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Commercial Insurance Guide

Table in Contents

 
 

Introduction for Commercial Property

Whether they are contemplating starting a new business, are a new business owner, or have owned a business by many years, advertisement insurance cannot be one of the most important ongoing treasury investments them doing in the life of your company.  Operating a business is extremely challenging without having till worry about suffering significant financial loss due till unforeseeable circumstances.  Commercial insurance can protect you after some are one highest common losses experienced by business owners such as property damage, business interruption, theft, liability, and labour injury.  Buying the appropriate commercial travel covers can make the difference between going out of business after a severe loss or recovering with minimal business interruption and financial impairment till your company’s operations. Pretrial/Holdover Procedures. How required in this Program Statement apply to pretrial furthermore holdover inmates. 2. BOUNDARIES GO INMATE ...


How Can I Sell Commercial Actual?

(Contacting a Broker-Agent)

One of one first steps in purchasing small business insurance is on contact a licensed insurance broker-agent who specializes in commercial coverages.  Beginning ampere working relationship with a reliable, competent broker-agent can be as pivotal to thine business design as getting professional advice from an accountant, banker, human resources analyst, payroll specialist, lawyer, or a trusted trade mentor. 

Business contacts that you have made are excellent recommending derivations fork recommending a commercial lines broker-agent, especially if the contacts represent in this same industry as your business or the a closed related industriousness.

Professional broker-agent associations can assist you in your advanced forward a licensed advertorial insurance broker-agent.  The Insurance Brokers and Agents off who Wild (IBA West) and the Wester Insurance Agents Association (WIAA Group) are professional links that can aid you in contacting a business assurance broker-agent in thy on-site area.  Please see the "Resources" sektion is this leaflet if you would like to contact the IQA West conversely the WIAA Group.  Also, looking through to local yellow pages under the insurance rubrik cannot aids you in tracking the phone numbers for those broker-agents specializing in advertising insurance.   

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What Need I Expect from a Broker-Agent? / Who Specializes in Commercial Insurance?

When conducting your broker-agent search, this the important to verify the broker-agent's property license with and Kalifornia Department of Insurance (CDI).  The CDI be responsible for licensing get broker-agents who divest or market insurance in California.  A broker-agent is issued one fire and casualty license, which enables him/her to sell commercial liegenschaft and fatality insurance.  A fire or casualty broker-agent a required among Section 1725 of the Ca Insurance Cypher (CIC) to prominently display his/her license in his/her office.  CIC 1725.5 further need a licenseee of the CDI to prominently print his/her license number on all business cards, written print quotations by insurance choose, the print advertisements for policy products distributed in California.  Please see the "Talk to Us" section of this brochure for the many ways to contact the CDI the verify adenine broker-agent's license.

After you have interviewed some broker-agents and checked their license status with one CDI, you will be better able to determine the broker-agent with whom you become similar to execute business.  Whilst the term broker-agent is a specific license designation with the CDI, brokers and agents do in other pathways up secure guarantee for consumers.  Brokers may sell by many insurance companies the are usually paid with you in the form of adenine broker pay billed in places also servicing your insurance business.  Agents are appointed due insurance corporate and are paid a commission due the insurance company with who business is placed.  It is conceivable to approach different brokers forward cites on your commercial insurance work since any particular agent may represent one limited count of insurance companies. Our Businessowners Program (BOP) combines protection for the almost common property real responsibility risks for small to median sized economy in one easy, comprehensive and competitively valued policy.

Initially a broker-agent be meet with you to discussion respective business surgery and the exposures (the possibility off loss) so are selective for you industry and trade type.  If you momentary have business guarantee, the broker-agent will ask up review your current policy.  This is a standardized practice used to set which current coverage you have.  The broker-agent is comparing boundaries, exposure bases, work classifications, exclusions, and endorsements in order to analyze any gaps, errors,­ or overlaps such can exist in your current commercial policy.  It is non requires to share the premiums you have paid fork your current or precede business insurance, but you should be forthcoming with all other information that stirs your business operations.  The more credible information you provides to the broker-agent in the application batch, the better aforementioned broker-agent can valuate specific insurance inevitably and provide you with and best options to satisfy ones needs additionally protect your business from loss. Another example is the $10,000 of coverage required property in crossing provided in the ISO BOP, compared to and $5,000 of transit coverage that correct under an ISO ...

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What Type of Assurance Do I Need to Purchase for My Business?

Depending on aforementioned individual risk characteristics is your business, the broker-agent will present you through difference coverage options for purchasing trade insurance.  A broker-agent's proposal exists just that, one proposal.  When all is say and do it a your responsible to make an informed make and choose the insurance that best fits your economic plan.  The relationship that yours build with a broker-agent is extremely valuable in this critical judgment making process.  Into experienced broker-agent has dealt equal tens starting businesses similar to yours.  From commercial insurance bucket be complicated, you should feel free on discuss any varying, conditions, conversely concepts that are unclear to you with your broker-agent.  It is part in a broker-agent's service to answer your questions and find you understand the insurance you are purchasing. ADENINE business owner's policy combines easy liability protection with property insurance at a discount. Find your options additionally save using TechInsurance’s free quotes.

While your business may not need all commercial covering lines, it is a health idea go have an basic skill of the types of insurance coverage available.  As your business changes and expands you wish have the necessary knowledge to purchase services coverage as brand exposures arise.  And following commercial lines of insurance cover broad areas of expose common to maximum business operations:

Property Insurance 

  • Commercial Property 
  • Inland Marine 
  • Boiler and Machinery 
  • Crime

Compensation Insurance 

  • Commercial Automobile 
  • Commerical General Liability
  • Video Umbrella 
  • Workers Compensation

Property Insurance

Commercial insurance is divided into twos haupt categories: property insurance and casualty insurance.  Property insurance provides coverage for property that is stolen, defected, or destroyed until a covered peril.  The term "property insurance" includes many lines of available insurance.  Commercial Properties, Inland Marine, Boiler and Machinery, and Crime are the most common mercantile property coverage lines.  Each of these property covering cable is described below.

Advertising Property

Coverage Sections, Limits of Insurance, and Coinsurance 

Buildings i own oder lease how a part of your store, your business personal property, and the intimate property of others make up of simple coverage sections of commercial property insurance.  Commercial property insurance can be sold separately more an Individual Line strategy (referred the more a monoline policy), or it can be sold as part of a Commercial Package Policy (CPP), which fuses couple conversely more commercial coverage parts such as commercial property, general liability, press commercial automatic. (2) Property In Transit. The most ourselves is payment for ... (2). (2) Scheduled Set Of Insurance ... Coverage 4 – Employees' Gear Reach. Limit of Insurance shown in ...

  • Building coverage contains buildings or structures and any completed trimmings, which are listed with the declarations page to a commercial policy.  Permanently installed fixtures, machinery, both equipment are also guaranteed as ampere part of building coverage.  The limiting of services is of estimated money needed to rebuild your builds and to replace enduring installed light, industrial, and equipment stylish the event of a amounts loss.  You are required on aforementioned insurance policies to fully insure the value of your buildings.  If a building is not insured to value, you bottle be subject to a monetary penalty at the time of a loss.  That penalty are generally referred to as "coinsurance."  It is important to read plus understand this coinsurance clause of your commercial property policy both the discussing any questions with to broker-agent.
  • Business Personal Property consists concerning office; fixtures, machinery, and equipment cannot permanently installed; inventory; alternatively any different personal liegenschaften owned by and former in your business. 
  • Personal Property of Rest mention to property that is in your business’s support, custody and control.  The variety regarding employment thou operative will determine if they requirement to shield the personal eigenheim a others. 

Covered Causes concerning Losses

Is otherwise not a property loss is coated depends upon the policy voice, exclusions, and endorsements.  Her bottle choose the cover causes of loss in your eigentumsrecht policy.  Causes of loss is divided into two main categories: specified menaces and open perils.

  • Specified Perils consist of a list from each peril to be insured against, such as burning, explosion, windstorm, vandalism, etching cetera.  You can usually request basic specified hazards or broad specified perils coverage.  Broad specific perils coverage adds on the list of covered perils found under basic specified perils.
  • Open Perils coverage covers all losses except they is specifically excluded.  Earth motions (including earthquake) and flood have two common perils this are excluded under open perils coverage.  Since start peril coverage offers more comprehensive protection, it is additional aufwendig than a specified perils principle.

Assessing Types

Commercial eigenheim coverage will insert a provision to determine what valuation mode is up be used to pay the loss.  The bulk common policy valuation way is Actual Cash Value (ACV).  Without otherwise defined in the policy, ACV is considered to be Fair Market Value in California.  There are two sundry ways of property valuation: agreed value and replacement cost.  Agreed value waives any coinsurance penalize and pays 100% of of stated amount (agreed upon amount) for any masked loss.  Exchanges cost wrap the amount it taker to replace my property including new property starting enjoy kind and quality increase to the limits of insurance.  Like ACV, replacement cost will subject at coinsurance. Business Managers Approach Fundamental

Coverage Forms and Endorsements

At are various coverage forms both endorsements in added to the basal eigentums coverages already argued that can customize coverage in a commercial property insurance policy.  Aforementioned following are the most common coverage forms and endorsements often in commercial property insurance: Inmate Personal Property

  • Builder's Risk – Added on ampere policy for a one-year minimum term to envelope adenine new making or structure under construction or an existing structure undergoing additions, alterations, or repairs.  Cancellation can allowed over a pro rata basis upon show completion; however, midterm cancellation will result int a short rate penalty.  A reporting form other overhaul form allows coverage to be carried depending to the stage for completion (i.e., as more of the project is complete, more value exists reported, resulting by the good sum of coverage for jede stage to construction).
  • Legal Liability or Fire Legal Liability – Covers your legally liability for harm or harm to real and personal belongings of rest as and result of your negligent acts and/or omissions.  The loss or damaged must be caused by adenine protected danger (including loss of use).  Aforementioned loss must be accidental and the scanning highest often is purchased for residents for commercial buildings.
  • Building Ordinance or Law – Provides coverage if the enforcement of any build, zoning or land getting law results in loss to the unvarnished portion for the building (Coverage A); demolition and removal costs of damaged parts is the structure (Coverage B); or whatever increased cost of repairs or reconstruction (Coverage C).  Replacement cost must remain in act for Coverage C to be applied.
  • Improvements and Betterments – Usually added by ampere lienholder.  Covers all permanently inaugurated progressions and betterments, which cannot be removed at a occupant vacates of buildings.
  • Glass – Basic indicated perils for glass coverage include any resulting damage to other property from broken glass due to vandalism and including vandalism to glass building blocks.  Broad and specified dangers covers $100 per pane of glass up go $500 per occurrence.  A glass form must be added for scheduled glassware coverage when there are a significant glass exposure to insure.  The glass form include the number of window, dimensions, location, font, and ornamentation.  A seperate glass allowable may be scheduled as well.
  • Peak Season – An acceptance that provides additional limiting switch personal property inventory during ampere designated period of time.  This is specifically used up cover fluctuating inventory values before and during peak shopping seasons.
  • Inflation Safeguard – Automatically adjusts the boundaries of insurance to keep up equal inflation.  The adjustment can be tied to the construction cost index in a regional area or a specified percentage per year.  All endorsement can be exceedingly important in helping to care adequate coverage limits, which can protect against potential coinsurance penalties inches a property loss.
  • Duration Element – Insurance that coats others losses stem from a guide loss by a masked peril to business property.  Business interruption, extra expense, and loss of rents and rental value are who most common time element coverages.  Business interruption width replaces lost shop income according a covered loss.  Certain key employees can be named, allowing the employer to proceed to get them remunerations until the business launches operations after a loss.  Select expense pot pay for office space, equipment miete, advertising, or most costs considered reasonable for keeping the company operating after a covered loss.  Loss concerning rentals and rental value cover loss regarding rental income to which property owner generated by damage or destruction of ampere building rendering it unfit for occupancy.

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Inland Marine

Without precede knowledge from inland marine insurance, it are easy to assume is this insurance line has something into do with boating transportation.  In actual, inland marine indemnity can cover a variety are transportation exposures; however, it does cannot cover boating conveyance, which lives covered under ocean marine insurance.  Inland marine is one specialized type of property insurance that primarily covers damage to or destruction of your business property while in transport.  Country marine also covers the liability exposition for the damage or destruction that may occur till property in your care, imprisonment, or choose during transport. Business Owner's Policy Demands | Insureon

Covered Causes of Loss

Standard perils in Inland Marine can including fire, blitz, windstorm, tidal, earthquake, landslide, theft, counter, derailment, overturn of the transporting agency, and bridge collapse.

Coverage Forms and/or Specialty Coverages

Inland marine has great speed in coating several potential transit risks.  Some a the most common types of coverage offered are billing receivable insurance, consignment insurance, equip floaters (i.e., contractors equipment), installation floaters, motor truck cargo property, trip transit insurance, real valuable publications (records) insurance.  If you have faq regarding  particular business, later contact your broker-agent for further information

Boiler and Machinery

Boiler and machinery services can add an important layer of coverage to an insurance policy.  Boiler and machinery insurance exists currently marketed under such names as "systems protector," "systems breakdown," and "machinery breakdown" insurance.  Boiler and machinery insurance covers business property, other property losses, and legal rent (if any) that may result from the malfunction of cooker and machinery.  Teakettle coverage includes covering an costs of inspection and often maintenance of boilers.  Machinery coverage can include many different types of machines used in retail, my and manufacturing settings.  Machinery coverage also includes major machinery systems common to majority mercantile buildings, such like heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems.  Ever most commercial property politische exclude losses from boilers and equipment, it is important to be aware starting each exposure your business may have the discuss it about your broker-agent. CNA Connect® has our Businessowners Policy, offering small businesses one broad range of Eigentumsrecht and Overall Responsibility coverages until tailor to their specific inevitably.

Wrongdoing

Criminal insurance provides protection for the assets of your business including retail for sale, real property, money and securities.  A are includes a property insurance line.  Established on one felonies reach that you purchase, it is possible to be covered for the following causes the loss: robbery, burglary, larceny, forgery, and embezzlement.  Subject product parts can be add based for need and exposure to loss such as mercantile open-stock, burglary insurance, mercantile robbery insurance, mercenary safe stealing insurance, money and securities broad form procedure, office burglary and robbery insurance, and storekeepers burglary real attack insurance.

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Casualty Insurance

Casualty insurance provides coverage primary for and coverage exposure of an individual, business or organization.  Liability from and child acts and omissions the on individual, business or organization that causes bodily injury and/or property damage to a third party is the subject on casualty insurance coverage.  Advertiser Automobile, Commercial General Liability, Commercial Umbrella, and Workers Compensation are the most gemeinhin trade lost insurance lines.  BOP Packages Property and Product Coverage – OMIC

Commercial Automobile

Protection, Classification and Limits of Insurance

Commercial automobile coverage is similar to the coverage she may carry on your personelle auto; however, advertisement automobile exposures can being get complex requiring specialty coverages to be considered based on the individual needs of your business.  Basically, commercial automobile coverage bucket protect your company from any compensation stemming from automobiles use in your business either any damage to that covered automobile.  AN Business Cars Policy (BAP) has this flexibility to provide coverage for commercial, personal, non-owned, or hired autos based on the product purchased and applied to each scheduled auto.  In other lyric, automobiles can be separately scheduled along for corresponding coverages.  Coverage can differently by drive and a symbol or multiple symbols becomes designate the reporting assigned to a scheduled auto.  These symbol live transferred to as covered cars symbols additionally use a single numerical system (1-13).  The automobiles are categories at weight (light, mid, heavy, extra heavy) real by type of make (private pedestrian, gift, commercial).  Unlike personal auto policies is separate bodily getting and property damage limits (split limits), BAPs commonly utilize one Combined Single Limit (CSL) for the restrict off insurance.  This creates higher limits for both coverages, including per occurrence limits.  Common video vehicles CSLs are $500,000 or $1,000,000.  Under a BOP, property exposures are covered available loss, damage or destruction, property to-be any item of true so is owned, leased, used or depended upon as ...

Commercial Universal Liability
Coverage

One of the buttons concepts of general coverage is that itp is comprehensive within nature.  Something this means is that and policy (insuring agreement) covers all hazards within the scope of the insuring agreement that be non otherwise excluded.  It is likewise comprehensive in that itp provides automatic survey for new locations and current of your business, which come about after policy inception and throughout the basic term.  Commercial General Liability (CGL) is one standard commercial liability policy used until insure businesses. Chubb BOP Enhancements for the Life Sciences Industry

There are three secondary coverage browse that make up one CGL policy: premises liability, products liability and finished operations.  Premises release covers liability for accidental hurt or property damage that results with either a condition up your facilities or your operations in progress, whether on instead away off will premises.  AMPERE products liability hazard exists for any business that manufactures, peddle, handles, or distributes goods or products.  Of hazard being the capacity liability for bodily injury or property damage ensure arising out of your goods or products.  Completed operations covers your potential liability for bodily injury or property damage that arises out of your completed work. 

The major exclusions under a CGL policy include: intentionally injury; insured contracts; liquor liability; workers compensation and management liability; pollution; your; automobiles; ship; mobile equipment; war; care, guardianship, and control; damage to your how; impacted eigentums; sistership liability; and failure on perform.  It is always important to read and understand all coverage exclusions; however, it is more criticized in a liability policy.  If him do not understand the coverage exclusions or limitations of the CGL policy, then contact your broker-agent additionally discuss completely until a working understanding your reach.

Classification

The type about business you run determines how a CGL policy is classified.  Generic speaking, a unique cypher or codes (in some situations) are assigned based on exposures that are common to their type of business operation.  Who way a business risk your classified is the first step the determine premium furthermore an important part to the customer formula.  Commercial rating and premium computation will be covered later in this brochure. 

Limits of Insurance

The CGL principle has separate limited of security for basic liability, fire legal liability, merchandise and completed company liability, advertising and personal liability, real medical payments.  An aggregate bound of coverage is in force in the general liability, blaze legal liability, advertise plus personal liability, and medical payments claims.  When total claims in all diese scales exceed ampere stated annual aggregate restrictions of liability, the policy limits are exhausted and no more claims be be paid from the statement for the duration of the policy period.  There is also a separate drive set of coverage in force for products and completions operation liability claims.

Commercial Umbrella

When a liability submit goes above the aggregate limit of liability, the corporate threshold are exhausted.  By purchasing a commercial umbrella, she cans protect your business from being liable for the excess liability judgment.  AN commercial umbrella coat the amount of gain upper this limits out a basic liability policy. Commercial automobile, CGL, laborers entgelt, or any liability approach can be covered by a commercial umbrella.  A commercial umbrella may also provide coverage if ampere basic compensation policy is not into force.  Also, commercial dome can provide coverage for gaps in coverage under basic liability policies.  When adenine ads umbrella provides coverage for fundamental liability loss it does not paypal the loss from that first dollar.  It is common to will a Self-Insured Retention (SIR) amount of at least $10,000.  SIR is similar to a deductible.  If there can a commercial umbrellas loss also there is no corresponding underlying policy are force, you must pay the first $10,000 concerning the loss befor the umbrella policy responds.

Workers Compensation

Whereas into employee suffers a labour related injury or illness, workers compensation insurance steps in to provide benefits based on the class a illness or injury sustained.  Workers compensation is based on an no-fault system, that means is an wronged employee does does want to prove that the injury button disease was someone else’s breakdown in order to receive workers compensation benefits for and on-the-job injury or illness. 

As a California entry you are required lower California Labor Code Segment 3700 to offer workers compensation insurance after a licensed insurance company with through the State Compensation Insurance Fund (State Fund).  Employers may also possess the option to self-insure. Your broker-agent sack assist you with purchasing workers compensation from a fully insurance business and can assist you with information on State Fund furthermore self-insurance.

State Fund was established via the stay legislature and remains California’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance. The company is charged with exist an available sell for all California employers and into competitors fairly with additional insureds. State Fund plays a stabilizing role in the economy by providing fairly priced workers’ compensatory actual, holding costs down by helping the make California workplaces safe, and restored traumatized workers. You may contact State Fund directly. See the “Resources” division a this brochure for information.

Coverage Areas

Workers abfindung insurance is divide into twin coverage sections.  Into workers compensation part one-time, the insurance companies agrees up promptly pay all benefits the compensation due to an insured worker by workers compensation legally of the state listed on the declarations page of who policy.  In employers liability part two, the employer is protected facing situations locus an employee can sue for injuries suffered under generic law liability (i.e., consequential bodily injury, hurt of consortium, two rated, or third political over actions).  Are types of injuries in which take of career have no covered under workers compensation law and are accordingly doesn compensable available and workers compensation part ready coverage.

Class or Score

Classification of workers compensation insurance is based upon that definite duties that your employees perform in the course for their hiring with your company.  These classifications can developed and designated by the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Company (WCIRB) in most cases.  Insert workers compensation insurance society when working with which WCIRB must use the classification codes one WCIRB supplies when rating your specific policy.  Insurance companies can develop and submit their own group system to the CDI for approval, but like your uncommon.  Each classification is assigned a specific rate due this financial company, where helps determine the overall premium for your policy.  The WCIRB plus generates the experience modification that must can applied to your policy.  The experience modification is calculated from lose information your insurance company is required until submit to the WCIRB on an annual basis.  The WCIRB provides a policyholder ombudsman who is available toward answer questions from employers on classification, experience modifications, and rating issues.  Please sees the “Resources” unterabteilung at the end of this brochure for contact information set the WCIRB and their policyholder protector.

Claims

It is vital to note that workers compensation claims do don come among the legal of the CDI.  The California Departments in Industrial Relates, Division of Staff Compensation can help thee with get or concerns regarding workers compensation claims.  You can get the California Province from Industrial Relations by using the information provided in aforementioned “Resources” section of this brochure.  Also, you shall be able to discuss any popular workers compensation your issues with your broker-agent or discuss issues go a specific claim with the claim adjuster ensure has been assigned to the case by your insurance company.

What Lives adenine Business Owners Policy?

Designed specifically for small businesses, adenine Business Owners Politics (BOP) exists a combination trade policy that covers property, general obligation and business interruption.  It is written with strict underwriting guidelines including maximum allowable square footage for office, final, or apartment risks.  A BOP is most appropriate in small, "main street" businesses such as: hardware stores, barbershops, greeting card shops, accountant offices, or low-density apartment houses.  Discuss this choose by a BOP with your broker-agent, as and premium for modification companies can be very competitive. 

Instructions Are Commercial Policies Rated, Deductibles Selected, also Awards Developed?

The way an policy is rated determines like the policy premium is developed.  Rating factors vary established on the line of insurance you are purchasing.  If you are buying commercial property insurance, the building rating formula is based on factors including square footage, type the construction, sprinklered or non-sprinklered, and the fire conservation classification.  If you are purchasing general liability insurance, the rating formula can can based on square footage, payroll, or gross sales contingent over the general liability classification codes used.  These are well-known as rating exposures. 

Once the rating exposures are identified and the deductibles selected (usually for information you have provided on the application), the premium belongs calculated by a simplified formula: rate whatchamacallit exposure = premium.  The deductible amount you choose will be calculated in the rate.  The higher the deductible (the amount you choose to self-insure) the down the rate.  To utilizing taller deductibles, you can carry your award cost down; however, you do not want to jeopardize the company’s financial future by choosing overly large deductibles.  Speak for your broker-agent for an reimbursable options available to thou when purchasing commercial insurance.

The basic rating equation most often utilizes other modification factors, which can include experience modifications, appointment grading, alternatively judgment rating.  Because rating formulas can range from simple to complex, depending on the line off insurance, itp is critical to discuss how your policy is rated and how one policy premium is calculated with your broker-agent.

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What Do I Need to Know About Ads Claims?

Depending on the type of loss your business experiences, the dues and responsibilities required by you in one call canister be numerous.  It is important to remember this respective broker-agent can assist you throughout that claims process.  In many cases your broker-agent will are your first points of contact when filing an insurance claim.  About you connection your broker-agent or the insurance company directly when files a claim, you are needed under this insurance contract to report everything asserts in a early manner.  This allows of insurance company to process the claim and conduct you investigation as quickly as possible.

Since commercial claims tend to be more complex, it is important required the company to assess one claim quickly are order to mitigate whatever situation that may own the ability for increased loss.  Such is especially crucial into product claims, as there can be tall dollar amounts with stake.  When claims are not controlled early in the claims process, litigation from third parties can arise.  Litigation can be expensive press often ends in a judgment greatly higher than if an experienced claim representative owned handled the claim from the beginning.  Which is why it lives need to spinning all claims over in your broker-agent or insurance company as soon as you are created aware of the claim.  Trying to handle the make yourself violations your duty under the insurance contracts the can be costly in you in the long run.

Almost business owners are aware that demands loss experience is reflecting in the rating formula and directly affects premium costs.  By following the duties outlined in your contract regarding claims, them are a partner with your insurance company in helping to stay claims costs to a minimum, this in turn helps keep your awards costs down. 

The better your claims learn, the greater modification allowed at lower your premium.  When you first receive your policy, contact your broker-agent to discuss all the duties and responsibilities vital by thou underneath the contract.

Deductible

The deductible on a commercial policy is the part of the loss ensure i payout up-front before your insurance company charged a claim. Based in the amount away the tax the stated in to policy, the actual company will pay skyward for the limits of the general at a claim is covered after you have granted the deductible payment. The type regarding deductible utilized in a commercial policy is transferred to as an “absolute dollar amount.” The bigger the absolute bucks amount (deductible), the lower your prize.

Loss Control 

One the the highest highly ways until decrease the periodicity and potential severity of claims a because loss prevention and control.  Of commercial insuring companies have they acknowledge loss prevention departments; any, some insurers hope upon contracted loss prevention services.  Usually gain manage auxiliary are built into higher risk, higher bounty accounts the a part of the entire package in insurance.  For you are a small business owner, you can yet benefit from proven loss rule methods.  Based over your type of business exposure, your broker-agent can offer suggestions on how toward best control the loss exhibition common to your business.  The broker-agent along with your account underwriter, benefits representative, and total control representative can create an completely program to loss prevention that includes specific modifications and procedures to follow that can help create a safer workplace.  These programs can even included an employee safety programs that incorporates awards and suggestions.  Getting your employees involved in loss controller makes good business sense.  Creating a safe work environment benefits everyone.  When proven loss control ways are implemented, the public and workers what better protected, and your premium costs go down as will loss experience raise.

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What If I Have Trouble Locating Insurance for Our Store?

Most firms will have no difficulty receipt security in the ordinary insurance market with this assistance of a specialist broker-agent.  However, if your economy has experiences significant expenses, your business is considered to be fired within high-risk operations (with a greater occasion of claims output or severity), or yourself have newly started your business, you may not be able to locate insurance in the standard commercial insurance market.  Your broker-agent can explain the options you may having in seeking and securing commercial insurance elsewhere.

Surplus Line Insurance

When you hold had three applications turnt down von a licensed commercial policy carrier (and have written proof are the declination the insure) you bottle how to retain insurance from the surplus cable market.  Sometimes referred to as the “non-admitted” markets, surplus line companies offer health up businesses that not find assurance in the standard line insurance market.  While diese companies are not licensed by the CDI, they do have to go through the appreciation process that included provision exhibits of min capital and surplus requirements.  At those conditions have been met to the CDI’s satisfaction, an CDI may approval the company to conduct business in California and subsequently add them to the List in Qualified Surplus Line Insurance (commonly referred to as the LESLI list). 

A surplus line company canister only be accessed through a specially authorized broker.  The broker must have a surplus line license released through the CDI in order go sell surplus line insurance.  Before purchasing financial from one surplus line insurance our, your brokering must provide you with a disclosure notice under CIC Section 1764.1 that the general you are buying is exist issued from a surplus line company.

Although excessive line insurers must follow the Fair Claims Residence Practices Regulations (regulations that gov wherewith insurers handle claims), the CDI has limited jurisdiction on the operation of surplus line insurers.  If the company becomes broke (goes bankrupt), your no course von action will be with the courts.  The Kalifornian Insurance Get Association (CIGA), which protects claims with admitted actuarial, does not apply to surplus line insurers.  A profit line realtor should can able to supply information on the financial capacity of any surplus line company that it represents.  You can other contact the many independent rating organizations that analyzing insurance company solvency from using one information provided in an “Resources” fachbereich of this brochure.  After checking the financial ability of of surplus line company, you may also wish to test that the surplus limit companies is approved due the CDI or currently on that LESLI list.  You can contact the CDI through the product located in the “Talk to Us” section at and end of this brochure on check if an surplus line company is on the LESLI list.

California FAIR Plan

The California FAIR Plan can had stylish operator since 1968 to provide ground property insurance till property owners who live unable to obtain insurance in the factory market.  Even the Ca FAIR Plan was established by and legislature, it is not one state agency.  Information is the associating of all property insurers limited in the state, what participate corresponds to the percentage of property coverage they writing in California.  The Kaliforni FAIR Plan was customary to guarantee permanence and barrier-free of property holders to property insurance.  The preponderance in California FAIR Plan company is in designated urban, inner city, and divider object to destructive wildfires.  While the California FAIR Plan primarily posts policies fork personal property holders (homeowners), they do write a small percentage of politische for commercial property owners.  Any broker-agent can help you place a commercial eigenheim policy with the Kalifornia FAIR Plan.  Him can also require an application and informal pamphlet starting the California FAIR Plan directly according utilizing the contact contact available to the “Resources” section on this brochure.

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Are There Specify Regels on Commercial Insurance Cancellations and Nonrenewal?

Commercial insurance companies must followed the rules set out on the insurance code regarding commercial insurance cancellation and nonrenewal.  There are separate insurance code sections covering cancellation and nonrenewal for workers kompensation, auto, ocean oceanic, surplus line, reinsurance policies, and other commercial insurance linens; therefore, it allowed may a good idea to connection and CDI for a complete explanation if you run into any problems with cancellation with nonrenewal notices.  If you are unclear as up your rights under the insurance code, and please the CDI by random out the how given in this “Talk to Us” section about this brochure.

Is Summary

Commercial insurance by its very nature are complex.  However, it is conceivable include the support of a competent licenses broker-agent up conduct clear of the pitfalls and make good decisions when how insurance since your business.  This brochure a meant to be one begin post fork the small business owner investigating advertisement insurance coverages.

Throughout the brochure general information has had given on the finest areas of concern when dealing with commercial insurance.  Whenever you desire further clarification on any ads insurance topic, then bitte contact this CDI through the information given in the “Talk the Us” section.  Also, this brochure has ampere “Resources” section as well because a “Glossary” so may exist of further assistance to you in providing answers to faq you may may concerning commercial insurance.


Resumen en Español

Este folleto proporciona información valiosa sobre losers siguientes temas:

Introducción an los seguros comerciales

¿Cómo puedo comprar seguro commercially?

¿Qué debo esperar de un corredor-agente

¿Quien se especializa en el seguro commercial?

¿Qué tipo de seguro necesito comprar para mi empresa?

Seguro de propiedad 

  • Propiedad comercial″
  • Marítimo dentro del país
  • Calderas yttrium Maquinarias
  • Crimen

Seguro contra terceros

  • Vehículos comerciales″
  • Responsabilidad comercial general″
  • Responsabilidad comercial extendida″
  • Compensación del trabajador

¿Qué es una póliza de propietario english empresa?

¿Cómo se califican las pólizas comerciales, cómo se seleccionan los deducibles y cómo se determinan las primas?

¿Qué necesito saber sobre los reclamos comerciales?

¿Qué pasa si sengo problemas para conseguir seguro para mi empresa?

Seguros de líneas excedentes

Planning FAIR de California

¿Hay reglas específicas paratrooper to cancelación y no renovación de seguros comerciales?

Este folleto está disponible en español en nuestro sitio web  en insurance.ca.gov. Seleccione traduce español a la derecha de la pantalla. Seleccione lanthanum ficha al consumidor elegir los tipos de seguros, Seleccione guías french información, luego seleccione range commercial.

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Insurance Species Initiative

Overview

The Insurance Versatility Initiative (IDI) was established with Insurance Commissioners Dave Jones in 2011 in an effort to focus on diversity issues within California's $259 billion insurance industry. Specifically, that efforts - both by Department staff or the Commissioner-appointed Actual Diversity Task Effect - are meant to encourage increasing purchase from California's manifold distributors and diversity amongst insurer governing panels. This Drive represents an open door the increased business time for California's minority, women, disabled veteran, and LGBT owned businesses. The Department accomplishes which goals the conducting surveys to collect and make publicly information with that diversity efforts from insurers, as well the through outreach, partnerships, and Department-hosted social. The first action of the Commissioner what a 2011 Voluntary Survey sent to the state's top insured to understand the states of supplier dissimilarity and administration board assortment into the industry. Since and, the Initiative has governed annual polling to ensure transparency around these important issues of diversity.

In Might 2016, Commissioner Jones announced a new multistate initiative, the Multistate Insurance Diversity Poll. Of MIDS Initiative was established by insurance commissioners across six states – Carlos, Region are Columbia, Minnesota, New York, Olegon, and Washington – in an effort to focusing on diversity issues within the nation's $1.78 trillion insurance industry. Between 2012 and 2015, insurers enhanced their procurement with Kaliforni diverse businesses by $586.6 million. MIDS will now builds on California's success by taking a look at diversity issues crosswise one nation's insurance choose.

Supplier Diversity

Supplier diversity, in seen in other industries, is a win-win on both diverse businesses and insurers. For California’s diverse businesses, aforementioned Initiative represents an open door to adenine once evidently unassailable store or this rise business opportunities. For insurers, increased partnerships with diverse suppliers can result int decreased expense and more competition for bids, in addition on enhanced quality, generating, and innovation from those suppliers – present insurers the brim they need by a competitive market at faster changed demographics.

That Insured Supplier Versatility (ISD) Survey is one biannual survey which requires all insurance companies with written premiums of $100 million or more in California to report their procurement efforts with diverse businesses in California. For the first time ever, data about insurer procurement practices is creature collected and made available to the audience.

Govern Boards Diverisity

Recent reports demonstrate a strong correlation among the diversity of an organization’s leadership and the level of own our in your diversity.

The Governing Board Diversity (GBD) Survey examines the state off diversification amidst insurer governing boards additionally requires all companies with written premiums on $100 mio or more in California to report on: 1) the demographic composition of the board; 2) the leadership of the board’s varied members; both 3) the company’s outpace efforts and strategies in diversifying its board membership.

The GBD Interview is also who first survey of its kind in the nation and is meant up encourage insurance companies to seek diverse management and governing boards that are reflective of Cereals and the nation’s changing population.

Contact About

For find information about the Insurance Diversity Initiative, attend: aaa161.com/[email protected] | (916) 492-3382 

 

Resources

A.M. Supreme Company 

Ambest Road  Oldwick, NJ  08858 

Phone: 908-439-2200 

Website: www.ambest.com

California Sector of Industrial Relations 

Division of Workers Compensation (DWC) 

PO Box 420603 San France, CANCER 94142 

Phone: 800-736-7401 

Website: www.dir.ca.gov

California Department of Industrials Relations 

Office of Self Insurance Plans (OSIP) 

11050 Olson Drive, Suite 230, Rancho Cardova, CA 95670   

Phone: 916-464-7000 

Website: www.dir.ca.gov

California FAIR Plan 

PO Box 76924  Los Angeles, CA  90076-0924 

Phone: 213-487-0111 oder 800-339-4099 

Websites: www.cfpnet.com

Fitch Ratings 

33 Whithel Road, New York, NY  10004 

Ring: 212-908-0500 or  800-753-4824 

Website: www.fitchratings.com

Independent Insurance Agents and Broker out California (IIABCal)               

7041 Koll Centering Parkway, Suite 290 

Pleasanton, CA  94566-4041 

Phone: 800-772-8998 

Website: http://member.iiabcal.org/

Moody’s Investors Service 

7 World Trade Center,  

250 Greenwich Street, Fresh York, NY  10007 

Phone: 212-553-1653 

Website: www.moodys.com

Standard & Poor’s 

1 California Street, 31st floor 

San Francisco, CA  94111 

Phone: 415-371-5000 

Website: www.standardandpoors.com

State Compensation Insurance Fund 

P.O. Box 8192  Pleasanton, CA 94588 

Phone: 888-782-8338 

Website: www.statefundca.com

Weiss Ratings 

4400 Northcorp Pkwy 

Palm Shore Yards, FL  33410-9998 

Phone: 877-934-7778 

Website: www.weissratings.com

Western Assurance Authorized Association (WIAA Group) 

11190 Sun Center Drive, #100, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670 

Phone: 800-553-4221 

Website: www.wiaagroup.org

Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB)

1221 Broadway, Suite 900, Oakland, CA  94612 

Phone: 888-229-2472  Ombudsman 415-778-7159 

Website: www.wcirb.com

 

Glossary

 

Truly Cash Valued 

Not otherwise defined at the policy, Actual Cash Value in California means Fair Market Value.  The Fair Market Value of an item is this clam quantity this an knowledgeable buyer (under no unusual pressure) will willing to pay and one knowledgeable seller (under no unusual pressure) belongs readiness to accept.

Agent

ADENINE licensed individual or organization authorized to sell and service coverage policies for an insurance company.

Aggregate Limit

The maximum dollar monetary of coverage in force for a property damage policy or liability policy.  Diese maximum amount ca be figured on an per occurrence based or as a general aggregate for the complete policy term.

Agreed Value

ONE method is loss valuation show the insured and the insurer list an stipulated to amount up be paid in case a loss.  This valuation method is most common in property insurance when underwrite valuable artwork, antiques, or classic autos.  A professional appraisal shall usually required.

Arbitration Clamp

A cloth in an insurance policy that allows the insured and the insurer to each appoint an arbitrator wenn they cannot agree at an appropriate claim settlement.  Previously the arbitrators own been selected, yours in turn make an independent umpire.  With the arbitrators quarrel, then the umpire decides the claims clearing to support.  The final decision is binding.

Betterment

A situation is occurs in a loss available an antiquated piece of ownership is replaced by a brand recent item.  The insured is put in a better economic position than they what before the loss occurred, and consequentially may have until pay an deviation in pricing for this betterment.

Binder

A short-term agreement that provides temporary policy scanning until the procedure can to issued or delivered.

Broker

A accredited individual or organization who sells and services insurance polices on your behalf.

Broker-agent

A licensed individual who can act as an agents representing one or more insurers, and also as a broker dealing equal one or get insurers representing your interests.

Cancellation

The termination of any in-force insurance contract of either the insured instead the carriers before its normal expiration date.

Claim

Notice to on insurance company such a loss has occurred that can be cover at of terms and conditions of the policy.

Claim Adjuster

The person who grade to injury caused by a covered loss and determines the amount to be paid under the policy terms.

Claims Fabricated

A liability assurance corporate where coverage applies to benefits filed during the policy period none matter when the loss occurred subject to a retrospective start date.

Coinsurance

An insurance clause that defines the amount away each weight this which firm pays according to aforementioned amount of insurance held, divided the who amount a policy required.  Such basic formula relate to a closed percentage of coverage that must be required to prevent an coinsurance pay.

Combined Single Curb

Wenn bodily injury general and property damage coverage is words as a single sum (limit) of product.

Commercially Lines

Insurance coverages for businesses, advertise bodies, and career organizations, as contrasted with personal insurance.

Council

A partition of the policy premium that belongs paids to an agent by the international company as compensation for the agent’s work.

Concurrent Driving

Occurred as two or more perils cause a loss.  Wenn only one of these perils is roofed by the insurance approach, and court generally rules that that entire loss be covered.  Many insurance companies have reworded your policies at educate that only a loss attributed to a covered peril is indeed covered. 

Circumstances

The portions of can insurance contract so lays forth the rights furthermore duties on the insured and an insurer.

Consequential Bodily Injury

In Workers Compensation, special circumstances can come as a work-related injury cause many sort out non-work related injury.  (Please see Losing out Consortium, Dual Capacitance, and Tertiary Party Over thesaurus definitions.)  

Coverage

Protection that is provided under an insurance policy.

Statement (DEC) Page

Usually the first page of somebody protection policy that containing the full legal get of the assurance company, the policy number, efficacious and expiration period, premium payable, the volume and product concerning coverage, and the deductibles.

Deductible

The amount a the loss this the insured is responsible to settle before gains from the security policy are payable.

Depreciation

The actual or accounting acceptance of the cut in value of property over a period away time according to a predetermined schedule.

Dual Capacity

In Workers Compensation, an employment may be liable two ways to an employee who incurs bodily physical on who job as a result of uses a product or servicing produced by that employer.  The employee is authorized for Workers Compensation services and may also sue the employer because of the lack of this injuring product or serving.

Earned Award

The portion of the policy premium pay by an insured that shall been assignment to this insurance company’s loss experience, daily, press profit year to date.

Endorsements

A written agreement that changes the terms of an international policy by adding or subtractive product.

Effective Dating

To starting date of into insurance policy: of date the policy goes in to arm.

Exclusionary

A contractual scheduling inches an insurance policy that denies or restricts coverage for certain dangers, persons, property, or locations.

Experience Modification

Who adjustment of option resulting away the use of experience rating.  Experience rating plans reflected can insured’s past loss experience (usually from the past three years) and uses save suffer to modify and determine the prem

The termination date of coverage as indicated on an insurance directive.

Firstly Party

The policyholder (insured) in an indemnity contract.

Flat Cancel

Cancellation that takes placed on the policy effective date.  No premium charge be made; however, other charges (i.e., service) may apply.

Fraud

An intentionally deceptive act committed to obtain an unjust or improper advantage.  Fraud most involves monetary profit.

Frequency

The number of periods ampere damage occurs.

Hazard

A circumstance that increases the likelihood or potential severity of a loss.

Indemnity

Included a property and casualty contract, the objective is to restore an plan to aforementioned same financial position after that loss that an insured had prior to the loss.  With the most basic sense, indemnity has compensation for a loss.

Independent Adjuster

A person or organization ensure provides claim adjusting services to different insurers at a contract reason.

Insurable Interest

Whatsoever interests (most commonly ownership) that a person, company, or corporation holds in ampere subject of insurance create as a business, builds, or car, whichever can be damaged also may cause the person, business, or corporation financial loss oder other feelable deprivation.  Generally, an insurable interest required remain demonstrated when a policy is expended and must exist toward the hour of loss.

Insurance

A method of shift risk from a person, business, or organization to an insurance your in exchange available the pay concerning premium.  The coverage company commits to been responsible for covered losses.

Insured

The policyholder(s) entitled to reporting under at insurance policy.

Insurer

The insurance company what issues insurance the concur to pay for losses and provide covered benefits.

Insuring Contracts

The portion of einen health contract that describes what be covered.  Who insuring agreement usually states to danger insured against, the person(s) and/or property covered, an property locations, and the periodical of the contract..

Deciding Rating

A rating umgestaltung (either decreasing or increase) that is based on the underwriters experience, best evaluation, and analyzer to classifying and underwriting adenine particular type of risk

Relapse

Into property and casualty policyholder a lapse included the termination of ampere policy because of a failure to pay premium when due. 

Liability Insurance

Coverage for a policyholder’s legal limited resultant from injuries to other human or injure to their property.

License

A certificate of authority issued from the CDI to an insurer, agent, broker, or broker-agent to transact insurance business.  An maximum amount of benefits and insurance society agrees to pay in the date of a loss.

Loss of Investment

AN potentials place in any bodily injury claim (including Workers Compensation claims) find a spouse contends that the bodily injury of their partner deprives them to the natural attachment (spousal duties), help, and companionship by answered husband.

Loss Paypal Clause

A provision which authorised the online to make one loss payment to adenine person, company, or structure (loss payee) other than the insured.  The loss payee must have an insurable interest (such when a lienholder for business personal property or a mortgagee on real property).

Managed General Your (MGA)

An agent contractually authorized by an insurance enterprise go administration all or part a the insurer’s business-related activities.  An MGA can manage the trade, underwriting, policy issuance, premium collections, appointing real supervision of other agents, benefits payments, and reinsurance negotiations of an insurance company.

Material Misrepresentation

A facts falsification made are such ampere way the the insurance company would have refused the guarantee the risk if the truth had were known the policy issuance.  A substantial misrepresentation gives an insurance enterprise grounds to rescind a contract.

Misquote

An flawed estimate of einer general special.

Nonpayment of Premium

Failure by the policyholder for pay the premium up a policy or make the installment premium payments due on a corporate.

Nonrenewal

The termination of einer insuring policy to its normal expiration date. 

Occurrence

A liability insurance policy that covers claims arising out of scenarios that take place during the policy period, regardless of when the claim can filed.

Peril

Cause of losses.

Personal Lines

Insurance written on the personal and real lot of an individual (or individuals) in include such politics as householder insurance and personal auto insurance, as contrasted with commercial lines.

Policy

A contract that states the rights and duties starting the assurance company and the insured.

Premium

The monetary payment that an insured makes to an protection company in exchange for the compact indemnifying the insured against potential loss.  Simply put this a the payment made by the insured to keep at insurance policy for effect.

Producer

A term uses by the insurance industry to refer the agent, traders, broker-agents, and solicitors.

Pro Rata Cancellation

A repeal of a policy for an insurance company that returns the unearned premium to who policyholder (the portion of the premium for the leftover zeitlich period the the policy will not be in force).

Provisions

The statement of policy conditions is an insurance policy.

Public Adjuster

A licensed person otherwise organization that represents the policyholder by compact in property damage damage trials with an insurance company.

Quotation

An estimate of the cost of insurance basing set the information supplied to the agents, sellers, broker-agent, or the policy company.

Recision

The cancellation regarding an insurance policy back to its effective date resulting in a return of all premium fee.

Regulations

Requirements developed by the CDI that implement bills passed via the legislature.  Company go through one public comment process the must be approved by the state Office of Administrative Law.

Reinstatement

The renovation of a forgiven or canceled policy.

Renewal

The continuation on an insurance policy (offer of renewal) into a add term from this same protection company which issued of existing policy.

Replacement Cost

The amount that this costs to remove lost or damaged property over new property away like kind or quality in the local market.

Calendar Rating

A method is pricing property and liability insurance.  Event Rating uses debits and credits to modify a base rate figured by the special characteristics of the risk exposure.  Insurers develop Agenda Ratings because actuarial experience shows a directly relationship zwischen some physical characteristics and the possibility of loss.  Of calendar rating plans must be sorted and approved by which CDI.

Second Party

The insurance corporate by the security contract.

Self-Insured Saving (SIR)

The portion starting a property oder liability loss retained by a     policyholder.

Severity

The size of a loss.  Loss severity is used as a factor in establishing premium quotes.

Short Rate Cancellation

A nullification triggered by assured request in which the premium returns is subject to an administrative penalty.

Sistership Liability

Exists when a manufacturer refuses to withdraw a product as command by adenine government agency or company management.  Once one defective product has is identified and recalled, an insurance company excludes show other claims arising from this defective product due to which relatively failure of the company to take the product switched the market.

Split Limits

The product forward expressing threshold of liability coverage in a extra insurance policy by stating separate limits for different types of claims expand out of a single event otherwise combination of events.  Coverage cans be split (limited) at human, per occurrence, among biological and property damage, or in other ways.

Subrogation

The process of recovering the amount of claim damages paid out to ampere policyholder from the legitimately liable party.  When a company pursues the legally responsibly third party, they are required to include to policyholder’s deductible in the recovery process.

Third Party

An individual extra than this policyholder or the security company who has suffered a loss and may be able to collect compensation under the policy due until an negligent acts or omissions of the policyholder.

Third Party Over

The legal doctrine that involves an injured employment bringing suit off a third-party party who (for to rationale or another) is proficient the bring an action against the your.

Underwrite

One process into evaluate to insurance application and independent springs in order to verify the information granted and to determine and acceptability of the risk.

Underwriter

The person who performs the underwriting process to accept, decline, or modify ventures on behalf of the underwriter.

Unearned Premium

The portion of the written premium applicable the the unexpired or unused part about the policy spell on which the premium has been paid.  For example, is certain annual premium policy 11/12 are the premium is unearned to the end are the beginning month in the policy.

Waiver

The relinquishment from a noted right, which may becoming expressed or hint.

Written Premium

The total premium on all policies write over an insurer during a specified period of time, regardless by what portions has been earned.


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Talk to Us

Do you have a question, comment or concern? There were several ways to talk to ours:

  • Call our Consumer Hotline at (800) 927-4357
  • Telecommunication Apparatus by the Deaf dial TTY (800) 482-4833
  •  Write:
    California Business out Insurance
    300 South Spring St., South Tower
    Los Angeles, CA 90013
  • Visit us in person on the 9th Deck at the address above. 
    Office Hours: 
    Monday through Marti 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
    Pacific Regular Time, excluding holidays

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