Karl...it is as Jason says...both he and John have worked in this area extensively over the last 15 years or so. After a particularly bad storm a few years back we had quite a bit of damage to our master bedroom, bringing down part of the ceiling and damaging fitted wardrobes etc. When we notified our insurer they insisted on sending out their contractor. We let them do this (without informing them that we were also in the trade) - it was not a particularly good experience with their 'expert' contractor talking a whole load of waffle as well as giving some extremely disturbing news...i.e. informing us that we were not covered as we had a 'flat' roof - which was, in fact, totally incorrect. Now, if we had been an elderly couple, or someone as vulnerable, we would have been extremely upset by what he told us. Instead, he was sent out with a flea in his ear and we were straight onto the phone to our brokers and to the insurance company. We informed the insurance company that we would be appointing our own contractors as their expert did not meet the standards we expected from such an individual or company. They immediately gave us the go ahead to get quotes, etc and the work was done within weeks (from replacing the roofing, ceiling, wardrobes, decorating etc). The insurance company will try and frighten the Policyholder into using their designated contractors but legally they have no right to. If you do choose to use your own contractors, and there are problems, it would be down to you, as the policyholder, to sort them out directly with the contractor as the Insurance Company will not want to know...that is the only downside. The insurance company concerned was Norwich Union.
Lynn
(Mrs K)
P.S. The contractor, whether it be ChemDry, Rainbow or one appointed by yourself, is working for you not the insurance company. That is why, at the start of every job, the contractor has to get a mandate signed giving the insurance company your permission to pay their invoice.