New Zealand Firm Goes Viral for Tearing Up Client’s Driveway Over £3,800 Dispute

A construction company staged a fake virus outbreak. TikTok footage showing their team shredding a customer's driveway as they claimed it was due to an outstanding £3,800 payment.

Kendall Contractors Ltd, which has its base in Leeds, shared a video showing workers tearing down the homeowner’s driveway accompanied by the comment: "Can't pay? We'll remove it for you."

However, the company has since removed the video and apologized to the owner after discovering that she had fully settled the payment several months prior. It turns out that the video was assembled by AI .

Furious, the homeowner told MailOnline about the predicament created by Kendall Contractors as the video gained massive attention online with over a million views.

She said The assertion that the driveway was removed due to an unpaid invoice is entirely untrue. In reality, the driveway was undergoing repairs as part of scheduled corrective actions after damages were inflicted by a service provider.

The reality is, they did it all as a joke," she stated. "They uploaded a clip onto TikTok implying that I'm someone who avoids paying bills, which led them to tear up my driveway.

'We've all seen shows like this on television. But that’s not who I am.'

'That is not the situation whatsoever. The fact is, yes, they were taking up the drive, but they were taking up the drive because it needed repairing.'

She added: "This has left me in a difficult situation. Individuals on the internet believe I am someone who avoids paying their dues."

The footage appears to show a man with a chainsaw tearing into the newly-completed tarmac, set to music. A digger is then seen destroying parts of the driveway.

The homeowner added: 'Frustrating as this is and as annoying as it is and upsetting as it is, I'm actually glad that you did turn up at my door so I was aware of it.

'I just don't know why any company would think to do something like that.'

A neighbour of the homeowner said: 'I feel sorry for her. It's just not on to put her house on the internet and accuse her of not paying her bills.

This video has become hugely popular, and people are essentially accusing this woman of not paying at all.

The finest move would be for them to erase the debt she has towards them regarding the repairs, acting out of good will. I’d advise them to try whistling for the payment instead.

The company has removed the initial video and uploaded a fresh clip showcasing the finished work.

The company stated in an accompanying message: "We want to clarify some points from our recent TikTok video which was taken down after it went viral."

The driveway was finished last year, and the customer paid in full. The reason for removing the driveway was because the gas board had to excavate a portion during their work at the property.

The customer subsequently requested us to return and correct the work performed by the gas board on the newly paved driveway.

I've apologized to this customer directly since it attracted some unwelcome notice.

The company informed MailOnline that the video was 'fabricated' and 'created using AI'.

When asked for more information, the employee responded: 'I have released another video clarifying this matter and offering an apology. I am currently at her place. Everything is resolved!'

Based on the company’s most recent financial statements prepared until November 2023, Kendall Contractors Ltd has reported a loss of £122,000.

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