Dad Baffled After Scaffolders Spotted Drinking Beer In Family Hot Tub

A homeowner whose house was damaged in a storm says builders who came to work on his roof were spotted drinking beers in his hot tub.

David Wright, from Wirral, had to leave his home after Storm Arwen badly damaged the roof in November last year.

However, while he was away, he received a phone call from a neighbour who told him that they had seen the scaffolders taking a dip in his hot tub.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo about the bizarre claims, David said: "We've been let down time and time again.

"I rang up the project manager at the time [the scaffolders went in the hot tub] to say that someone had been in the hot tub and that my neighbour had witnessed it and that they believe it was the scaffolders. I came back and the hot tub lid was up and damaged.

Liverpool Echo

"On the hot tub you have wind straps to keep it down, they were all open so I rang the sub-contractors and they told me to phone the police if I thought it was a problem.

"I even have photos of the beer caps on the decking from where they've drank beer out of the fridge."

But if that wasn't bad enough, the job that should have taken around four months still hasn't been completed seven months on.

And David and his partner Nicola, 45, and their two kids, Lewis, 10, and Lauren, seven, have been left living in a small bungalow until the work is complete.

David, a construction compliance manager, blasted the poor standard of workmanship shown by the sub-contractors used by his insurance provider.

The 45-year-old said: "It was a flat roof that would have cost £3,500. It's almost as if I'm working for them trying to sort my own insurance policy out. They're supposed to be working for me.

"I made a complaint straight away on 12 December because I had reservations initially. The builders came round to survey the roof four times and didn't even get out of the van."

Liverpool Echo

He added: "They took the wrong ceiling down in the house. They haven't taken any of the wet plasterboards down. The flat roof that they put on it is wrong. There are all kinds of different problems. The emotional stress and heartache has been horrendous.

"I am honestly so close to just breaking."

Responding to the allegations, a spokesperson for Zurich Insurance Group apologised for any inconvenience and said an investigation was underway.

The company said: "We are very sorry to hear about the problems Mr Wright has faced in relation to the claim for damage to his roof. The delays and some of the service he has experienced falls short of the high standards we pride ourselves on. We have issued a compensation payment of £350 in recognition of this.

"Following a meeting yesterday, we have agreed a way forward to address the outstanding works required to Mr Wright’s home.

"We are also conducting a full investigation into some of the contractors used, to ensure that those hired on behalf of Zurich, provide the best and most professional service possible."

LADbible has reached out to Zurich Insurance Group for comment.