EPB&B is reminding clients that they now have new rights if their vehicle is totaled in an accident.  Consumers often feel like they have no power when negotiating with insurance companies over totaled cars.  House bill 2190 to the rescue.  HB 2190 took effect this month, allowing drivers to get more information and leverage when negotiating a settlement for their totaled car.

The new law requires insurance companies to:

• Give car owner a written notice that explains total loss, including how car values are determined and what to do if the owner disagrees with an insurer's offer.
• Give consumers the valuation or appraisal reports used to set the vehicle's value.
• Pay car owners the amount not in dispute while negotiations over value continue.  For example, if an insurer offers $4,000 and the car owner seeks $5,000, the insurer must pay the $4,000 upfront.
• Reimburse consumers for reasonable appraisal costs.  This applies when the owner has the right to an appraisal and the final appraised value is greater than the insurer's last offer.

Having insurers pay the undisputed amount is particularly important because many people need to buy a new car right away.

Heating your home in the winter months shouldn't be dangerous.  But accidents with space heaters can cause disaster. Avoid becoming another grim statistic with these precautions:

• Buy a reliable heater.  Look for the label stating that your space heater has been approved by an independent testing labratory and meets safety standards.  Choose models with safety features like an automatic switch that turns off the heater if it tips over.
• Give it plenty of space.  Place your space heater at least three feet away from anything combustible - furniture, draperies, newspapers, etc.
• Check your cords.  Don't use equipment with cords that are frayed or damaged in any way, and don't plug your heater into an extension cord.  Be sure not to overload your circuits.
• Maintain your smoke detectors.  Your house or apartment should have working detectors for smoke an carbon monoxide.  Test them thoroughly and frequently.
• Don't leave your heater unattended.  Turn it off when you go out.

Elliott Powell raised $1895 for the Oregon Food Bank this year through a variety of activities.  Special thanks go to Ron Rothert Insurance for their extremely generous donation.

In addition, we collected 827 pounds of food for the food bank.

Make sure you are protected this holiday season !!

Not every Grinch is as obvious as the one we know with the big belly, and long fingers covered in green hair.  Many are lurking over a shoulder or wading through garbage.  Identity thieves see the holidays as a potentially lucrative time of the year.  The holidays mean more trips to the mall, more online purchasing, and more opportunities for identity theft.  Help keep your identity safe this holiday season with identity theft coverage; including 24/7 assistance from experienced professionals who help with everything from identifying fraudulent accounts, to contacting creditors, and providing an emergency cash advance if it happens away from home. 

Here are some tips to help you enjoy a Grinch-free holiday season. 

Thanks from Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker Insurance

We celebrate Thanksgiving in this country on the fourth Thursday of November as a day of giving and thanks; for the food on our tables and the friends and family around us.  At Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker we also celebrate you, our loyal customers. 

Without you, we would not exist. 

When it comes to protecting your homes, families and businesses, we know you have a choice and we appreciate the confidence you have placed in us.  We will continue to work hard to earn your ongoing trust by providing exceptional insurance products and solutions to protect your future.

 Happy Holidays,

 Marc Baker, President, Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker

Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker's Bend, Oregon based producer, Chris Conant recently completed an intensive three-day Agency Management Seminar in Portland, sponsored by The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.  This seminar updates Conant’s Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation which he earned in 1988.  Conant has been an independent insurance agent serving the Central Oregon area for over 23 years and recently joined forces with Portland-based Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker Insurance, heading up their new local office in Bend, Oregon.    The CIC program has set the standard for quality continuing education, with proven programs that provide an in-depth practical approach to technical insurance and risk management knowledge.

Party Foul: Forklift Driver Spills Booze

$100,000 in product lost in about 2 seconds. And that was the best case scenario. How bad would the loss be if someone had been standing in the aisle? And how does that happen? It looks like the driver is a complete idiot, but I bet if you dig deeper you’ll find some specific issues that lead to it: something like lack of training or experience, a sticky pedal or an employee with a history of carelessness. Even checking aisle widths, shelf heights and stability may have made a difference. When you get to the bottom of it, was it really a freak accident that couldn’t be avoided or was it a series of small precautions that were ignored or omitted?

Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker is now Recycle at Work certified - meaning we have improved our recycling practices by reducing the amount of waste we produce and implementing all of the City of Portland's recycling steps.  Way to go EPB&B !!

EPB&B Client, Rogue Creamery suffered a significant loss when Cheesemaker, Poasa Galo lost his sister, Saapasiga, and his family's home was destroyed by the Tsunami that hit American Somoa last month.

100% of all Creamery sales on Tuesday, October 27th will go to help Poasa's family.  Sales from the Rogue Creamery booth at the Portland State University's Farmer's Market on Wednesday, October 28th from 10:00 - 2:00 are also earmarked for this effort.

EPB&B team members Bethany Sutherland (left) and Marc Baker (right) purchasing cheese in support of Rogue Creamery's Tsunami Relief Program.

In addition, Rogue Creamery Owners, Cary Bryant and David Gremmels will be paying for Poasa's upcoming trip to visit his family and assist in the rebuilding effort.  Please make a point to shop for your Rogue Creamery cheese at the Portland State University's Famer's Market on Wednesday, October 28th.

There is no doubt that married couples and couples insured as domestic partners, enjoy far greater discounts and lower premiums on their home, auto and other personal insurance products – often times 40% or more.  And, in years past,  an unmarried couple would be required to show proof of a committed domestic relationship in order for most companies to insure them as such – not any more.

 EPB&B offers various insurance products, with a number of companies, that do not require filings or proof of joint financial responsibility.  Contact Jeff Clinkscales today at: 503-445-8413, for money saving suggestions!