3rd Quarter, 2014 Kinney Pike Report - In This Issue:

Theft of contractors' equipment continues to be a serious problem for the construction industry. The

National Equipment Register (NER) estimates the total value of equipment stolen from construction sites to be between $300 million and $1 billion annually and rising. And, these estimates do not include indirect costs from business interruption such as short-term

rental costs, project delays, and lost production time.

Equipment theft occurs with all types of construction contractors in all geographic areas. The frequency

of theft closely follows the amount of construction volume in a particular area. In 2009, the National

Crime Information Center (NCIC) received 13,452 theft reports. The five states with the most incidents

of heavy-equipment theft were Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina.  Together, those five states accounted for 43 percent of total equipment theft. 

Click here to read more and learn how to prevent theft at construction sites.   

Please contact our Commercial Lines Account Executive if we can assist with your business insurance.  

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to provide a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

The purpose of the FCRA is to promote the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation's credit reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to credit reporting companies.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued or have filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide credit reporting companies sell this information to creditors, insurance companies, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

How do you order a free report?

The three biggest credit reporting companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report.

You can visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service

P.O. Box 105281

Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Do not contact these companies directly. They only provide the free annual credit reports through annualcreditreport.com, 1-877-322-8228 or via mailing in the form.

You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies at the same time, or you can order your report from each of the companies one at a time. The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide credit reporting companies every 12 months.

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger the safety of drivers, passengers and bystanders, and cell phone use is the number one distraction behind the wheel.

Talking on a cell phone while driving makes you four times as likely to crash, and texting while driving increases your chances of a crash by up to 23 times, according to the National Safety Council.

Click here to read more about the new law, its consequences, and some helpful FAQs from the Vermont Highway Safety Alliance.  

Even if you have taken steps to protect yourself, the reality is that information can still end up in the wrong hands. For example, by 2017, more than $1 trillion in transactions will be processed via mobile devices. This gives cybercriminals plenty of opportunity to steal your information.

Recovering from identity theft can be costly, life-changing and stressful.  Identity recovery coverage provides professional assistance for only $1/month.  

Consider this:

  *  At no additional charge, a dedicated case management company works directly with you to help you through the claims process.
  *  Expense reimbursement up to $25,000 annually for expenses incurred after identity theft.
  *  Up to $250 per day up to a limit of $5,000.
  * Any claims made under the coverage option will have no impact on future premiums. 

- Safeco Insurance