The Public Record • July 16, 2009
page 16
Food Distribution Center’s New Home On Schedule NEW home of Food Distribution Center’s steel frame gives glimpse of how imposing new Center will be as it sits opposite Airport AutoMall on Essington Avenue. It’s construction is being handled by Philadelphia Regional Port Authority.
How To Lower Your Auto Insurance Rates
Contractors Complying With State Law More than 22,000 Pennsylvania home-improvement contractors have already registered with the State Attorney General’s office to comply with a new law that goes into effect Jul. 1. The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires contractors who do $5,000 or more in home improvements or repairs in a year to register with the Bureau of Consumer Protection. They must also maintain minimum in-
surance coverage of at least $50,000 in property damage and personal injury liability; and use contracts that contain specific information about their job, including start and completion dates, a complete description of the work and consumers’ rights under the law. Home-improvement frauds are among the highest cause of complaints to the Attorney General’s office, which fielded more than 2,100 complaints in
2008. The new law is intended to make it easier for consumers to avoid the “fly-bynight” or unscrupulous contractors and help authorities track them down quicker, according to Nils Frederiksen, a spokesman for the Attorney General’s office. “It’s going to make it much more difficult for those folks to hide,” he
said. “It has been difficult to find the troublemakers.” Contractors will have to use their registration number on contracts, estimates, proposals and advertisements. Starting Jul. 1, to verify a contractor’s registration with the state, consumers can visit www.attorneygeneral.gov or call toll-free 1- (888) 520-6680.
AAA Insurance is finding many Pennsylvania drivers are cutting back on auto insurance deductibles or coverage in order to save money. But it warns, “Having too little or no auto insurance could create an even worse situation.” The US Dept. of Transportation estimates the typical driver will have a near automobile accident 1-2 times per month and will be in a collision every six years. "We have more uninsured and underinsured drivers on the road right now," said Donna Lee Williams, director of government and industry affairs, AAA Mid-Atlantic.
PROUDLY MANAGING PENNSYLVANIAʼS INTERNATIONAL SEAPORT SINCE 1990
Philadelphia Regional Port Authority A Promising Future By Championing the Channel-Deepening Project And Substantial Port Expansion
Once Again, We Thank Gov. Ed Rendell For Giving Our Port A Great Opportunity And
John H. Estey, Esq. www.phillyrecord.com
Chairman
James T. McDermott, Jr. Executive Director
Robert C. Blackburn
Senior Deputy Executive Director
John F. Dempsey
Deputy Executive Director Administrative Offices: 3460 N. Delaware Ave. 2nd Fl., Phila., PA 19134 (215) 426-2600 • Fax (215) 426-6800 www.philaport.com
"Families looking to save money in these tough economic times can find plenty of ways to their lower insurance premiums without putting anyone in legal or financial jeopardy. Automobile insurance is not just a necessity, but a legal obligation." AAA offers the following tips for getting lower auto insurance premiums. Ask about discounts. Insurance companies usually offer discounts for multiple policies with the same insurer, such as auto and homeowners. Increase the deductible. The higher the deductible, the greater the savings BUT make sure you can afford the deductible in the event of a claim. Check your mileage. A short commute or less-thanaverage annual mileage may qualify you for a lower rate. Shop around. Comparison-shopping is a good idea since premiums can vary. Make sure you check out all the offers thoroughly because the least expensive may not always provide the best service. Adjust coverage on older cars. How much is your car worth? Make sure you understand the difference in coverage before deciding to drop either: Collision coverage - Covers damage to your car as a result of hitting or being hit by another vehicle, or object such as a lightpost. Comprehensive coverage - Covers damage to your vehicle resulting from incidents other than collision, such as theft, flood or hail damage, falling or flying objects, fire, vandalism, riot or civil commotion, breakage of glass, explosion, earthquake or contact with an animal.