Tag: GEICO

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GEICO is providing a 15 percent credit to its auto and motorcycle customers as their policy comes up for renewal between April 8 and Oct 7. The credit will also apply to any new policies purchased during this period.

The credit is part of GEICO’s ongoing efforts to assist customers during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The average auto policy has a semi-annual premium of about $1,000 and generally covers more than one vehicle.

GEICO expects credits to average about $150 per auto policy and $30 per motorcycle policy. The company estimates the benefit to its 18 million auto and one million motorcycle customers will be approximately $2.5 billion.

Current customers can expect to see the discount when they renew. Customers do not need to take any action to receive this credit.

Shelter in place policies have reduced driving significantly. Vehicle accidents are down considerably, and although GEICO expects a return to near normal once the impacts of COVID-19 subside, GEICO remains committed to serving its customers’ changing needs in the best way it can.

“This ongoing crisis has widespread effects that will linger. That is why we wanted to give this credit for at least six months,” said GEICO President and CEO Todd Combs. “Our customers have been loyal, and we are committed to doing all we can to help them.”

Last month, GEICO announced it was pausing cancellations of coverage due to non-payment and policy expiration through at least April 30, 2020. Beyond that, the company has committed to offering maximum flexibility to policyholders who need special payment options as well as transitioning nearly all of its associates to work from home to continue providing the 24/7 service it is known for.

© 2020 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Following several lawsuits in Arizona and Florida, GEICO has filed a federal lawsuit in California alleging an auto glass repair shop submitted fraudulent glass repair bills. GEICO seeks to recover damages alleging violations of the Civil RICO statute and the California Business and Professional Code as well as claims for common law fraud and unjust enrichment.

GEICO alleges that owners Tal Elzari and Navid Vatankhahan used their business, Winaffix Auto Glass, in a fraudulent scheme to overbill for windshield glass replacement.

Their alleged scheme involved creating false glass invoices designed to mimic those from legitimate car dealerships in order to fraudulently claim they were using expensive original equipment glass rather than less expensive alternative glass. In fact, it is alleged that Winaffix never purchased the glass their invoices claimed. They are also alleged to have performed glass replacement services without a license to do so.

GEICO says it intends to file future lawsuits in California and around the country in its continuing efforts to protect its customers and the public from fraudulent glass repair operators.

“GEICO is committed to protecting our customers from the negative effect that insurance fraud has on premiums,” said James Jones, assistant vice president of claims in GEICO’s Poway, California, office. “These incidents of fraud hurt consumers in California because they cause premiums to increase, and we will continue to pursue them with a zero tolerance.”

© 2020 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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GEICO’s Macon, Georgia regional office is looking to extend job offers to more than 500 Central Georgia residents in 2020.

There are full-time and part-time career opportunities in Claims, Salvage, Emergency Roadside Service, Customer Service and Sales. Recent college graduates and others looking to train for leadership positions are encouraged to apply for the Emerging Leaders Program or Management Development Program. No prior insurance experience is necessary; training, mentorship and support are provided to all new associates.

New associates will join Central Georgia’s largest private employer and GEICO’s largest regional operation. They will be welcomed onto a team with a proven track-record of success. Last year, nearly 40 percent of GEICO associates in Macon received promotions for their efforts to provide quality service to GEICO’s ever-growing policyholders.

GEICO associates are offered the Total Rewards Program, with a wide range of benefits, including a health benefits package, retirement and finance options and continuing education opportunities. In addition, associates can expect career growth opportunities and a friendly and supportive environment in which to develop and thrive.

GEICO also provides associates with many opportunities to be involved in their community. GEICO has been the biggest contributor to the United Way of Central Georgia for the past 14 years, and associates have been honored for their volunteer work at Bibb County Public Schools and Middle Georgia Community Food Bank.

© 2020 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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GEICO’s North Liberty, Iowa, office is marking the one-year anniversary of its new headquarters by extending job offers to 80 new associates by the end of 2019.

Applications are now being accepted for Customer Service Representatives, with a starting salary of $16.50/hour, and Inbound Sales Representatives, with a $16.87 starting salary. No prior insurance experience is necessary; training is provided. Apply at geico.jobs/iowa.

GEICO opened its Iowa office in 1997, when the insurer had about 2.8 million policyholders. Today, GEICO has more than 17 million policyholders. The success of the Iowa office has contributed substantially to the company’s growth. In fact, an Iowa sales associate sold GEICO’s 17-millionth policy earlier this year. The Iowa office, which currently has about 500 associates, relocated to a new 50,000-square-foot building last September.

GEICO’s Iowa office has been named a Top Workplace for the last five years by the Des Moines Register and is one of Indeed.com’s Top 10 highest-rated workplaces for compensation and benefits.

Full-time GEICO associates are offered the Total Rewards Program with a wide range of benefits, including a comprehensive benefits package, continuing education, tuition reimbursement, on-site college courses, career growth, community engagement opportunities, as well as a friendly and supportive workplace.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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GEICO’s vice president of public affairs, Rynthia Rost, received the Charles B. Collins Distinguished Trustee Award at the recent 2019 National Urban League Conference in Indianapolis.

The annual honor goes to a notable Urban League advocate who embodies the ideals of the organization and the esteemed Charles B. Collins – who helped to usher-in great growth and improvements during his long affiliation with the National Urban League.

Rost’s commitment to community service and mentorship is longstanding and well-known. She began her career as a pro bono attorney and continues to dedicate her life and work to uplifting communities.

“Rynthia Rost embodies the Urban League’s mission of empowerment and service,” said Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. “Her work on financial literacy programs, in particular, has made an enormous difference in the lives of underserved people. As a member of the Audit Committee of the National Urban League Board of Trustees, she serves a vital function in overseeing the fiscal soundness of our movement. She is a role model and mentor not only within the Urban League but in the community at large. We are proud to honor her with the Charles B. Collins Distinguished Trustee Award.”

Rost also serves on the boards of Urban League affiliates in Washington, D.C., and Essex County, New Jersey. In addition, she is vice-president and an executive board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and chair of the Children’s National Hospital Corporate Advisory Board. Rost has earned many other accolades for her work, including the Community Partner Award from Mentor’s Inc. and the Service to Youth Award from the National Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Rost has led GEICO’s public affairs efforts since 1994. She directs community affairs and GEICO Cares, the company’s country-wide associate community service and volunteer program.

“I am grateful to the National Urban League for this tremendous honor and for allowing me to be part of your efforts to empower local communities,” Rost said. “I also want to thank GEICO for the privilege of working with our 40,000 associates across the country on exciting community service projects that are positively impacting so many people.”

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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The GEICO Board of Directors has promoted Shane Wheeler to vice president in charge of the company’s claims operations. Wheeler will be based at GEICO corporate headquarters in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Since 2016, he had served as assistant vice president of claims for GEICO’s regional operations in Tucson, Arizona. Before that, he was the liability director for the regional office in Dallas.

Wheeler joined GEICO in 1999 as a service counselor at the San Diego regional office and entered the management internship program shortly thereafter. After completing the program, he was named a supervisor in the claims division.

He transferred to the Tucson regional office in 2004 and the Dallas regional office in 2011, holding claims management roles at both locations. He was named liability director for the Dallas region in 2013. Three years later, he was elected the Tucson region’s assistant vice president of claims.

Wheeler holds a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma and a master’s degree from the University of Arizona. He earned his Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriting (CPCU) designation in 2007.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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GEICO’s regional offices in Macon, Georgia, are hiring hundreds of employees. They have immediate openings for Emergency Roadside Service Representatives, Title Processing Specialists, Claims Service Representatives and Customer Service Representatives; all four positions have a starting salary of at least $15 an hour. Training is provided and no prior insurance experience is necessary.

Full-time associates are offered the wide-ranging Total Rewards Program, which includes a comprehensive benefits package, college tuition reimbursement and health and wellness incentives. GEICO provides a friendly work environment that supports career growth and development.

“More than 6,700 members of the Middle Georgia community are already a part of our GEICO family,” said Regional Vice President Franklin Silva. “We are proud to invite even more area residents to join GEICO and help us continue to offer the top-notch customer experience that we are known for.”

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.