0:00:07 > 0:00:11Today, I'm in Telford on the trail of yet more cowboy builders
0:00:11 > 0:00:16who have no regard for your property, your safety, or your circumstances.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20And they'll stop at nothing to con you out of your cash.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23We had the 5,000 and...
0:00:23 > 0:00:27I had nothing to show for it, that was the trouble.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29I'm going to give you loads of hints and tips
0:00:29 > 0:00:33on how to stop these cowboy builders getting into your home.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Me and my wife investigated to see where this builder lived.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39I found out where he was. We done some more digging.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Went to the Trading Standards, they said, "Not him again."
0:00:43 > 0:00:45With the help of the good guys,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48we'll put right the mess those cowboy builders leave behind.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51We'll have to rip it up, start from scratch.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54I don't want to put my work on top of that.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I think it's time we showed these bodging builders the door
0:00:57 > 0:01:00and you how to avoid falling into the cowboy trap.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11You know, I get loads of correspondence
0:01:11 > 0:01:15telling me how cowboy builders ruined people's lives.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19And this next story is a total rip-off.
0:01:19 > 0:01:2374-year-old Donald Pearce and his younger brother William
0:01:23 > 0:01:26live in the small village of Trench in Telford.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31They've happily shared this small bungalow since 1966.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33But now there's a problem.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38Don has long had a passion for collecting scale-model vehicles.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41He has 1,000 in his collection so far.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44And, not surprisingly, he's running out of space to keep them.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47That is my pride and joy that is.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Took a few years to collect them.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54Took quite a bit of money to get them.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Donald's collection grew so large,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59he could no longer squeeze it into his bungalow.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03He decided to have an extension added to his ground-floor bedroom.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06So he'd have more space to display his precious collectables.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10He looked through the local paper and found a builder.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14The builder came round and quoted £7,000 for the job.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Donald gave him the green light. Within a fortnight, the walls of the extension were up.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23But the quality of the work was, well... How can I put this?
0:02:23 > 0:02:26- Terrible.- You could see the walls wasn't level.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28We went and leaned against it.
0:02:28 > 0:02:34You could just feel it give. There were no wall ties or nothing at all in it.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38When Donald complained to the builder that there were no wall ties,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41the builder just upped and left, never to return.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44The wobbly extension was dangerous.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48So Don took the heart-breaking decision to knock it down.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51I did it myself.
0:02:52 > 0:02:59It took me, oh, about three parts of a day to knock it down.
0:02:59 > 0:03:05I'm not surprised it didn't take long for Donald to demolish his fundamentally flawed extension.
0:03:07 > 0:03:13Now, being a retiring type, Donald wasn't keen on reporting the builder to Trading Standards.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18Luckily for him, he had helpful neighbours, Dave and Wendy Carpenter.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20We went on holiday, come back.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25And on said he's had the builders in and he hasn't seen them since.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28So we come round. And I thought, "What a load of...
0:03:28 > 0:03:31..dodgy building going on."
0:03:31 > 0:03:35We made enquiries as to who the builder was and where he lived.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39I wrote a letter, and it was delivered by hand,
0:03:39 > 0:03:43asking him would he come and finish the job.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48If not, could we have some money back that had been paid.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Um, I don't think he answered that letter.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55I think he might've rang Don and said he would come back but he didn't.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00Trading Standards reveal there are ten county court judgements against the builder.
0:04:00 > 0:04:06This guy's such a cowboy, he should wear stirrups and a Stetson.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Fair Trading officer Kathryn Wood has come to assess the damage.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Looking around here today, I would say this is quite a bad case.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18For the amount of money they have paid
0:04:18 > 0:04:23and for the amount of work they've done, it's not very nice.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27Kathryn's got some tips for anyone caught in the cowboy trap.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31If you've got a problem with a cowboy builder,
0:04:31 > 0:04:36then you need to first of all try and contact the builder themselves
0:04:36 > 0:04:38to see if you can resolve it.
0:04:38 > 0:04:43If that doesn't work, then contact the national helpline, which is Consumer Direct.
0:04:43 > 0:04:49Consumer Direct send all their details of complaints out to the local Trading Standards.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53And a local Trading Standards officer will monitor those calls.
0:04:53 > 0:04:59They will make sure to see whether or not there have been a number of calls against a particular builder.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03That will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08With ten county court judgements already against this cowboy,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11it's unlikely Donald will ever get his five grand back.
0:05:11 > 0:05:17Dave and Wendy have seen the impact all this had on their unlucky neighbour.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Donald is obviously very trusting.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23Although he had an inkling things weren't quite right,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26he probably thought, "Well, I'll give him a chance."
0:05:26 > 0:05:28The builder's just took advantage of him.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31This is a heart-breaking story
0:05:31 > 0:05:35of two retired gents who were taken in by a cowboy builder.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40Let's see if we can find out more and put things right for Don and William.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- Hello.- Good morning. - You must be Don.- Yes.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50- How are you, Don? - All right, thanks.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53- Can you show me where the problems are?- Round the back.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57Round the back. While I look, you stick the kettle on and we'll have a cup of tea.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00- All right. - All right? Cheers, Don.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05This is an intriguing puzzle for Detective Clive to solve.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08Here's the crime scene. A pile of rubble.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13Hmm. Curiouser and curiouser.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Right. Got to get my head around this somehow. Um...
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Can't quite get round why it's in this condition.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23This almost certainly looks like these bricks have been laid
0:06:23 > 0:06:28but have been knocked down. Whether that's the builder or homeowner,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31I'll have to find out. This looks like it's the boundary.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37It looks like they've exceeded the boundary, which they can't do.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41If this was the damp course level,
0:06:41 > 0:06:43it's not high enough.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47You need at least six inches from your base to your damp course.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49And that is too low.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Take my advice.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53If you're having an extension built...
0:07:09 > 0:07:12I can see the inner and outer leaf, the inner wall,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15as you know by now, and the outer wall.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17They need tying together to give them strength.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19But I can't see any ties anywhere.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22I'm going to guess there's no ties in this.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26That means, the two walls would be independent that they'd built.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28And obviously could fall down at any time.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31And, except for a few mortar marks,
0:07:31 > 0:07:36there is no evidence that it's been securely fixed to the exterior wall of the house.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41And that's not all. Look at this.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44This again, really, is bonkers.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48The mortar is directly... That is fixed, that mortar.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52They have laid bricks here. They've laid it over this waste pipe.
0:07:52 > 0:07:58What were they going to do when it came to the rainwater pipe? I haven't got a clue.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04So, what did the brothers get for their five grand?
0:08:04 > 0:08:10Well, they got the beginning of an extension that wasn't even tied into the existing building.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15They got two piers of brick, the internal leaf and external leaf,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18that weren't actually tied together with ties.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22They got a building that was going over a waste pipe.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27Totally unbelievable. There's still mortar marking the spot right now.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30The damp course, in the wrong place.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34The actual concrete slab, no insulation or very little.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Or, at least, not the proper stuff that should be in there.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42In total, what they got was... a wreck.
0:08:42 > 0:08:49This is a mystery that would stump Agatha Christie's number-one sleuth, Hercule Poy-rot,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51as we call him in Derby.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53I've summoned chief witness Donald.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57Oh, Clive, how does it look?
0:08:57 > 0:09:02Well, it's looking... # Don don-don don don don-don don don! #
0:09:02 > 0:09:04- Dangerous.- Dangerous. - Look out for that.
0:09:04 > 0:09:09Inspection hole's been dug to check for footings there, of course.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13But it is pretty dangerous around here, joking aside.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18What I want to know is, what has actually gone on, Don?
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Why is it all rubble?
0:09:20 > 0:09:22He just dug the footings out and built it.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- I knocked it down. - You knocked it down?
0:09:25 > 0:09:28I knocked it down. When I knocked it, you could feel it give.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32- There was no strength with the ties?- There were no ties at all.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34- No ties in the cavity? - No.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37How was he bonding it to the property? To the existing property?
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Just mortar, I suppose.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43So, those mortar lines are just purely...
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- Cement. - That's just purely mortar
0:09:46 > 0:09:49he's hoping will bond to the existing building.
0:09:51 > 0:09:52Wooh!
0:09:53 > 0:09:55I can't believe what I'm hearing.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57This 74-year-old pensioner
0:09:57 > 0:10:03had to demolish his own extension because it moved when he touched it.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Without ties between the inner and outer walls,
0:10:07 > 0:10:13or anything securing it to the house, it's a miracle this extension stayed up at all.
0:10:13 > 0:10:18And what's going on with that rainwater pipe?
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Right, this is where I'm sort of getting confused.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26You've got a rainwater pipe here. He couldn't have built around the pipe.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- But he's built around the waste. - That's right.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33I put all that round. I knocked the wall down to go into the drains.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37He put the rainwater to go across the top of the wall, flat.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41It was going on ours and out next door.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45The other problem I've got, this is an original damp course?
0:10:45 > 0:10:47- Yeah. - It's not high enough.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49No. It's got to go level with that.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51That's wrong. In real terms,
0:10:51 > 0:10:54this is now just a bomb site.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57In the meantime, how did you get on with that kettle?
0:10:57 > 0:11:00- Oh, right.- Come on. Let's go an have a cuppa, son.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02It's boiled dry.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04After you.
0:11:04 > 0:11:10Yep! The sooner I get away from this danger zone the better.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Time to question the chief witness about the prime suspect.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18What was your first impression of him when he came through the door?
0:11:18 > 0:11:23Well, the first time he come, he seemed all right.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26And then he gave me the price.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29I said, no, that was too dear.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33I said I'd leave it and get another quote.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Then I saw it in the paper again.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38- The same guy? - The same guy.
0:11:38 > 0:11:44But he'd got a different advert.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Not a different company name, though?
0:11:46 > 0:11:50No, he had a different company to what it was the first time.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55Now, I have to say that if you found that this is the same number,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- the same telephone number, was it? - Yeah.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- But a different name all of a sudden.- That's right.
0:12:01 > 0:12:07I've got to just say to everybody at home now that,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10if that's occurring, and it's a different name,
0:12:10 > 0:12:12be wary.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Take my advice.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17If your builder is trading under different company names,
0:12:17 > 0:12:21it's a sure-fire sign he's a cowboy. Yee-hah!
0:12:21 > 0:12:25So, was it a shock to you when he came a second time?
0:12:25 > 0:12:28It was a bit. I said to my brother,
0:12:28 > 0:12:31"It's the same bloke who come the first time."
0:12:31 > 0:12:34He'd have known. It was the same job.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36- You were asking for the same job. - Yeah.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- He knew that, before he quoted, what was it? Ten grand?- Yeah.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42- He knew that was too expensive. - Yeah.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46- So now he's come in sharpening his pencil.- That's right.
0:12:46 > 0:12:52Comes through the door, you say, "You're the guy from before. Why have you changed your company name?"
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Well, he come down all smiles, put his hand out.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58I asked him in. He sat there and he said,
0:12:58 > 0:13:03"I'll give you a quote in two or three days."
0:13:03 > 0:13:08The next morning, my brother said, "There's a letter in the box."
0:13:08 > 0:13:11He'd gone home and quoted it and brought it back the same night.
0:13:11 > 0:13:16The builder's new quote was £7,000.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Three grand less than before.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22Sounding desperate to you? Sounds desperate to me.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Here's another tip.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Ask yourself why.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45And alarm bells should have been ringing for Donald for another reason too.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47How did he want paying?
0:13:47 > 0:13:50I told him I'd pay him cash when he asked.
0:13:50 > 0:13:55He said pay for when I did each job.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58So at stages. Pay at stages.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02- Yep.- So, did he ask for money up front?- Yes, he did.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06One, he had different trading names.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Two, he was desperate for work.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11And three, he wanted cash up front.
0:14:11 > 0:14:18# Yep, he's once, twice, three times a cowboy
0:14:18 > 0:14:23# And Don paid for materials too #
0:14:23 > 0:14:26He's now using your blocks.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- He's using your damp course. - Yeah.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33- Is he using your membrane as well? - Yeah.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37- The damp-proof membrane? that's all yours?- Yeah, that was all mine.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Was that set out in the deal, that he would use your materials?
0:14:41 > 0:14:46No. Like I told him he could use the blocks to get them out of my road.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49You're saving him money. He should've said to you...
0:14:49 > 0:14:54Or, you're shrewd enough, you should have said, "That'll bring my bill down."
0:14:54 > 0:14:56Yeah, I ought to have done, yeah.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00- You missed a trick, I'm surprised. - I weren't sharp enough.- You weren't!
0:15:00 > 0:15:07- The critical thing we have to point out is that he has taken advantage.- That's right.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09There's no doubt in my mind.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14When was the first big alarm bell for you when he started to build?
0:15:14 > 0:15:18When he started to go up and had no ties. He said, "I'm going home,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21I'll bring some back with me." But he didn't do that.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25Can't believe it. There's no way in this world, and you know this,
0:15:25 > 0:15:29- that this guy should have been building without ties.- No.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33But the good news for Donald, and his kid bro,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37is we're in town. And I'm determined to get their dreams back on track.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41What would really make you happy? What can we do for you?
0:15:41 > 0:15:44Well, I would like it done.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48That's what I'd like to happen.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50And I'd like that to happen too.
0:15:50 > 0:15:56Normally, I'd get an independent surveyor in to give the bodge builder a mark out of ten.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58But it doesn't take Sherlock Holmes
0:15:58 > 0:16:03to deduce that this pile of rubble would get a big fat zero.
0:16:03 > 0:16:09But I'm still going to declare this a no-go zone and say it's time to bring on the good guys.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12And here they jolly well are.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16Steve Bebb and his sidekick Luke Burgess.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22- Hey, Steve. Is one sheet of paper big enough?- Just about, just about.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26There's a lot to be done here. Um, it is a total mess.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Just give us a general overall view of your opinion.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31It's a bit shoddy. Not very good.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33He obviously hasn't got a clue what he's doing.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36But we're going to strip it all off, strip the base out,
0:16:36 > 0:16:39brick it up and put a new solid roof on it, nice and flat.
0:16:39 > 0:16:45One thing that has raised its head of late is the actual pad itself, the concrete.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48We're not sure that the correct insulation has been put in place.
0:16:48 > 0:16:53What's the remedial action if they put just ordinary insulation in?
0:16:53 > 0:16:57We'll have to rip it up, start from scratch.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59I don't want to put my work on top of that.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03Rip it all off, proper insulation in the slab. Away we go.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Away we go, indeed.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Bebb and Burgess. Or B and B as I like to call them,
0:17:10 > 0:17:12swing into action.
0:17:12 > 0:17:17First, they need to # Rip it up and start again #
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Then build the walls brick by brick.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23These guys are certainly busy bees.
0:17:23 > 0:17:29And Donald's no slouch either. He's grafting away in his own workshop,
0:17:29 > 0:17:31creating a special cabinet for his lorries
0:17:31 > 0:17:34to fit into his new extension as soon as it's ready.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37But can the good guys build an extension
0:17:37 > 0:17:42worthy of his crafted cabinet and its treasured contents?
0:17:42 > 0:17:44Only time will tell.
0:17:49 > 0:17:55Three weeks on, and I'm back in Trench near Telford to see how our good guys have done.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58And I've got to say, I likes what I sees.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03Donald now has an extension that's guaranteed to stay up.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06The walls have been properly tied together.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10There's a new timber-framed window and new fascias and guttering.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14I'm chuffed with what these guys have done.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17If you remember before, this was a pile of rubble.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Now it's just amazing. I'm sure Don's going to love it.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24The other thing about good guys is these little extras that they do.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26This wasn't on the remit, wasn't on the list.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31They've built up this diving wall and put on coping stones at the top,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34just to finish it off, just as a little extra touch.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37You won't find cowboy builders doing that.
0:18:39 > 0:18:45Donald had originally wanted a glass roof, which wouldn't have passed building regulations.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48The good guys have installed an insulated flat roof instead.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Excellent.
0:18:50 > 0:18:56Steve and Luke could return to the scene of their triumph for chinwag with yours truly.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00- Steve, Luke, how are you? - Not bad. How are you.- I'm very well.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04- Much better now. This seems totally different.- It looks the part.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08What am I talking about? Seems totally different? It is totally different.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11It's looking absolutely brilliant.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Loving it. Talk us through any problems you found
0:19:14 > 0:19:18and how things have been going since I last saw you.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21The only problem we had was in the ground, the footings.
0:19:21 > 0:19:26We tested the front to see if the footings were good. They were. But on the inside they weren't.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29It was a lot more work, set us back a few days.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33This is the case, I say this time and again, with cowboy builders.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36It's not what you can see, it's what you can't see.
0:19:36 > 0:19:41From the front section they thought, "We'll fool them with having the right size footings."
0:19:41 > 0:19:45- But, towards the back, nothing. - Nothing carrying a block at all.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48We had to dig down again another two foot.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Concrete foundation. It was a headache.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Any other problems you found? Were you able to crack on?
0:19:54 > 0:19:59Nothing. As soon as we solved the problem with the floor, everything flowed nicely.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01And so we got the walls up.
0:20:01 > 0:20:06The ceiling's different. The roof is obviously different to what the original plan was.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10But the original plan wouldn't have passed building regs anyway.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13- It's not allowed, no. - So now we've got a solid roof.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17- It'll be toasty in here.- Nice floor, carpet down, radiator in.
0:20:17 > 0:20:22And, to top it all, my building friends,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25a bit of the old decorating thrown in as well.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28We dropped it in to try and finish it off nicely.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Well, it matches. I don't know where you got the paper from.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34Donald's had it a while. I think he's had it five years.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39- Oh, OK, he saved a few rolls. - He was planning ahead.- He was.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44I can safely say, I'm sure the boys are going to be well chuffed with what you've done.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47I'm chuffed with it, that's for sure.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50But the important people are Don and William.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54- So, for now, boys.- Thank you. - Great to meet you. Fantastic job.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Hope to see you again some time soon.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Fantastic job, indeed.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Now, before I show it off to Donald and William,
0:21:01 > 0:21:05there's a little bit of business to take care of.
0:21:05 > 0:21:10I like to give our cowboys a chance to put across their point of view.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12It's just the kind of guy I am.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15I've tracked down a phone number for this so-called builder.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17So we're going to give him a call.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21If you had an opportunity to speak to him,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23what would you like to say to him?
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Why he didn't finish it.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30- Why he took your money? Why he didn't finish it?- Yeah.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34- What about his broken promises? - Yeah.
0:21:34 > 0:21:39- I could say that as well.- Because he promised to keep coming back.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43Yeah, but I never want to speak to him again, anyhow.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47You never want to speak to him again, which actually answers my next question.
0:21:47 > 0:21:52Which is, I was going to give you the opportunity to speak to him on the phone.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57But if you don't want to take that opportunity, I certainly will.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59- No, I don't want to speak to him. - OK.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03- I don't want to see him here. - All right. Let's see how we go.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06RINGING TONE
0:22:06 > 0:22:08The answerphone should kick in.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10TELEPHONE STATIC
0:22:10 > 0:22:14"When you've left your message just hang up. Or for more options press one at any time."
0:22:14 > 0:22:16ANSWERPHONE BEEPS
0:22:16 > 0:22:20This is Clive here, the presenter of Cowboy Trap on BBC1.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24I'm at the home of Donald and William Pearce
0:22:24 > 0:22:27in Trench in Telford. Um...
0:22:27 > 0:22:32There was a few questions that we've got for you that we'd like you to answer.
0:22:32 > 0:22:38First of all, how could you leave two of the most fantastic people on the planet
0:22:38 > 0:22:43in such a mess, take their money, and leave them with such a sub-standard building?
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Um, it is a real disgrace.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51Um, I've got to be honest, I don't know how you guys sleep at night, I really don't.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Um, but it's your right of reply to come back to us
0:22:54 > 0:22:57and talk to about things like the footings not being big enough,
0:22:57 > 0:23:00not being deep enough, not being wide enough.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05Why you didn't, when you built the extension, or attempted to build the extension,
0:23:05 > 0:23:09didn't tie it in to the existing building. It was a real danger.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14I'm sorry, but if you're classing yourself as a builder, that's what concerns me.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19I'd like you to get back in touch with our office as soon as possible
0:23:19 > 0:23:21so you can answer the allegations that we've got.
0:23:23 > 0:23:29They'll listen to that answerphone message but the chances of them doing anything
0:23:29 > 0:23:32- are a lot slimmer than me. I have to tell you that.- Yeah.
0:23:32 > 0:23:37What pleases me now is that we have had the good guys in
0:23:37 > 0:23:40to do the work on your property.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Put a smile back on your face. That's the important thing.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Yep! My prediction was spot on.
0:23:47 > 0:23:52Despite repeated calls to the builder, he hasn't responded to any of our questions.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54I guess it ain't surprising.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59If I'd built an extension which was barely attached to the house,
0:23:59 > 0:24:04and so unstable it needed demolishing, I think I'd play hard to get.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08This cowboy may have hoodwinked Donald and ridden off into the sunset,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11but our good guys have stepped in and saved the day.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15Donald and William have lived with the work as it's been going on.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20But now they're going to see the finished results in all their glory.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Come on in, boys.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25Come on.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28Come and have a look.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32That's smashing, isn't it? It looks great now.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Come in, Don. Come in, William.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39It's nice now, isn't it?
0:24:39 > 0:24:42- It's lovely. - It is and all.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46- What do you think? You've now got... - What I wanted.- What you wanted.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49- That's for keeps. - Yeah.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- Looking round, you've got new carpet down.- Yeah.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54The boys have done a fantastic job.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Of course, as far as the ceiling's concerned,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01that's now a flat roof that's gone on there.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05- It is fantastic.- Are you loving it? Are you loving that?- Aye.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Now, what about your workmanship?
0:25:07 > 0:25:09That's great now, isn't it?
0:25:09 > 0:25:11LAUGHS
0:25:11 > 0:25:16Remember, Donald's been handcrafting a cabinet for his lorry collection.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20Without him knowing, the good guys have installed it in the new extension.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23What a wonderful surprise.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27- One set of craftspeople... - To another.- ..to another.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30- And that's what it's all about. - It is, yeah.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31- How are you feeling? - All right now.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35- Smashing. - Are you chuffed?- I am, yeah.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39I could've done with that.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42- No. - It tuned out all right.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46- It turned out all right, William, you're not joking.- Yeah.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50- It's turned out fantastic.- Yeah. - What's your plans for in here?
0:25:50 > 0:25:55This is the space you wanted. The cabinet's up.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Do you reckon your first plan will be to stock it?
0:25:58 > 0:26:02I shall just now, yeah. With a bit of luck, I will.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05Stock it with all your wagons and everything else.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08I'll get all that row as well.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Eventually, put stuff on this wall too.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15- Do that from floor to ceiling. - I can get another bed in here now.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18- Get another bed? What's he trying to say?- I don't know.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21What's he trying to say?
0:26:21 > 0:26:23- Happy? - Ooh, I am.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Boys, do you know what? It's been lovely to meet you.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30I'm so pleased that you've got what you wanted. Well chuffed with that.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33And, seriously, seriously, mate...
0:26:35 > 0:26:39The whole point was, we're looking after you, yeah?
0:26:39 > 0:26:41There's people out there to look after you.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44And it proves that there are good guys out there.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48We normally like to see a smile on your chops.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50That's what we usually have, Don.
0:26:50 > 0:26:55And I've got one more pleasant surprise for Donald and William.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Now this is your building control officer's sign off.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01This is the certificate of completion
0:27:01 > 0:27:05to say that now this building has passed building control inspection.
0:27:05 > 0:27:10- That is important. That needs to be kept with the deeds of the property.- Oh, aye.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13It really is such an important piece of paper.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15- Yeah. - All right? OK, boys.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- Look after yourselves. - OK. Thanks, Clive.- No problem.
0:27:18 > 0:27:23Oh, that's what it is. I'm writing to the council about this.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Certificate of completion.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29If he's satisfied with it, so am I.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42Donald wastes no time.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46His beloved trucks and lorries finally emerge from their cold dark storage cupboards.
0:27:46 > 0:27:52At long last, they can be put on display, pride of place in their new home.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Keep on truckin', Donald.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Couldn't wish for nothing better.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01It's certainly a cause for celebration.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05And loyal neighbours Dave and Wendy are here to join in the party.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09You got that smile, see?
0:28:09 > 0:28:11LAUGHTER
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Fantastic. You've done a good job.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16This is one happy and deserving customer.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21I put together all the evidence that we gathered on Don's builder.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24All cowboy builders out there beware.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26Cowboy Trap are on your trail.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28You can run, you certainly can't hide.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd