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A holidaymaker secured a £4,500 bed bug compensation settlement with Holiday Claims Bureau after suffering bed bug bites during a seven-night caravan break at Martello Beach Holiday Park in Clacton-on-Sea. The park had offered a refund, but his experience also involved repeated hospital visits, anxiety and extra costs.
Bed Bugs Discovered During a Caravan Holiday
The client had booked a seven-night break at Martello Beach Holiday Park in Clacton-on-Sea. During the stay, he developed clusters of red, itchy spots across his skin. The symptoms continued, and he attended the local hospital on several occasions because of the severity of his injuries.
The Impact Went Beyond the Cost of the Stay
The client kept a record of how the bites affected his daily life and documented his related expenses.
| Area of Impact | What the Client Experienced or Recorded |
|---|---|
| Injuries and Treatment | Persistent red, itchy bites, several hospital visits and medication. |
| Daily Life | Anxiety and reduced confidence, with effects on work and social relationships. |
| Additional Costs | Travel to and from hospital and the cost of medication. |
A Refund Offer, Then a £4,500 Settlement
The holiday park offered a full refund for the stay. The accommodation had cost just under £240 per person, but the client’s concerns extended to his injuries, ongoing anxiety, additional expenses and the effect on his life.
After he instructed HCB, our team reviewed and organised the available evidence and submitted his claim. An admission of liability followed. The team then obtained a medical report and negotiated a £4,500 settlement.
If you have received an offer yourself, our article explains what to check before accepting a bed bug refund or settlement offer.
Oliver Linton on the Case
Commenting on the case in June 2024, Oliver Linton raised concerns about bed bug problems in the UK and abroad and emphasised the precautions accommodation providers should take to protect guests.
What Readers Can Take From This Case
The client’s record brought together what happened at the caravan park and the effects that continued beyond it. Three useful parts of that record were:
- What he found and reported: photographs, video footage and the complaint to management.
- Medical information: hospital visits, medication and the medical report obtained during the claim.
- The wider impact: notes about his daily life and records of related expenses.
If you are dealing with a similar problem, our guide explains what to do if you find bed bugs in your accommodation. You can also use our Bed Bug Evidence Checklist and Timeline to organise your own records.
For a separate example involving an initial offer, read how Paul secured over £2,500 after a £150 voucher offer from Premier Inn. For other incidents at this type of accommodation, see our holiday park compensation claims information.
To understand who may be responsible, what losses may be considered and how to request an assessment, see our bed bug bite compensation claims information.
