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“One plumber earned €2,200 in January alone for leads sent through to PCLA.”
to the plumber making the referral,” says Peter. “They get paid at the start of the process and don’t need to wait for claims to settle. “For plumbers, it’s a no brainer. They’re going out and getting paid to fix a leak and, on top of their callout charge, they’re getting an extra €200 so it’s a nice extra income for them. “What we had found was that loss assessment and insurance companies were falling down on the customer service side of things, so we made it our number one priority to extend a premium service to our clients. “We’ve a very good reputation built up over the last 10 years, and we’re just looking forward to keeping it for the next 10 years.” Plumber referrals Around 60% of PCLA’s business involves water leaks from burst pipes and overflowing drains, with gas and oil leaks also covered by the firm. “Claims are our forte - just being able to assess the situation and pinpoint exactly what is damaged,”
says Peter. “We’ll do a moisture survey to show to the insurance company, as they wouldn’t have our technical background. “That’s why it’s important for any policy holder to have someone like us involved; we can really maximise their claim and get their true payout.” With policy holders often facing an excess payment and potential loss of their no claims bonus, insurance claims are only worthwhile for damage totalling at least €2,000 but can run into the millions, says Peter. Clients include bars, restaurants and large commercial premises but most of its business comes from domestic residences. Residential claims typically average at least €10,000 but can easily reach €200,000 for serious damage requiring a complete strip out. Claims against third party manufacturers supplying faulty water pumps and fittings are common, and PCLA has on occasion represented plumbers subject to overzealous claims by policyholders. But its partnership with plumbers is more often a simple process of
referral, assessment and successful claim. “If a plumber is interested in making a referral, we’ll have a chat and go through the whole process with them,” says Peter. “Basically, they’re the first person on site and their priority is to fix a leak and prevent any further damage and, once that’s done, they can have a chat with the client.” If the client wishes to pursue an insurance claim, the plumber can make a referral on a no-win, no-fee basis. PCLA will then have a chat with the client, assess the situation and determine if both parties are happy to go ahead with the loss assessment.
Unit D3, Santry Hall Industrial Estate, Santry Dublin 9 T: +353 (0)1 562 0082 E: info@pcla.ie www.pcla.ie Want to know more?
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