Terry Stockford, his fiancée Jemma Higgs and two of her children headed to Haven's Devon Cliffs Holiday Park in Exmouth, Devon, for a summer break. But the holiday turned into a nightmare after Terry woke up covered in 120 bed bug bites.
The Nightmare Begins
Upon arrival, the family was warned of an ant infestation in their caravan. Jemma and the children stayed in the car while Terry braved the accommodation on the night of July 13. The next morning, he discovered bites covering him from head to toe, with bed bugs "absolutely everywhere" in the room.
Infestation Forces Family to Sleep in Car
Terry said: "We were told there was an ant problem and not to use one of the bedrooms as they were bad and if they spread we should call the maintenance and he would put repellent down. We did this, but it didn't work so Jemma and the children slept in my car that night. I slept in the double bed and woke up the next morning to around 120 bed bug bites covering me from head to toe. If the kids would have stayed there then they would have been bitten as well – luckily it was just me that got bitten."
The family complained to reception and were offered a refund and moved to a different caravan. But Terry claims the second accommodation featured vile stains on the pillows and floor, cobwebs and broken curtains.
Medical Emergency and Extended Stay
Terry visited a local walk-in clinic where doctors allegedly told him they had "never seen bed bug bites like it in 40 years". He was prescribed antibiotics, but the medication meant he wasn't medically fit to drive the family home. The family was forced to prolong their stay at the resort until he was fit to drive. Haven let them stay longer free of charge while offering a full refund and £200 worth of vouchers to spend on-site.
To add insult to injury, the bites were so severe that Terry had to completely shave off his hair and beard — just four weeks before the couple were due to get married.
Haven's Response and Family's Decision
A Haven spokesperson said: "We are deeply sorry for the issues the family experienced during their holiday with us. As soon as these concerns were brought to our attention, we took immediate action to relocate the family to alternative accommodation. An independent pest control specialist has since inspected and treated the caravan. We have continued to provide a great deal of support to the family throughout their stay."
Terry said the holiday left them "in tears" and he will never stay at a Haven resort again, describing what they encountered as "disgusting". The family, from Oxford, said they wanted to leave but the children were sad, so they decided to stay.
