Ga. Insurance Commissioner Lanches Privacy Invasion Investigation

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John W. Oxendine ordered a market conduct examination into recent allegations of invasion of privacy by Progressive Insurance Co.

The examination resulted from allegations that Progressive hired private detectives to investigate its own policyholders when a claim was filed after an auto accident. The detectives allegedly posed as a married couple and joined the policyholders’ church in order to gain information on the claimants.

Oxendine ordered Progressive Insurance Company to preserve claims documents that will be part of the examination. The order states that the company “preserves all documents, data and tangible things related to all losses or claims incurred or reported involving or related to Georgia policyholders since Jan. 1, 2003.”

Progressive has ten days to request a hearing on the order.

Source: Georgia Department of Insurance