State rule on credit scores pushing up insurance rates

This morning I got a call from my insurance broker informing me that, due to Washington state’s recent ban on the use of credit scores for determining insurance rates, my homeowner’s and car insurance renewal due next month are going up more than 40percent! I understand that the ban has been recently suspended due to a lawsuit, but the insurance companies appear to be setting themselves up for the ban to be reinstituted.

We have an “excellent” credit rating, have had no accident claims, no property claims, no nothing aside from one windshield replacement due to rock damage for over 20 years. Neither of us have ever received a driving or parking ticket since we got our first driver’s licenses over 40 years ago. I would think we would qualify as being excellent insurance risks, but no, that’s not the way of things. We now have to, in the insurance world’s eyes, subsidize all the rest of those drivers and homeowners out there.

I would hope that Mike Kreidler, the state insurance commissioner, would take a second (and third and fourth) look at the ramifications of this proposal before pushing it back into law. If nothing else, go to the insurance companies and let them know this insane increase in premiums will not be tolerated.

Fabian Borowiecki

Everett