An angry pensioner has accused Tesco of backtracking on paying a £20,000 bill to repair a crumbling wall, which he claims is putting children's lives at risk.
William Dordoy says he fears the badly damaged wall outside his home in Herne Bay, Kent, could fall and kill a local schoolchild after cracks appeared during recent storms.
The 76-year-old's home insurer, Tesco Bank, initially agreed to cover the cost of the repairs, which were estimated to cost as much as £20,000.
However, the insurer later backtracked after examining the wall and suggested the damage was not due to bad weather but to 'wear and tear'.
Mr Dordoy says a large crack appeared in the brick wall outside his home after a heavy storm early this year.
He worries that, given the proximity of two nearby elementary schools and a daycare center, a child or parent could be seriously injured if the wall were to collapse on them.
“It's so dangerous,” Mr Dordoy said.
“It could fall over if we get another windy day, and you can see cracks everywhere now.
“There are always mothers who park nearby to pick up the children. The wall could collapse as they walk past, and who knows what damage might be caused.”
Mr Dordoy first noticed the gaping crack in the old wall in January, after a storm.
He contacted Tesco Bank and was initially told the repair costs would be covered by his home insurance.
But in a later letter in early May, the company backtracked and denied the claim, suggesting the damage to the wall was caused by “wear and tear” rather than bad weather.
When insurance inspectors visited Mr. Dordoy's property, they noticed weeds growing through the wall.
But Mr Dordoy insists the crack appeared long before any weeds started growing.
Canterbury City Council officials have now installed barriers next to the wall to prevent people from walking on the stretch of sidewalk next to the wall, although Dordoy says parents often push aside the temporary fencing on the school run.
A bricklayer gave the pensioner a quote of £20,000 to have the wall repaired, but he says he doesn't have the money.
Mr Dordoy says his disappointed Tesco has gone back on its original offer to cover the repair costs.
“Honestly, I'll never go in there again, not even to shop,” he said angrily.
“I just can't believe it… At Tesco? Real?”
Tesco Bank said in a statement: “We were sorry to hear about Mr Dordoy's experience.
“We rejected his claim after inspection of the wall revealed that the damage was not caused as a result of a storm, but due to its pre-existing poor condition and gradual wear and tear.
“However, we recognize that there have been unnecessary delays and miscommunication in the processing of his claim and have therefore offered Mr Dordoy compensation for the inconvenience caused.
“We have also agreed to cover the costs of the barriers the council has erected to provide protection against the wall.”