A building firm faked a viral TikTok video of its staff tearing up a client's driveway while suggesting it was in response to an unpaid £3,800 bill.
Kendall Contractors Ltd, located in Leeds, shared a video showing workers tearing down a 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 her payment several months prior. It turns out that the video was actually assembled by AI .
Enraged, the homeowner expressed to MailOnline how Kendall Contractors placed her in a difficult situation after the video gained widespread attention with over a million views online.
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 stemming from damages inflicted by a utility provider.
The reality is, they did it all as a joke," she stated. "They uploaded a video onto TikTok implying that I'm someone who avoids paying bills, which led them to tear up my driveway.
We have all seen television shows about this sort of thing. However, that isn’t who I am.
'Absolutely not. In reality, they were undertaking the repair work on the drive since it required fixing.'
She stated: "This has placed me in a difficult situation. Individuals on the internet believe I am someone who avoids paying their debts."
The video seems to depict a man using a chainsaw to cut through freshly laid asphalt, accompanied by music. Later, a excavator is shown damaging portions of the driveway.
The homeowner commented: "Although this situation is frustrating, annoying, and distressing, I am actually relieved that you came to my door because now I am 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's gone viral and they've basically accused this poor lady of never paying.
'The best thing they could do now is write off the money she owes them for the repairs, as a goodwill gesture. I'd tell them to go and whistle for the money.'
The company has removed the initial video and uploaded a fresh clip showcasing the finished work.
Following the removal of their recent viral TikTok video, the company issued a clarification stating: "There are several points we want to address regarding our recently taken-down TikTok content."
The driveway was finished last year, and the customer paid the total amount. The reason for removing the driveway was because the gas board conducted work at the property and had to excavate a section of the driveway.
We were subsequently requested by the client to return and correct what the gas company had done to the newly paved driveway.
I have apologized to this customer individually because it attracted some unwelcome notice.
The company informed MailOnline that the video was 'fabricated' and 'created using AI.'
When asked for more information, the staff member responded: 'I have released another video clarifying this matter and offering an apology. I am currently addressing her concerns. Everything has been 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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