| [Columbus, Ohio]
Nationwide Insurance, the country's fourth-largest auto insurer,
today announced that it is temporarily suspending the specification of non-Original
Equipment Manufacture (non-OEM) crash parts in the repair of damaged vehicles. The change
is effective Monday, Nov. 8. Nationwide continues to honor the Blue Ribbon Appraisal
Guarantee for customers whose vehicles were appraised specifying non-OEM crash parts prior
to Nov. 8, 1999.
Nationwide continually reviews its practices and procedures in order to ensure that they
are meeting our customers' needs. Given the current environment surrounding non-OEM crash
parts, the company feels that it is appropriate to temporarily suspend the specification
of such parts.
Additionally, today's announcement
affects Nationwide's affiliates -- Allied and Farmland insurance companies, based in Des
Moines, Iowa, and Scottsdale Insurance, headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz. The change
encompasses policyholder and third-party claims.
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