I was the policyholder of a Workers' Compensation insurance plan in California. We are currently navigating a classification dispute that has escalated from email correspondence to a formal complaint with the California Department of Insurance (CDI), and now to a Complaint and Request for Action (CRA).
The CDI caseworker initially suggested that if the CRA dispute is denied, I should file a dispute with the Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) and a different department within the CDI.
However, it wasn't clear if these actions should be taken sequentially or simultaneously.
After watching the webinar on dispute resolution (here), the recommendation was to dispute with the WCIRB first and then proceed with the CDI.
Conversely, I have also received advice to file both concurrently.
What is the best course of action in this situation? Should I pursue these disputes one at a time, or both at once?
Note: I'm intentionally omitting specific details to keep the focus on the best course of action for filing the dispute.