Ohioans Can Protect Themselves with Free “myHome Inventory” and “WreckCheck” Smartphone Insurance Apps
COLUMBUS, OH – August 23, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Ohio insurance consumers can now more easily and accurately maintain inventory of their possessions and exchange information after an auto accident without compromising their identity with free myHome Inventory and WreckCheck smartphone insurance apps, Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Insurance Director Mary Taylor announced. The iPhone and Android compatible apps were developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in which the Ohio Department of Insurance is a member.
“Documenting possessions with a home inventory is the most important step homeowners and renters can take to make sure they have enough coverage to fully protect and replace their valuables if something happens,” Taylor said. “For those involved in an automobile accident, drivers should only share names and vehicle insurance information. Sharing additional personal information, such as driver’s license numbers and home addresses can put consumers, their property and their safety at risk.”
Recent surveys conducted by the NAIC revealed that half of all Americans do not have a home inventory and many are also unclear about what information to share at a crash site, such as when to call the police or what personal information to exchange with the other driver.
The average claim payment for damage to or loss of home contents in Ohio was $6,417 in 2010, while identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The myHOME Scr.APP.book app lets users quickly photograph and capture images, descriptions, bar codes and serial numbers, and then stores them electronically for safekeeping. The app organizes information room by room, and even creates a back-up file for email sharing.
The WreckCheck mobile application can help eliminate the risk of sharing too much personal information. It outlines what to do immediately after an auto accident and helps users create their own report. The app makes it easy to capture photos and document the necessary information to file an insurance claim, and lets users email a completed report directly to themselves and their insurance agents.
Ohioans with insurance questions or concerns can call the Department’s consumer hotline at 1-800-686-1526 and visit www.insurance.ohio.gov for free information. You can follow the Ohio Department of Insurance on twitter @OHInsurance and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OhioDepartmentofInsurance.
Contact:
General Info: 614-644-2658
Consumer Hotline: 800-686-1526
