty of PIP is that you are covered no matter who was at fault in an accident, and your coverage is immediate. It will pay for ambulance rides, the jaws of life, hospital expenses, rehabilitation therapy, as well as reimburse you for pay checks you missed by being unable to work during your recovery. PIP not only covers you, but everyone in the car with you.

The second coverage option is Uninsured Motorist Coverage. This coverage protects you if you get in an accident in which the at fault driver is not covered. Uninsured Motorist Coverage will cover all personal injury and property damage, up to your coverage limits, caused by the at fault driver if they are underinsured, or have no coverage at all. If the other driver is not insured, you could be paying the bill, unless your policy has Uninsured Motorist Coverage, at which point your insurance policy will cover it for you. These are two examples of endorsements that do not cost very much to add to your policy, but could save you a world of hurt in the future.

All insurance policies are not the same. There are different types and levels of coverage, as well as many extra endorsements that are optional as well. If you are new to insurance, or find it a bit confusing it is easy to think that all insurance is the same. If that is you’re line of thinking, then the first thing you would look for when choosing an insurance policy is the price. But it’s just not the case. When it comes to coffee the last thing we think of is the price, and the first thing we think of is the flavor. With insurance you want to make sure that you choose the plan that best fits your life-style. And if you find a good local independent insurance agent that will help you through the insurance process you’ll find that insurance just doesn’t “taste the same” anywhere else. Why use an agent who treats you like another number, puts you on hold, and doesn’t remember who you are. Things like that can leave a bad taste in your mouth. It’s important to use an agent you can trust who will be there to help you when those unexpected emergencies occur, who knows your name and your individual situation and will sit down and explain your policy options in detail, who will help you find the plan that best fits your lifestyle, and who most importantly doesn’t care about selling you an insurance plan, but instead cares about making sure you are protected and taken care of for the future.

Price is important when looking for insurance, but it is not the first thing you should look at. The most important thing is to find the insurance coverage that will best protect you, and then from there find the best deal you can.

Personal liability is another coverage that follows you everywhere you go. What that means for you is this: Let’s say you decide to go skiing, and on the slopes you accidentally injure another skier. Your homeowner’s policy will provide coverage for the accident. Also covered are optional endorsements such as personal injury, which will cover such things as liable, slander, defamation of character, and wrongful arrest.

Another amazing benefit is that if your homeowner’s policy includes fraud and identity coverage, that coverage also follows you wherever you go. For example, you are at the big Seahawks game in Chicago, and after we win you get mugged on your way home, and the mugger then uses the personal information in your wallet to steal your identity. Your homeowner’s policy will cover that as well!

It is extremely important to have an independent local insurance agent you can trust, with whom you can talk these options over, and make sure your insurance plan includes these benefits. The other plus to having a local agent, is that they know your name, and will be there to take care of any problems for you, whether you are at home or on vacation. A large insurance company may offer a cheap price, but when you have a claim will they be there with you, or just keep putting you on hold? Great deals are important when choosing an insurance plan, but even more important is making sure you have a plan that will cover you through those unexpected emergencies. The peace of mind that comes with knowing your family is protected, and there is a friendly voice on the other end of the phone, is worth every penny.

 - Most fire fatalities occur between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. when people are sleeping;

 - Most fire victims die from smoke or toxic gasses, not burns; and

 - Approximately nine people in the United States are fatally injured in a home fire every day.

To help avoid a potentially devastating and deadly fire, it is critical to reduce and eliminate as many fire hazards as possible. While this may sound like common sense, there are certain fire hazards that many homeowners are either not aware of or do not take seriously. For instance, do you know where and why most home fires occur? More fires start in the kitchen than anywhere else in the home, and cooking is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries. To help protect your family, home, and possessions from a potentially tragic fire, here are a number of important steps you can take:

 - When cooking, watch food carefully to prevent oil and grease fires, and never leave food cooking unattended. Follow instructions on warning labels.

 - Inspect the electrical cords and plug-ins for damage on your taster, toaster oven, coffee maker, stereo, TV, VCR, DVD, washer,dryer, computer, space heater, and all other appliances and electric components.

 - Clean the furnace filter regularly. Keep all combustible materials away from the furnace and water heater, and have them professionally inspected and serviced annually.

 - Place portable space heaters in a safe location and away from combustible materials. Do not leave the heater running unattended. Most portable space heater product guides stress that units should not be used with an extension cord. Check the owner's manual or contact the manufacturer to verify what is appropriate for each individual unit.

 - Regularly clean the clothes dryer's air vent system where lint can buildup and cause overheating. Clean the lint trap frequently, and never place flammable material in the dryer.

 - In recent years, more than 15,000 home fires were caused by candles. To prevent this, use dripless candles, never leave candles unattended, and do not set them near combustible materials.

 - Use only high quality UL listed cords that are properly rated for the intended purpose. If cords show damage or wear, discard them, and do not patch with tape. Never overload electrical outlets with too many appliances. Never place an extension cord under a carpet or rug.

These are just a few things you can do to protect your home from fires.

Since the 1990s, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) related deaths and injuries have steadily increased. Surrounding this, the safety of ATVs has been questioned, especially as it is related to children. A new study suggests that prohibiting ATV passengers and implementing helmet use may prevent the severity of head and neck related injuries in children who are victims of ATV accidents.

ATVs have been popular recreational vehicles since their inception during the 1970s. Since that time, much concern has arisen over their safety and associated risks to operators, especially children. Similarly, the sale of ATVs has markedly risen in recent years. Between 1998 and 2003, the cumulative increase reached 150 percent, with a total of 800,000 vehicles purchased in 2003. In 2004, there were 136,100 total injuries with 44,700 of those less than 16 years of age; this total represents roughly a 14 percent increase over 2003. From 1998 to 2004, there was a 101 percent increase in adult and pediatric injuries related to ATVs and with an almost 80 percent increase in the number of injuries for children under age 16. Children under 16 make up roughly 14 percent of all ATV riders, but they suffered 33 percent of all injuries and accounted for 31 percent of total fatalities between 1982 and 2004.

Results
The state of Texas mandates that in order to operate an ATV, a child must be at least 14 years old. Despite this, 17 of the 25 ATV drivers in the study failed to meet this requirement. At the time of the study, 24 states set no minimum age limit and 19 states permitted ATVs to be operated by children younger than 12 years old. Furthermore, ATVs can be driven with no training. To make matters worse, regardless of the young age of many ATV victims, federal policy is that only when an ATV is operated on public property must a helmet be worn.

These factors seem likely contributors to the study findings including 48 percent of injuries to the central nervous system, 28 percent soft tissue injuries, and 15 percent maxillofacial fractures. So why were these children victims? First, 76 percent of them did not wear a helmet. Secondly, against manufacturer's recommendations, victims carried passengers, although ATVs are not intended for this use. ATVs can travel at over 65 miles per hour and at 100 to 500 pounds; generally weigh far more than the child operating them.

Conclusions
ATV-related morbidity and mortality in children remain significant public health issues that should be amenable to primary prevention. A multi-faceted approach to addressing the issue will be necessary to reduce these preventable injuries and deaths. This may involve state and federal government agencies, health providers, and ATV manufacturers. Responsibility ultimately belongs to those who choose to operate ATVs or permit their usage. Educating adults, parents, and children represents a necessary first step in promoting this responsibility.

As an independent insurance agent, you wear two hats: Knowledgeable professional and member of your local community.

'THAT LYING LIZARD' "Why would you want to buy insurance from a lizard - especially a lizard with a British accent?
"Don't get me wrong. I like the telephone and the Internet as much as the next guy. I'm really glad that Alexander Graham Bell and Al Gore teamed up to invent those devices; they're such helpful tools. But there are some things I just don't do over a fiber optic line.
"First and foremost, I don't believe anything I hear from telemarketers or anything I read on the Internet. These nameless, faceless little people with their hidden agendas sit in their dark little rooms with Little Debbie crumbs on their Guns & Roses t-shirts and happily blast away at America.

"Second, I don't shop over the telephone or the Internet. Before I purchase anything, I want to look at it, touch it, smell it, try it on, kick its tires, and make sure that it doesn't clash with my freckles - which brings me back to that stupid lizard.

OF LOCALS AND LIZARDS
"We've got some outstanding insurance companies and many award-winning agents right here at home. They live here, raise their families here, buy their groceries and vehicles here, send their kids to school here, pay their taxes.

"The last time I checked, that smart-butt lizard has never paid a penny in local taxes. He doesn't have an office and a secretary down the street, doesn't sit beside you in church, doesn't belong to the Lions or Rotary clubs, and doesn't bring you a colorful new calendar every December.

THAT IMPERSONAL TOUCH
"Besides that, if you happen to get run over by a large van or have a tree fall on your house do you honestly think you can call that lizard and he's going to rush over and help you? If so, you're dumber than the lizard. He's going to give you a number to call that leads to a never-ending series of automated messages. You'll spend the rest of your life on the telephone and never get to talk to a single human being - not even the lizard's sister-in-law, who is probably the company receptionist

POWER TO THE MIDDLE MAN
"I've heard the claim that telephone and Internet commerce saves consumers money by eliminating the 'middleman.' But if we keep eliminating all the middlemen, pretty soon we'll all be in the soup line. One by one, we're actually eliminating ourselves from our own marketplace. And that's true, not only for insurance-selling reptiles, but also for many other goods and services.

CAST YOUR BREAD
"Remember this: The investment you make by supporting your friends and neighbors here at home will return to you many times over. It will strengthen our economy. And even if it's a couple of dollars higher up front, consider that a great investment in your family's future. So next time that Lizard tells you that you can spend less on your car insurance if you'll just mail him a check to New Jersey or Los Angeles, ask him if he's going to sponsor your son's Little League baseball team next year. Or buy an ad in the school yearbook. Or even help you drag the limbs off your roof.
"And let me know what the little green idiot says."

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
As an independent agent, you're a local hero who can provide protection for the assets of your clients and prospect. You can meet those needs through real-time online access to a worldwide array of products and services.

One of every 200 cars stolen in the U.S. last year was the 2001 BMW M-Series Roadster and it tops the lost. Six of the top 10 were different varieties of the Acura Integra. Street racers love to stick the Acura engine in the smaller, lighter Honda Civic. Small and speedy is picking up steam when it comes to stolen vehicles but SUVs still rank number one as a group.

Here is the most stolen list according to CCC:

1.2001 BMW M-Series Roadster
2.1998 Acura Integra
3.2004 Mercury Marauder
4.1999 Acura Integra
5.1995 Acura Integra
6.2002 Audi S4
7.1996 Acura Integra
8.1997 Acura Integra
9.2001 Acura Integra
10.2000 Jaguar XJR
11.1994 Acura Integra
12.2005 Suzuki Aerio
13.2004 Suzuki Aerio
14.1998 Land Rover Range Rover
15.1998 Jaguar XJR
16.2003 Mercury Marauder
17.2000 Acura Integra
18.2002 Cadillac Escalade
19.2000 Audi A8
20.2000 Audi S4
21.1993 Mercedes-Benz 600
22.1995 Land Rover Range Rover
23.2005 Cadillac Escalade
24.2000 Honda Civic
25.2001 Audi S4