Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today sent a demand letter instructing Travelers Insurance (The Travelers Companies Inc.) to cease and desist the airing of a deceptive television advertisement. According to the attorney general’s letter, the ad improperly indicates that Texas homeowners should purchase additional motor vehicle insurance or risk losing their homes if they have inadequate insurance after a vehicle accident. The attorney general demands that the advertisement be removed from all Texas television media markets as well as any print, multimedia, radio or computer-generated ads that appear in the state.
“Texans are protected by robust homestead laws that insulate homeowners from the losses depicted in Travelers’ advertisements,” Attorney General Abbott said. “Because the state already protects homeowners, it is improper for Travelers to scare Texans into buying insurance they may not need. The letter we sent today instructs Travelers to pull down this misleading advertisement immediately or face legal action by the state.
A Travelers ad airing across Texas entitled “Driving Your House” depicts a man driving his “home” through a desert environment when suddenly he has an accident and the home and contents are severely damaged. The narrator strongly suggests that without additional vehicle insurance, a driver’s home could be at risk from uncovered liability after a car crash.
A particularly misleading portion of the ad says: “Without the right auto insurance, a crash might impact more than your car. Make sure you’re properly covered, so when you’re driving your car, you’re not risking your house. Travelers, take the scary out of life.”
The Travelers ad is similar in message to a 2005 Allstate Insurance commercial. In that instance, the Attorney General sent a strongly worded cease-and-desist letter as well, resulting in Allstate pulling down the ad.
Travelers could be liable for civil penalties under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act of up to $20,000 based on each airing of this ad. The attorney general may also inquire of homeowners who purchased additional and unnecessary insurance because they were influenced by the ad.
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