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News Release

New Jersey Department of
Banking and Insurance


Acting Commissioner Ken Kobylowski

For Immediate Release:
March 8, 2012

For Further Information:
Ed Rogan or Marshall McKnight (609) 292-5064



   DOBI Recovered nearly $32 million for Consumers and Providers in 2011


TRENTON – New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) Acting Commissioner Ken Kobylowski today announced that in 2011 the Department recovered more than $31.8 million for consumers and medical providers, including $1.36 million for claimants in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Insurers made the payments resulting from probes into consumer complaints against licensees, enforcement investigations and errors found during market conduct examinations.

The Department, which announced the recoveries as part of National Consumer Protection Week, helped insurance consumers recover almost $23 million and returned nearly $6.8 million to medical providers, such as doctors and hospitals from licensees following investigations. Consumers and providers received the payments for claims processing delays, improper claims handling, denials of claims, and premium refunds due to improper ratings or failures to return unearned premiums. Last year’s recoveries increased more than 50 percent over the nearly $20.7 million collected in 2010.

“The Department’s mission is to both promote the growth and efficiency of the industries we regulate and to protect consumers. We take both prongs of that mission very seriously,” said Acting Commissioner Kobylowski. “I am pleased that the Department was able to significantly increase the amount of recoveries we gained for consumers and providers last year and I am particularly gratified that we were able to help consumers who suffered losses in Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.” 

The 2011 recoveries also include more than $2 million that DOBI banking regulators recovered for consumers from banks and licensed financial institutions such as mortgage lenders and brokers and money services businesses. Consumers received the payments mostly as refunds of fees improperly collected. Financial institutions made the payments as a result of investigations into specific consumer complaints and errors found during routine regulatory compliance examinations. 

Consumers who wish to file a complaint can go online at www.dobi.nj.gov or call 1-800-446-7467.

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is a coordinated campaign that encourages consumers nationwide to take full advantage of their consumer rights and make better-informed decisions. NCPW 2012 runs from March 4 through 10 and additional information is available at www.NCPW.gov.

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New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance