Headline News: Home & Auto

Nearly 120 days until $8,000 opportunity ends

PR Newswire — July 30, 2009

 
EDISON, N.J.,July 30 /PRNewswire/ — The New Jersey Association of REALTORS(R)
(NJAR(R)) is encouraging those considering buying a home for the first time to act quickly, as there is very limited time to qualify for the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit. As of August 1, there will only be 121 days for first-time purchasers to take advantage of the credit. In order to qualify, the transaction must close before 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2009.

“November might seem like it is far enough away, but potential buyers need to account for the time it takes to shop for a home, present an offer on the property of their choosing, and manage the various contracts and logistics that are required in a real estate transaction,” said 2009 NJAR(R) President Diane Dilzell. “Starting the process now should allow just enough time to reach closing before the expiration of the credit.”

Prospective buyers, particularly first-time buyers, should factor in the following steps that are typically involved in the purchase of real estate:
shopping for and securing a mortgage, finding a REALTOR(R), creating a list of preferable features for the home, searching for homes that fit that criteria, settling on a home, presenting an offer, obtaining a home inspection, shopping for homeowners insurance, and closing. Buyers should factor in extra time to allow for unforeseen circumstances and any additional steps that may be necessary in their particular transaction.

Dilzell added, “The clock is also ticking for buyers to maximize their purchasing power in this market. Affordable prices and low interest rates are aligning right now with the $8,000 credit to form an unprecedented opportunity that is not guaranteed to last much longer.”

All transactions vary, and there are different circumstances for each of them that could lead to a longer buying process. NJAR(R) has compiled testimonials from real New Jersey consumers at www.realstorynj.com/news/real-stories that detail their individual experiences.

“Unique circumstances can be encountered in any transaction so it is important to get started early to account for those factors,” Dilzell said. “Since numerous third parties are involved, delays can often be expected no matter how swiftly you act, That wait time can be very detrimental if it is the difference between $8,000 and nothing.”

The tax credit is available to buyers who have not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. The credit does not have to be repaid, and it must be claimed on your federal income tax return.

Buyers are finding that the credit is allowing them to take advantage of opportunities they might not otherwise consider. For example, $8,000 can be applied toward repairs and renovations in fixer-uppers that buyers might not otherwise have been able to afford. The extra funds can be invested for future use, or applied to new furniture and appliance purchases.

Talk to a REALTOR(R) about initiating the home purchase process today. For more information on the tax credit, or to find out more about taking advantage of the current real estate market in New Jersey, visit www.REALstoryNJ.com.

The New Jersey Association of REALTORS(R), with approximately 50,000 REALTOR (R)and REALTOR-ASSOCIATE(R)members, is one of the largest trade organizations in the state. NJAR(R)’s membership is comprised of real estate professionals who subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are members of the national and local REALTOR(R)organizations. As the leading advocate for the real estate industry and private property rights in New Jersey, NJAR(R)is committed to protecting the dream of homeownership. For more information, please visitwww.njar.com.

SOURCE The New Jersey Association of REALTORS

PR Newswire — July 29, 2009

LONG BEACH, Calif., July 29 /PRNewswire/ — Nationally-known California DUI attorney Lawrence Taylor, author of Drunk Driving Defense, offers this advice:

“What should I do if I’m stopped for suspicion of DUI?”

First, don’t flunk the “attitude test”: Be pleasant and cooperative with the officer. But that doesn’t mean to do everything you’re asked. For example, you’re not required by law to take the DUI field sobriety tests, and frankly I’d advise you to decline them. In Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco and other parts of California, you may be asked to take a DUI handheld breath test during the DUI investigation; again, you’re not required by California law to take it and you should politely decline.

“Should I answer the officer’s questions?”

Decline to answer potentially incriminating questions, such as “How much have you had to drink?” or “How do you feel?” Remember: whatever you say that can hurt you will be put in the officer’s DUI report - and whatever will help you will be left out. A good answer is, “I would prefer not to answer any more questions until I can see an attorney.”

“Should I take a breath or blood test?”

If you’re offered a test after you’re arrested for DUI, you should probably take it. If you refuse, the possible license suspension and jail time will be longer and a refusal can be used in evidence as an implied admission of intoxication.

The blood test is potentially more accurate than the generally unreliable breathalyzer, so if you’re confident that your blood-alcohol level is under 08%, take it.

“How serious are the consequences of a California DUI conviction?”

Initially, the possible legal consequences of a DUI conviction depend upon many factors, such as the blood-alcohol level, any prior DUI record, presence of children in the car, etc. Penalties include jail, fines, license suspension, DUI schools, probation and possibly more. But the indirect damage can be

considerable: including a criminal record, increased car insurance, employment problems, professional licensing issues, security clearance — even possible consequences in divorce or child custody cases.

“What is the most important thing for me to know if I’m arrested for DUI in California?”

DUI is the most difficult crime for an attorney to defend correctly, due to the complex criminal DUI laws and scientific blood-alcohol issues, as well as separate California DMV administrative hearings. Recognize that it’s usually the unreliable breath machine that largely determines guilt or innocence. It’s crucial that you retain a California DUI attorney with at least 10 years experience, preferably a lawyer who specializes in DUI defense exclusively in Los Angeles, Orange County or wherever you were arrested.

For more information about California DUI laws and DUI lawyers, visit http://www.DUIcentral.com.

About the Law Offices of Lawrence Taylor

Known nationally as “The Dean of DUI Attorneys,” Mr. Taylor heads a firm of highly experienced DUI lawyers with a staff of former law enforcement personnel.

With offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco, the firm has specialized in DUI defense exclusively since 1979.

SOURCE Law Offices of Lawrence Taylor

Legal Solutions Suite to Help Insurer Manage Outside Counsel Performance and Costs

PR Newswire — July 22, 2009

 
FALLS CHURCH, Va., July 22 /PRNewswire/ — CSC (NYSE: CSC) today announced that FBL Financial Group (FBL), of West Des Moines, Iowa, has licensed CSC’s Legal Solutions Suite (LSS) software for its property and casualty (P&C) insurance, life insurance, annuity and mutual fund operating subsidiaries. FBL will use LSS to manage legal expenses and ensure compliance with fee arrangements by streamlining and managing collaboration with outside counsel for its Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company subsidiary and affiliates Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and Western Agricultural Insurance Company.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090422/CSCLOGO)

Legal Solutions Suite, initially launched in 1999 and re-architected in 2006, is a Web-based enterprise application that simplifies the litigation billing process, tracks adherence to company guidelines by outside counsel and promotes best practices in managing legal matters. The software provides detailed data about charges, performance and outcomes that enable users to quickly evaluate patterns and trends among law firms and individual attorneys. LSS integrates with existing accounting, case and claims systems, such as CSC’s Claims Management Accelerator software. In addition to standard reports, a business analytics component within LSS also allows users to create customized reports from system data. In conjunction with the software, CSC also offers comprehensive legal management consulting services.

Forty-eight U.S. and international clients, including P&C carriers, self-insured companies and Fortune 500 firms, have licensed LSS and use it to process approximately $3 billion in legal fees annually. The software was introduced to life insurance and annuity carriers last month; FBL is the first to license the software for its life and annuity business.

“By automating with LSS, we expect to streamline a costly paper process while improving transparency and consistency in legal matter planning and bill review,” said Noel McKibbin, vice president of Claims at Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company. “We also look forward to gaining management insight from having the litigation activity and expense data in electronic form.”

“Our comprehensive, proven LSS software and services come from CSC’s extensive experience and track record in legal expense management,” said Michael W.
Risley, president of the Life and Annuity division within CSC’s Financial Services Group. “LSS is the latest of many CSC offerings aimed at helping the life insurance industry increase efficiencies while reducing costs.”

For more information about CSC’s Legal Solutions Suite, visit www.csc.com/legal_solutions.

AboutFBL

FBL Financial Group is a holding company whose primary operating subsidiaries are Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and EquiTrust Life Insurance Company. FBL underwrites, markets and distributes life insurance, annuities and mutual funds to individuals and small businesses. In addition, FBL manages all aspects of two Farm Bureau affiliated property-casualty insurance companies for a management fee. For more information, please visit www.fblfinancial.com.

About CSC

CSC is a global leader in providing technology-enabled solutions and services through three primary lines of business. These include Business Solutions and Services, the Managed Services Sector and the North American Public Sector.
CSC’s advanced capabilities include systems design and integration, information technology and business process outsourcing, applications software development, Web and application hosting, mission support and management consulting.
Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., CSC has approximately 92,000 employees and reported revenue of $16.74 billion for the 12 months ended April 3, 2009. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.csc.com.

SOURCE CSC

PR Newswire — July 21, 2009

 
DALlAS,July 21 /PRNewswire/ — As text messaging rapidly continues to be adopted as a mainstream communication method among all ages of consumers, concerns are also growing about instances of users using handheld devices to text while driving and the potential of this practice to cause distraction and accidents.
In consideration of these issues, ATX Group has leveraged its experience in off-board speech recognition technology to introduce in-vehicle, hands-free text messaging via voice.

ATX, one of the leading providers of connected vehicle (telematics) services to global automobile manufacturers, is currently demonstrating its innovative, speech-enabled texting service that keeps driver interaction with the system brief and easy to use, thereby minimizing the risk of distracting the driver away from focusing on the safe operation of the vehicle.

“Although playback of text messages using text-to-speech applications is available in certain vehicle models, outbound texting to date has been limited only to pre-scripted messages,” said Dr. Tom Schalk, ATX vice president of voice technology. “This service is unique in the market because it allows drivers to create and send completely customized text messages exclusively by voice, while on the go.”

ATX text-by-voice applications will soon be available on select vehicle models and augment the introduction of similar natural speech applications that enable hands-free, in-vehicle Web browsing, as well as search-and-send information downloaded to the vehicle (for voice-based replay or integration with the vehicle’s navigation screen.)

“The primary advantage of the application is that it keeps the driver connected safely while leveraging the experience they are accustomed to when outside their vehicle. As technology introduces new opportunities to enhance the in-vehicle connected experience, we have to integrate them with consideration for unique vehicle safety and security requirements,” explained Julie Gilmour, ATX vice president of marketing and product development. “The demand for this is clear, with research showing that 60% of drivers claim they would use ‘text-by-voice’
functionality.”

The key to the human machine interface ATX has developed is simplicity, according to Dr. Schalk, which is achieved by accessing an off-board speech system through a hands-free audio system acoustically optimized for the driving environment.

Recent studies show that one in four drivers admit to texting while driving.

ABOUT ATX:

ATX Group (www.atxg.com) is one of the world’s leading providers of customized, connected vehicle services to global automobile manufacturers. ATX pioneered connected vehicle services in 1996, and today provides innovative safety, security, communication, navigation and information services to vehicle owners through many of world’s most distinguished automotive brands, including Toyota, Lexus, BMW, Peugeot, Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

ATX also customizes services to help automobile manufacturers and their affiliated dealerships use telematics data and multiple customer contact channels to reduce costs, enhance vehicle servicing, and more closely manage customer relationships and contacts with the vehicle through its lifetime. ATX operates from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and Dusseldorf, Germany.

ATX is a division of Cross Country Automotive Services (www.crosscountry-auto.com), a leading provider of mobile assistance services to motorists and enhanced claims management services to automobile insurance carriers.

 
SOURCE ATX

For a Limited Time, Submit an Ideal Vacation at www.CarPlusVacation.com and Enter to Win a Trip for Two to Sweden

PR Newswire — July 21, 2009

ROCKLEIGH, N.J., July 21 /PRNewswire/ — For years, Volvo Cars of North America’s (VCNA) Overseas Delivery Program has offered car buyers an unforgettable way to pick up their new vehicle, an opportunity to save money on their car and a free trip to Sweden. Yesterday, VCNA along with Visit Sweden and the West Swedish Tourist Board launched www.carplusvacation.com to offer visitors a new chance to win a dream trip for two to West Sweden.

From July 20 through September 1, visitors who register on the site can create an ideal Swedish travel itinerary with the online trip planner, and will be entered for a chance to win the submitted itinerary, which includes one week of hotel stays, flights for two and use of a Volvo car for an unforgettable experience.

Through the Overseas Delivery Program, visitors can guarantee themselves a free trip to Sweden with the purchase of a new Volvo car. Volvo will provide two complimentary airline tickets to Gothenburg, Sweden, where the customer will pick up their new car directly from the Volvo factory. Then, they can head out on a European road trip and simply drop off the car and Volvo will ship it to the United States for free.

Volvo Overseas Delivery Program - How it Works

  1. Visit your nearest Volvo retailer to test drive and find your perfect
     Volvo.
  2. Order the Volvo of your choice through the Overseas Delivery Program from
     your local retailer.
  3. Pick up your new Volvo at the Gothenburg Factory Delivery Center. Your new
     car will be registered for your stay in Europe with insurance for 15 days
     and the protection of the Volvo On Call Service.
  4. Test your Volvo out on the roads of West Sweden, either with one of the
     program’s spectacular tours or on your own. Then head anywhere you please
     in Europe.
  5. Drop off your Volvo in Gothenburg or any official drop-off location. Volvo
     will ship it to you and take care of all the problems that make importing a
     car difficult, from excise taxes to import duties.

“We want to offer our customers an unforgettable experience of picking up their new car at the Volvo factory, while having the trip of a lifetime in picturesque West Sweden,” said Anders Robertson, Manager, Overseas Delivery, Volvo Cars of North America. “The memories and experience our customers take home with them is unlike anything else in the car industry.”

“Participants don’t have to worry about a thing while they’re on their trip, or after they return. Volvo arranges free airline tickets, the first hotel night, car insurance with on-call service during the trip, and provides complimentary shipping including U.S. Customs Duty, port clearance fees and inland transportation to your local U.S. Volvo retailer,” continued Robertson.

For additional information about the Volvo Overseas Delivery Program, please visit www.volvocars.us/mybagsarepacked. For more information on Sweden and West Sweden, please visit www.visitsweden.com and www.westsweden.com.

About Volvo

Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA) is a subsidiary of Volvo Car Corporation of Goteborg, Sweden. VCNA provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the United States, and oversees Volvo operations in Canada and Mexico. www.volvocars.com/us/

 
SOURCE Volvo Cars of North America

Bill-lowering site outlines 10 ways to potentially save $10,000 annually

PR Newswire — July 21, 2009

 
LOS ANGELES, July 21 /PRNewswire/ — This month, LowerMyBills.com(R), a part of Experian, celebrates its 10-year anniversary as a premier online resource for consumers to compare low rates on monthly bills such as home loans; auto and health insurance; credit card debt; and Internet, cell phone and long-distance service.

As part of its 10-year anniversary celebration, LowerMyBills.com is offering 10 ideas that potentially could save consumers $10,000 each year:

1. Refinance a home mortgage to a lower rate. Take advantage of low interest rates to yield potentially significant savings. Refinancing a $300,000 loan from
6.2 percent to 5.2 percent can drop the monthly payment by $190.08.

Potential yearly savings: $2,280.96

 
2. Transfer a credit card balance to a 0 percent interest rate card.
Transferring a credit card balance to a credit card with a 0 percent interest rate can help consumers carrying credit card debt save on their payments. A consumer making minimum payments of 3 percent with an $8,000 credit card balance who transfers his or her balance from a 16 percent interest rate to a 0 percent interest rate can save $1,088.56 per year.

Potential yearly savings: $1,088.56

 
3. Cancel a gym membership.Instead of running or playing basketball at the gym, work out at a local park or on a local trail. Eliminating a gym membership can lead to savings of $40 per month.

Potential yearly savings: $480

4. Brown-bag it.Lunch items from a grocery store are usually less expensive and healthier than a lunch out. Eating out five days a week at $10 a day costs $2,600 a year. In comparison, preparing a daily meal at home with $3 worth of groceries can yield savings of $35 a week.

Potential yearly savings: $1,820

 
5. Search for coupons online.Many stores have an unadvertised coupon section on their Web site. Search online for coupons before a shopping trip for potential savings. Clipping just $15 worth of coupons per month can add up to savings of $180 a year.

Potential yearly savings: $180

 
6. Forgo professional housecleaning.Cut back on household expenses by forgoing professional cleaning services. If a family has their house cleaned twice a month and each cleaning costs $100, forgoing the service could lead to a savings of $200 per month.

Potential yearly savings: $2,400

 
7. Shop for cheaper auto insurance.Auto insurance rates can vary by hundreds of dollars a year. Shop around to secure the best rate for the right amount of coverage. Reducing an insurance bill by even $50 a month can yield yearly savings of $600.

Potential yearly savings: $600

 
8. Find a cheaper cell phone plan.Cell phone and Blackberry(TM) rates vary based on the desired amount of coverage. Comparison-shop to find the best rate and the right plan. Downsizing from a $150-per-month plan to an $80-per-month plan could lead to savings of $70 per month.

Potential yearly savings: $840

 
9. Skip the soda; ask for tap water.Skipping a soda with a meal out is an effective way to cut costs and foster a healthier lifestyle. If a person eats out six times a week and a soda costs $2.50, opting for tap water could yield savings of $15 per week.

Potential yearly savings: $780

 
10. Cut premium cable channels.Cutting premium movie channels could shave more than $40 per month off of a cable bill.

Potential yearly savings: $480

 
Total potential yearly savings: $10,949.52

 
“For 10 years, LowerMyBills.com has been a trusted destination for consumers trying to reduce the cost of living,” said Steve Krenzer, president of Experian Interactive Media, which powers LowerMyBills.com. “As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we are proud to be a positive and effective resource for helping consumers weather the tough economy.”

LowerMyBills.com also is offering information on its key milestones and awards from the last 10 years. Please contact Lexie Puckett at lpuckett@experianinteractivemedia.com or 1 310 348 6911 for more details.

About LowerMyBills.com

LowerMyBills.com is a free online resource for consumers to compare low rates on monthly bills and reduce the cost of living. LowerMyBills.com is the one-stop destination that offers savings through relationships with hundreds of service providers across multiple categories, including home loans, credit cards, auto and health insurance, and long-distance and cell phone services.

About Experian

Experian(R) is a global leader in providing information, analytical and marketing services to organizations and consumers to help manage the risk and reward of commercial and financial decisions.

Combining its unique information tools and deep understanding of individuals, markets and economies, Experian partners with organizations around the world to establish and strengthen customer relationships and provide their businesses with competitive advantage.

For consumers, Experian delivers critical information that enables them to make financial and purchasing decisions with greater control and confidence. Clients include organizations from financial services, retail and catalog, telecommunications, utilities, media, insurance, automotive, leisure, e-commerce, manufacturing, property and government sectors.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Experian has corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and has operational headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Nottingham, UK. The Group employs approximately 15,000 people in 40 countries worldwide, supporting clients in more than 65 countries around the world. Total Group revenue for the year ended March 31, 2009, was $3.9 billion.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc.

Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE LowerMyBills.com

Volkswagen Receives Four Segment-Level Awards; Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan Receive Two Each

PR Newswire — July 16, 2009

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 16 /PRNewswire/ — The automotive industry achieves a three-year high in appeal for new and redesigned models, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout
(APEAL) Study(SM) released today. Seven of these models have received segment-level awards.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050527/LAF028LOGO-a)

In 2009, the APEAL score for all-new and redesigned models averages 790 on a 1,000-point scale–11 points higher than in 2008 and 15 points higher than the 2009 score for carryover models. In addition, seven all-new and redesigned models rank highest in their respective segments, including the Dodge Challenger, Ford F-150 (in a tie), Ford Flex, Hyundai Genesis, Nissan Maxima, Volkswagen CC and Volkswagen Tiguan.

“Most automakers are on track in terms of designing new models that are highly appealing,” said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. “The greater challenge for manufacturers lies in creating models that launch with both strong appeal and high quality, which ultimately lead to improved sales through greater customer loyalty and advocacy.”

Throughout the years, vehicle models achieving high APEAL scores have been shown to benefit from faster sales, less need for cash incentives and higher profit margins on each vehicle sold.

The average APEAL score for all models in 2009 has improved considerably to 779 from 770 in 2008, driven primarily by increased owner satisfaction with fuel economy. This higher satisfaction comes from three main sources. First, fuel prices have decreased significantly during the past year, which has reduced owner concerns about gas mileage. Second, owners are switching to more fuel-efficient vehicles–in 2009, more than one-half of all vehicles included in the study are powered by four-cylinder engines, compared with just 39 percent in 2008. Third, automakers are designing models to be more fuel efficient than their predecessors.

“Although lower fuel prices and the switch to smaller vehicles have undoubtedly helped, there are also many individual vehicles that have made strong improvements in fuel economy ratings,” said Sargent. “For example, the Ford F-150, Cadillac Escalade, Volkswagen Jetta and redesigned Dodge Ram have all made major strides in owner satisfaction with fuel economy through the introduction of more efficient powertrains.”

In 2009, domestic brands comprise the four most-improved nameplates. Dodge posts the largest improvement, followed by Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac, respectively.
In addition, the three most-improved models are from domestic manufacturers, including the Dodge Ram, Buick Lucerne and Ford F-150.

“Consumers have a great array of appealing vehicles to choose from by both domestic and import brands,” said Sargent.

The overall gap in APEAL scores between domestic and import models has narrowed considerably during the past several years and is just five index points in 2009, compared with 15 points in 2008 and 27 points in 2007. Among premium models, import nameplates retain a slight edge, while among non-premium models, domestic brands have a similar edge.

APEAL Model-Level and Nameplate Rankings

Volkswagen captures four segment-level awards–more than any other vehicle nameplate in 2009–for the CC, GTI, Passat and Tiguan. Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan each garner two awards. Ford receives model-level awards for the F-150 (in a tie) and Flex. Honda models receiving awards are the Odyssey (for a fifth consecutive year) and Ridgeline (for a fifth consecutive year). Mercedes-Benz earns awards for the S-Class (for a third consecutive year) and SLK-Class. The S-Class achieves the highest APEAL score of any model in the industry. Nissan receives awards for the Armada and Maxima.

Also receiving awards are the Chevrolet Avalanche (for a second consecutive year), in a tie; Dodge Challenger, Hyundai Genesis, MINI Cooper (for a second consecutive year); Porsche Cayenne (for a second consecutive year); and smart fortwo. The Ford F-150 and Honda Ridgeline are the only two models to rank highest in their respective segments in both the 2009 APEAL Study and 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS) released in June.

Porsche is the highest-ranking nameplate in APEAL for a fifth consecutive year.

The APEAL Study examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of more than 90 vehicle attributes. The 2009 APEAL Study is based on responses gathered between February and May 2009 from more than 80,900 purchasers and lessees of new 2009 model-year cars and trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership. The APEAL Study complements the recently released J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study(SM) (IQS), which focuses on problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days of ownership.

Find more detailed findings on new-vehicle APEAL performance as well as model photos and specs by reading an article and reviewing APEAL ratings at JDPower.com.

 
NOTE: For a segment award to be issued, there must be at least three models with sufficient sample that comprise 80 percent of market sales within an award segment. There were only two premium sporty models with sufficient sample size, thus no premium sporty awards have been presented.

*No other model in this segment performs above the segment average.

 
NOTE: For a segment award to be issued, there must be at least three models with sufficient sample that comprise 80 percent of market sales within an award segment. There were three large premium MAV models with sufficient sample, but they comprised less than 80 percent of market sales for the segment. There were no large van models with sufficient sample size. As such, no large premium MAV or large van awards have been presented.

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in
2008 were $6.4 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

 
No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates.
www.jdpower.com/corporate

 
SOURCE J.D. Power and Associates

Medical Claim Adjudication System Used by Majority of U.S. Automobile Insurance Companies Adds Standardized Electronic Billing and Provider Connectivity to Meet the Nation’s First Auto Medical Transaction Compliance Requirements

PR Newswire — July 16, 2009

 
SAN DIEGO, Calif. and CONCORD, Calif., July 16 /PRNewswire/ — Mitchell AUTOEXPRESS(TM), the leading information, workflow and performance management solutions suite for the automobile insurance claims industry nationally, has started to exchange standard electronic bills between health care providers and
AUTOEXPRESS(TM) customers in Minnesota, under the state’s E3 requirements going into effect today. Minnesota is the initial state to implement regulations that require all health care providers and insurance carriers, for the first time including Auto Insurers, to exchange standard electronic health care administrative transactions.

Mitchell AUTOEXPRESS(TM) utilizes an electronic transactions Gateway supplied by Jopari Solutions. Mitchell AUTOEXPRESS(TM) makes E3 compliance possible through connectivity relationships incorporating prominent clearinghouses, billing services, practice management software vendors and health care provider organizations.

Stated Dave Torrence, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Mitchell
International: “Minnesota’s adoption of electronic transaction requirements for automobile Insurance companies is a critical milestone for our industry in the regulatory impacts on internal business processes. We view the E3 requirements very positively. These health care transaction regulations enhance opportunities for Mitchell AUTOEXPRESS(TM) to reduce our customers’ processing costs, and allow us to simplify and accelerate the Auto Medical claim life cycle. We anticipate expanding our AUTOEXPRESS(TM) automated transactions capability with Jopari beyond Minnesota, because industry-wide demand for connected technology performance improvements is curving sharply upward.”

Commented J.R. “Steve” Stevens, CEO of Jopari: “Our integrated Gateway Services allow providers to submit electronic bills and attachments to Auto Medical claim payers utilizing the AUTOEXPRESS(TM) product. To maximize eBill throughput, connectivity options are flexible. The provider can exchange transactions through connected clearinghouse or practice management systems links to Jopari, or can implement directly with us for X12 837 batch file transmission; or can take advantage of our online eBill portal.”

About Mitchell International

Mitchell International, Inc. (www.mitchell.com) provides the Insurance P&C market with a variety of technology, database and service solutions with one goal in mind -enable our clients to process their automotive and workers compensation medical claims in a timely, accurate and fair manner. Mitchell International has a 20 year track record of delivering high-quality products and services to auto insurance carriers, service providers and TPAs, allowing them to audit and evaluate first and third-party provider and hospital bills.
Mitchell International currently serves many of the top automobile and workers compensation P&C companies and is a leading provider of information, workflow, and performance management solutions to the automotive insurance claims industry, also serving carriers, collision repair facilities, and other commercial participants in the physical damage and automobile and workers compensation related medical claims markets.

About Jopari Solutions, Inc.

Jopari Solutions, Inc. (www.jopari.com) supplies integrated eBill compliance and payment solutions to workers’ compensation, auto, and health insurance industry Payers. Jopari significantly improves the technology Payers use to manage bills and disbursements, substantially reducing associated expenses. Jopari services enable insurance Payers to comply fully with regulatory requirements, including eBill and ePay jurisdictional initiatives, and HIPAA. Insurance and other industry Payers take advantage of JopariPay(TM) to permanently downsize processing and labor costs, increase operational competitiveness and realize immediate returns on investment. For more information, please call 800.903.7799.

 
SOURCE Jopari Solutions, Inc.

DES PLAINES, Ill., July 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) president and chief executive officer Joe Wehrle today acknowledged the outstanding effort put forth by members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Auto Theft Unit, the North Las Vegas Fire Department, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office and NICB in the recent indictment of a fire department captain for insurance fraud and arson relating to a suspected insurance fraud scheme involving the alleged theft and burning of a vehicle.

Commonly known as an “owner give-up”, this kind of crime strains the limited resources of local enforcement and fire agencies as well as adding to the cost of insurance for all consumers. Over the past two years in Nevada, with the decline in the economy, the housing crisis and the credit squeeze, the number of “owner give-ups” has risen dramatically. Rather than walking away from vehicle payments that can no longer be afforded, these vehicles are being “stolen” and turn up burned in order to guarantee the vehicle will be a total loss and the loan will be paid off by an insurance company.

Due to the belief that a significant percentage of vehicle thefts reported to the police were actually “owner give-ups”, the Las Vegas Police Department took the lead in developing a rapid response approach to the investigation of these crimes. Numerous other law enforcement and fire agencies have joined the effort and are working together to stem the tide of vehicle arsons.

Although these kinds of crimes have been occurring for years, the new and innovative approach to investigating them in the Las Vegas area is catching the eye of fire and police officials far from the Nevada heat.

As soon as a vehicle arson is reported, detectives are dispatched to the fire scene no matter when the fire occurs. If the vehicle fire is deemed to be the result of arson, investigators then respond directly to the residence of the vehicle’s registered owner to begin interviews. In several investigations the vehicle owners have sustained significant burns while attempting to ignite their vehicles. In one instance police detectives actually beat the arsonist back to his home and were waiting when he arrived with burns from the fire.

Not surprisingly, this rapid response is catching a number of people off guard turning “victims” into suspects and leading to serious criminal charges. The key ingredient in making these successful investigations is the cooperation among the various local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, local fire departments and NICB.

This new approach to vehicle arson is also taking shape in Houston, Texas, where a group of investigators from local, state, federal and private organizations are pooling their talent and their resources into a strike team dedicated to attacking the problem.

The Houston team consists of an assistant district attorney, representatives from the Harris County Fire Marshal and three NICB special agents. Crime Stoppers, ATF and the Texas Department of Insurance are also supporting the effort. This allows for immediate response and investigation involving subject matter experts from all disciplines with a responsibility in addressing vehicle arson and its financial and criminal justice implications.

“In 2008, the Harris County (TX) Fire Marshall investigated 219 vehicle fires.
Of that number, 189 (86 percent) were determined to be an incendiary act and 32 of those were closed with an arrest,” said HarrisCounty assistant district attorney Steve Baldassano. “Using cell phone technology, accessing insurance information, and using various other specialized techniques to follow the trail before it goes cold, the Harris County Fire Marshal has been able to claim a closure rate far in excess of the rate in nearby jurisdictions. Now, we are trying to build on that success by using a team approach, joining forces and expanding the county’s efforts to improve the clearance rate throughout the area,” Mr. Baldassano said.

“This team approach is the key to cooling off this trend in arson-related owner give-ups,” said Wehrle. “We’ve seen how task forces have been effective in reducing auto theft in high crime areas. Now, this same kind of approach is producing results in the arson area and it’s sending a message that will make people think twice before committing such a desperate and dangerous crime.”

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through information analysis, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness. The NICB is supported by more than 1,000 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote nearly $343 billion in insurance premiums in 2008, or more than
82 percent of the nation’s property/casualty insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau

PR Newswire — July 8, 2009
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 8 /PRNewswire/ — J.D. Power and Associates will announce the results of the 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study at 8 a.m. EDT Thursday, July 16.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050527/LAF028LOGO-a)

APEAL identifies what consumers like and dislike about their new vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership, particularly with the vehicle’s design, content, layout and performance.

The studyincludes the three highest-ranked models in each of the car and light-truck segments,and full nameplate rankings.

Automotive analysts will be available for interviews regarding the 2009 APEAL Study after 8 a.m. EDT Thursday, July 16.

To schedule an interview contact:

John Tews; Troy, Mich.; (248) 312-4119; media.relations@jdpa.com

Syvetril Perryman; Westlake Village, Calif.; (805) 418-8103; media.relations@jdpa.com

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D.
Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2008 were $6.4 billion.
Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

SOURCE J.D. Power and Associates