“I only ever spoke to them to offer tea or coffee…what has happened has changed my life”
15:41, 23 Aug 2025Updated 15:44, 23 Aug 2025
Andrea Calland after builders left her house unfinished(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A woman claims a leaky, windowless extension which she paid builders £75,000 to complete has “completely destroyed” her life. Andrea Calland, 59, from Wavertree, forked out the money which she inherited from her mum after she died in April 2021.
She told the ECHO how everything “seemed fine” at first but it was when the building company demanded thousands of pounds more off her that alarm bells started ringing. Andrea’s mum died during covid, however it took until January 2023 to empty her house and sell it.
After the sale she inherited the money, which she partly used to employ a cleaner to clean her mum’s grave. She said: “The grave cleaner came to my house to collect the money that I owed him and while he was there we got talking about me wanting an extension on my house. He recommended a builder to me.”
Andrea hired the recommended building company, which the ECHO has chosen not to name, and after some “back and forth” discussions over contracts, plans and payment. Andrea says it was settled that she’d pay the company £75,000 to complete a new extension at the back of her property, complete with a downstairs shower room. She said the plans met her accessibility needs, as she’s had spinal problems over recent years.
The work reportedly started in October, with the promise they’d try to have the extension finished before Christmas. Andrea initially paid £25,000 for materials after a receiving a “legit” invoice with the company bank details on.
Shortly after work was started Andrea says she was asked for another £25,000 to pay for more materials. Thinking nothing of it she paid the money.
She says it has completely destroyed her life(Image: Liverpool Echo)
However, after Christmas Andrea started to believe something “wasn’t quite right.” She said: “They came back to the job and told me they’d need the rest of the money.
“I thought if that is what I need to do to get the job finished, then I’ll pay it and transferred another £5,000. Then they asked for another £7,500 then another £7,500 and then £5,000. In total they’d had £75,000 off me – but none of the materials were showing up.
“When I asked when things [materials] were coming he kept saying they will be here soon, but things didn’t feel right. I started phoning around the supply companies to find out when things were coming and they told me the materials hadn’t been ordered. That sent alarm bells.”
When questioning the firm she claims the builders “packed their tools up” and never returned to her property after one “screamed” at her.
By this point the traders had been working on the extension for five months, says Andrea, however the annex was “leaking, flooding, still didn’t have windows and had scaffolding surrounding it.”
Andrea says she made numerous attempts to contact the company and ask when they were returning to complete the job, however was told they wouldn’t be coming back because she was “aggressive” towards them. She claims the only time she spoke to them was to offer tea and coffee before the day they left.
Eventually, Andrea’s number and email address were blocked by the building company and she’s been unable to contact them. She says she reported the incident to police.
Six months later she claims Merseyside Police arrived at her property and “read me my rights and locked me up in Belle Vale police station.”
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a 59-year-old woman was arrested in October 2024 following an allegation of harassment.
“Enquiries were carried out into the report and it has been decided that no further action will be taken against the woman.
“We also received a report that the same woman had been the victim of fraud, but the incident is a civil matter and she has been advised and signposted to third party support.”
She said the whole situation has “been a nightmare” and “completely destroyed” her life. She said: “It’s been very horrible, it’s been very stressful, I’ve had a heart attack because of the stress.
“I was left with a half finished extension and had to phone someone else to finish the job gradually, as and when I could afford to get bits done. I’ve spent another £15,000 getting things finished.”
She said: “They cost me thousands, it’s been so scary, my life, happiness, has all been destroyed over the last two years.”
She added: “This whole thing has changed me as a person, I’ve lost nearly a stone in weight. My confidence and trust is at rock bottom, it caused me to have a heart attack. It’s upset me big time. I just don’t want anyone else to be in this position.”