0:00:07 > 0:00:13We're travelling all over the UK to meet the home owners forced to live with the grim consequences
0:00:13 > 0:00:16of employing a cowboy builder.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19His eyes were bulging and he was just so angry.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23He was screaming and shouting at me and I was scared.
0:00:23 > 0:00:29With their shoddy workmanship or downright lies, cowboy builders are unscrupulous villains
0:00:29 > 0:00:33who not only destroy dreams, they wreck lives too.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38- You were living here?- Yeah. - What was it like living as a family? - I felt really angry.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40In tears some of the time about it.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45It looks like a part demolition job. It's not even been done well.
0:00:45 > 0:00:51Lots of cables and sockets are exposed which, when you have small children, that's a risk to them.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56We've got the good guys in our posse to help turn these houses from hell into heavenly homes.
0:00:56 > 0:01:02As soon as you walk in through this door, it feels like a brand-new home.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05That's because, looking around, it probably is.
0:01:05 > 0:01:10- This is the first time you've seen it then?- Look at this, Jaya!- Whoa!- That's all for you.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Great!
0:01:13 > 0:01:18It's thought cowboy builders cost Britons over £700 million each year,
0:01:18 > 0:01:21so if you think you know how to spot one, think again.
0:01:21 > 0:01:27Make no mistake. The next 45 minutes could help keep you out of the Cowboy Trap.
0:01:35 > 0:01:41'On today's Cowboy Trap, a family desperately needed a ground floor bedroom and wet room
0:01:41 > 0:01:46'for their disabled daughter, but all they got was an absolute disaster zone.'
0:01:46 > 0:01:50The room isn't done for her. Nothing's ready for her.
0:01:50 > 0:01:56She's getting older now, she wants her independence and nothing is in place for her at all.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59'And we revisit a family we rescued
0:01:59 > 0:02:04'after a cowboy left them with a half-built extension to see how they're doing now.'
0:02:04 > 0:02:08I can hear the boys playing away. Sounds like a happy household.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10Yeah, and a very noisy one.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14It is nice to see light at the end of the tunnel.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18It's all very positive now, very, very positive, which is lovely.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23Our first Cowboy Trap location is in Halesowen in the West Midlands.
0:02:23 > 0:02:29Halesowen is home to a Norman church built around 1,000 years ago and still standing proud now.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32And in the 1960s, another big local build took place
0:02:32 > 0:02:36when the town centre was tastefully rebuilt,
0:02:36 > 0:02:41but the intervening centuries weren't always happy for the local citizens.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45Halesowen's history makes for pretty grim reading.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49For hundreds of years, the main industry here was nail-making
0:02:49 > 0:02:54which saw entire families toiling in sweltering heat and cramped conditions for negligible pay.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58Today's Cowboy Trap is also a pretty harrowing tale.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03What's more, I can only think that the builder responsible was himself as hard as nails.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07His unlucky victims live in this three-bed semi.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12It's home to Nina and Jagjeet Beghal who both work in their family-run off-licence
0:03:12 > 0:03:17and their three children Puja, Amar and Jaya who has cerebral palsy.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Nina and Jagjeet have now been together for 15 years.
0:03:21 > 0:03:27It was love at first sight when they met whilst Nina was working in a local department store.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31She was amazing. We had so much in common.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33We were totally different,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36but yet we were so alike.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39We both like the same things, the same films,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42going to the same places, the same music,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44so we gelled really well. It was an instant hit.
0:03:44 > 0:03:51We were dating for four years and then, you know, I popped the question and we got married.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55And soon after that wedding 11 years ago, Nina became pregnant.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00Everything seemed to be going fine until she went into labour at 26 weeks.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Jaya was born and we rushed her straight to special care.
0:04:04 > 0:04:11And I saw her the following... in the evening and it was just the scariest sight.
0:04:11 > 0:04:17A tiny little baby, so small, you could see through her skin, hooked up to so many machines.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22Jaya wasn't expected to survive until the morning, but she was a little fighter
0:04:22 > 0:04:26and after months in hospital, she was well enough to come home.
0:04:26 > 0:04:32As she gradually got older, you know, there was complications.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36Her immune system was weak and then we went to a specialist
0:04:36 > 0:04:41and had her checked out and we were told she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44After the initial shock of the diagnosis,
0:04:44 > 0:04:49the Beghals dedicated themselves to helping Jaya lead as normal a life as possible.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54They wanted her to have the same opportunities as her younger brother and sister.
0:04:54 > 0:04:59I pushed her to learn the whole of the alphabet by the age of two and a half,
0:04:59 > 0:05:05so I could prove to the council that she has got the ability to go to a normal mainstream school.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10The couple's determination to do everything they could for their daughter didn't end there.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14They decided to apply for a disability grant from the council,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17so they could adapt their home to accommodate her needs.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22A ground floor bedroom with an en-suite wet room with disabled facilities would mean
0:05:22 > 0:05:26that as Jaya grew up, she could have a degree of independence,
0:05:26 > 0:05:30but for that dream, Nina and Jagjeet would need to build an extension.
0:05:30 > 0:05:36The Beghals remembered a builder who had fixed a sink for them and decided to ask his advice.
0:05:36 > 0:05:42When Jagjeet said the extension needed disabled access, they found they had something in common.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45He mentioned to us that his brother,
0:05:45 > 0:05:52who was also disabled through a motorbike accident, was paralysed neck downwards.
0:05:52 > 0:05:59He had worked on his brother's house and had the whole house adapted to disabled-friendly access.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04The builder assured them that not only did he understand disabled people's needs,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06but he had worked on extensions too.
0:06:06 > 0:06:12I thought, "I know him, so I can trust him." We involved him in the process of getting the plans done.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17The Beghals applied to the local council for a £30,000 disability grant.
0:06:17 > 0:06:23And after a fairly lengthy process of toing and froing, it came through in April 2012.
0:06:23 > 0:06:29Because the builder helped with the plans and Nina regarded him as a friend, she convinced Jagjeet
0:06:29 > 0:06:31they should get him to do the work.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35They didn't check out any extensions he had already built. Oh, dear!
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Take my advice...
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Only then, give him the green light.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06The Beghals' builder quoted £36,200 for the work
0:07:06 > 0:07:10and said the job would take 12 weeks to complete.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14That was to build the extension with disabled access,
0:07:14 > 0:07:19a bedroom with wet room for Jaya and wheelchair-friendly ramps to the front and rear of the house.
0:07:19 > 0:07:26£6,200 was going to be paid by the Beghals on completion with the council covering the rest.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30But soon after the builders started in June 2012,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Nina and Jagjeet found themselves forking out.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37He'd come to me and say, "I can't afford this, I can't afford that.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42"I can't afford the porch doors. Could you give the money up front?"
0:07:43 > 0:07:48Worse still, the Beghals began to suspect the builder didn't have the range of skills
0:07:48 > 0:07:52needed for such a big project. Everything he did looked really shoddy.
0:07:52 > 0:07:58He left the site in an unsafe condition and the project soon fell behind schedule.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02Despite working totally on his own, the builder assured the Beghals
0:08:02 > 0:08:06the job would be completed within the agreed timescale,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09but they began to realise that would never happen.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14This is a bloke who rarely put in a full day's work and often didn't turn up at all.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18The only thing he could be relied on for doing was demanding his money.
0:08:18 > 0:08:24As well as regularly invoicing the council, the builder was constantly hassling Nina and Jagjeet for cash.
0:08:24 > 0:08:30All the Beghals could see was their roof, their floors and their doors showing little sign of progress.
0:08:30 > 0:08:35And all they could hear was a builder who sounded like a broken record.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39"I can't afford these. I can't do this. I haven't got no money.
0:08:39 > 0:08:46"My family's subbing me for money to pay for my children, this, that and the other.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48"I've got no money at all. I can't work."
0:08:50 > 0:08:56The Beghals' costs were mounting, but they couldn't see where their money was actually going.
0:08:56 > 0:09:01Certain days he wouldn't come in because he said he had other work to finish off.
0:09:01 > 0:09:07- We'd have to phone and chase him up.- 12 weeks rolled by and hardly anything was done.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11We asked him if he'd be ready by Jaya's birthday which is September the 9th.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16He said, "Yeah, I'll be ready, I'll do it all." He assured us he would do it all.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18But he didn't do it all.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21In fact, he hardly did any of it.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Jaya's birthday came and went.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26So did October and so did November.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30The council grant had a time limit of a year and as the months passed,
0:09:30 > 0:09:35the Beghals started to fear the extension wouldn't be finished in time.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39By now, it was nearly Christmas and the Beghals had finally had enough.
0:09:39 > 0:09:45They figured the only way they'd get this job finished was to bring in someone else to complete it.
0:09:45 > 0:09:51In desperation, Nina asked the builder to leave, but his response was to put the frighteners on her.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Classic cowboy tactics and it worked.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57"If you get rid of me now and get another builder,
0:09:57 > 0:10:01"you'll have to pay extra money to get the work done
0:10:01 > 0:10:05"because I'm doing it as a favour to you, so I'm doing it cheaper."
0:10:05 > 0:10:11Nina gave him a second chance, but did the builder up his game? No, he did not.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16A month later, because the local council were part-financing the project,
0:10:16 > 0:10:21the Beghals asked them to check that the work met their rigorous standards.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26We called the council in. They weren't happy at all with what was done here.
0:10:26 > 0:10:31The standard and the quality of the work, they were just appalled.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Nina told the cowboy to leave and not come back.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37He didn't take it well.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41His eyes were bulging and you could see he was just so angry.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45He said, "What's going on? What are you doing now?"
0:10:45 > 0:10:52He was screaming and shouting at me. I was scared. You know, I was by myself.
0:10:52 > 0:10:57The builder was clearly distraught that the Beghal cash machine had stopped paying out.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01"I did all this work for you. You can't get rid of me now.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05"You wanted me as your builder. You were happy with all my work."
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Happy with all his work? What planet was this guy on?!
0:11:09 > 0:11:16Instead of an extension for Jaya, the heartless cowboy had built an incomplete disaster zone.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19The room isn't done. Nothing's ready for her.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24She's getting older, she wants her independence and nothing's in place for her at all.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29Not surprisingly, the stress of enduring this long, drawn-out building catastrophe
0:11:29 > 0:11:34has had a profound emotional impact on the entire family and young Jaya in particular.
0:11:34 > 0:11:40The Beghals are a close-knit family, but Nina's mistake in giving the cowboy builder a second chance
0:11:40 > 0:11:45led to rows with Jagjeet and that had an impact on the kids.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48I really don't like it when they argue about the room
0:11:48 > 0:11:52because I don't like to see them argue about this stuff
0:11:52 > 0:11:55and I feel like it's my fault.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00But despite all the turmoil, Jaya is still hopeful
0:12:00 > 0:12:05her wheelchair-friendly bedroom and wet room will be finished one day.
0:12:05 > 0:12:10It's important for me because I don't have to get carried, I don't like it.
0:12:10 > 0:12:17And it's exciting because I'll get to do what I want and whenever in my room.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22It's a very sad story, but also one that makes you mad.
0:12:22 > 0:12:28I don't know whether this guy simply didn't know what he was doing or he didn't have the financial resources
0:12:28 > 0:12:30to undertake such a massive job.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34What is clear is that he decided to muddle his way through it
0:12:34 > 0:12:39which says to me he saw this family as little more than a meal ticket.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43'And he left them with a catastrophic construction.
0:12:43 > 0:12:49'The fact the extension's unfinished is clear to see, but what's the full extent of this bungled build?
0:12:49 > 0:12:55'To find out, we asked independent building surveyor Paul Brown to inspect the work.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00'He's been through it with a fine-tooth comb and he'll fill me in on what he found.
0:13:00 > 0:13:06'First item on the agenda, the extension floor consisting of blocks that should be used on walls.'
0:13:06 > 0:13:09They're Thermalite blocks laid down.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13They are Thermalite blocks, lightweight blocks used
0:13:13 > 0:13:16on the floor in flat style, just laid on top of the floor
0:13:16 > 0:13:18to build the levels of the floor up.
0:13:18 > 0:13:25What was required was a layer of insulation and a concrete surface to form the floor level.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28These blocks have been just used to fill in the space.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Looking at these, they don't look new.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35These look like they might have had a previous life as a wall.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40One could speculate they came out of a skip. That's the way they look.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45This looks like it's been built by The Borrowers or Stig of the Dump or a Womble.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49It looks like a second-hand, almost jumble-type building project
0:13:49 > 0:13:53where somebody has used whatever they can to make something work,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56but it doesn't meet any of the requirements.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00'The builder was just using anything he could get his hands on.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03'This floor is totally uneven.'
0:14:03 > 0:14:09You've actually got a step between the house and the extension which for disabled access is not great.
0:14:09 > 0:14:15'It looks like this guy didn't care about disabled access or didn't have the wherewithal to create it
0:14:15 > 0:14:19'and these walls have been dreadfully put together.'
0:14:19 > 0:14:26Whoever did this work wasn't very adept at anything to do with flooring, brickwork and blockwork.
0:14:26 > 0:14:32I think that's true. The standard of workmanship is poor, but that in itself is not the main issue.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37The fact that it's a bit messy, OK, but they're the wrong materials in lots of cases.
0:14:37 > 0:14:43'There's a theme developing here. The cowboy used porous internal blocks on the outside wall.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46'That's bound to lead to water ingress.'
0:14:46 > 0:14:51You're starting to get the feeling that there are some corners being cut
0:14:51 > 0:14:53and maybe cost-saving issues here.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Throughout the whole thing,
0:14:56 > 0:15:02the sense that he hasn't had sufficient money to be able to resource buying the correct materials
0:15:02 > 0:15:04is evident as you walk through.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08You can see the wrong materials used in lots of different locations.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13'The damp-proof membrane is made of the wrong materials. This cowboy didn't seem to care
0:15:13 > 0:15:18'that he was building much-needed rooms for a disabled girl. There are hazards everywhere.'
0:15:18 > 0:15:22It looks like a part demolition job. It's not even been done well.
0:15:22 > 0:15:28Lots of cables and sockets are exposed. When you have small children, that's a risk to them.
0:15:28 > 0:15:34They're at low level. Children could put their fingers through those holes and be electrocuted.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- It doesn't bear thinking about.- No.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41'If all this wasn't bad enough, Paul has saved the most shocking photos till last.
0:15:41 > 0:15:47'When the builder took a wall out and extended a flat roof over the extension, he left it unsafe.'
0:15:47 > 0:15:52The flat roof joists have been extended across without any support.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55They're not adequate to support the roof load over the span they now are.
0:15:55 > 0:16:01We often talk about fit for purpose, but there's no way a building control officer would pass that.
0:16:01 > 0:16:08Absolutely not. This is Section A of the Building Regulations because it's foremost in people's minds.
0:16:08 > 0:16:13It's the essence of putting buildings up. They haven't got this right. It's fundamentally wrong.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18'I think I know the answer, but it's make your mind up time for Paul.'
0:16:18 > 0:16:23How would you mark this...effort, if you like, out of ten?
0:16:23 > 0:16:28They've been left with something they cannot use in any way. It's structurally unsound.
0:16:28 > 0:16:34It's unsafe for the children they have living in the house. I can't give this a mark. This is a zero.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37'I can see why Paul's unimpressed -
0:16:37 > 0:16:43'an unsupported, dangerous flat roof, external walls fitted with internal blockwork,
0:16:43 > 0:16:49'a floor consisting of uneven blocks, non-existent wheelchair ramps,
0:16:49 > 0:16:54'a dodgy damp-proof course, to be honest, too many faults to mention.'
0:16:54 > 0:16:57In short, a massive amount of work to do.
0:16:57 > 0:17:02Because of the rules governing disabled facility grants, time was running out to do it.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04Enter our good guys.
0:17:04 > 0:17:10And here's head honcho Konrad Skubala leading his posse into the fray.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13It's going to be a massive job.
0:17:13 > 0:17:19To get this extension for Jaya right will take the combined financial might of the local council,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Cowboy Trap and the Beghals themselves.
0:17:22 > 0:17:29The first job - building the wheelchair-friendly ramp the cowboy never got round to, brick by brick.
0:17:29 > 0:17:35Inside the extension, it's out with the plaster... Get those walls nice and smooth, fellas!
0:17:35 > 0:17:41Then it's up with the floor and once that's sorted, the extension roof will need fixing too.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46Most of what the cowboy did ends up in the skip which is probably where it came from!
0:17:46 > 0:17:52The epic rescue continues with the ceiling salvage operation swinging into action.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57It's a great start, but can the good guys finally give Jaya back her dream?
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Only time will tell.
0:18:05 > 0:18:11I'm in Halesowen outside Birmingham where Nina and Jagjeet Beghal wanted an extension to their home,
0:18:11 > 0:18:15so they could make life easier for their disabled daughter Jaya.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20They got a grant from the council, but came unstuck when their builder turned out to be a cowboy.
0:18:20 > 0:18:26Our good guys have now finished their work here, so let's see how the Beghals are getting on.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30This looks pretty impressive, doesn't it?
0:18:30 > 0:18:35It certainly does. Remember, the cowboy never seemed to get round to it.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39But our good guys delivered it with aplomb,
0:18:39 > 0:18:44with proper access space, hand rails and all the bells and whistles.
0:18:44 > 0:18:45Result!
0:18:48 > 0:18:52- Hi, Nina.- Hello, Jonnie. How are you?- Pretty good.- Come in.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55- I'm loving your ramp. It looks amazing.- It's fantastic.
0:18:55 > 0:19:00'While Nina puts the kettle on, I have a peek at our good guys' handiwork.
0:19:00 > 0:19:05'Remember what Jaya's bedroom looked like before? The transformation is remarkable.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09'And the wet room was a total mess.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12'Now it's state of the art.
0:19:13 > 0:19:19'Everywhere you look, the change from before to after is striking.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22'Result!
0:19:22 > 0:19:25'Time for a heart-to-heart with the Beghals.
0:19:25 > 0:19:31'I want to know what it was like when the council inspectors said the work wasn't up to scratch.'
0:19:31 > 0:19:35- Talk to me about how you felt at that time.- I felt really angry and I felt...
0:19:35 > 0:19:38In tears some of the time about it.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42I love my wife dearly, but sometimes, you know...
0:19:42 > 0:19:49Because she pushed for this builder, in a sense, I felt she went against me to go with this builder.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54I understand you did say at one point, "Enough's enough. Tools down, get out!"
0:19:54 > 0:19:59- Yes.- But then he managed to get himself in here again. What happened?
0:19:59 > 0:20:04He just said, "If you get somebody else in, you'll have to fork out an extra amount of money.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08"Because I'm a family friend, I'm doing it at this rate for you.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12"Anybody else would have charged you a serious amount of money."
0:20:12 > 0:20:16'Well, I'd say £36,000 is pretty serious
0:20:16 > 0:20:21'and I can't help wonder whether the Beghals could have escaped his clutches earlier.'
0:20:21 > 0:20:25- Some people might think you had a few warning signs.- Definitely.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Why didn't you act on 'em?
0:20:27 > 0:20:33It's hard when you're caught up in the act, in the motion.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37When somebody's already there
0:20:37 > 0:20:42and they've literally demolished your home and, you know... they've got a hold over you.
0:20:42 > 0:20:48'And that's how unscrupulous builders ensnare people in the cowboy trap,
0:20:48 > 0:20:51'but all that is now ancient history.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55'Time for me to take a close look at the good guys' handiwork
0:20:55 > 0:20:59'and compare it to what the bad guys left behind.'
0:20:59 > 0:21:03It's hard to imagine how this place looked before.
0:21:03 > 0:21:09It's completely different. As soon as you walk in through this door, it feels like a brand-new home.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12That's because, looking around, it probably is.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15So, Jaya's room.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Well, what a difference!
0:21:18 > 0:21:24There was some sort of shoddy stud partition wall over there. It was an absolute mess.
0:21:24 > 0:21:31Now the only thing missing from this room is Jaya and whatever furniture she wants.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35It's absolutely finished and ready. I love it.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39'And it's all wheelchair-friendly too.'
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Extra-wide doorway.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Sockets you can get to.
0:21:45 > 0:21:51Looking around, I'm just flabbergasted how far they've come in such a little amount of time.
0:21:51 > 0:21:58'It's incredible when you think about what this room looked like before. Right, into the wet room...'
0:21:58 > 0:22:04The sheer scale of this room is amazing. You hear your voice echo. It's huge, but it needs to be big.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08The idea for this wet room was to make life easier for all the family,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11to make life much more bearable and it is.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15'And again when you look closely, the level of finish is superb.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18'And finally, how is the exterior looking now?'
0:22:18 > 0:22:21That's different, isn't it?
0:22:21 > 0:22:25If you remember, this was... Even the surveyor said it himself.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29This was blockwork that shouldn't be used for external use.
0:22:29 > 0:22:35Now, instead of the blockwork, you've got proper brickwork and nicely done as well which is good.
0:22:35 > 0:22:41And elsewhere, it looks like they've managed to sort the issue out with the damp-proof course. Excellent.
0:22:41 > 0:22:48'Yeah, the cowboy's damp-proofing would have been totally ineffective because he used the wrong materials.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52'Our good guys though... It's no surprise. They knew what they were doing.
0:22:52 > 0:22:57'Head honcho Konrad has come to talk me through the other challenges he faced.'
0:22:57 > 0:23:03When you first turned up, what were your thoughts on what sight was before you, if you like?
0:23:03 > 0:23:07It just felt like the builder had got into some sort of money trouble
0:23:07 > 0:23:11and just started to cut corners left, right and centre,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14using a cheap base for the ramp and for out the back,
0:23:14 > 0:23:18breeze-block walls out the back instead of brick walls.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21Every corner he could cut, he tried to do so.
0:23:21 > 0:23:27'It goes without saying Konrad's main priority was making the extension structurally safe
0:23:27 > 0:23:33'and he did just that, keeping local building control happy every step of the way.
0:23:33 > 0:23:39'Before the tour with the Beghals, I want to hear their thoughts on the cowboy builder's version of events.'
0:23:39 > 0:23:45We always give the cowboy builders a right to reply, to offer their side of the story, OK?
0:23:45 > 0:23:50Now, your cowboy builder got rather angry with us when we approached him,
0:23:50 > 0:23:55but in the end, he didn't really have a lot to say for himself.
0:23:55 > 0:24:01His basic position was that he doesn't dispute our surveyor's findings,
0:24:01 > 0:24:05but he said it was all completely your fault
0:24:05 > 0:24:10because you kept changing your minds about what you wanted doing.
0:24:10 > 0:24:16How can we change our minds if everything is already on the plans and that's approved by the council?
0:24:16 > 0:24:24- The camera doesn't lie, as they say. - He says from day one, working for you was like pulling teeth.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28It makes me angry now listening to this, to be honest,
0:24:28 > 0:24:32because as soon as he came in, I'd leave him to it.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36I think it was probably my fault that I left him to it too much
0:24:36 > 0:24:38and you don't question as often
0:24:38 > 0:24:42because you think, you know, he's a professional.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46Well, a so-called professional that knows what he's doing.
0:24:46 > 0:24:51He says you couldn't even agree amongst yourselves what you wanted doing
0:24:51 > 0:24:54and quite often contradicted one another.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56That's just a farce, that is.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59All we wanted was the room to be converted
0:24:59 > 0:25:04and a utility with a downstairs toilet with a ramp at the front and a ramp at the back.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08There's not much room really for getting this wrong.
0:25:08 > 0:25:14I can't see how this could be translated in any other way or interpreted in any other way.
0:25:16 > 0:25:22'Right, it's time to see if our fellas' work has changed the Beghals' lives for the better.'
0:25:22 > 0:25:26So, how does it feel to have it all completed?
0:25:26 > 0:25:28It feels fantastic.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30It feels like a different house.
0:25:30 > 0:25:36- It's so different, isn't it? - Yeah.- It's just a relief. It's a big weight off our shoulders.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38It feels like a show home.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42'You're not kidding! If you look at what the cowboy left behind
0:25:42 > 0:25:46'and compare it to how our good guys transformed it,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49'it's no surprise Nina and Jagjeet are delighted.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53'Next, let's see what they think to what will be Jaya's bedroom.'
0:25:54 > 0:25:58So, through our nice, big, wide door into Jaya's room.
0:25:58 > 0:26:04This is what you wanted all that time ago. Now this is it, now you've got it.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08- What does it mean to you? - I feel so relieved and I feel...
0:26:08 > 0:26:10just overjoyed, really.
0:26:10 > 0:26:16'And I can see why. This ground floor was left in a state of absolute chaos.
0:26:16 > 0:26:21'But our fellas have created an extension with perfectly built rooms all on one level,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24'giving Jaya total independence in years to come.'
0:26:24 > 0:26:31She's had to wait for Mum to be free to come and take her up the stairs, pick her up and take her upstairs.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36Any time she wants her own space, her privacy, she can come straight in here and she's got it.
0:26:36 > 0:26:41'And the en-suite, disabled access wet room will give Jaya independence too.'
0:26:41 > 0:26:47Nobody really wants to be taken to the toilet, having somebody, you know, watch over you...
0:26:47 > 0:26:53No. It's this one thing we keep coming down to and that is independence, isn't it?
0:26:53 > 0:26:59We've talked about Jaya so much. I'm pretty keen on getting her angle on things.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03I know you're probably thinking this is how her bedroom should be.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07Let's see what the boss thinks. Let's go and get her.
0:27:07 > 0:27:12'For Jaya, it's the world premiere of her new living quarters. I really hope she loves it.'
0:27:12 > 0:27:15This is the first time you've seen it then?
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- Whoa!- That's all for you.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- Look at this! - What do you think, Jaya?
0:27:21 > 0:27:26- It's great.- Yeah?- Do you like it? - Brilliant, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:27:26 > 0:27:32- Have you got any posters of anyone to put up?- I'm thinking of Michael Jackson posters.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35- Michael Jackson!- Oh, yes. Good taste!
0:27:35 > 0:27:38- You like Michael Jackson, don't you? - Yeah.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41- You like Justin Bieber as well. - One Direction.- No.
0:27:41 > 0:27:47Justin Bieber is so last week, Daddy! It's so embarrassing!
0:27:48 > 0:27:53'Dads, eh? Right, I wonder what Jaya thinks to her new wet room.'
0:27:53 > 0:27:56Now then, in we come.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Look at this, Jaya.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02- Look at your shower there. - Wow!- Look at that.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06- That's your favourite colour on the floor, blue.- Is it?- Yeah.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09I don't know how big your towels are...
0:28:09 > 0:28:12- But... - LAUGHTER
0:28:12 > 0:28:14That's a big towel rail!
0:28:14 > 0:28:17There's going to be a lot of towels on there.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Don't climb on it, OK?
0:28:20 > 0:28:22'Jaya is clearly thrilled.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27'With the help of our good guys, the Beghal family's dreams have come true.'
0:28:27 > 0:28:32I'll leave all of you to it to maybe get used to what we've seen so far.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34You can get designing.
0:28:34 > 0:28:40- Remember, blue is better than pink, all right?- Yeah.- And keep your brother and sister out of here.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42- No! - LAUGHTER
0:28:42 > 0:28:46'No chance of that. What a wonderful family!
0:28:46 > 0:28:49'Time for me to leave them to enjoy their perfect new home.'
0:28:50 > 0:28:55I think this is probably one of the most important jobs we've seen on Cowboy Trap,
0:28:55 > 0:29:02which makes it all the more galling when you see a job like this done so badly and it took so long.
0:29:02 > 0:29:08But then the good guys come along and they nail it, smash it and blitz this job in a matter of weeks.
0:29:08 > 0:29:14And what a job they've done! You can see the finish is absolutely flawless.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16My favourite thing overall?
0:29:16 > 0:29:20The look on young Jaya's face when she saw her room for the first time.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22Priceless.
0:29:26 > 0:29:32For our next Cowboy Trap saga, we revisit a family in Essex we first met in 2012.
0:29:32 > 0:29:39As with Nina and Jagjeet, this story revolves around a cowboy builder who bit off more than he could chew,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46His unwitting victims were Peter and Vicky Norcott,
0:29:46 > 0:29:49their children Teddy, Liam and Jack and family dog Max.
0:29:51 > 0:29:56When we first met them, Peter and Vicky were looking to extend their home.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01With a growing family, they realised it was simply too small.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03We've got three boys.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06They were all in one bedroom with two sets of bunk beds.
0:30:06 > 0:30:12They get on well, but boys being boys and siblings being siblings, they have their moments when they argue,
0:30:12 > 0:30:18so we decided they would be better to have their own bedrooms and we thought we'd do an extension.
0:30:18 > 0:30:24The Norcotts wanted two new bedrooms for the boys, a utility room and an extra bathroom.
0:30:24 > 0:30:30To create the space for all of this, in February 2011, they decided to commission a two-storey extension.
0:30:30 > 0:30:36Their ambitious plan included access from the living room to the garage where the boys parked their bikes
0:30:36 > 0:30:39and a new front door to the carport.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42The access downstairs into the hallway
0:30:42 > 0:30:47is an idea that we had where we could get into the new bathroom, the utility room,
0:30:47 > 0:30:51but more importantly to get access to the front of the house,
0:30:51 > 0:30:55so when we came in with the car, we could get into the carport,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58get the kids out, it's raining, we avoid getting wet.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01Peter and Vicky hired an architect
0:31:01 > 0:31:05who had done some work for them in the past and got him to draw up the design.
0:31:05 > 0:31:11After some compromises to keep the neighbours onside, planning permission was granted.
0:31:11 > 0:31:17The Norcotts were ready to go and they didn't even have to look for a builder because he came to them.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21The couple received unsolicited approaches from contractors
0:31:21 > 0:31:24as a result of their planning application.
0:31:24 > 0:31:29They went through them and settled on the one they liked the most. Big mistake.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Take my advice...
0:31:35 > 0:31:38Be wary of anyone who approaches you.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47Your address and proposed works will be there for anyone to see.
0:31:57 > 0:32:03The builder who approached the Norcotts quoted £32,000 for the two-storey extension,
0:32:03 > 0:32:07including two bedrooms, a utility room and a shower room.
0:32:08 > 0:32:13It was a big financial stretch, but they were desperate for their dream.
0:32:13 > 0:32:19Peter checked out the builder's references which appeared positive, so they gave him the green light.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23When they found out how he wanted paying, alarm bells started to ring.
0:32:23 > 0:32:28The builder said the work would take three months and a payment plan was agreed,
0:32:28 > 0:32:34but the deal was that the Norcotts would transfer the money into the account of the builder's daughter.
0:32:34 > 0:32:40Effectively, this was a cash deal, so the builder could avoid paying VAT and even income tax.
0:32:40 > 0:32:45As with all cash deals, there was no paperwork, no invoices, no receipts and no contract,
0:32:45 > 0:32:49a tell-tale sign they were dealing with a cowboy builder.
0:32:49 > 0:32:55And surprise, surprise, when work started, the Norcotts ran into problems with their neighbours
0:32:55 > 0:32:59because of the rubbish the builders were leaving behind.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02I was clearing up the rear garden, their mess.
0:33:02 > 0:33:07The neighbours were coming in with bits of wood and brick that had fallen into their garden.
0:33:07 > 0:33:13The strained situation went from bad to worse when the builder put scaffolding up.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17He erected it much too close to the neighbour's property.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21In my letter to him, from day one, I was very clear.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24He needed to build from the inside
0:33:24 > 0:33:29and he would not be allowed to put any kind of scaffolding anywhere around the neighbour's areas.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33Peter and Vicky's neighbours called out health and safety inspectors
0:33:33 > 0:33:39who said the scaffolding was dangerous. It needed moving and the project fell behind schedule.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43And there was no indication they were going to catch up.
0:33:43 > 0:33:49There was weeks where the builders didn't turn up. You trust him to do this job you're paying him to do,
0:33:49 > 0:33:51but on the same hand, he wasn't turning up.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56On the rare occasions he did turn up, this cowboy had a habit
0:33:56 > 0:34:00of demanding money for ever more outlandish reasons.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04One time, it was because he had crashed his van,
0:34:04 > 0:34:08another because his wife had run off and taken all of his cash.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12Like the fools that we were, we felt sorry for him
0:34:12 > 0:34:16and we felt that we were in here, we were so far down the road with the build,
0:34:16 > 0:34:19to turn it off now would be difficult.
0:34:19 > 0:34:25I think the most frustrating thing is that we actually believe now that these were all lies.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28It wasn't just the blatant untruths that dismayed the Norcotts.
0:34:28 > 0:34:34It was the sheer incompetence of the little work the builder had actually done.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38I had to protect the rear garage roof which had no protection.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42The plastering was done upstairs and it was open to the elements
0:34:42 > 0:34:45for probably at least six weeks.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49It got so depressing to come home every night to it.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53Six months after the work started, the builder vanished into thin air
0:34:53 > 0:34:57and then there was another unexpected development.
0:34:58 > 0:35:03Peter received an email from the builder's email address purporting to come from a friend.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07It said the builder had been under so much pressure, he'd got drunk,
0:35:07 > 0:35:12decided the world would be better off without him and taken a load of pills.
0:35:12 > 0:35:17The friend had found him just in time. For the Norcotts, this was the final straw.
0:35:17 > 0:35:23At that point, me and the wife discussed it and we thought, "We've got to let go of this builder."
0:35:23 > 0:35:26It was just ripping us apart.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29It caused for me and Pete to snap at each other.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33D'you know what I mean? You'd say, "Why ain't they here?"
0:35:33 > 0:35:36But I'd be blaming Pete because Pete was sorting it out.
0:35:36 > 0:35:42The cowboy builder had clearly left the Norcotts in a right state
0:35:42 > 0:35:46and they had forked out £32,000. Ouch!
0:35:48 > 0:35:52But you know the plot. Our good guys swung into action.
0:35:52 > 0:35:57So much needed doing, the Norcotts asked them to focus on a passage for Peter and the kids,
0:35:57 > 0:36:03a doorway into the house and, most important, making the extension secure.
0:36:03 > 0:36:09Cement mixed, screws drilled and joists joisted,
0:36:09 > 0:36:13the difference from before to after was impressive.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16Bearing in mind what the good guys were faced with,
0:36:16 > 0:36:21they certainly did a good job getting the Norcotts back on track,
0:36:21 > 0:36:24but there was clearly still work to do.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27Our fellas had got Peter and Vicky out of a hole,
0:36:27 > 0:36:32but would they be inspired to restart a building project that had gone stone-dead?
0:36:32 > 0:36:35Only time would tell.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43It's been less than a year since we last saw the Norcotts,
0:36:43 > 0:36:46but what a difference a year has made to this family!
0:36:46 > 0:36:50When we first met them, Peter and Vicky had hit rock-bottom.
0:36:50 > 0:36:55They couldn't see any way out of the black hole in which they found themselves
0:36:55 > 0:36:59and all that stress had taken its toll on this once happy family.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03But now things are different apparently and I can't wait to meet them.
0:37:03 > 0:37:10'Hopefully, our fellas' efforts made a difference to this hard-working family's quality of life.'
0:37:11 > 0:37:15- Hello. Vicky?- Hello.- I'm Jonnie. You must be Peter.- Nice to meet you.
0:37:15 > 0:37:20- How are you both doing?- Not too bad. Would you like to come in? - Thank you very much.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25'As soon as I enter the extension, it's clear this passageway is really working for the family.'
0:37:25 > 0:37:30- This is one of the best things that's happened to this home.- It is.
0:37:30 > 0:37:36- It's just a hallway, but you can get from the front to the back. - Yeah.- Or rather the lads can.
0:37:36 > 0:37:41- You are warm and peaceful in that room next door, aren't you?- Yeah.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45Even for myself, at the weekend, I was washing the car.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49The hose was coming through here, the cables from the extension.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53This door was shut. We wasn't losing any heat. It was perfect.
0:37:55 > 0:38:00'And "perfect" isn't a word you could have applied when the cowboy rode out of town.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04'Now the Norcotts have a corridor that's totally fit for purpose.
0:38:04 > 0:38:10'Check out this new utility room. It's clear this building project is now back on track.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14'The extension is coming into its own.' The fridge is in here.
0:38:14 > 0:38:21- That's all nice and plastered. You're going to raise the floor up? - Yeah, once all the drainage is done.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25- That was another big problem.- Yeah. - The drainage was a right old mess.
0:38:25 > 0:38:31'"Mess" is putting it kindly. The cowboy left this place in a state of disarray.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36'But our good guys came to the rescue.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41'Before, there was no doorway into this house.
0:38:41 > 0:38:46'Now the extension is totally accessible which is the whole point of it, isn't it?'
0:38:46 > 0:38:52The way you were left by the cowboys, they had done a bungling job of your extension.
0:38:52 > 0:38:57But you couldn't even get into your extension. It was just an add-on to your house.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01You had to go outside to get in. It was just ridiculous.
0:39:01 > 0:39:07It wasn't safe, it wasn't secure. Obviously, now, it's all secure which is a big thing for me.
0:39:07 > 0:39:12'Security is a big thing for everyone, except cowboy builders, it appears.
0:39:12 > 0:39:18'No worries about that now. That's bound to have had a profound effect on the Norcotts' quality of life.'
0:39:18 > 0:39:21- A weight off your mind. No more stress.- No stress at all.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25It's lovely. We're not even stressed about finishing it.
0:39:25 > 0:39:31It's just so nice that we've got some builders that we can trust and we know they'll finish it properly.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33'And guess who those builders are?
0:39:33 > 0:39:39'Yeah, the good guys who clearly revived the Norcotts' faith in the building community.
0:39:39 > 0:39:45'So, Mum and Dad are happy. What about the real bosses around here, the three junior musketeers?'
0:39:45 > 0:39:51Can you remember when those bad cowboy builders left, what did your house look like then?
0:39:51 > 0:39:54It was in a state of... everything, really.
0:39:54 > 0:39:59There were cracks like Jack said, all the pipes came out and everything.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03- Messy?- Yeah. - Did you feel safe?- No.- No.
0:40:03 > 0:40:08It felt like it was all going to collapse on us cos there was pipes showing, all wires.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12It was all dangerous. There was lots of wires sticking out.
0:40:12 > 0:40:19- What were the good guys like when they turned up? Were they all right? - Fantastic.- Better.- Were they?
0:40:19 > 0:40:22'That's what I call a ringing endorsement.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25'Time for a heart-to-heart with Mum and Dad about what it was like
0:40:25 > 0:40:29'for them to go through their cowboy builder experience.'
0:40:29 > 0:40:32We were really stressed, we wasn't sleeping.
0:40:32 > 0:40:38We were snapping at each other. Not arguing, but being very short. With the children we was like that too.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42It was a really hard time because we knew we had made the wrong decision.
0:40:42 > 0:40:48'And the result of that wrong decision was staring them in the face every morning.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50'But then their luck changed.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53'Our good guys got involved.'
0:40:53 > 0:40:59- They were here from eight o'clock and some nights they didn't leave till ten at night.- Goodness me!
0:40:59 > 0:41:06They wanted to finish to keep on track and we were just amazed at what we were seeing, weren't we?
0:41:06 > 0:41:12It was amazing seeing how professional they were. You realised how bad the cowboy builder was!
0:41:12 > 0:41:16'Yeah, pretty much as bad as it gets,
0:41:16 > 0:41:21'so how would they avoid being caught in the cowboy trap if they had their time again?'
0:41:21 > 0:41:24- What would you do differently? - Ignore the leaflets.
0:41:24 > 0:41:30Yeah, look at the reputable companies that are obviously registered, etcetera,
0:41:30 > 0:41:34then go through the various insurance certificates they need,
0:41:34 > 0:41:39investigate a little bit deeper into the company or individuals you're talking to.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43'Well, that's music to my ears, a sure-fire way
0:41:43 > 0:41:47'to avoid ending up with a disaster zone like this.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51'How does Peter feel about the cowboy now, a year down the line?'
0:41:51 > 0:41:55I'm the father, the husband, so you like to get things right
0:41:55 > 0:41:59for the family and your wife and I didn't do that.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02You've not let anybody down. They've done you.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06They've had a go at taking your money, abusing your trust.
0:42:06 > 0:42:12- Thankfully, you've come out of it the other side.- Yeah.- That's testament to you as a family unit.
0:42:12 > 0:42:18- Absolutely.- I can hear the boys playing away. Sounds like you've got a genuinely happy household.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20Yeah, and a very noisy one.
0:42:20 > 0:42:25I was about to say, "A happy, stress-free household." There's three lads up there.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28- They've not even hit their teens yet.- No.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30- Good luck.- Cheers.
0:42:30 > 0:42:35I genuinely do mean "good luck". It's nice to see a happy ending.
0:42:35 > 0:42:40Yeah, it is nice. It is nice that you can see light at the end of the tunnel.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44It's all very positive now, very, very positive, which is lovely.
0:42:44 > 0:42:49'And on that wonderful note, it's time to bid the Norcotts a fond farewell.'
0:42:51 > 0:42:55Well, a year later, you can still see the cruel irony, can't you?
0:42:55 > 0:43:00Vicky and Peter took on this project to alleviate the stress associated
0:43:00 > 0:43:03with a family bursting at the seams out of this house,
0:43:03 > 0:43:06but thanks to the cowboy builder, their stresses doubled.
0:43:06 > 0:43:11But well, after the good guys have been and done their good work,
0:43:11 > 0:43:16it seems to me the stresses associated with this building have gone
0:43:16 > 0:43:21and inside living there is once again a happy family.
0:43:45 > 0:43:48Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd