The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "Allstate" ...
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M.I.S.T
The investigation "uncovered a plan that began in the mid-1990s with the help of one of the nation's leading consultant firms, McKenzie, to force motorists to sue to recover costs for so-called soft tissue injuries. Led by the nation's two leading insurers, State Farm and Allstate, insurance companies developed a strategy of delay, deny and defend when it came to minor car crashes."
Tags: car crashes; accidents; insurance; injuries;
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Insurance Investigation
The Star examined the insurance industry, using consumer complaints totaling more than 10,000 pages, interviewed hundreds of sources and gathered records for all 50 states. After sifting through information regarding the best and worst companies for consumer complaints both nationwide and in Kansas and Missouri, the Star discovered that Allstate Insurance of Northbrook, Illinois "had the most complaints for claims handing in the country," and "Farmer's Insurance Exchange of Los Angeles led all insurers for complaints over using credit histories to set premiums - a practice consumer advocates call discriminatory." In Kansas, American Investors Life Insurance Co. Inc. of Topeka had the worst complaint record of any annuity provider in the state. The study also found widespread fraud, and also that the insurance industry receives more complaints than banks and stock brokerages. Adding to the problems are the people who have scammed billions of dollars out of insurance companies, which raises premiums across the board.
Tags: insurance; fraud; American Investors Life Insurance Co. Inc.; Allstate Insurance of Northbrook, Illinois; Farmer's Insurance Exchange of Los Angeles
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Death of a Salesman
McLean reports how Allstate, "America's insurance icon is battling to save its decades-old turf. To win, the company is taking on the risk of its life."
Tags: insurance; web; online; Wall Street; Merrill Lynch; Allstate; State Farm
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Stalked by Allstate
Allstate superagent Myles Barchas of Dallas blew the whistle on company violations of Texas law. Over six months, company-hired private tracked him, sometimes in auto chases at 100 mph. An Allstate memo told company executives about his visit to the Texas state insurance department.
Tags: Allstate; Texas; insurance agent; consumers; discrimination
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Ten Things Your Auto Insurer Won't Tell You
SmartMoney magazine reports on the most common ways in which auto insurance companies can and do hurt their customers. Some of these are: inflating the cost of the insurance policy; determining premiums on the basis of credit rating; pocketing customers' deductibles; policy cancellation or nonrenewal without any explanation; sending customers to faulty direct-repair shops; not informing customers about their right to diminished-value claims; delaying claims payments.
Tags: insurance; cars; automobiles; driving record; credit history; credit score; premiums; marital status; deductible; body shops; GM; Geico; Allstate
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Unsettling Claims
KTVT-TV reports that "companies that claim to be 'a good neighbor' and to keep consumers in 'good hands' ... may only be interested in the bottom line. .. three-part investigation of the auto insurance industry .. uncovers some seriously questionable practices in Texas and around the country. The first part reveals how through the alleged abuse of Texas' titling system, cars that have been declared 'totaled-out' frequently end-up back on the road... part-two... highlight(s) the controversy surrounding after-market or imitation auto parts.... Part-three educates consumers to the concept of 'diminished value,' and how insurance companies are allegedly shortchanging their own policy-holders after a car accident...."
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I Got My CDL In One Day
WTAE-TV investigated Pennsylvania's testing system for commercial drivers licenses. After only six hours of training, an undercover reporter was able to obtain the license at Allstate Career school, one of the private companies contracted to give CDL tests.
Tags: TAPE; Third party testing; Traffic accidents
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No title (id: 12695)
Fortune Magazine finds that one of the country's largest and most powerful corporations is engaged in secret surveillance activities of its insurance agents, arising out of an agent sales program that is extremely flawed. Interviews and internal documents reveal pattern of harassment, surveillance and serious morale problems. Internal company documents show that Allstate agents faced far more serious income and growth problems than promotional literature has let on. (Oct. 2 & 30, 1995)