[chisoxfan]

A special legislative session has been scheduled for Jan. 16.
Citizens has asked for a total increase next year of more than 118 percent on homes and something like 600 percent on businesses in our area, so this can't come soon enough. Let's hope the Legislature surprises us pleasantly for once.

[kath2210]

Another reason why I'm moving out of the state.

[Ladywithafan]

Yes, retirees will certainly have to adjust their budgets for windstorm!...

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

Yes, retirees will certainly have to adjust their budgets for windstorm!...

adjust the budget with what? moving seems like a better idea, b4 citizens takes all the money with there everyday 100 per-cent rate hikes

[summergal]

Originally Posted by chisoxfan

A special legislative session has been scheduled for Jan. 16.
Citizens has asked for a total increase next year of more than 118 percent on homes and something like 600 percent on businesses in our area, so this can't come soon enough. Let's hope the Legislature surprises us pleasantly for once.

more than 118% ???? holy cow! do you have any more info on what areas that is refferring to? last i heard it was 97% on residential... yikes!

[SunshineState]

I'm not gonna "Hope" for anything!! I am ging to contact my local and state representatives and demand they fix this mess they have put is in! I also intend on going with a large group to Rally in Tallahassee the day of the start of this special session. I am not leaving anything to fate and think everyone else in this state who is disgusted with these insane rate hikes do the same! It is our legislators that voted for these increases in the first place! They need to be put in their place and reminded they work for the people and NOT the insurance industry!! That's my thought on it!!

Originally Posted by chisoxfan

A special legislative session has been scheduled for Jan. 16.
Citizens has asked for a total increase next year of more than 118 percent on homes and something like 600 percent on businesses in our area, so this can't come soon enough. Let's hope the Legislature surprises us pleasantly for once.

[SunshineState]

Read this article and it will make you sick! We are going to see rate increases from 55% to 118% and if you own a business an adverage of 610% to 969%

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/11/17/St...seek_rec.shtml

Originally Posted by summergal

more than 118% ???? holy cow! do you have any more info on what areas that is refferring to? last i heard it was 97% on residential... yikes!

[summergal]

Remember when they were saying we were so spoiled after so many years of cheap insurance and we really needed to be raised to a standard in keeping with the rest of the country... ok so WHEN will it be enough??? How much do we need to pay to find this proper amount? I mean, there must be a certain "market" figure that we hit and then the rates should level off, right?


I don't understand how they expect small businesses to be raised 600% without sending them running to business-friendly states. Already the small motels and beach shops are struggling and if these close up, how is our tourist industry going to continue?? That's our #1 industry! We will end up with a state income tax to balance this then, right? Jimminy Christmas!

[SunshineState]

I have family and friends in California, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Deleware, and Virginia and not one of them pays anything NEAR what we are paying for their homeowners....not near it, so where do they come up with we need to be keeping up with the standards of the rest of the Country???? There is no "market" figures that will make them level off as long as our legislators keep revising and adding laws such as Senate Bill 1980 that will allow these increases! Actually the increases are not the faults of the insurance companies it is the fault of our legislators making laws that "allow" for these continued increases.

Originally Posted by summergal

Remember when they were saying we were so spoiled after so many years of cheap insurance and we really needed to be raised to a standard in keeping with the rest of the country... ok so WHEN will it be enough??? How much do we need to pay to find this proper amount? I mean, there must be a certain "market" figure that we hit and then the rates should level off, right?


I don't understand how they expect small businesses to be raised 600% without sending them running to business-friendly states. Already the small motels and beach shops are struggling and if these close up, how is our tourist industry going to continue?? That's our #1 industry! We will end up with a state income tax to balance this then, right? Jimminy Christmas!

[chisoxfan]

Contacting your state legislators as one poster suggested is a great idea. I've already e-mailed the state representative and senator from my district and intend to e-mail others.
Incidentally, the head of Citizens has told several newspapers he will recommend that the most recent rate increase proposal be tabled because of its potential destructive economic impact. Citizens was REQUIRED -- that's right, required -- to ask for such a huge increase because of legislation passed last year. Thus, only the Legislature can take such action. All the more reason to let our representatives know how we feel.