Welcome to our Spring Newsletter.  Many people reckon this is the best time of the year and it’s certainly nice to go home in daylight (apologies to those of you who work past 9 pm!).

We’re certainly busy here – trying to ensure that Carmichaels remain at the vanguard of innovative practice whilst remaining professional and quality driven.  I’m delighted to announce the recruitment of a new adjuster, Alan Grose ACII.  In accordance with our National Service Centre ethos, Alan will report into Maidstone but he is based near Bristol, giving us even better coverage for the West Country, West Midlands and M4 corridor.

On the technological front our website is about to emerge from the web garage – more news next time.  We hope you enjoy this short newsletter which we are trying to develop.  All suggestions (and criticisms) welcome!

Tim Blake, Operations Director (07739 893506) - Guest Editor.  Tim is pictured (right) with Keith Curling, our Managing Director.
 

Technical Section
We have handled (and continue to handle) a number of large escape of oil claims recently and hope we have learned a few lessons along the way.

The first and important decision in cases where oil has seeped into ground/foundations must always be to investigate the cause, subsequently diagnose the problem and agree the solutions.  Inevitably an environmental or pollution specialist is appointed.  Whilst this is a necessary development, problems can (and do!) occur with managing the extent of work undertaken and the costs resulting.  Environmental clean-up is an expensive business and the adjuster needs to focus the attention of all parties on the elements of the claim which are covered by the policy and, of course, the most economic way forward.

If we can offer any help or advice on this type of loss please do not hesitate to contact Keith Curling or Neil Hadley on 01622 766100
 

Sportsman's Dinner
In April a group of Carmichaels people and guests attended a Sportsman's Dinner at Priestfield Stadium, home of the mighty Gills. The Guest Editor, being a life long supporter of a club with a sworn enmity to the aforementioned Gills was dragged kicking and screaming to the event.  Through gritted teeth he has to admit that an excellent evening was enjoyed by all (and he won a shirt in the raffle!).

Gills
They’ve done it! The Gills are at Wembley for the third time in 10 years… might be able to claim a second home allowance!

Comic Relief (Red Nose Day)
This year, for Red Nose Day, we tried something a bit different.  Everyone was asked to bring a photo of themselves into the office for identification by other staff members.  Easy?  Not when the picture has to be in the baby/toddler/small child category.  Apart from one person (Mini Me?) it was pretty tricky.  Modesty forbids the Guest Editor from disclosing who came second (but the winner was Mr Graham Eagle Eyes Eades).  Anyway, with a combination of the competition and cake sales we managed to raise £100 so a good result for a worthy cause.
 

Featured Employee – Jackie Cooper  
Jackie joined Carmichaels an amazing 10 years ago – and she’s still here!  Apart from being the office guru on report formats and horses, she is an expert on skiing, horses, schools in Kent, top class joinery and ……. did we mention horses?  Jackie lives near Meopham with her two fabulous children and long suffering husband, Kevin, … (the top class joiner).  She hates having her photo taken but we caught her (far left in the Comic Relief picture above) on Red Nose Day!

Finally … Strange but true …
Our adjuster in Leeds, Sarah Howard, recently stumbled upon a situation in the “you couldn’t make it up” category.  Sarah had arranged, as part of alternative accommodation, for a furniture pack to be supplied to a policyholder in North East England.  Imagine the policyholder’s surprise when she discovered whilst fluffing the cushions of the sofa a computer memory stick/USB plug.  Mrs Policyholder felt the need to take the item to the local Police who were (sadly) unwilling to give any details other than to say the data was ‘highly sensitive’ (!).  Suppose it makes a change from leaving top secret documents on trains …