NICB Issues Warning on Stolen Vehicle Cloning

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is warning consumers to be careful when purchasing a used vehicle to avoid becoming a victim of vehicle cloning.

For many years, vehicle identification numbers (VINs) have served as proof of an automobile's identity; however, scam artist have begun "cloning" VINs in an effort to pass off stolen vehicles as legitimate ones. The NICB is warning consumers about used cars priced well below fair market value. Use NICB's free VINCheck service below before buying a used car.

Check the status of your vehicle here: https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck

Do I Need Earthquake Insurance?

The recent earthquakes in our area have raised questions about the need for earthquake coverage.  Hunter Insurance wants to make certain that our policyholders are fully informed.

As a homeowner, it is important to know that damages caused by earthquakes are not covered under the standard homeowners policy.  For an additional premium (approximately $125), earthquake coverage can be endorsed to your policy.  It is important to note that there is a separate and higher deductible for this coverage.  A home insured for $300,000 of coverage would have a $15,000 deductible.  The largest earthquake to strike Rhode Island was in 1976 with a magnitude 3.50.  It resulted in a little more than a dish rattle.  

We highly recommend that you consult us to review the specifics regarding earthquake coverage.  To learn more, please call us at (401) 769-9500.

New Year’s Eve Safety

New Year's Eve is the one night a year when anything can happen. Though it is meant to be an evening of celebration and entertainment, it is important to keep in mind the safety of yourself and others around you. No matter what your plans are, we at Hunter Insurance want to make sure you have all the necessary safety tips for an evening of fun.

1. Know Your Limits. Before you indulge in the evening’s festivities, make a mental note of how many drinks you should allow yourself. New Year's Eve is never fun for anyone when their friends have had too much to drink. 

2. Travel in Numbers. Whatever your plans are, traveling in numbers will help ensure the safety of you and your friends. Always stick together, even when going to the restroom, to avoid anyone wandering off. 

3. Charge Your Phone Before You Leave. It helps to have a peace of mind knowing that if you or any of your friends separate you can contact them or call a cab, no matter the time of night. 

4. Always Be Cautious of Your Drink. If you take your eyes off of it for even a minute, throw it away. It’s better to eat the cost and buy a new beverage than risk drinking something that was tampered with.

5. Have a Designated Driver. If you're planning on leaving your home and drinking while out, it is essential that you plan ahead for a safe ride home. Drinking and driving puts you, your friends, your family, and other drivers at risk. Utilize the generosity of friends or keep phone numbers for local taxis at-hand.

6. Be Careful of Pets (Yours and Others). Nothing frightens them more than sudden loud noises and strangers. If you are hosting a party, pay extra attention to your pets so they do not run away. Scared, running pets can be hit by cars, cause accidents, become lost, or, if truly frightened, may bite people.

We want your celebration of the New Year to be pleasant and safe, so be sure to take extra caution that evening. But above all – have fun! From all of us at Hunter Insurance, we hope you have a wonderful New Year.

Information for this article provided by: New Year’s Eve Safety Tips

Preparing Your Home and Vehicle for Winter

For most New England residents, winter truly is the most wonderful time of the year. However, whether you enjoy the snow and cold, or would rather fly south for the season, it’s important to prepare your home and vehicle for the severe weather.

Preparing Your Home

Inspect Your Furnace: Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts. Also, consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable one. If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.

Properly Prepare Your Fireplace: Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds. If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote. Be sure to buy firewood early and store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.

Check Your Home’s Exterior, Doors and Windows: Inspect the exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them and use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows. Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.

Preparing Your Vehicle

Keep an emergency kit in your car. If you don't already have an emergency kit in your car, consider putting together a few basics and store them in the trunk. Naturally, you'll want to be sure your spare tire is in good shape with all the tools to change it out. Your kit should include:

• A flashlight and first aid kit
• A blanket, warm clothes and gloves
• A radio
• A bag of abrasive material like sand or kitty litter for when you get stuck
• Extra windshield washer fluid
• A brush or ice scraper
• Extra coolant

When you take the time to plan ahead, you can make winterizing your vehicle an easy, annual ritual that will keep you and your family safe.

Check the battery. A car battery can die without any notice. Extremely cold temperatures can reduce a car battery’s life by up to 50 percent. Before the cold weather sets in, have your battery tested by your local mechanic - especially if you have an older car. Also, make sure your battery connections are free from corrosion.

Check the tire pressure and consider snow tires. Tire pressure is especially important during the winter, as a properly inflated tire will help guarantee better traction in wet, snowy conditions. Make sure to read your owner's manual to find the correct tire pressures.

Inspect your windshield wiper blades and fluid. Visibility while driving during winter months is vital to your safety. Precipitation and salt buildup on the windshield can be hazardous while driving in winter weather. Make sure that you not only check the condition of your windshield wiper blades, but also consider changing your existing blades to versions that are made for the harsh winter weather.

Following these precautionary measures are a great way to get ahead of winter weather. However, no winter preparation is complete without the proper coverage, so be sure to call your Hunter Insurance agent today at 769-9500 to discuss the benefits of combining your home and auto policy today.

Halloween Safety Tips for Parents

Halloween is one of children's most loved holidays. It gives them the opportunity to dress up like their favorite superhero or princess and go door-to-door to collect an endless supply of candy. However as a parent, you know that these fun times always come with potential dangers, so we at Hunter Insurance are here to help prepare you for this extended night of trick-or-treating.

Below is a list of helpful tips to protect your children from any potential dangers on and after Halloween night:

Costumes:

• Choose brightly colored costumes, add reflective tape or have your children wear glow sticks so motorists can see them
• Replace masks with face paint to avoid obstructing their vision
• Attach your child’s name, address and phone number inside the costume
• Always choose comfortable shoes for walking to avoid being uncomfortable

Trick-or-Treating:

• If you aren’t going out with your children, plan out their route and remind them to stick to it
• Teach your children to never respond to any adult calling out to them they don’t know
• Remind your children not to eat any of the candy until they get home or until after you have inspected it
• To avoid them from eating candy on their route, cook a well-balanced meal prior to going out
• Tell them not to approach any stray animals
• Make sure your children have flashlights if they plan to stay out after dark
• Establish an appropriate curfew
• Teach your children proper traffic etiquette: stay on the sidewalks and be sure to look and listen before crossing the street
• Remind them to never go inside a stranger’s house

After Trick-or-Treating:

• Inspect your child’s candy for any wrappers that appear to have been tampered with - throw away any unwrapped, opened or suspicious items
• Try to limit the amount of candy they eat
• Encourage sharing and trading to develop good habits 

At Hunter Insurance, we know that providing a good time for your children on Halloween while keeping them safe is a top priority. Therefore, we suggest that you print and keep these tips on your fridge and review them with your child so they have a full understanding of how to keep themselves away from danger. Whether you are traveling with your scary little goblins or allowing your beautiful ballerinas to venture with friends, just remind them to have fun, be safe and stay aware.

From all of us at Hunter Insurance, Happy Halloween!

Information for this article provided by: Halloween Safety Information for Parents and Halloween Health & Safety Tips

Hunter Insurance Marks 25 Years in Business

Pictured from left to right: (back row) Rochelle Crowell, Lisa Glasberg, Jeannie Vasconcellos, Gina Belford, Brian Morris, Michelle Coulter; (front row) Kerri Allen, Lisa Osborne, Jane LeBeau, Roberta Hunter, Brian Hunter, Alice Nault, Amy Duval, Tess McAfee.

LINCOLN – Embracing technology has helped the Hunter Insurance Agency grow significantly, company president and secretary Brian M. Hunter said when talking about observing his 25th year in business.

The 14-employee agency located to 389 Old River Road is completely automated, according to Hunter. Paper documents are scarce, and it takes agents at work stations with two computer monitors just 15 minutes to obtain price quotes from more than 25 insurance companies.

In addition, Hunter, a former Rhode Island state senator, said clients can communicate with a customer service representative 24 hours a day seven days week through the agency’s website at www.hunterinsuranceonline.com or by calling 800.696.4678. The Web site also allows consumers to access their policies, submit requests for changes and report a claim.

Furthermore, he said, the agency is outfitted with an emergency generator so its employees can continue to assist clients if there is an incident such as a storm or motor vehicle accident that causes a power outage.

Besides the around the clock service the agency offers to clients, the company consistently provides customers with valuable and timely insurance-related information through advisories and newsletters that are distributed electronically and by mail.

Hunter established the agency in 1989, with his sister-in-law Amy Duval, who is the office manager. Hunter holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Bryant University in Smithfield. His wife, Roberta, is vice president of the agency. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bryant and a master’s degree in early childhood education.

Hunter started his career in the insurance industry as a commercial underwriter for Aetna Casualty & Surety in Providence. After working there for a year, he was vice president of the former George H. Roberts Agency in Lincoln for five years between 1984 and 1989.

Hunter holds a certificate in general insurance from the Insurance Institute of America and has earned several industry designations, including chartered property casualty underwriter, accredited adviser in insurance, associate in insurance services and associate in personal insurance. He is a certified professional insurance agent and certified professional insurance man.

Hunter is trustee of St. James Church and a member of the review panel for the Rhode Island Automobile Insurance Plan and the Twin River Advisory Committee. He served as chairman of the board of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce in 2013. He is past president of Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island, past chairman of the Merchants Insurance Co. National Agents Advisory Group and past chairman of the St. James Church Finance Committee. Also, he is a past member of the Lincoln Lions and Cumberland/Lincoln Rotary clubs and a former delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business.

Protecting Your Student This Season

It’s August, which means if you have a teenager getting ready to leave for college, you have a lot on your to-do list.  But besides shopping for the usual clothes, bedding, and other miscellaneous items, don’t forget to add the most important task: insuring their belongings.

College students bring with them a lot of expensive items – computers, printers, iPods, TVs, etc.  But living in a dorm or university community allows for ample opportunities for theft or damage. According to a survey conducted by the Independent Insurance Agents of America, Inc., (IIAA) more than 100,000 property crimes on college campuses are reported to police each year, and thieves steal an average of $1,250 in student property per theft. 

At Hunter Insurance, we want to inform you of two types of ways that you can use an insurance policy to protect your student for the upcoming school year:

1. Using Your Homeowners Policy: If your child lives in a dorm or other college-owned property, their possessions are typically covered automatically against loss, theft, and damage under your homeowners policies. However, coverage is often limited to only 10 percent of the policy's coverage for contents. Therefore, if your policy covers contents for $100,000, the limit for your student's materials would be $10,000.

2. Renters Insurance: If your child doesn't live in college-owned housing, your homeowners policy won't provide coverage. Fortunately, however, there is the option to take out a renter’s insurance policy for about $15 to $30 a month. Similar to homeowners insurance, these types of policies come in two basic forms: Actual cash-value policies cover the value of the item at the time of loss, taking depreciation into account, and replacement-value policies cover the cost of replacing the lost item with a new one. Replacement-value policies cost more, though both types are subject to the coverage limits.

Protecting what matters most to you is our biggest priority at Hunter Insurance, and we know that the safety of your children is yours. Before your child settles into their college residence, call us at 769-9500 to discuss your options.  You won’t regret knowing your child, and their belongings, are safe and secure. 

Information for this article provided by: How to Insure Your College Student and Reslife.net