UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT



                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934




Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 22, 1999
(October 15, 1999)


                        SYMONS INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


  Indiana                     1-12369                          35-1707115
(State or other             (Commission                       (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of             File Number)                   Identification No.)
incorporation)


                4720 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46205
                    (Address of principal executive offices)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (317) 259-6400






Item 4.  Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.

         On October 15, 1999, Symons  International  Group, Inc. (the "Company")
was advised by Arthur Andersen LLP ("Andersen") that Andersen had decided not to
accept the June 1, 1999  appointment by the Company's  Audit Committee and Board
of Directors as the Company's independent auditors for 1999.

         Andersen has not issued any  independent  accountant's  reports and has
not performed any attest or review services for the Company.

         The Company has requested  Andersen  furnish it with a letter addressed
to the SEC stating whether or not Andersen agrees with the statements  contained
herein.  A copy of  Andersen's  letter dated October 22, 1999, is attached as an
exhibit to this report.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         Financial Statements:  None

         Exhibits:

Exhibit No.            Description

        16             Letter re Change in Certifying Accountant


                                   SIGNATURES


                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934,  the  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



Dated:  October 22, 1999            SYMONS INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.


                                    By: /s/ Douglas H. Symons
                                    Douglas H. Symons, President










Arthur Andersen LLP


October 22, 1999


Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

Dear Sir/Madam:

We  have  read  Item  4 in the  Form  8-K  dated  October  22,  1999  of  Symons
International  Group,  Inc.  to  be  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  and are in agreement with  statements  concerning our firm contained
therein.


Very truly yours,

Arthur Andersen LLP

/s/ Terry D. Hardy

By: Terry D. Hardy