FBInsure Renews Five Star Agency Designation!

FBInsure Renews Five Star Agency Designation! The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA), is proud to announce that FBinsure of Attleboro, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fall River, Freetown, Middleboro, New Bedford, Rehoboth, and Taunton, MA has renewed their Five Star Agency Designation.  They have been a Five Star Agency since 2006 and continue to demonstrate excellence in…

Personal or Commercial – Delivery

Personal or Commercial – Delivery   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on August 30, 2018 I have a customer w/ a van registered to her personally. She uses it to deliver carpet. Personal auto underwriters don’t want it and according to AIB Rule 51C it doesn’t…

Arbella’s Gourmet Luncheon

Arbella’s Gourmet Luncheon  

Car Fire Coverage Question

Car Fire Coverage Question   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 11, 2018 We are having a discussion in our office about the following situation. If an insured has a friend’s car in their garage and it catches on fire and damages the car and…

US DOT Number

US DOT Number   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 13, 2018 Question for you. With the new DOT rules we were told today that if an individual purchases a pickup truck, in this particular case a Dodge Ram 2500, and the vehicle weighs over…

Tech Talk: Bailment and Physical Damage Coverage Under the Auto Policy

Tech Talk: Bailment and Physical Damage Coverage Under the Auto Policy By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, LIA, CRIS, CPIW  – VP of Technical Affairs, MAIA  

Registry News: Service Center Relocation

Registry News: Service Center Relocation

Out-of-State Vehicle Purchase

Out-of-State Vehicle Purchase   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 17, 2018 I have a Massachusetts insured who is looking to transfer plates to a used vehicle he is purchasing from a private party in New Hampshire.  There is no title. Would the insured be…

Binding Authority Commercial Auto

Binding Authority Commercial Auto   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 17, 2018 I hope all is well with you! We are hope, hope, hoping you can help us with a binding/coverage question we have on a commercial auto policy here in Mass. It appears…

Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions

Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions MAIA wanted to take a moment to recognize and acknowledge those people affected by the gas explosions in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover on September 13th, especially those who live and work in the Merrimack Valley.  We know that many of our members and carrier partners have been working hard to assist…

Camper or Trailer Plate

Camper or Trailer Plate   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 17, 2018 I tried calling the Registry, sent them an email  today.  On 8/27/18:  our runner went down to the registry with the transfer information, RMV-1 , all documents in hand,  the person @…

RMV: ATLAS Release 2 Coming Soon

RMV: ATLAS Release 2 Coming Soon The following communication was released this morning by the RMV to business partners concerning the the upcoming Release 2 of ATLAS.

WC News: WCRIB Implements Test Audit Program

WC News: WCRIB Implements Test Audit Program  The WCRIBMA’s Governing Committee has approved implementation of a Test Audit Program to be rolled out in January 2019. Circular Letter No. 2337 outlines the program in greater detail.

Commercial Auto – Unregistered Vehicle

Commercial Auto – Unregistered Vehicle   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 19, 2018 Commercial Auto – is there a reduction or exclusion of coverage if a vehicle is unregistered (registration expired)? I don’t think there is, I can’t find any reference in the policy…

Florida/Massachusetts

Florida/Massachusetts   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 23, 2018

Take Advantage of Big “I” Trusted Choice Tools & Services

Take Advantage of Big “I” Trusted Choice Tools & Services Trusted Choice is the national brand strategy for independent insurance agents – designed to amplify the marketing and highlight the value that independent insurance agents bring to consumers. 

Coverage Date/Stamp Date

Coverage Date/Stamp Date   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 26, 2018

Registry-Focused Round-up at The Big Event 2018

Registry-Focused Round-up at The Big Event 2018 The Big Event 2018 has a number of registry and auto-focused sessions based on our members most frequently asked questions taking place on Saturday, October 27th. MAIA is happy to have the RMV team, including Registrar Deveney, along with MAIA’s in-house expert, Kathy Cormier on the speaking roster.…

RMV: eServices Claims History Walk Through

RMV: eServices Claims History Walk Through There has been some confusion with respect to the viewing of claims in the eServices Portal, mainly with claims which have been reversed by the Board of Appeals.  Due to the confusion, the Merit Rating Bureau has sent the attached document which walks agents through the process.

RMV: New Special Plate – Habitat and Heritage

RMV: New Special Plate – Habitat and Heritage The Habitat and Heritage plate is a new two-year passenger special (PAS) plate. 

Claim Issue

Claim Issue   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 30, 2018

WAHVE – The Case for Unretirement

WAHVE – The Case for Unretirement Since 2000, the number of people aged 65 and over who continue to remain employed has increased steadily. A large number of these professionals have gone through what economists call “unretirement,” the term for taking the employment U-turn from retired to back to work. For instance, a 2017 survey…

Gaudette Insurance Agency Gives Back with New England Pride

Gaudette Insurance Agency Gives Back with New England Pride The New England Patriots may not have won Super Bowl LII, but thanks to the Gaudette Insurance Agency, Inc., Northbridge Food Pantry still scored a notable touchdown! During this past football season’s playoffs, the Gaudette Insurance staff were given the option to represent their New England…

Different Limits of Coverage Same Policy

Different Limits of Coverage Same Policy   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 30, 2018

Listing HHMs

Listing HHMs   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on August 02, 2018

Turning Away Clients

Turning Away Clients   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on August 06, 2018

E&O: Documentation!

E&O: Documentation! Utica National Insurance Group brings monthly loss control articles to MAIA members directly from the risk management team. Read the article below or download this month’s article in PDF format.   

Symbol 1

Symbol 1   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on August 02, 2018

Temporary Plates

Temporary Plates   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on August 06, 2018

CAR & MAIP Question

CAR & MAIP Question   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on August 06, 2018

Big “I” to Host Free Tax Reform Webinar

Big “I” to Host Free Tax Reform Webinar Following a new tax reform legislation signed by President Trump, new federal tax regulations are expected to impact your business. Find out how during a free webinar hosted by the Big “I.” The webinar will provide a brief introduction to the tax law and its impact on C-corps,…

dolly.com

dolly.com   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on August 09, 2018

Enforcement of USDOT Number Requirement

Enforcement of USDOT Number Requirement The Mass. RMV has issued a Law Enforcement Training Update with respect to the enforcement of the New USDOT Number Requirement, which took effect on September 1, 2018. 

Commercial Plate Required

Commercial Plate Required   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on August 09, 2018

Fees

Fees   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on August 10, 2018

Offices Closing Early for Labor Day Weekend

Offices Closing Early for Labor Day Weekend Our offices will be closing early Friday, August 31 at 2 p.m. for Labor Day Weekend.  We will re-open Tuesday, September 4th during our business hours.

Farm Plate

Farm Plate   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on August 10, 2018

Umbrella Policy

Umbrella Policy   QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on August 10, 2018

Joe Leahy Installed as Chairman of The Big “I”

Joe Leahy Installed as Chairman of The Big “I” National independent insurance agency leadership converged in downtown Springfield, MA at the annual Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference last week.  The conference included the installation of Joe Leahy of Leahy and Brown Insurance + Reality as Chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America.…

YAC Night Out at Smith’s Billiards

YAC Night Out at Smith’s Billiards Following the first night of The Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference on Thursday, August 23, the Massachusetts Young Agents Committee hosted a Night Out at Smith’s Billiards in Springfield for fellow YAC members from across the country. Attendees were greeted with great food, craft brews, live music, games, and…