Before the story airs: Insurance 'problem'

Did you know your insurance company can charge you more than the state-approved maximum rate?

Many viewers are finding out about the legal exception in a startling way – they’re getting what are called "Consent to Rate" letters from their insurance companies.

We’ve heard from people charged up to 70 percent more than the maximum set by North Carolina’s insurance commissioner. State laws allows companies to charge up to an additional 250 percent of the approved rate.

I wanted to know why they do it, how can they do it and what can you do to keep from having to pay the higher rates? Especially since, if you don’t “consent” to the increase, your insurance company can drop you.

I talked with Insurance Commissioner Wayne Godwin, who agrees it’s a "problem" for homeowners. Hear from him and what some customers who contacted us ultimately did to save hundreds of dollars a year on their insurance premiums.

It’s all Monday at 5:30 p.m. See you then.