The MAIA also asked the AG’s office to investigate another matter this month
In addition to filing a formal complaint with the DOI against GEICO in May, the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents also formally requested this month that Attorney General Maura Healey and her office investigate another matter involving an automobile dealership. The MAIA’s letter, sent to the AG’s office on June 1st, requested that the AG formally investigate the activities of the 16 Balise automobile dealerships located in Massachusetts for likely violations of privacy laws.
According to the MAIA, the association believes that the dealerships are misappropriating the personal information of its clients by using and disseminating that information with their in-house insurance agency, The Balise Insurance Agency. The dealerships participate in the Registry of Motor Vehicles Registration Program (“EVR”) that allows each dealership to register vehicles and issues plates directly from its office. In the words of the MAIA,
While Balise is faxing the necessary information and paperwork to the customer’s current insurance agent or company as required by the EVR program, they are, as a matter of business practice, sharing the insurance and registration documents provided by the customer’s agent or company with the in-house insurance agency…
The MAIA believes that the sharing of this personal customer information between the auto dealership and in-house insurance agency is not only inappropriate but also a violation of various state and federal privacy laws.
Access an official copy of the MAIA’s letter to Attorney General Maura Healey here.
