Action: Incorrect address delayed insurance refund

I am writing for my 88-year-old mother. On Feb. 8, she received the enclosed letter of nonrenewal, as of May 10, of her homeowners insurance through GE Homeowners Insurance Program, based on risk of hurricane claims.

On April 1, I called and spoke to an agent and requested a cancellation of the remainder of the insurance and a refund for the one month and 10 days that were left. I was told to fax the request, which I did that day. After getting no response, I wrote again June 3. There has yet to be a reply.

My mother lived in that home for more than 50 years and had her insurance with that company for many years without a claim. Last fall she was burglarized and could have -- and should have -- filed a claim for her losses, but she did not. Because of the mental trauma the burglary caused her and her age, she did not want to be bothered.

She has since moved, and I'm trying to get the small refund for her. Her yearly premium was about $425. She is owed around $45. Sharon Karsen

Response: Your arithmetic is good. Sue Mauck, regional underwriting team leader with GE Homeowners Insurance Program in Phoenix, said the company's records indicate a refund of $42.90 was sent April 5. However, it was sent to the wrong address. A new check will be sent to the correct one.

Recent recalls

The following products, distributed nationwide and in Florida, were recalled between Oct. 4 and 10:

-- About 1,000 Plan Toys pull-along caterpillars by BRIO Corp.; the antenna on the pull toy can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. The bright red and yellow recalled wooden pull-along caterpillar is 7 inches long and is pulled by a nylon string. Call toll-free 1-888-274-6869 between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays.

-- About 3,500 baby walkers, sold in Arizona, California, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina and New York by Oriental International Trading Co.; the walkers will fit through a standard doorway and are not designed to stop at the edge of a step. Babies using these walkers could be seriously injured or killed if they fell down stairs. The recall includes the "Honey" model intended for 5 months and older. They were sold in blue, yellow and pink with a padded seat and an activity tray. Model numbers included in the recall are 820, 860, 862 and 802. Call toll-free 1-866-666-9868 between noon and 8 p.m. weekdays.

-- About 50,000 baby walkers, sold in Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Missouri and New York, by Bikepro Inc.; the walkers will fit through a standard doorway and are not designed to stop at the edge of a step. Babies using these walkers could be seriously injured or killed if they fell down stairs. The recalled walkers are intended for 6 months and older. They are blue, green, pink and yellow, and have a musical tray and a thick foamed padded seat, and some are equipped with stoppers on the side. Recalled model numbers are: 305, 308RK, 309STP, 384, 386, 388, 388STP, 389STP, 392STP, 393STP, 395 and 399STP. Return to store where purchased for refund. Call toll-free 1-800-261-2559 between noon and 8 p.m. weekdays.

-- About 310,000 stuffed polyester pool animals by Dollar Tree Stores Inc.; the seams can separate, exposing polyester stuffing and foam beads that pose a choking hazard to young children. The eight brightly colored animals involved are the crab, duck, frog, octopus, seahorse, shark, turtle and whale. Return to store where purchased for refund. Call toll-free 1-800-876-8077 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

-- About 280,000 animal toy sponges (whales, turtles and fish) by Dollar Tree Stores Inc.; the eyes on the soft terry cloth toys can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Return to store where purchased for refund. Call toll-free 1-800-876-8077 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

-- About 11,000 Viking "Designer 1" sewing machines, manufactured in 1999 by Viking Sewing Machines Inc.; solder connections in the main power supply of the machines could overheat, posing a fire hazard. Call toll-free 1-800-446-2333 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays; Web site: www.husqvarnaviking.com.

-- About 10,000 Red Devil gas grills, sold at Value City and Schottenstein stores by Value City Department Stores Inc.; the product's design allows consumers to light the grill at an air-intake tube instead of at the burner. Though the grill appears to function normally, gas inside the air intake tube ignites. The tube can reach temperatures of up to 750 degrees and present a burn hazard. In some earlier grills, the heat produced by lighting the grill at the air-intake tube damaged the plastic support piece, allowing the grill to fall to the ground and cause burns and fires. Call toll-free 1-888-278-6370; Web site: www.valuecity.com.

Sources: SafetyAlerts at www.safetyalerts.com; Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov, toll-free 1-800-638-2772; Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov.; USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at toll-free 1-800-535-4555; government food safety information at www.foodsafety.gov; National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's Auto Safety Hotline, www.nhtsa.dot.gov/hotline; toll-free 1-888-327-4236.

-- Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, (727) 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.

Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check.

We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright