(1) It is an unfair or deceptive practice and an unfair method of competition pursuant to RCW 48.30.010 for any insurance company, insurance producer, surplus line broker, or title insurance agent in connection with the business of insurance, to utilize quotations or evaluations from rating or advisory services or other independent sources, in a manner likely to deceive the persons to whom the information is directed.

(2) Acts which are prohibited by this section include the following examples:

(a) If an insurer represents in its advertising that it has received an "A+" rating from an advisory service, such representation is deceptive unless it includes a clear explanation that such advisory service's practice is to rate insurance companies on the basis of "AAA," "AA," and declining to "A," if such is the case. The absence of such explanation would reasonably cause the ordinary person to believe falsely that the insurer had received the highest rating available from the service.

(b) Similarly, quoting figures or comments from a report, such as those representing claims paid or the capital or reserves or the quality of an insurer, in a manner to suggest that such figures or comments are impressive or that the report demonstrates the company to be particularly strong financially or of high quality relative to other companies, when such is not the case, creates a false impression and is deceptive.