So, Let’s consider: Giving your OnStar information to your auto insurance company
OnStar, for those of you not familiar with it, is a really nice, albeit expensive, service you can add to your vehicle to help you with things like: navigation, auto problem diagnostics, travel tips, emergency assistance, etc. They use GPS technology to know where you are, where you’re going and what’s around you that you may need in an assistance call.
So, I was rather intrigued when I got a letter from my auto insurance carrier suggesting that I let them have access to my OnStar data to help them with my insurance. Frankly, my mind had flashbacks to the Lost In Space robot running around yelling “WARNING!”.
So, I thought about this a bit. Just how could giving my insurance company OnStar data help ME with my insurance?
I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but I do have over 30 years in IT and related lines of work including data analytics. I realized that with the OnStar data my insurer would potentially know not only where I go, when I go there, how I get there, how long the distance it is to get there, but also how fast I traveled getting there! With this information, they would, over time, know how many miles I travel, if I traveled in higher risk areas, if I traveled faster than the speed limit and any one of several other variables that could be used in calculating how much they want to charge me for coverage!
Keep in mind that ALL policies are “rated”. They all go through a piece of software called a “rater” which uses info like how many miles you’re expected to drive, where you live and work, your driving record, etc. So, if you drive more miles than they are allowing for what they’re initially charging you – guess what could happen? Or, if they determine that you got there a bit faster than you should have – guess what could happen? Or maybe you have to drive through a “risky” neighborhood or where you work is a “higher risk” area – guess what could happen? Yup, in ALL those cases, your premium rates could INCREASE.
Frankly, I can’t control what they do with any data they get, BUT I sure can prevent them from getting anything I don’t want them to have that could potentially be used against me. Further with OnStar and cell phone tracking type technology, this kind of threat is going to become nothing but something we need to be watching for more closely and frequently. I’m not George Orwell, but “Big Brother” is clearly here – and the less we tell him the better off we will be.
It’s also interesting that an email to my agent on this subject was never returned.
So, if and when you get hit with these kinds of requests, get IN WRITING a statement from your insurance carrier exactly what information they will be gathering, how frequently and exactly how they intend to use it.
It’s not 1982, but it definately IS caveat emptor!
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018 0
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018
September 2, 2018
Vihara – n. – a Buddhist temple or monastery
September 3, 2018
Hippogriff – n. – a winged mythical creature resembling a horse and eagle
September 4, 2018
Tapster – n. – a person who serves alcohol at a bar
September 5, 2018
Sociolect – n. – the dialect of a particular social class
September 6, 2018
Feuilleton – n. – a part of a newspaper devoted to fiction
September 7, 2018
Ressentiment – n. – a psychological state resulting from suppressed envy
September 8, 2018
Passeggiata – n. – a leisurely walk or stroll
Last Week’s Words Can Be Found At
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018 0
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018
September 2, 2018
“Take your mind off of the negative and the things that can’t be done. Stay focused on what is doable.”
September 3, 2018
“Plan to play hard and win!”
September 4, 2018
“Live and learn. The more you know, the better you will do.”
September 5, 2018
“Don’t let anyone deplete you of your confidence or stand in your way to success.”
September 6, 2018
“Expect others to be competitive and to challenge you. But, your strengths, courage and belief in your abilities will
help you succeed to accomplish what you desire.”
September 7, 2018
“Reducing your expenses will reduce stress and give you more working capital to play with.”
September 8, 2018
“Don’t let yourself get distracted. Stay poised and keep your mind set on what’s important to you.”
Last Week’s Thoughts Can Be Found At
Quote Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018 0
Quote Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018
September 2, 2018
“In any world menu, Canada must be considered the vichyssoise of nations – it’s cold, half French and difficult to stir.” – Keate
September 3, 2018
“I envy people who drink – at least they know who to blame everything on.” – Levant
September 4, 2018
“He who laughs, lasts.” – Poole
September 5, 2018
“I’m an idealist: I don’t know where I’m going but I’m on my way!” – Sandburg
September 6, 2018
“Buffet: A French word that means ‘get up and get it for yourself!’ ” – Dentinger
September 7, 2018
“Good breeding consists in conealing how much we think of oruselves and how little we think of the other person.” – Twain
September 8, 2018
“Once you get people laughing, they’re listening and you can tell them almost anything.” – Gardner
Last Week’s Quotes Can Be Found At
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 26, 2018 0
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 26, 2018
August 26, 2018
Smidgen – n. – a small amount of something
August 27, 2018
Dox – v. – publish identifying information about someone on the internet
August 28, 2018
Mischeievous – adj. – showing a fondness for playfully causing trouble
August 29, 2018
Objurgate – v. – to rebuke severly or scold
August 30, 2018
Resplendent – adj. – attractive and impressive through being colorful or sumptuous
August 31, 2018
Esse – n. – essential nature or essence
September 1, 2018
Frug – n. – a vigorous dance to pop music
Last Week’s Words Can Be Found At
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 26, 2018 0
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 26, 2018
August 26, 2018
“Bury your ego. Don’t be the star. Be the star maker.”
August 27, 2018
“The ability to control impulse is the basis of will and character.”
August 28, 2018
“Talent is formed in quiet, Character in the stream of life.”
August 29, 2018
Assisting others can bring you happiness.
August 30, 2018
Avoid trouble by controlling your emotions.
August 31, 2018
Keep your personal matters private. They’re personal.
September 1, 2018
Choose your battles wisely.
Last Week’s Thoughts Can Be Found At
Quote(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 26, 2018 0
Quote(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 26, 2018
August 26, 2018
“On cable TV, they have a weather channel – 24 hours of weather. We had something like that where I grew up. We called it a window.” – Spencer
August 27, 2018
“The people of Seattle deny they get much rain, while the rest of America thinks of it as America’s bladder.”
August 28, 2018
“The tanned appearance of many New Englanders isn’t sunburn – it’s rust.”
August 29, 2018
“Hollywood is a place where people from Iowa mistake each other for movie stars.” – Allen
August 30, 2018
Miami bumper sticker: “Horn is broken – watch for finger!”
August 31, 2018
“I just returned from Boston, it’s the only sane thing to do if you find yourself there!” – Allen
September 1, 2018
“France: the only country where money falls apart and you can’t tear the toilet paper!” – Wilder
Last Week’s Quotes Can Be Found At
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 19, 2018 0
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 19, 2018
August 19, 2018
Moratorium – n. – a temporary prohibition of an activity
August 20, 2018
Treacherous – adj. – guilty of or involving betrayal or deception
August 21, 2018
Raelian – n. – a member of a type of UFO cult
August 22, 2018
Stupefy – v. – to make unable to think or feel properly
August 23, 2018
Sanative – adj. – conducive to physical or spiritual health and well being
August 24, 2018
Braille – n. – a form of written language for blind people
August 25, 2018
Farceur – n. – a writer or performer in farces
Last Week’s Words Can Be Found At
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 19, 2018 0
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 19, 2018
August 19, 2018
“Consider all sides of a situation before making your decision – you’ll have more options that way.”
August 20, 2018
“Strive for increased stability.”
August 21, 2018
“Watch what others are doing. You will not only learn from them but you may be better prepared for a problem.”
August 22, 2018
“Negotiate on your own behalf and you’ll get the results you desire.”
August 23, 2018
“If you include yourself in something that interests you, it will change your life.”
August 24, 2018
“Listening to other people’s perspectives on life may lead to raising questions about your own.”
August 25, 2018
“Look at the positive and concentrate on how you can best implement it, instead of focusing on the priorities of others.”
Last Week’s Thoughts Can Be Found At
Quote(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 19, 2018 0
Quote(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 19, 2018
August 19, 2018
“A person’s reputation is a mixture of what his friends, enemies and relatives say behind his back.”
August 20, 2018
“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” – Twain
August 21, 2018
“He’s so honest you could shoot craps with him over the phone.” – Wilson
August 22, 2018
“A person whose conscience never troubles him must have it really well trained.”
August 23, 2018
“Generous people are rarely mentally ill people.” – Menninger
August 24, 2018
“A tourist is a person who drives thousands of miles so he can be photographed standing in front of his car.” – Ganest
August 25, 2018
“My wife tells me she doesn’t care what I do when I’m away, as long as I’m not enjoying it.” – Trevino
Last Week’s Quotes Can Be Found At
About Me
Don Rima
Don Rima is an Information Systems consultant with over 30 years experience in Information Systems. His roles of responsibility have included programming, systems management and IT department management. He's also a technical editor and writer, does regular product reviews, is a very good cook, gardener and avid reader and writer. His sports interest include: the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Orioles, Clemson Tigers and Chelsea Football teams. The articles on this site are written to be correct, informative, laconic, provoke progressive thought, informative and sometimes make you laugh. They're not designed to be the writing of just another politically correct drone.