Michigan Insurance Regulators: Consumer Complaints on the Rise

Michigan’s insurance and financial services regulators say the number of consumer complaints is on the rise and that more than 7,400 consumers were assisted during January alone.

The Department of Insurance and Financial Services reported that in January of this year, DIFS Office of Consumer Services assisted 7,439 consumers across the state and helped recover $588,412, including $9,235 for a homeowner’s insurance claim appraisal dispute.

DIFS encourages consumers to first attempt to resolve disputes directly with their financial service entity. If a resolution cannot be reached, the department can help try to resolve disputes.

Consumer complaints continued to rise over the past three months. Last month 285 new complaints were opened and 291 complaints were closed.

Some complaints can lead to larger consumer protection actions. Once complaint resulted in the summary suspension of the insurance licenses of Richard Creed and Evergreen Insurance Agency for issuing fraudulent insurance certificates and not remitting premiums to the insurers.

Source: Michigan DIFS