Premier Inn 'bedbug bites' case leads to compensation

Vicky Hills said she was bitten on her legs and shoulders, causing pain and irritation

A woman who claims she was covered with bedbug bites after staying in a Premier Inn hotel has received a refund and compensation from the company.

Vicky Hills, of Dunstable, Bedfordshire, said she noticed the bite marks on her legs after her stay in Hastings, East Sussex, in August.

She said there had been a delay in compensation for new bedding, bug traps and medication she purchased.

Premier Inn apologised and said it was glad to have resolved the issue.

Ms Hills said it took too long for her out-of-pocket expenses to be reimbursed

Ms Hills contacted the The JVS Show on BBC Three Counties Radio, which helps with consumer issues, to raise awareness and to seek a refund.

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She said on the drive home after staying at the hotel from 10 to 11 August she started getting bite marks on her legs, and first thought they were from mosquitoes.

"They were incredibly itchy, incredibly painful. I had two lines up the front of my leg and then I started getting them on my shoulder and arms," she said.

She then went to a pharmacist who told her the bites could be from bedbugs.

A GP confirmed this and prescribed antibiotics.

Ms Hills disposed of her home bedding and bought bug traps.

Bedbug bites also came up on Ms Hills' shoulders

The £78 cost of her room was refunded within 10 days but compensation for the items she purchased took nearly two months to be repaid.

After appearing on the BBC show, she received £312, including a goodwill gesture.

A spokeswoman for the company apologised to Ms Hills, saying: "We have rigorous processes in place to both react to and prevent issues on the rare occasion they do arise.

"As soon as our team were aware of this complaint, the room was put on lockdown and independent experts immediately called in to resolve the issue using a specialist treatment, with no further cases reported."

Ms Hills said she had been left with some scarring from the bites, but hoped this would soon fade and be forgotten.