[calmore]

Look at it this way..

Chemdry/Homeserve are changing their businesses. If they were completely successful in what they were doing then why the merger and why the need to change the way they operate?

They are clearly rattled by the little guy and are changing their business in order to compete!

[John Kelly]

Homeserve are a dynamic business run by some very clever people. I have had dealings with them, in fact 3 directors flew up on their private jet to visit me and a colleague to pick our brains on fire & flood restoration.
They want to be seen as the AA for householders. Buying Chem Dry was to fill a whole in their operations. They are now expanding in the US, France and Australia. These guys are no mugs believe me. However their service may fall down at times as it does with most large organisations.

[calmore]

They aren't mugs when it comes to making money, that's for sure. However, they are simply salesmen who know how to sell an inferior product at inflated prices!

Hands up everyone who believes that they offer a better service than Homeserve!

Bit like Currys salesmen in that respect. I mean, who else could sell a £99 Matsui telly on its alleged "reliability" then flog a £200 extended warranty "in case it blows up"?

[Len Gribble]

At first I looked at the picture thought they were there to hire one of these



John

Know where you are coming from, but on the other hand, don’t think any one paid a franchise fee for your former business, as a hand on person I can understand why they visited you.

Have to say I miss them within the cc field, still have there letter framed asking me to join them!

Len

[John Kelly]

Thing you have to understand is that Insurance companies are investment companies, not repair companies. They use your premiums to invest in the stock market and such like. This is their primary business and why they exist.
They need large concerns like Homeserve, Belfor, Munters etc to handle all their claims. These companies have huge call centres which are able to provide the insurance companies with the data, statistics and KPI's they require. Whether the service is below standard is secondary in my opinion.
As an independant you are never going to make massive inroads into this market, however there is a lot of work out there and it is possible for independants to obtain a resonable amount of work as is shown by some of the posters on here.

[calmore]

Perhaps the NCCA should be putting more effort into selling itself to the insurance companies?

[Buster Ingram]

Now your talking Calmore why not use the people who are really trained to do the job!
Surely that makes more sense, or am I missing something here.
Sadly I'm a bit long in the tooth for all this kind of work but you younger guy's would fit the bill very nicely.
Lets face it you don't sent a Plumber to do An Electrians work
I have twins sons One an electrian One a Plumber in their own field they are great as carpets cleaners, well need I say more.
I shudder to think how all this is going to turn out.
These guys can fix a machine in no time, use it is a whole different ball game. As you all know its a craft that takes many years to learn.
Never in a class room over night.

[angela carlton]

When I posted, some time ago, about the likeliehood of training, becoming mandatory and suggesting the industry - that's all of you - take control and set up it's own training, thus taking control and not only raising standards, but avoiding interference from government pen pushers, it was regarded by some, as, unnecessary and unwanted'

Someone suggested, the industry was just too small and fragmented to catch the eye, of government employees.

Like Dave, we are veterans in this business and we won't be affected, should NVQs be introduced, as they surely will.

The biggest problem, is getting experienced people start at the bottom before ascending to a higher level of qualification.

This, however, is easily taken care of nowadays, through distance learning and modular training, which allows anyone, to get the basics, out of the way, anonymously and privately.

By incorporating the Bics and IICRC qualifications, a National Standard could be realised and " sold " to Insurance companies and corporates who would find it easier to select a credible company to maintain their assets.

Just the way I expect things to pan out.

Bye for now

Angie
 

[Ian Gourlay]

Re Insurance Market.

Yes it does look like Homeserve are taking a lion share.

But when it comes to building repair after the flood damage it looks to me that loss adjusters tend to favour regional companies.

Just going on personal experience.

[martin19842]

hi there

this is a hot thread today ive been out for   a few hours and its still going strong.

john, i must find time to come up and lok at some of your kit,

we are putting a new van on the road in the new year, and i have a bit of shopping list of kit that it will carry, purely for my flood customers.

unfortunately i'll have to drive through, as the aircraft is grounded, one ambition ive had for three years now is to learn to fly helicopters, still saving for that one.


home werve and chemdry will make a good partnership, as long as they deliver the service level to their clients.  cause in 18 months or 24 months when contracts are up for review then they have to watch it.

cause we all know that the insurance companies will jump ship at the drop of a hat, if they are not happy with the current supplier.

so good luck everybody.

im just lucky that i have a very good client and by reputation, we are theie insurers preferred supplier, and we are first through the door.  sometiomes we get there before the plumber gets there.

and in some cases we are asked to be on site first to photgraph it all, so that blame cane be directed in the right direction, photos great for evidence in insurance claims.

regards

martin

regards

martin

[John Kelly]

Ayone thinking of buying their own plane think again, one of my customers (easy jet pilot) had his own small plane, he put it in for its first service....................£19 grand

[martin19842]

john

and i moaned about the servicing costs of my vans.

but hey if youvr got the money, then why  not enjoy yoursefl.


we all work hard, so go on, pop down the shops and buy yourself a little winged runabout.

regards

martin

£19k  think of all the caroet and drying kit i could buy with that.!!!!