Welcome to the Alliance Group
WE ARE OPEN
As the situation regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) across the country continues to change daily, we want to assure you that The Alliance Group is undertaking actions to continue to service your insurance needs and to address the safety of our employees and clients.
While we remain open during this time, we have established strict guidelines for visitors to our building as we limit or avoid in-person meetings at this time. We also have some employees working remotely.
Payments:
Walk in payments are still accepted but we prefer check or money order. Drop off in a sealed envelope with payment stub and we will process as normal.
You can also mail or call in payments to us or directly to your company for processing, information will be on your billing statement or hover over the POLICY SERVICES tab at the top of this page to find the “make a payment” button for each insurance company.
IMPORTANT UPDATE............For All Our Valued Insurance Customers
A recent Executive Order issued by Governor Cuomo, together with recent amendments to the insurance and banking regulations (the “regulations”) issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services (“Department”), extend grace periods and give you other rights under certain property/casualty insurance policies if you are an individual or small business and can demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic (“affected policyholder”). These grace periods and rights are currently in effect but are temporary, though they may be extended further. Please check the Department’s website here for updates.
If you are an individual, generally, personal lines property/casualty insurance policies are covered by these amendments, including auto, homeowners’ and renters’ insurance. If you are an individual and an affected policyholder, please contact your insurer or broker if you are uncertain whether your policy is covered.
If you are a small business, only certain types of commercial lines property/casualty insurance policies are covered by these amendments, generally including property, fire, commercial general liability, special multi-peril, medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, commercial auto (including livery and other for-hire vehicles), and commercial umbrella insurance. The Department of Financial Services has confirmed to ELANY that the notice requirement does not apply to commercial excess line policy and policy holders. A business qualifies as a “small business” if it is resident in New York State, is independently owned and operated, and employs 100 or fewer individuals. If you are a small business and an affected policyholder, please contact your insurer or broker if you are uncertain whether your policy is covered.
A copy of the Executive Order and regulations can be found here, here, and here, respectively.
1). Moratorium on Cancellation, Non-Renewal, and Conditional Renewal
If you are an affected policyholder, there is a moratorium on your insurer cancelling, non-renewing, or conditionally renewing your property/casualty insurance policy for a period of 60 days. If you do not make a timely premium payment and can demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, your insurer may not impose any late fees relating to the premium payment or report you to a credit reporting agency or a debt collection agency regarding such premium payment. THE DFS HAS CONFIRMED TO ELANY THAT THE NOTICE REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO COMMERCIAL EXCESS LINE POLICIES AND POLICYHOLDERS.
2). Catching up on Overdue Insurance Payments
The regulations also require your insurer to permit you, as an affected policyholder, to pay the overdue premium over a 12-month period if you did not make a timely premium payment due to financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and can still demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This also applies if the insurer sent you a nonpayment cancellation notice prior to March 29, 2020.THE DFS HAS CONFIRMED TO ELANY THAT THE NOTICE REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO COMMERCIAL EXCESS LINE POLICIES AND POLICYHOLDERS.
3). Policies Financed by Premium Finance Agencies – Grace Period
If your insurance policy has been financed through a premium finance agency, and you, as an affected policyholder, do not make an installment payment, the premium finance agency may not cancel your policy for a period of at least 60 days, including any contractual grace period, and subject to the safety and soundness of the premium finance agency. In addition, if you do not make a timely installment payment to the premium finance agency, the premium finance agency must extend the due date for the installment payment by at least 60 days, may not impose any late fees relating to that installment payment, and may not report you to a credit reporting agency or a debt collection agency regarding that installment payment. THE DFS HAS CONFIRMED TO ELANY THAT THE PREMIUM FINANCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE REGULATION DO NOT APPLY TO TRANSACTIONS REGARDING COMMERCIAL EXCESS LINE POLICIES AND POLICYHOLDERS.
4). Catching up on Overdue Payments to Premium Finance Agencies
If you, as an affected policyholder, do not make a timely installment payment to the premium finance agency due to financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the premium finance agency must permit you to pay the installment payment over a 12-month period if you can still demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, subject to the safety and soundness of the premium finance agency. This also applies if the premium finance agency issued a non-payment cancellation notice prior to March 29, 2020. THE DFS HAS CONFIRMED TO ELANY THAT THE PREMIUM FINANCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE REGULATION DO NOT APPLY TO TRANSACTIONS REGARDING COMMERCIAL EXCESS LINE POLICIES AND POLICYHOLDERS.
5). How to Demonstrate Financial Hardship
If you, as an affected policyholder, are unable to make a timely premium payment due to financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may submit to your insurer or premium finance agency, as applicable, a statement that you swear or affirm in writing under penalty of perjury that you are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which the insurer or premium finance agency, as applicable, shall accept as satisfactory proof. Such statement is not required to be notarized.
6). Questions
If you have any questions regarding your rights under the Executive Order or regulations, please contact your insurer/insurance company, agent, broker, or premium finance agency.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS, PLEASE BE SAFE AND FOLLOW THE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS TO HELP MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY OF CONTRACTING COVID-19.
If you have any questions about this or your policy, don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’re proud to continue helping you protect what matters most, and hope that you, your families and co-workers remain safe and healthy during this rapidly developing global health situation.
We will get through this together.
Jim Diem
President
Founded in 1993, The Alliance Group of Western New York has provided thousands of individuals, families and businesses in the greater Rochester area with customized, comprehensive insurance solutions within their budgets. Every customer received personalized consultation, dedicated attention, and has access to our many world-class insurance carriers.
Our mission is to be your most Trusted Advisor for all of your insurance needs, from home and auto plans to life insurance, to the specialty protections required for your business. We are consultative and develop an insurance program specific to your needs, providing just the right amount of protection suitable for your assets, goals and situation.