OLYMPIA -- Washington residents who are shopping for insurance are now able to check out their prospective agent and insurance company online.

The Washington Insurance Commissioner's office debuted today a new  toolkit that allows consumers to enter the name of the agent, the insurance company, or the location and see any past violations or complaints.

It also explains the ins and outs of different kinds of insurance, allows you to file a complaint online.

"In the past, these types of things sometimes required phone calls, letters in the mail and waiting time while a staffer looked up information," Commissioner Mike Kreidler said. "With these new tools, people can get the information instantly."

The agency als has a new page on Facebook...but then, doesn't everyone this side of Outer Mongolia have a page on Facebook?

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