GEORGIA COMM. REPORTS 43,000 RESIDENTS HELPED TO DATE IN 2004; $7.9 MILLION IN CLAIMS RECOVERED:

In the first half of 2004, Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine’s Consumer Services Division helped more than 43,000 Georgia residents settle disputes with their insurance companies, returning $7,900,840 in insurance claims to these residents. “Whether the consumer has a claims dispute or simply a question about insurance, our representatives can provide invaluable expert advice,” Oxendine said. In addition to phone calls and letters, the Consumer Services Division can also take questions or complaints by e-mail, according to Oxendine. In the first six months of this year, 5,469 residents have made their initial contact via the Internet.