Commissioner Steve Poizner announced today that three Fresno individuals were charged with felony insurance fraud in two separate criminal cases. Harjinder Singh, 46, was arrested May 6. Singh was additionally charged with felony arson and perjury.In a separate case, Karmjit Mann, 33, was arrested on May 11; and Nirmaljeet Singh, Karmjit’s husband, self-surrendered to authorities on May 7. Nirmaljeet Singh was additionally charged with falsely reporting a crime.

“Flagrantly disregarding the law is the worst way to try and make a buck,” said Commissioner Poizner. “Our enforcement officers are far too good at their jobs to let insurance fraud go undetected. If you commit insurance fraud, you will go to jail.”  

On March 24, 2007, Harjinder Singh reported that his big rig caught fire while he was driving along I-40. Singh then filed a claim with his insurance carrier, reporting the loss. The Urban Organized Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force later discovered that the fires which burned the vehicle were intentionally set. Investigators allege that Singh purposely set fire to his vehicle in an attempt to receive a $35,000 payout from his insurance company.

On September 9, 2008, Nirmaljeet Singh reported the theft of his big rig to the Fresno Police Department. Task force detectives discovered that the big rig was never parked at the reported theft location.  Singh’s wife, Karmjit Mann, allegedly provided false supporting statements indicating that she had picked up her husband from the reported theft location. The two allegedly attempted to defraud their insurance company of approximately $40,000. 

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting these cases.

The Urban Organized Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force is comprised of investigators from the California Department of Insurance and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.  The task force targets any form of auto insurance fraud, including staged theft and vandalism, staged auto accidents and other types of organized insurance fraud.   

Commissioner Poizner oversees sixteen CDI Enforcement Branch regional offices throughout the state.  Close to 1900 insurance fraud-related arrests have been made by the Department of Insurance’s Enforcement Branch since Commissioner Poizner took office in 2007 – more arrests than have been made during any other two year period, under any previous insurance commissioner.    

Here’s a snapshot of the southern portion of San Diego County.

In an article we found, a former body shop owner was awarded  $1.2 million for the land taken by the state of New Jersey on which his shop was located. Click here for the article.

As an executive within the claims industry who has served in all aspects in claims, I have seen and handled thousands and thousands of claims. Customer service and proper claims handling is a part of who I am. When I witness poor claims handling and subpar customer service within our  industry I take it personal. Some claims adjusters and managers out there ruin it for the hard working, dedicated professionals who take their job seriously.

In all of my years within the claims industry, I have had only one auto claim and just recently filed my first, Yes, first ever homeowner’s claim. My insurer who remains unnamed is consistently A++ rated, highly rated for customer service, awarded customer service champ,and a leader for customer advocacy.  That’s what they say……..

Having not been on the receiving end of the homeowner’s claims process I was interested to see how this “top insurer” would perform. Right out of the gates, the adjuster was rude, took several days to inspect the damage and now three weeks later the claim is still unresolved. I even had the opportunity to speak to the adjuster’s manager who was supposed move the file along and call me back. Still waiting for the call. 

All in all, I feel bad.  I feel bad that there’s these jokers out there who give true claims professionals a bad name. I can say that my own personal experience has helped me understand what it feels like to be treated poorly, have a claim delayed  and have a feeling of helplessness.

This experience really furthers my determination to become a forceful voice on quality claims handling, damage appraising and ultimate customer service within the industry. Sure, this experience makes me angry but at the same time it provides me a strong sense of motivation. We all deserve quality service from those within the industry and it’s time those who can’t deliver it find another job.

There was some talk of Hartford selling off it’s Property and Casualty divisions and this article we found states they are taking the P & C divisions off the block. Click here for the full story.