Dear Valued Supporters,

In light of the recent public forum on the proposed homeowners' insurance rate hike in North Carolina, it's imperative to share critical updates and action steps along with my opinion of how the public forum went.

Recap of the Public Forum:

• Disappointment and Lack of Engagement: The forum was a major disappointment, with no effective communication or engagement from the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
• Poor Organization by NC Insurance Board: The event was poorly organized, lacking clear instructions for participants, both in-person and online.
• Technical Difficulties: Many faced audio issues, making it challenging to hear and participate effectively.

The State's Apparent Indifference:

• The experience at the forum indicates a concerning disregard by the North Carolina Department of Insurance and Commissioner Mike Causey's office for the residents' concerns.

Alarming Financial Impacts:

• Personal testimonies revealed extreme rate increases, some up to 380% this year.
  The impending rate hike, effective August 1st, 2024, poses a significant financial threat.

Immediate Action Required:

• Contact State Representatives: It's crucial to contact your state representative immediately to express your opposition to the rate increase. A link will be provided for easy access to contact information.
  • Here is a link for with contact information for all of our State Representatives: Office phone and Email Address. Enter your address and it will tell you who all of your representatives are along with detailed contact information.
  • FIND YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS
• Engage with News Agencies: Reach out to local and national news agencies to ensure continued coverage of this issue. Links to several news stations will be included in the update for your convenience.
  • Here is a link to a draft letter to email to your local news agency to ensure continued coverage of this critical subject:
    • Draft Letter: News Agency Request for Coverage
  • Contact Information For: 
    1. WSOC-TV - Charlotte, North Carolina, and the surrounding areas including the Piedmont and parts of the High Country and Sandhills.
    2. WCNC - Charlotte, North Carolina, and surrounding regions.
    3. WRAL - Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville and their surrounding areas, also known as the Research Triangle region.
    4. WXII-12 - Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point, also known as the Piedmont Triad area.
    5. WBTV-3 - Charlotte, North Carolina, and surrounding areas. As one of the first stations in the Carolinas, its reach has traditionally been extensive.
    6. WFMY-2 - Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point, which constitute the Piedmont Triad region.
    7. CBS17 - Raleigh, Durham, and the greater Research Triangle area.
    8. PBS News
    9. WITN - Eastern North Carolina, including cities like Greenville, Washington, New Bern, and Jacksonville.
    10. ABC-11 - The Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville area, encompassing much of the central and eastern parts of the state.
• Write a Letter to Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey: (up for re-election this year). Written public comments must be received by Kimberly W. Pearce, Paralegal III, by Feb. 2 and addressed to 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1201.
  • Here is a a link to a draft letter that can be copied and your personal information enter to send: Letter To Mike Causey - Urgent Opposition to Proposed Homeowners Insurance Rate Increase
• Emailed public comments should be sent by Feb. 2 to:
  • 2024Homeowners@ncdoi.gov

Petition Status and Urgency:

• Our petition has garnered 975 signatures, but we need more voices to represent the 2.87 million homeowners in North Carolina.
• The deadline for public comments is rapidly approaching on February 2nd, 2024.

CEO Compensation Comparison (2021 & 2022 Combined):

• State Farm: Michael Tipsord - $48.9 million
• Travelers: Allan Schnitzer - $40.9 million
• Allstate: Thomas Wilson - $37.3 million
• Liberty Mutual: David Long - $27.6 million
• GEICO: Tom Combs - $27.2 million
• Progressive: Susan Patricia Griffith - $27.2 million
• Farmers: Jeffrey Dailey - $17.6 million
• American Family: Jack Salzwedel - $13.5 million
• USAA: Steven Wayne Peacock - $6.7 million
• Nationwide: Kirt Walker - $7.4 million
• Total (2 Years): $253.5 million

Closing Call to Action: This issue transcends homeownership; IT WILL IMPACT every citizen of North Carolina. Please share the petition, contact your representatives, engage with media, and help us push for a fair and transparent resolution.

Together, our collective action can make a significant difference.

David Sabine

Homeowner, Raeford, NC 

(Hoke County 39.9 % Proposed Increase)