---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: AGNews <AGNews@oag.state.fl.us>
Date: Mar 16, 2007 1:38 PM
Subject: Attorney General Consumer Alert


An Attorney General Consumer Alert has been issued.

Please click the web address below to view the alert online.
http://myfloridalegal.com/NewsBrie.nsf/OL/SCOS-6ZCMY3

Please do not hit Reply to send a message to Attorney General
McCollum or the Attorney General's Office. This email address cannot
receive incoming messages. If you wish to contact the Attorney
General's Office, please go to
http://myfloridalegal.com/contact.nsf/contact?Open&Section=NL&Subject=NB
and use the convenient Contact Form provided there. Thank you.

The text version of the Consumer Alert is below.

Beware of Insurance Policies that Don't Pay Claims, McCollum Cautions
        TALLAHASSEE, FL - Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced
that his office has launched a formal investigation into a company
selling insurance-like products to seniors in Florida, but failing to
pay for services. McCollum simultaneously issued a consumer alert,
warning Floridians about the business practices employed by Homeward
Bound, a Pennsylvania-based company already banned from selling its
products in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

        Homeward Bound targets senior citizens, selling policies with
waiting periods of six months to a year. The policies are intended to
pay for a specified number of hours contracted for assistance services,
including cleaning, meal preparation and basic care services. Although
the company has been selling policies in Florida since 2004, it has
routinely failed to pay for the promised services.

        The Attorney General's Economic Crimes Division launched the
investigation after receiving complaints from several health care
providers. The investigation also includes Personalized Home Services,
a company with similar business practices and some common ownership
with Homeward Bound.

        Complaints about Homeward Bound can be filed by calling the
Attorney General's fraud hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226)
or online at http://myfloridalegal.com.



Thank you.


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