http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/viewpoints/article685700.ece

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Happy Hollidays from Hopmeier Evans Gage Agency

Flooding and rebuilding. The good news for Hopmeier Evans Gage is that we will be open Tuesday (maybe even Monday) for business as usual on Main Street in Esperance.

Pass the word that we will have free internet and faxing ability available to help all. Stop in for a coffee or soda.Flood Schoharie Esperance 2011

**Old news in case you missed the prior email.**

Our office on Main Street in Esperance did receive flood damage. The rugs are being removed as well as other wet items damaged items.

All of your policy information can be accessed by our staff in the Schenectady office. Todd is working from the Schenectady office on a temporary basis.

You may still reach Todd at 875-9237.
Please watch your email for updates on our progress and other important information.

We all hope that all of you are safe and dry.

We will be here to help and assistance our friends, neighbors and clients at their time of need.

REACH US and follow us for updates and IMPORTANT information on

518-875-9237
Fax 518-346-5767
Facebook.com/insurancehelp
Twitter user @ourinsurance
todd@yourownagent.com

What do I do if:
1. I have to report a claim:

Call our office, email our office, fax our office. You may also report directly to your insurance company as well. See our website for complete list of websites.

2. I have damage.

You should attempt to protect and preserve the property. What that means is that you should hire someone to make temporary repairs to avoid further damage. TIP, take photos along the process so the insurance company knows what you were faced with, in terms of damage.

3. You want updates on insurance related matters from us:
Facebook.com/insurancehelp
Twitter.com @ourinsurance

Simply refer your clients, family or friends to the Hopmeier Evans Gage Agency for a quote. When that person calls our agency for a FREE quote and mentions your name YOU get:

• A chance in ALL of our Monthly Drawings for a FREE $40 dinner certificate.
• A chance in our Grand Prize Drawing on December 17, 2009 for a FREE $250 GAS Card!!!  And we will have it to you in time for your Christmas!
• PLUS -Star Bucks or Dunkin Donuts cards

Have your clients and friends CALL NOW for a FREE Money Saving Quote!

Donations

We have made donations to many local and national charities so far this year.

• Elizabeth Nash Foundation $ 400
• Special Olympics $ 250
• Wounded Warrior $ 400
• Hospice $ 200

Based on your continued referrals to our agency we plan to continue to support these charities and others as the year progresses.

Did you know some companies actually charge to send you a paper bill? Phone company, MCI, charges $.99 a month for paper bills, and Internet service provider EarthLink charges $1. To avoid the fee, customers must sign up for “e-bills” at the companies Website or pay automatically through their bank.

Your best bet is a bank

Paying online at individual merchant Websites is a hassle you have to remember a slew of URL’s, user names and passwords. But if you use your banks bill pay service, you can pay all your bills at one site with one user name and one password. Go directly to the merchant’s site only to pay last minute bills you might have overlooked.

If the service isn’t free, you could be paying too much

With most third-party bill payers, you spend about as much as you would if you mailed checks. For example, Yahoo Bill Pay is free for 3 months, after which you pay $4.95 a month for 12 payments and $.40 for each additional payment. Many banks, however, have lowered or done away with fees because they want to wean customers off paper checks.

Use Quicken or Money? You’ll pay to upgrade

The big software companies discontinue technical support and online services for their products after about three years. To keep abreast of your financial details, you may need to buy the latest version at a cost of at least $29.99 (You may not need the software anymore. Financial institutions are starting to add simplified money management tools, such as spending reports, to their sites.) Plus some banks charge customers to download account information through money management software. For example, Wachovia instituted a $5.95 monthly fee in the past for some accounts. You can avoid the fee if you go to the site, download your statement, then import it into your program.

Your money keeps earning interest

In the early days of online bill paying your account was often debited days before the money reached the merchant. Now, for bills paid electronically and that’s some 80% of transactions, says Cheryl Roehl of Check Free, which powers most online bill payments your account is debited the same day your payment is credited. When an online bill-pay service has to send a paper check, your account is usually debited after the merchant deposits the check. ING’s Electronic Orange account takes online bill paying to the next level: Enter the recipient’s information and the details of the payment, and an email is sent. The recipient clicks on the link within the email to enter the account information and the money is transferred. Meanwhile, you earn 4% interest until the money is gone.

It’s safer than snail mail

Most financial fraud occurs when checks, credit cards, and account statements are stolen from mailboxes. Online financial transactions are encrypted to help reduce the possibility of identity theft. Plus, if you use your bank as your go to bill payer, you avoid sharing your account information with multiple billers, which helps to secure your data against hackers.