Episode 2 Cowboy Trap


Episode 2

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Up and down the country, cowboy builders and rogue tradesmen

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are making people's lives a misery

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with missed deadlines, shoddy workmanship and daylight robbery.

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You go into the kitchen and you see the devastation.

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You go to have a bath and you see the devastation. It's always there.

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Cowboy builders and rogue traders cost UK home-owners tens of millions of pounds every year,

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but it seems to me that they just keep getting away with it.

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He's got our £30,000 savings and we're still paying the bank back for something that never happened.

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Our team of experts are on hand to right the wrongs

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and give hope to those who have been tricked by the con men.

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-Wow!

-Oh, wow! It looks really spacious. It's tiny, but it looks really good.

-Yeah.

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If you take on board all my advice, hints and tips and stay vigilant,

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together we can prevent you from falling into the cowboy trap.

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Today, on Cowboy Trap, we're in Blackheath, London,

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where Kevin and Cosetta had high hopes for their dream kitchen extension,

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but were horribly tricked by a cowboy con man.

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Since the house has been left as it is now,

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we've not really enjoyed the house any more and we tend to just live in our little bedroom upstairs.

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Kevin and Cosetta had saved up to £30,000 over ten years to build their dream kitchen

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and then borrowed another 25 grand from the bank,

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but their builder wrecked their once lovely home and ran off with all their money.

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We never normally argue,

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but we had a few moments when...

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Because it's obvious, especially at the beginning

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when we had no water, no electricity,

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no heating, no nothing downstairs.

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We had to eat upstairs. We had a microwave in the bedroom and we washed up in the bath.

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Later, we'll meet Elaine Nduka who lives in Stratford, East London,

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with her children Harmony and Christopher.

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Her dreams for a kitchen extension and complete redecoration of her modest home

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also lured her into the cowboy trap, not once, but twice.

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We thought we could trust him because apart from the promises that he gave,

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he'd had a loss as well.

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He'd been working... It's like we were in the same boat together.

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We'd both lost out, so you had that in common.

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And then he was just so comforting and couldn't do enough for us.

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I've travelled thousands of miles up and down the country

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and I've been appalled at the level of bad building practice that's gone on

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and the total disrespect for those that have handed over their hard-earned cash.

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First, we're in Blackheath where house-proud Kevin and Cosetta had architects' plans

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and builders' quotes ready to build the kitchen extension they had fantasised about for ten years.

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Then they received an unsolicited email.

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We'd almost picked a builder,

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but a circular arrived saying if we were ready to go, all the documents were in place,

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they were going to give us a bit of a discount because a customer of theirs had postponed.

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And they were going to take six weeks to do it

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and that was so attractive because everybody else had said 12 weeks.

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Cowboys often post circulars or send unsolicited email.

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Make sure you get recommendation,

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rather than rely on flyers to find your builder.

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Kevin is a paramedic. Dealing with distress is part of his everyday world.

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But he never imagined a builder could turn his happy home life upside down.

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Just before the job started, we were so excited. We were going to get the extension we'd always wanted.

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We'd seen all the programmes on the television, the big building programmes and the lovely finishes.

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We wanted to be part of that and have our own little kingdom downstairs.

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And everything was wonderful. They looked after us, they made sure we were happy.

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We trusted them implicitly.

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There was a good feeling between all of us

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and we couldn't wait to get it started and crack on with it.

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The couple signed the contract and paid £16,000 deposit

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and £4,000 more each week.

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But after two weeks, the work looked nothing like the architects' plans.

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The project manager, who's got all the plans, decides to go on holiday.

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We had no idea that he was going on holiday, so everybody else who was left had no idea of the plans.

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I kept giving them plans and I found them on the floor or in the rubbish bin.

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But the bogus builder saw the opportunity to take even more of the Lawlors' money

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when he heard about the £18,000 designer kitchen they were ordering.

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He came back with a price of £13,000 for the kitchen which we thought was great. We'd save a bit more money.

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And we gave him the money for the kitchen.

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He never ordered it. No order for a kitchen was placed.

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We phoned the company.

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So from then on, the trust and everything that had been built up just disappeared straight away.

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Beware of builders offering discounts. The bad guys will use it as a chance to make a fast buck.

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Sadly, it wasn't long before the smooth-tongued builder turned into a monster,

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demanding more and more cash.

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The fourth week when, um...

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God, just thinking about it!

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He kept phoning us up and he actually threatened you, didn't he?

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-He did, yeah.

-He said, "I'm getting very, very angry, Kevin. Where's my £4,000?"

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Cosetta's son Danny couldn't bear to see his parents suffer these threats.

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They're really good people.

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I wouldn't change them as a result of what's happened

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and I don't think they'd want to change either.

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The problem is not them, even though they'll be more careful from now on.

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The problem is him and his company.

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They're out to scam people and they were out to scam my parents from day one. I believe that.

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'I've arrived here in Blackheath to see their wrecked home for myself

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'and to find out what we can do to help the Lawlors get back their hopes of a dream kitchen extension.'

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-You've had some cowboy builders?

-Yes.

-Show us around.

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-I can see it's still in a good state of disrepair.

-It certainly is, Clive.

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OK, now, this is a wall that wasn't supposed to come down in the first place because...

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They were only supposed to cut the shape of the door and this bit at the end was supposed to come down.

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-OK.

-For the new kitchen.

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When I realised that they'd pulled the wall down, I looked at the plans

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and even I could see that the wall wasn't supposed to come down.

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I said to them, "Why have you destroyed a wall?" They said, "Because it was easier."

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-It was easier?

-Yeah.

-It was easier to take the wall down?

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-I don't think it was.

-That's what they said.

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And this is what they've left behind, obviously, with the acros supporting the wall

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because it is a supporting wall.

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-Do you feel we'll take the acros down and run and hope that the house doesn't collapse?

-It seems like it.

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That looks a mess. Where else in the property have you got problems?

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We'll show you the extension that they've built us

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and we'll take it from there

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because it's just blockwork from what we can see and very cheap blockwork we've later found out.

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Blockwork is blockwork, but it's the way it's been put up.

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If I'd put kids on this from kindergarten, I think they'd have done a better job. It is that bad.

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-Thank you.

-Please don't thank me because this is an absolute disgrace.

-Yeah.

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I'm grinning, but inside I'm angry that people would actually do this sort of thing.

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My guess is this actual extension would have to be brought down.

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'Kevin and Cosetta were hoping for an open-plan living space and designer kitchen.

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'They didn't know that the builders would take their £46,000,

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'rip out a supporting wall and then do a runner.'

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Just so that we can get you on the right track and put a smile back on your face,

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what can we do in the short space of time we've got?

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The thing that worries us the most is the fact that the supporting wall has come down.

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And we're very worried that the house could collapse on itself

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because we don't know how strong or how long those acros are supposed to stay in situ.

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-They've been there a few months now already.

-Yes, six months.

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We just feel that at least if we got the supporting wall built back up

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that the house at least would be safe.

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OK, this is my deal. I'm going to get our guys in, the good guys.

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We'll sort that wall out, take those acros down and give you peace of mind.

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-You've got a long way to go, but hopefully, we can point you in the right direction.

-Fantastic.

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'To demolish this mess and lift the foundations will cost a small fortune

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'and that's on top of the £46,000 the Lawlors have already lost.'

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It's high time we got things sorted. The Lawlors have lived in this mess for way too long.

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Kevin's job is to save lives.

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It's now our chance to save this property and I know just the guys for the job.

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'Coming up, what score out of ten will the independent expert give this cowboy con job?'

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Can I go negative?

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'Meanwhile, in Stratford, East London, Elaine Nduka and her two young children

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'also hoped for a new kitchen extension, along with a complete refurbishment throughout,

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'but their home was wrecked by not one, but two cowboy builders.'

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I had kind of like a showroom kind of thing in my head.

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I didn't know if that's how it would end up, but that was my vision.

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My daughter's room, which is quite small, would become a study

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and we'd have a loft conversion. I'd move into the loft.

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Everybody would just move along and have a much bigger bedroom.

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Downstairs, I would have had the kitchen-diner

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and this room would have been left as a quiet room.

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My mum, she kept getting leaflets put through her door, advertising builders,

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and I said to her, "No, I want somebody who is recommended.

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"I don't want to just take anybody because you hear of the horror stories."

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Then she told me about some builders who were doing some work next door to her.

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And they were doing work for... I think it was going to be part council, part housing association,

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so you would think that people doing that kind of work would be reputable.

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'Once everything was agreed, Elaine's builder couldn't wait to get started.

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'There was lots to do all over the house and work began quickly. A bit too quickly.'

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I had to pop out very quickly and I was told that they were getting the paperwork together

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cos there were no contracts or anything as yet.

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When I got back, one of the builders had started taking the plaster off my bedroom wall.

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He hadn't covered anything, so there was dust all over my bed, everywhere.

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He apologised and said the other guy was coming back with the plastic sheets to cover everything over.

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'The builders continued to start lots of jobs all around the house.

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'But there was still no contract and now they wanted thousands of pounds up front.'

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They originally wanted 15,

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but my mum, who was paying for the work, she said the most she could get at that point was 12.

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They accepted the 12.

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We got the money, stupidly, in cash.

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They said that they would give her a receipt. We didn't get anything.

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'Elaine was worried about the lack of paperwork and took advice,

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'but was told if she stopped the work, she could be at fault, so she confronted the governor instead.'

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He came in saying, "Oh, sorry," there'd been a loss in his family.

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He stunk of alcohol and just said he'll go and get the paperwork now.

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My brother said that he would go with him because at this point we were very suspicious.

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He said, "I have to get some supplies first. When I get back, we'll go together."

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That was the last we saw of him.

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'One worker took pity on Elaine.

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'He couldn't do the loft conversion, but would finish the extension and decorating for what money was left.

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'Elaine accepted because by now she was 12 grand worse off

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'and she and her two children were living in just one room.'

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We were basically eating, sleeping, doing everything in this one room.

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And he would come round and say, "Don't just sit in that room.

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"My wife's got dinner on. Come round for Sunday dinner. Bring the kids."

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'But Elaine's Good Samaritan turned out to be yet another con artist.'

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What he originally thought he could do it for, he couldn't, so the price would go up a bit.

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He took another 5,000. The deliveries came.

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And he disappeared.

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'Elaine and her family have been stitched up in Stratford.

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'I want to check out just what damage he's done for myself.'

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I always feel a bit nervous when I'm coming into properties because I know you've had bad building work.

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I know you've had some bodging builders.

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Yeah. This was an internal door.

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It still is an internal door!

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It's just that it's...

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-It's used for exterior now.

-Yeah.

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Basically, I have to plug it at the bottom with newspaper

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-to stop any creatures getting in and the rainwater, but the newspaper gets really soggy and horrible.

-OK.

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But yeah, they had a mishap.

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It was fully glass from top to bottom. I've ended up with horrible plywood and duct tape.

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'Elaine's bathroom has also suffered at the hands of cowboy builders

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'who started plenty of jobs, but finished none.'

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They put down these floor tiles, but obviously, they didn't lay them properly

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because now they're breaking underneath your feet.

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-I can see you've got a tap missing on the actual shower area of the bath.

-Yeah.

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The taps were fine before they came.

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-Right.

-And then as they were leaving, the taps...

-Were not fine.

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-Yeah.

-OK.

-And I did have hot water coming out of the sink tap.

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But now I have no water at all.

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That definitely needs taking a look at.

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'These jokers have left behind quite a mess inside the house, but it's even worse outside

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'where they were supposed to be building the new kitchen extension.'

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-It's an obstacle course and a builders' yard.

-It is.

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Where am I actually looking now?

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I'm taking it that these are from the builder?

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Yeah, they came one day and left the next and left their stuff behind.

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-Wow! OK.

-Because obviously I've supplied them with enough money, they can buy fresh.

-Of course they can!

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I'm glad you've got that attitude because that is exactly what they've done.

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'So what should our good guys do inside the house to help Elaine and her young family?'

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-I'd like a nice bathroom.

-You'd like a nice bathroom?

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I'd like to be able to get out of the shower and not have to stand there for 10 or 20 minutes,

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-trying to turn off the tap.

-OK.

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-Yeah.

-I tell you what. This is my promise to you.

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We'll sort you that bathroom out, OK?

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-And that can be your little piece of...a haven.

-My tiny bathroom will be my tiny haven.

-Yeah, exactly.

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'Coming up, we'll discover just how bad Elaine's builder really was.'

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Have a look here how easy that goes!

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'Back in Blackheath, the Lawlors also fell victim to a cowboy con man.

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'He was paid £46,000 to build an open-plan kitchen extension,

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'but before he scarpered with their cash, his team knocked down a wall supporting the upstairs.

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'Kevin and Cosetta are reduced to living in their bedroom

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'because their downstairs was destroyed by a builder who took every penny they had.'

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Did they ask for any specific money up front?

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Yes, they did.

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The contract was given to us and they wanted £16,500 as a deposit,

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even before they started to buy materials.

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And then it was £4,000 a week until the job was finished.

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That amount of money up front is so unusual really when you think that...

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Looking back in hindsight, which is a great thing...

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-Hmm.

-You look at 17 grand almost, say...

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-You're giving that to a total stranger.

-Yes.

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'Follow my top tip - never pay money up front.

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'A bona fide builder will have accounts at builders' merchants

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'and he will not have to pay for at least 30 days.

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'Agree to pay in stages. Don't pay weekly.

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'I didn't like the look of the Lawlors' half-built extension,

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'so let's see what independent building surveyor Arnold Tarling makes of it.'

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Arnold making copious notes!

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Indeed, Clive. I've run out of sheets of paper almost. It's appalling.

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I was going to say, "Pick out the highlights," but if you don't mind, pick out the lowlights.

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The whole of the back addition is going to have to come down.

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What about the inside where those acros are?

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No need to have demolished that wall. That was a structural wall holding up a wall above.

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Fortunately, you've got a couple of acros in, otherwise it would have been coming down on people's heads.

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-What would you give their work as a mark out of ten?

-Can I go negative?

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-You can go negative by all means.

-OK, negative four.

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I'll give them half a mark for turning up, but let's say negative three and a half. It's appalling.

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'Negative three and a half! Wow!

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'Kevin and Cosetta's builder caused real structural damage to their home which Pete is putting right

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'by erecting a strong, new, load-bearing wall.'

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-In terms of time, because time is of the essence, how long do you reckon it's going to take?

-A good day.

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-A very good day.

-Yeah, OK.

-Yeah, a good day.

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I reckon that would be, to me, a great day's work

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and it's going to give fantastic peace of mind to Cosetta and Kevin.

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-And we can take these acro props out the way.

-Yeah, definitely.

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When they're gone, that signals to them things are on the move forward for the good.

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'Tragically, Kevin and Cosetta were conned out of their life savings for their dream kitchen extension.

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'They were gutted to discover where their hard-earned money really went.'

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-He bought himself a nice car the same day.

-We did some investigations after all this went the wrong way.

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And we found out through the DVLA because we took his number plate and we did a trace on his car

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-and the day he acquired his car was the day Cosetta gave him the £13,000.

-Wow!

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Since then, he's sold the car or transferred it into somebody else's name, so we can't go after that.

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'The Lawlors only found out their builder was a wrong 'un after he had driven off into the sunset.

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'Son Danny says they found out too late.'

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Suddenly, we're checking out the company online

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and checking out the individual's name itself

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to find out any history or background

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about him and his company.

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We found a few things, previous criminal convictions

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and just companies that had been started and then folded.

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'Here's a tip the Lawlors wished they'd followed.

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'Now it's time to give Kevin and Cosetta the opportunity to phone their builder.

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'What will they say in the unlikely event he answers the phone?'

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I'd like to say to him, "How can you sleep at night?

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"And how can you not at least give us the money back for the kitchen that is in fact theft?"

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-What about you, Kevin?

-I'd just like to ask why has he done this to us.

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What right has he got to come into our lives, promise us something

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and just completely take all our savings and leave us with nothing?

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So there's the phone. If it goes to answer-phone, just leave a message for him to get back to you.

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-OK?

-OK. Right, here we go. Let's try it.

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And if you can put it on speaker phone for all to hear, that would be great.

0:21:340:21:39

'This person's phone is switched off. Please try later or send a text.'

0:21:390:21:44

'Cowboys this bad never answer their phones.'

0:21:440:21:48

They might come in their nice suits and have all the nice dialogue, but they lack a couple of things.

0:21:480:21:54

And that's the stripy shirt and the old mask.

0:21:540:21:58

Because they are no better than daylight robbers, if you like.

0:21:580:22:05

I really am sorry you have had to go through this.

0:22:050:22:09

'Coming up, I discover the Lawlors did hear from their builder after he conned them,

0:22:090:22:14

'but his phone call left them fearing for their lives.'

0:22:140:22:18

"If you think I'm giving you £45,000, I'd rather kill the pair of you first." He threatened our lives.

0:22:180:22:24

'Back in Stratford, Elaine Nduka's first builder ran off with 12 grand

0:22:250:22:29

'and the worker who took over the job made off with another 23,

0:22:290:22:33

'making a grand total of £35,000

0:22:330:22:37

'for a kitchen extension which was never completed and a refurbishment that was rubbish.

0:22:370:22:43

'So what score does independent building inspector Arnold Tarling give the builders on this job?'

0:22:430:22:49

-Hi, Arnold. Busy amongst the debris, I see.

-Oh, yes, once again.

0:22:490:22:54

-How are you?

-I'm fine, Clive. How are you?

-Not too bad.

0:22:540:22:57

-You've taken a look around Elaine's property.

-Yes.

0:22:570:23:01

What have you found that's sent alarm bells ringing?

0:23:010:23:05

One thing I'm going to pick up I've just found, which is just here with the wall.

0:23:050:23:10

I'd come away from there. Feel that in the wind.

0:23:100:23:14

Any greater wind and that is going to be over. That's for sure. So what's the plan?

0:23:160:23:21

Well, I've got a solution to that.

0:23:210:23:24

-Let me get out the way. I'll just take that brick off the top.

-Get the brick off.

0:23:240:23:29

-You have a look here how easy that goes.

-Whoa!

0:23:290:23:33

-So here goes...

-I didn't realise that.

0:23:330:23:36

Whoo, baby!

0:23:380:23:40

It was unforgivable leaving it like that.

0:23:400:23:43

Could you imagine if anybody had been under...? That is where I was standing a minute ago.

0:23:430:23:49

So what mark would you give them out of ten?

0:23:490:23:52

-Two.

-Two out of ten. That is seriously all they deserve.

0:23:520:23:56

'But thankfully, our guys are on the job now, helping to right some wrongs.'

0:23:560:24:03

Let's check out these boys.

0:24:030:24:05

-All right, boys?

-How are you doing?

-Not too bad.

0:24:050:24:09

I'm just really catching up on what you've been up to.

0:24:090:24:13

It was in a bit of a mess when we got here.

0:24:130:24:16

-It was a mess all right!

-We've put new ply down to stable it.

0:24:160:24:21

The tiles won't be moving now. And then re-decorate and add the finishing touches.

0:24:210:24:26

-Fantastic. I bet she'll be well chuffed.

-I hope so.

-Well played, fellas.

-Thank you.

0:24:260:24:32

'And here's why the tiles the dodgy builder laid on Elaine's bathroom floor were all cracking up.'

0:24:350:24:41

Just to prove these guys were clueless doing the job at Elaine's house,

0:24:410:24:46

take the boarding they used under the tiles on the floor in the bathroom.

0:24:460:24:52

They used 3-mil thick ply and look at the flexion you're getting there.

0:24:520:24:57

If you lay tiles down on that and then let it set, grout it up and start to walk on it,

0:24:570:25:02

you'll always get movement.

0:25:020:25:04

That's going to pop up the grout, break up all the tile adhesive and the tiles are going to break too.

0:25:040:25:11

I think that's what happened in Elaine's property.

0:25:110:25:14

What should have gone down is what our boys are putting down now.

0:25:140:25:18

This is 9-mil thick WPB - that's weather-proof boarding.

0:25:180:25:22

Now, as much pressure as I can put on there, there's hardly any flexion at all in comparison to that.

0:25:220:25:29

That is what they should have used. They didn't, but we are.

0:25:290:25:33

If they were builders, I'm a clairvoyant.

0:25:330:25:36

'Downstairs, we're fitting a new, safe and sound outside door,

0:25:360:25:40

'so Elaine and her family will be secure at home.

0:25:400:25:43

'While we're hard at it, I want to find out how Elaine got conned out of her cash not once, but twice.'

0:25:430:25:51

He kind of drew me in because he knew that I was here with the two children.

0:25:510:25:56

-He knew you were vulnerable, you'd lost money and you wanted your dream.

-Yeah.

0:25:560:26:01

-But he also knew that there was more money in the pot to be taken.

-Yeah.

0:26:010:26:06

So you do the contract which is something I always say do.

0:26:060:26:09

There was a contract.

0:26:090:26:11

A few weeks before, he asked me can he have the contract because he's doing another job after mine

0:26:110:26:18

and he wants to copy it.

0:26:180:26:20

Why did he want the contract back? For obvious reasons, really.

0:26:200:26:24

-He knew he was going.

-Yeah, and he didn't want to leave any trace of a contract.

0:26:240:26:29

-Fortunately, you've got the contract still.

-Yeah.

0:26:290:26:33

So your copy of the contract you still have here in the property.

0:26:330:26:38

Until...I found the contract.

0:26:380:26:41

I just left it out in my bedroom. I remember it being in my bedroom.

0:26:410:26:45

And came home... Obviously, I didn't notice it was missing because I wasn't looking for it.

0:26:450:26:51

-But once they disappeared...

-He'd taken the contract.

-He'd gone into my bedroom and seen the contract.

0:26:510:26:58

'Follow my top tip.

0:26:580:27:00

'Keep your signed contract and your cash firmly under lock and key.

0:27:000:27:04

'If the builder scarpers,

0:27:040:27:06

'the contract may be your only chance to take him to court.

0:27:060:27:10

'So what would Elaine like to say to the builder

0:27:100:27:13

'who acted like a Good Samaritan while helping himself to her money?'

0:27:130:27:17

I would like to ask why, after he saw what had happened to me first-hand,

0:27:170:27:23

how he was able to do this to me again,

0:27:230:27:27

knowing what I'd been through,

0:27:270:27:29

how he was able to just walk away and not even have a conscience.

0:27:290:27:33

Basically, to try and remedy the situation. Can I have some money, please?

0:27:330:27:39

So we've got the number. If you'd like to dial it...

0:27:390:27:43

-OK.

-Once you've dialled it, put it on speaker phone for us, so we can listen in.

-OK.

0:27:430:27:49

And hopefully, if he's got anything about him, he will do something about it.

0:27:490:27:54

-OK, dial away.

-OK.

0:27:540:27:57

'Your call has been forwarded. At the tone, please record your message.'

0:28:000:28:06

Hi, this is Elaine in Stratford.

0:28:060:28:09

I just wanted to have a chat with you regarding the work that you did to my property

0:28:090:28:14

and remedying the situation.

0:28:140:28:17

Give me a call back at your earliest convenience, thank you.

0:28:170:28:21

Once they've done their bad deed, they go, as I call it, heading for the hills.

0:28:210:28:26

-Yeah, I've already witnessed him running off once.

-Oh, really?

0:28:260:28:30

-Yeah. So, um...

-How did that happen?

0:28:300:28:33

I was dropping my son somewhere and I saw this hunched-over figure I recognised.

0:28:330:28:39

I pulled the car over and I called out to him.

0:28:390:28:42

And he just went..."Hi" and ran off.

0:28:420:28:47

Some man. Some kind of man, yeah(!)

0:28:470:28:50

Who would do that?

0:28:500:28:52

-They haven't even got the backbone to come over and have a chat with you...

-Exactly.

-Even to say sorry.

0:28:520:29:00

'I never cease to be amazed by the cowardice these cowboy builders show when they're cornered.

0:29:000:29:06

'We'll beat them if you follow my advice.

0:29:060:29:09

'Coming up, I hope Elaine will be thrilled by the quality of work the good guys can do.'

0:29:090:29:14

Christopher, would you mind doing the honours and opening the bathroom door?

0:29:140:29:20

Take a look, Mum.

0:29:200:29:22

-Wow!

-Oh, wow!

0:29:220:29:24

'Back in Blackheath, we are reinstating the supporting wall the Lawlors' cowboy builders ripped out

0:29:250:29:32

'because, can you believe it, they thought it would be easier than following the architects' plans.

0:29:320:29:39

'Protected by their contract and a record of bank transfers,

0:29:390:29:42

'Kevin and Cosetta have tried everything to get their money back.'

0:29:420:29:47

My mum's written thousands of letters to everyone.

0:29:470:29:50

I was really disappointed in the lack of support,

0:29:500:29:54

apart from your good selves.

0:29:540:29:56

And I think they really kind of needed that pick-me-up.

0:29:560:30:00

We had to go to court and try and get something back.

0:30:000:30:04

We got the judgment from the Northampton County Court

0:30:040:30:08

and we subsequently took it to the Royal High Court of Justice

0:30:080:30:11

where it was given in our favour that he owes us £45,000.

0:30:110:30:15

The day he found out, he phoned me up. I was at work that day in London.

0:30:150:30:20

It was totally out of the blue.

0:30:200:30:22

The phone call was from... No number was listed on the telephone, so I didn't know who it was.

0:30:220:30:28

-He said, "This is..."

-BLEEP

0:30:280:30:30

"If you think I'm giving you £45,000, I'd rather kill the pair of you first." He threatened our lives.

0:30:300:30:36

So we contacted the police.

0:30:360:30:39

A sergeant from the local police station came round and took a statement

0:30:390:30:44

and all the details from my phone.

0:30:440:30:47

And they subsequently charged him with a...

0:30:470:30:50

They gave him an £80 fine for a malicious phone call and they've put all our numbers on high alert

0:30:500:30:56

in case anything happens again, that he phones back up and does this.

0:30:560:31:00

'Even with the full weight of the law behind them, the Lawlors couldn't get their cash back.

0:31:000:31:06

'I wish we could do more to help them, but they'll be relieved

0:31:060:31:10

'that at least we've made their home safe again.'

0:31:100:31:13

Our builders have just left after doing a cracking day's work. They really have got on well with it.

0:31:130:31:19

Hopefully, by tomorrow, the whole thing will be completed.

0:31:190:31:23

Kevin will be around, but Cosetta won't be.

0:31:230:31:26

I want to get her down and show her what we've done so far to put her mind at rest.

0:31:260:31:31

Oh, it's a tight squeeze for a small one!

0:31:310:31:35

-Wow!

-It's amazing, isn't it,

0:31:350:31:38

-what a good set of builders can do in a short space of time?

-Yes.

0:31:380:31:42

-Although it's blockwork, how does it make you feel?

-It makes me feel great.

0:31:420:31:47

It means a lot. It really does.

0:31:470:31:51

It's like a... It's a metaphor for a new beginning.

0:31:510:31:55

And I don't know how to thank you for everything you've done.

0:31:550:31:59

We've just got that little bit left to do before it's fully complete for you.

0:31:590:32:04

And you can feel safe. That peace of mind is so important, isn't it?

0:32:040:32:08

Yes, absolutely. And those acro props will go finally, thank God!

0:32:080:32:14

And the supporting wall will be back in place which is something that's been worrying us for months,

0:32:140:32:20

that the whole thing was going to fall down, so thank you.

0:32:200:32:25

It's an absolute pleasure because you guys are real gems.

0:32:250:32:29

And for us to be able to just start you off right now really chuffs me, so I'm really, really happy.

0:32:290:32:36

Thank you so much for everything.

0:32:360:32:39

'So after the terrible thing that's happened,

0:32:390:32:42

'what advice would they give anyone hoping to build their dream?'

0:32:420:32:47

To be very, very, very careful about who we get working in here

0:32:470:32:52

and never to give any money up front.

0:32:520:32:55

Kevin, what have you learned from it?

0:32:550:32:58

Not to trust anybody on face value, someone promising they'll give you the earth.

0:32:580:33:03

It's like inviting a stranger into your house and just giving him money for no good reason whatsoever.

0:33:030:33:10

'The following morning and it's the day Kevin and Cosetta have been waiting for.

0:33:100:33:15

'Finally, those steel acro props holding up their ceiling are ready to come out.

0:33:150:33:20

'Cosetta has had a sneak preview, but now it's Kevin's turn.'

0:33:200:33:24

-Let's first of all take that very first acro down.

-OK.

0:33:240:33:28

-So are you ready?

-I'm ready.

0:33:280:33:30

I've got loads of faith in these guys.

0:33:300:33:33

So let's take that first acro down. Here we go.

0:33:330:33:37

-Oh, it's away!

-It's up, it's still standing!

0:33:380:33:41

-Brilliant.

-We're all right with that one.

0:33:410:33:44

-OK, now it's time to take down our second acro.

-OK.

-It's all been packed out nicely.

0:33:440:33:50

-Yeah.

-All right, ready...?

0:33:500:33:53

Hold on tight cos this is the final one.

0:33:530:33:56

-If it's coming down, I'm first out the door.

-I won't be far behind you!

0:33:560:34:00

Here we go. OK, here we go.

0:34:000:34:03

Oh...

0:34:040:34:06

-Yes!

-Yes!

-Come on!

0:34:060:34:09

-That's great.

-Result! Absolute result!

-Fantastic.

0:34:090:34:13

-That all looks good to me.

-Yeah, me too. It looks absolutely wonderful.

-What are your feelings now?

0:34:130:34:19

Well, to have the house back structurally strong again, it's just amazing.

0:34:190:34:24

We can get on with things now. We can start afresh again.

0:34:240:34:29

It just means so much to us to be able to come into the house

0:34:290:34:32

and know that we haven't got to tread carefully around everything.

0:34:320:34:36

It's absolutely brilliant.

0:34:360:34:38

-You're a great support for Cosetta. Cosetta is a great support for you.

-Yeah.

0:34:380:34:43

Our builders have built a great support for Cosetta and yourself

0:34:430:34:47

-and I hope we've been some sort of support to you too.

-Thank you ever so much.

0:34:470:34:52

It's been a pleasure. You are top people.

0:34:520:34:55

'Kevin and Cosetta's builder drove off with their £46,000 life savings in his brand-new car.

0:34:550:35:02

'But before he ran, he wrecked their home,

0:35:020:35:05

'leaving them without electricity, water or heat,

0:35:050:35:08

'and hacking out a supporting wall.

0:35:080:35:11

'We've built a strong new wall to make sure the upstairs stays just that - upstairs.

0:35:110:35:17

'We've removed the steel acro supports that the builders left holding up their home,

0:35:170:35:22

'so they can sleep soundly at night, knowing their house is structurally safe.

0:35:220:35:27

'I wish we could have done more, but this helps get their confidence back

0:35:270:35:31

'and shows them there are good guys out there.'

0:35:310:35:35

To you or I, that's just a block wall, but to Cosetta and Kevin,

0:35:350:35:39

it's peace of mind and a chance for a fresh start.

0:35:390:35:42

I'm pretty confident that the next time they employ a builder, they won't get conned again.

0:35:420:35:49

'With one good deed done, let's get back to Stratford

0:35:500:35:53

'and see if we can put a smile on the faces of Elaine and her kids.

0:35:530:35:58

'Elaine was conned by not one cowboy, but two, who took a total of 35 grand,

0:35:580:36:03

'but even worse, her mum was taken in by the second builder as well.

0:36:030:36:07

'They thought he was a Good Samaritan and before he ran off,

0:36:070:36:11

'they paid a five-grand deposit for work to start at Mum's house.'

0:36:110:36:16

If it was just this house,

0:36:160:36:19

I might have said, "He obviously over-estimated and panicked."

0:36:190:36:23

But then he gave a quote for work at my mum's house

0:36:230:36:28

and took a deposit and never turned up to do the work in her house, so then it has to be a con.

0:36:280:36:34

'These cowboy con men took huge advantage of Elaine's trusting nature.

0:36:340:36:40

'I'm sure she'll have some advice to pass on to other vulnerable mums in her position.'

0:36:400:36:45

I've learnt that just because I'm honest and will do as I've said I will,

0:36:450:36:51

it doesn't mean the rest of the world works like that.

0:36:510:36:55

It's business and it doesn't matter if I've offended somebody.

0:36:550:36:59

As long as I'm not being rude, it's business. If they're business-minded, they'll understand that.

0:36:590:37:05

-Get my contract, get receipts for everything, no cash being handed over.

-Well done.

0:37:050:37:10

-Look for people that have had work done by them.

-Yeah.

-Just know where my money's going.

0:37:100:37:16

Although they're very expensive lessons and hard ones, you've learnt from them and that's very important.

0:37:160:37:23

'The bad builders started lots of jobs around Elaine's home.

0:37:230:37:27

'They probably thought the more damage they caused, the more cash they could take.

0:37:270:37:32

'We haven't had long, but we've achieved a real result.'

0:37:320:37:35

The bathroom's been sorted. It's all looking good. I'm waiting for Elaine coming back with the children.

0:37:350:37:41

Should be here any time now. I hope she likes it.

0:37:410:37:45

There they are. Come on, you guys!

0:37:460:37:49

'And I've got an extra surprise too.

0:37:490:37:51

'I hope she'll be pleased when she discovers we've replaced her broken back door

0:37:510:37:57

'to keep her and the kids safe and sound.'

0:37:570:38:00

Before we show you the bathroom, which is the main area, what do you notice straight away in here?

0:38:000:38:07

-New door.

-The door!

0:38:070:38:09

The door, the door!

0:38:090:38:11

Now then, remember, the door before was pretty bad, wasn't it?

0:38:110:38:15

Just tell us what worried you most about it.

0:38:150:38:19

The security because the original door, they'd broken the glass on it

0:38:190:38:24

and they'd boarded it up with cardboard.

0:38:240:38:27

I was worried that it could be kicked in really easily or that the interior door could just be broken into.

0:38:270:38:33

Exactly. It was an interior door. Now how do you feel?

0:38:330:38:37

You've got a proper exterior door with toughened safety glass as well and you can see out into the garden.

0:38:370:38:44

-Yes, so when the garden's done...

-It'll look really good.

-Yeah, that'll look good.

0:38:440:38:49

-And I'll be able to sleep at night without worrying so much.

-That makes such a big difference.

0:38:490:38:55

'But what Elaine really wanted was for us to create a tiny haven for her in her tiny bathroom.

0:38:550:39:01

'I hope she'll agree our boys have done a magnificent job.'

0:39:010:39:05

Right, before I show you what the good guys have done,

0:39:050:39:09

try and remind me about what it was like before we arrived.

0:39:090:39:13

There were tiles that hadn't been put on to the walls. There were tiles missing.

0:39:130:39:18

The tiles that they had put on to the wall hadn't been grouted or finished correctly.

0:39:180:39:23

The floor tiles hadn't been finished or even been installed correctly,

0:39:230:39:29

so they were cracking and coming apart under the feet.

0:39:290:39:32

I had a tap that wasn't letting out any hot water in the sink.

0:39:320:39:36

How long was it that you didn't have any hot water for?

0:39:360:39:40

How many months?

0:39:400:39:42

Oh... A year.

0:39:420:39:44

A year without hot water? That is amazing.

0:39:440:39:48

-Two years.

-Two years nearly?

-No, not exactly.

-Not two years. Roughly a year without hot water.

0:39:480:39:54

So what are you hoping for behind that door?

0:39:540:39:57

-I'm hoping for some hot water to come out of that tap.

-Brilliant. Basics, but it's important.

0:39:570:40:03

I'm hoping for a bathroom that I'm happy to be in.

0:40:030:40:07

-A fully functioning bathroom.

-Where things aren't creaking under my feet.

0:40:070:40:12

OK, well, I tell you what.

0:40:120:40:14

Christopher, would you mind doing the honours and opening the bathroom door?

0:40:140:40:19

Take a look, Mum.

0:40:200:40:22

-Wow!

-Oh, wow! It looks really spacious.

0:40:220:40:25

It's tiny, but it looks really good.

0:40:250:40:28

-I think it's made the most use of that particular space.

-It has.

0:40:280:40:32

Oh, look at the walls!

0:40:320:40:34

Excuse me.

0:40:340:40:36

-Let Mum in!

-Can I see?

0:40:360:40:39

-Look at that!

-Oh, wow!

-What do you think to that?

-My new towel rail!

0:40:390:40:44

New towel rail. We replaced the old radiator.

0:40:440:40:47

The boys have painted up, they've tiled for you. What about the floor?

0:40:470:40:51

-Look at the floor.

-That's lovely.

0:40:510:40:54

-Fantastic, isn't it?

-That is so much better.

0:40:540:40:57

-Really good.

-So much better.

0:40:570:40:59

Harmony, this is your little job.

0:40:590:41:02

Go and turn on the hot tap and tell me if you've got any hot water.

0:41:020:41:07

Be careful, though.

0:41:070:41:09

-Is any water coming out...

-At all?

-Yeah.

0:41:090:41:12

-You've got water.

-Do you want to feel it, see if it's hot?

-Just have a little touch of it.

0:41:120:41:18

-Is it hot?

-It's warm.

0:41:190:41:21

So you've got it now, that's the main thing.

0:41:210:41:25

It's not too much to ask for hot water to be coming out of a hot tap?

0:41:250:41:29

-No, you would think that it would be a human right to have hot water.

-Yeah.

0:41:290:41:34

'We've pulled up that thin plywood flooring covered with cracked tiles

0:41:340:41:39

'and replaced it with thick weather-proof board

0:41:390:41:42

'to provide a firm and permanent base for this gleaming new floor.

0:41:420:41:46

'Now Elaine won't have to watch her step when she comes out of the shower.

0:41:460:41:51

'We've tiled the rest of the walls and re-decorated the entire room.

0:41:510:41:55

'We've replaced the old radiator with a new, heated towel rail and we've fixed that tap,

0:41:550:42:00

'so now there's hot water on demand and that's something they haven't had in here for a while.

0:42:000:42:06

'What a cracking job! That's the finish you can expect when you get the professionals in.

0:42:060:42:12

'I'm so sorry that Elaine and Kevin and Cosetta all fell into the cowboy trap,

0:42:120:42:17

'but I hope sharing their stories will make life tougher for all the other cowboys out there.'

0:42:170:42:23

You know who you are and now we know who you are.

0:42:230:42:27

And by exposing your tricks, we're preventing others from falling into your cowboy trap.

0:42:270:42:33

If you've had a problem with builders and you would like to tell your story on Cowboy Trap,

0:42:330:42:38

then please call us on the above number.

0:42:380:42:43

Or you can send us an email.

0:42:480:42:51

Help us round up the cowboys.

0:42:530:42:55

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2010

0:43:170:43:21

Email [email protected]

0:43:210:43:24

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