Repairs group launches SD Claims service for insurers

The SD Group, one of the largest cosmetic finishing groups in the UK, has launched a new claims service for insurance providers.

SD Claims will provide insurers with a dedicated team of hard surface repair technicians who can repair damaged household and commercial items to original standard.

The service will be established by Shaun Mulvey, who joins the SD Group as head of insurance after 15 years in the claims handling industry. He previously worked with The Be Group and Magic Man.

On launching SD Claims, Mulvey said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to build something new for SD that will have such an enormous benefit both to the SD Group itself and to the insurance market.”

“For insurers, being able to repair fittings and fixtures rather than replacing them can have a massive impact on the cost of handling claims, as well as the time taken to resolve them. I really believe there is no team more trusted to provide this service—and to the high standards that are required—than the hard surface repair technicians at SD.”

Insurers will be able to arrange for hard surface repairs to be carried out on a range of household and commercial claims, including window, tile and brick repairs, as well as kitchen fittings, bathrooms, flooring and metalwork.

The service will be available UK-wide and will include a two-year warranty rather than the industry-standard one-year guarantee.

Mulvey added: “We wanted to create a service that benefits the end-customer who is making the claim as much as the insurer, and that really comes down to the time taken to repair or replace. For example, replacing a damaged bathroom, ordering a suite and fitting can take two weeks to complete, in comparison to as little as five days when you’re talking about a hard surface repair. Add to that the environmental impact of repairing goods rather than sending them to landfill, and the benefits of a service like this are clearly evident.”

In preparation for its launch, the SD Group has built a dedicated claims system that allows the team to tailor each project to the specific needs and customers of any insurer. It has also developed a network of qualified repairs experts, based across the UK, to assist with claims at short notice. 

Nick Jones, managing director of the SD Group, said: “We are incredibly proud to be launching SD Claims this August, particularly with Shaun’s expertise at the helm. He brings with him former colleague Zara Weller, who between them have over 25 years in the business so we have every faith that our newest branch of SD is in the right hands.”

He continued: “What we initially thought would be a service that sees a gradual increase in interest has exceeded all of our expectations already. We have really hit the ground running with claims already coming in three months ahead of schedule.”

Mark Dugdale