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Nationwide Insurance Suspends Specification of Non-OEM Crash Parts

8 November 1999

Nationwide Insurance Suspends Specification of Non-OEM Crash Parts

    COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 5 -- 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.