Contact Information: CONTACT: Linda von Quintus Group Manager, Insurance and Public Affairs AAA Texas 512-899 8046 vonquintus.Linda@aaa-texas.com Dan Ronan Corporate Communications and Community Relations Manager AAA Texas 469-583-7070 work 469-221-8217 cell ronan.dan@aaa-texas.com danronan@sprint.blackberry.net Jeff Spring Corporate Communications Manager AAA California Spring.Jeffrey@aaa-calif.com 714-885-2321
AAA Texas: City of Hedwig Village and Mayor Sue Speck Trying to Prevent AAA Texas Customers From Filing Insurance Claims
| Source: AAA Texas
IRVING, TX--(Marketwire - September 19, 2008) - This week as the people of southeast Texas
struggle to rebuild after Hurricane Ike, the City of Hedwig Village and
Mayor Sue Speck took extraordinary steps to prevent AAA Texas from doing
its duty as mandated by the Texas Department of Insurance, assisting
customers who have been impacted by the storm.
AAA Texas set up an Emergency Response RV so our customers could drive up
to our Memorial District Office, 9311 Katy Fwy, Ste E, Houston and work
with adjusters and other members of the disaster relief team. The RV was
marked with a magnetic sign so customers could see it was a AAA Texas
vehicle and employees were working outside on computers to process claims.
This is a time-honored procedure that AAA Texas and other insurance
companies have used for years to expedite the claims and assist our
customers. Shortly after the RV was up and running, AAA Texas was
informed by the Mayor Speck it was violating the Municipal Sign Ordinance
and the landlord was called by the City. Later Thursday, AAA Texas was
ordered to move the vehicle off the property and discontinue assisting the
victims at this location.
AAA Texas has reached out to Mayor Speck on several occasions and she
continues to hold firm on this issue.
"AAA Texas is mandated by the Texas Department of Insurance to do all it
can for those who we have insured and we take this responsibility very
seriously. The City of Hedwig Village and in particular Mayor Speck seem to
be more concerned about whether a sign on a mobile vehicle is in violation
of their sign ordinance, rather than taking into consideration the
well-being of potentially thousands of victims impacted by this devastating
storm. AAA Texas has been a good neighbor and friend to people at this
location for more than 30 years and we're very concerned about their
well-being. This district office is one of the busiest in the state and
more than 68,000 members are from this district store," said AAA Texas
Insurance and Public and Government Affairs Group Manager Linda von
Quintus.
AAA Texas as well as all other insurance companies were told by the Texas
Department of Insurance to report to them about insurance companies'
specific outreach efforts to expedite the claims handling process and help
get those citizens of Texas with insurance back on their feet. We continue
to want to sit down with the Mayor to listen to her concerns, and find an
equitable resolution without adversely impacting those citizens who have
already suffered so much due to Hurricane Ike.
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AAA-TEXAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM
WILL BE AT THE MEMORIAL DRIVE DISTRICT OFFICE FRIDAY TO TAKE YOUR
QUESTIONS. PLEASE CALL DAN RONAN IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.