Local News in Brief : Homeowners Mob Post Office for Insurers’ Certified Letters

Homeowners responding to a mass mailing of certified letters by insurance companies encountered waits of about 30 minutes at the Van Nuys Post Office on Saturday--down from about one hour the previous Saturday--postal officials said.

Many were angry when they learned that the letters were simply notices that earthquake coverage is available, window service supervisor Doris Holtz said.

More than 2 million of the letters were mailed two weeks ago by two major insurance companies because of a new state law requiring them to notify policyholders of earthquake coverage.

Homeowners not home when mail carriers sought a signature to prove delivery of the certified letters were left a card directing them to visit their post offices.

As a result, waves of people have deluged post offices to claim the letters. Lines have been longest on Saturdays.

At the Van Nuys Post Office, card-bearing homeowners began lining up before 8:30 a.m., Holtz said.

She said four clerks--double the normal complement--were on duty for the anticipated rush.

All firms selling homeowner insurance in California are mailing the certified letters, but the current crush is attributed to the simultaneous mailing by State Farm Insurance Co. of 1.3 million letters and by Farmers Insurance Group of 950,000 letters.