Hi all couldn’t not chip in here as up until about 4 months ago this is the ONLY work iv have done for the last 25 years and am extremely aware of the current situation with insurers.
I can advise that most of the work, for general domestic and a good chunk of commercial has been assigned to 2-3 franchise companies who I know very well and talk to them often at management level. This is very recent and happened very quickly.
Although this started out with one insurer the RSA, who made history by appointing almost all domestic work to Rainbow, thereby unseating the likes of Chem - Dry and 5 others on their panel of "pre appointed". It wasn’t long before others followed suite.
The overall effect of this was that (we calculated) almost 300 companies (independents) hit the floor overnight.
Due to the terrified loss adjusters being blamed for everything, they too have also decided to adopt the same policy as the insurers, and in the event that they receive a NON pre-appointed claim they are opting to issue it to those pre- appointed companies to save their rear ends.
I will state that there is still work out there which you can get direct from the clients "pre- claim" and other works from small insurers. However the cost of getting these works has become very expensive and very competitive as you can imagine.
I would also like to state that regardless of common belief it is not essential to be a member of the BDFA, the founder of that was my boss for 5 years and I assisted in the early stages prior to its being in its creation (primary research), I can tell you that it was created for a reason, which has worked as intended too when first conceived, and still supports this double roll, with most unaware.
However it still has its public roll which was to set standards which are in general recognized, but it is not mandatory at this stage and nor likely as many insurers and adjusters still have an unfavorable opinion about its use as a tool and their also remains some competitive opponents with clout.
Although you should acquire some recognized qualification which will not be shunned when bought into question to have any chance.
Final advice to all is, do not invest any money at this time. The work will return as it did after exactly the same trial 10 years ago, but we believe it will take at least 2-3 years before the turnaround.
One point I will advise on is that the CLIENT can choose who they like to carry out the works, NOT THE INSURER irrespective of what they may suggest or who they send. However insurers do not have to pay any additional costs above what they would have paid their own contractor, unless you can prove that it would be a standard rate and not unreasonable.
If you come across a claim, don’t be intimidated by anything. Your client has a right to choose and you have a right to carry out the works. Insurers have no legal right to install their own people unless they take responsibility for them which they never do. The client accepts them at their own risk which they rarely understand.
Hope this helps
DP.
