0:00:02 > 0:00:07Our money has to work hard for us, and one of our biggest expenditures is on our property.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12Last year, we spent a staggering £15 billion on repairs to our homes.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16But how can any of us be certain we've not been taken for a ride?
0:00:16 > 0:00:20- How much will it cost? - It's hard to say, but I reckon 325.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22300 quid.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Probably about seven and a half grand.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27With audacious secret filming,
0:00:27 > 0:00:32we reveal just how easy it could be for you to be duped.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35You've been ripped off. He's not a bona-fide tradesman.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37He's not?!
0:00:37 > 0:00:39I knew there was something suspicious.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41DIALOGUE BLEEPED
0:00:41 > 0:00:46And we lift the lid on some of the UK's most shocking tradesmen rip-offs.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50An awful leak came right through the bedroom. I was absolutely livid.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52The house was a death trap.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55We didn't know if he would get violent.
0:00:55 > 0:00:56On today's show...
0:00:56 > 0:01:01A battle of wills. How long will this Essex bouncer stand firm
0:01:01 > 0:01:03against our rogue roofer?
0:01:03 > 0:01:08You are joking, mate? £150? You just put a ladder up and changed a tile.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10I risked my life to get up there.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12The staggering story of a Surrey rogue
0:01:12 > 0:01:17who conned his victims out of almost a quarter of a million pounds.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21He didn't give a jot about his victims or their future,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24their security, their finances or anything.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27And prepare for a truly criminal scam
0:01:27 > 0:01:32when a policeman's streetwise dad falls for every trick in the book.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35£400, then, and 65 for the initial call out.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Is that all right?
0:01:38 > 0:01:42Stand by for dirty tricks of the tradesmen.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Let's be honest, most of us know little about the trades -
0:01:50 > 0:01:52plumbing, electrics, roofing -
0:01:52 > 0:01:57so we put our trust in tradesmen and we expect them to play fair.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Of course, the vast majority do play fair.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02It's a small minority who turn rogue
0:02:02 > 0:02:07and make life a misery for thousands of us each year.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11We meet people who've been ripped off by dodgy tradesmen.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Plus, with your help, we reveal how easy it is
0:02:14 > 0:02:17to fall for a typical set of tradesman's tricks.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Our viewers have set up their friends and relatives
0:02:20 > 0:02:23to receive a visit from our very own tradesman.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28Why? To show you how to avoid being taken for a ride.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31This is Roger Bisby.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36He has over 40 years' experience under his builder's belt.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43There's nothing he hates more than a dirty trickster,
0:02:43 > 0:02:45out there to make a fast buck.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49But in order to show you how not to get conned,
0:02:49 > 0:02:53we've asked Roger to go against everything he believes in -
0:02:53 > 0:02:56to become a rip-off merchant.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58We'll create minor household problems
0:02:58 > 0:03:03and send in Roger to show us all how easy it is to be ripped off.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05It's all being filmed in secret
0:03:05 > 0:03:10and Roger will be working with our cameraman Luke, who's posing as his apprentice.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12We'll find out in just a moment
0:03:12 > 0:03:15where they're springing their first scam.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17No-one wants a flood in the bathroom
0:03:17 > 0:03:22and qualified plumbers usually fix minor leaks in under an hour for less than £100.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25But what if a cowboy turns up?
0:03:25 > 0:03:29Let's meet the streetwise family where Roger is paying a visit.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35Dean likes to keep trim around his Hertfordshire village.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39His dad Henry is a painter and decorator who lives next door.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Dean has a special reason for wanting to set him up.
0:03:43 > 0:03:44I'm a police officer
0:03:44 > 0:03:50and I feel that the scams that are happening in society today need to be exposed.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53I consider my father to be quite an astute person
0:03:53 > 0:03:56and I wanted to show people how easy it is
0:03:56 > 0:04:00for people to come into your home and scam you.
0:04:00 > 0:04:06Dean's given us access to tamper with his radiator valve, creating a minor leak.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11A reputable tradesman shouldn't charge more than £100 for an hour's work fixing it.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14But Roger isn't feeling reputable today.
0:04:14 > 0:04:19Now, there's one problem - Henry's in the trade. He's a painter and decorator.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22I've got to find out how much he knows about the trade
0:04:22 > 0:04:25see if he's the kind of guy I can take for a ride.
0:04:25 > 0:04:26I've got Luke here, the cameraman.
0:04:26 > 0:04:31I've got a camera here to do a bit of secret filming and Luke's got one.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Between the two of us, we're going to get some good pictures
0:04:34 > 0:04:38and make a few quid, as well. Let's go.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44Roger, you rotter. The van is packed with gadgets he'll use for his dirty tricks.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48First, he'll try and convince Henry that the water is contaminated with rust
0:04:48 > 0:04:50using a rigged corrosion meter.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53He'll give the pipes a flush to remove the rust,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56one of the most common tricks scammers use.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00Finally, he'll try to scare Henry with added costs.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Roger's piping up trouble.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08It's 9:00am when Roger arrives, where Henry is housesitting.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12Remember, he has no idea that this is a simple job
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and should cost a maximum of £100 to put it right.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18But can our cowboy do better? Let's find out.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Wish me luck.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Hello there. It's the plumber.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30- I've got my glamorous assistant here.- Hello, mate. All right?
0:05:30 > 0:05:34- You don't have to pay for him. He's on work experience. - That sounds good!
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Henry seems very trusting and he hasn't asked Roger for ID.
0:05:38 > 0:05:44The first thing our man has to do is pretend to assess the radiator.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47OK. This is it.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51Leaking radiator. Quite honestly, you get loads of these.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Take me about quarter of an hour to fix.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59I'm going to try and persuade him there's a bit of corrosion in the system,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02tell him his system's run away, put the frighteners on him.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05We could be on a good little earner here.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09Roger knows that to squeeze the most money out of a job,
0:06:09 > 0:06:14he has to quickly gain the confidence of the owner. This is key.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18It's just a little ring. I can put one on the valve.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21This water, it looks to me like it's got a bit of corrosion in it.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24I've got a tester in the van. I'll bring that in.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28Roger's about to use one of the oldest tricks of the trade.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32OK, this is what I'm after. This is the corrosion meter.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36It's a complicated bit of kit, so he won't know whether it's got corrosion or not.
0:06:36 > 0:06:41But what I really want to do is persuade him that it needs a power flush.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45This is where I turn a £50 job into a £400 or £500 job
0:06:45 > 0:06:50and if we can get this baby working, we're going to be in the money.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Right, let's give it a little go.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Sure enough, it gives the false reading that Roger's expecting.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Ohh! It's sky high.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03We've got 2,200...parts,
0:07:03 > 0:07:09which means that the whole system is rusting away.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- That's what I'm going to tell him. - Time to give Henry the bad news.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15If Roger can baffle him with pseudo science,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18he can hopefully turn a job that should cost £100
0:07:18 > 0:07:22into a hefty £450.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24This is rust, you know?
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Orange rust.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29What's happening, I've put the meter in...
0:07:29 > 0:07:32..and it gives you a reading.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36That's quite advanced corrosion.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41So what that's doing is, it's rusting away the radiators.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44And also the boiler.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47What I would say, the best thing to do with that
0:07:47 > 0:07:49is for me to flush that out.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53Wait for it. Here comes the all-important question.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57If I do it now, rather than come back,
0:07:57 > 0:08:03there's some chemicals involved in it, so probably 400, 450.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05If I did it for cash, say 400.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07If I come back, it's going to be more.
0:08:07 > 0:08:12I'm not pressuring you. I've got enough to do. I've got loads on.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15If Roger can't convince Henry the job needs doing today,
0:08:15 > 0:08:19he'll seek quotes elsewhere and realise he's being conned.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23So our rogue has one of the oldest tricks in the book ready to roll.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25If we left it, the chances are
0:08:25 > 0:08:29you'd be forking out for a new boiler and a radiator.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39That's the point. I could come back and do it, but it'll be more money.
0:08:39 > 0:08:45For someone who isn't pressurising Henry, Roger sure is laying it on thick and fast.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48But will Henry fall for it?
0:08:48 > 0:08:51We said 400. I'm doing myself really.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54400 cash. Lovely.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Yeah, I'll do it for that.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Henry hasn't even got another quote for this job,
0:09:00 > 0:09:02let alone the recommended three.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07So with the deal done, Roger heads off to supposedly buy some chemicals,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10whilst poor old Henry heads off to the cashpoint.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15So, how many more dirty tricks will Roger get away with
0:09:15 > 0:09:18as he pushes Henry for cash?
0:09:18 > 0:09:23I'm not even going to bother connecting it up. It's aggro.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Will Henry hand over £400 for nothing?
0:09:27 > 0:09:29And the 65 for the initial call out.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Unbelievable. Now, Roger's tricks may seem extraordinary,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41sadly, they're used by conmen all too often,
0:09:41 > 0:09:46like the man in our next story who played some pretty dirty tricks in Surrey.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50But like most rogues, thankfully, he got his comeuppance.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54This is Mark Cooper,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57whose ruthless antics made him richer
0:09:57 > 0:10:00by almost a quarter of a million pounds.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03It took two years to bring him to justice
0:10:03 > 0:10:08and the combined efforts of three different police forces and Trading Standards teams.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11He didn't give a jot about his victims or their future,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14their security, their finances or anything.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17So shocked and distressed were his 38 victims,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21not one of them is prepared to discuss him on camera.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25Senior Trading Standards Officer Linda Cobbett explains.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27They were too embarrassed, too ashamed,
0:10:27 > 0:10:32didn't want any friends or neighbours to know how much they paid this man.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Mark Cooper's history of horrors only came to light
0:10:36 > 0:10:42when Linda received a call from a retired GP from Surrey, known as Doctor S.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44He was cold-called by Cooper
0:10:44 > 0:10:48and persuaded to let the tradesman work on his roof and driveway.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53I went and got a statement from him and had a look at the work that had been done.
0:10:53 > 0:11:00He'd paid £5,000 to this gentleman for throwing a bit of gravel down in the drive,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03and an appalling job, in my view, on his garage.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Cooper certainly left that doctor in distress.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08But because he'd paid by cheque,
0:11:08 > 0:11:13Surrey Trading Standards Financial Investigator Paul Diaper was able to trace it.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17I was looking to see what was his turnover,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19whether he had any assets or cash,
0:11:19 > 0:11:23in the hope of trying to identify other victims.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26He was repeatedly targeting certain victims
0:11:26 > 0:11:32and he was receiving not only cheques, which we could trace, but large amounts of cash.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34They discovered dozens of tricks
0:11:34 > 0:11:37played on victims like Miss A from Surrey.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Cooper told her that her chimney needed repointing to strengthen it,
0:11:41 > 0:11:43but all he did was paint it red.
0:11:43 > 0:11:49Surrey Trading Standards established this useless work cost £3,000,
0:11:49 > 0:11:52but over the course of nine months, Cooper charged Miss A
0:11:52 > 0:11:56an unbelievable £59,000 for it.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59She was in a position where she felt alone and vulnerable
0:11:59 > 0:12:04and didn't know how to go about telling people what was happening
0:12:04 > 0:12:06and was frightened to send him away.
0:12:06 > 0:12:12If 59 grand sounds bad, wait till you hear about Mrs C from Hampshire.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Cooper spent a year pestering her.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18Finally, he convinced her that she needed a new tarmac driveway.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22But all he did was cover her old drive in black paint.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26The value of the actual work - £690.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30How much did Cooper charge? £78,000.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Her life savings.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37It was clear that the victim had written at least 15 cheques to Cooper
0:12:37 > 0:12:39for a considerable sum of money.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42It had all the classic hallmarks of a rogue trader,
0:12:42 > 0:12:47targeting an elderly lone victim, cold calling,
0:12:47 > 0:12:52then charging an awful lot of money for work that probably didn't need doing at all.
0:12:52 > 0:12:57Linda's team at Trading Standards wanted to put an end to Cooper's reign of intimidation.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00They enlisted the help of Surrey Police to gather crucial evidence
0:13:00 > 0:13:05and Trading Standards officer Ian Inglis was present when they swooped.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09We obtained a warrant to enter Mark Cooper's premises.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11A number of discoveries were found.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Wads of cash found in the shower, of all places,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17a number of valuable items, jewellery and so on,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20and further evidence
0:13:20 > 0:13:24indicating that he was involved in the fraud against elderly people.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28The police raid turned out to be a major turning point in the investigation.
0:13:28 > 0:13:33Not only did they search the motorhome, police also checked Cooper's vehicles.
0:13:33 > 0:13:39It turned out that one of them was used during the scams on victim Mrs C.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42She'd noted down the registration number of the vehicle.
0:13:42 > 0:13:43This was critical.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47This allowed us to chase Mark Cooper as being the potential offender
0:13:47 > 0:13:50involved in the fraud against Mrs C.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54In addition to that, she was also able to note down two phone numbers
0:13:54 > 0:13:59that had been used by Mark Cooper at various stages of his campaign against her.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Now, at last, Surrey Trading Standards felt they had enough evidence
0:14:03 > 0:14:05to bring Cooper before a judge
0:14:05 > 0:14:08at Guildford Magistrates' Court in April 2010.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12Whilst we were at the court, I called one of those numbers.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17Sure enough, Mark Cooper's phone went, in the court waiting room.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20The moment that he reached for his phone, and we all heard it ringing,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23was a moment of quite high excitement.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25That was it. We knew we had him.
0:14:25 > 0:14:30Crime doesn't pay. Mark Cooper was sentenced to five years for his offences.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34So, how can we stop rogues like him in the future?
0:14:34 > 0:14:38Well, homeowners everywhere who feel intimidated or ripped off by dodgy tradesmen
0:14:38 > 0:14:43should contact their local Trading Standards for advice at the earliest opportunity.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46We hope that it will send a message
0:14:46 > 0:14:50that Surrey will not tolerate this sort of activity
0:14:50 > 0:14:53and we will do our best to defend vulnerable people.
0:14:53 > 0:14:58It needs to be recognised that this isn't just a period of rehabilitation for him.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01It's a period of respite for his would-be victims
0:15:01 > 0:15:04who he'd otherwise be out ripping off.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Later, on Dirty Tricks of the Tradesmen,
0:15:13 > 0:15:14another shocking case
0:15:14 > 0:15:19when a Dorset couple discover that a tricky tradesman has wrecked their roof.
0:15:19 > 0:15:24Two days after the work was finished, water was pouring into our lounge.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27And in our quest to show you how not to be ripped off,
0:15:27 > 0:15:32Roger's dirty tricks get him into hot water with a family in Chelmsford.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35DIALOGUE BLEEPED
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Hello there.
0:15:39 > 0:15:45First, time to find out whether Henry from Hertfordshire falls for our cowboy's dirty tricks.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Roger went to fix a leaky radiator, a job worth around £100 to put right.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53But like all tricksters, Roger is using every con he knows
0:15:53 > 0:15:56to inflate the charge to four times as much.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00What that's doing is, it's rusting away the radiators.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02And also the boiler.
0:16:02 > 0:16:03Using a rigged meter,
0:16:03 > 0:16:07Roger has persuaded Henry that the boiler pipes are corroded.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11A power flush will solve it, he says and stop the boiler from seizing up.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15For this, Roger wants £400!
0:16:15 > 0:16:20A power flush takes about four or five hours at least to do a proper job.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25We don't want to be hanging around that long, so I'm going to try and speed it up a bit,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27pretend to do it in half an hour and see if he wears it.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Roger heads back, where Henry has cash fresh from the ATM.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Instead of watching them like a hawk, Henry lets them gets on with it,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40which gives Roger the chance to push his tricks even harder.
0:16:40 > 0:16:45I'm not even going to bother connecting it up. It's aggro.
0:16:45 > 0:16:50At one point, Henry even breaks the ultimate rule and leaves them alone in the house.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54It's incredible when you realise he's only known them for a couple of hours.
0:16:54 > 0:17:00You should never leave people alone because you don't know what they're up to.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Ten minutes later, Henry's back.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06Finally, he does something sensible by taking an interest in the job.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Have you got a sensitive smell?
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Because they do stink a bit sometimes.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19This is the old magic potion. Super concentrated this stuff.
0:17:19 > 0:17:24So concentrated, in fact, you don't even need to break the seal or take the top of the bottle.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Surely Henry must be getting suspicious.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33- Lovely job.- And after 35 minutes of the machine doing nothing,
0:17:33 > 0:17:37except making a bit of noise, Roger decides to call it a day.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40But will Henry believe the job is done?
0:17:40 > 0:17:42We're all right. We're OK.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Just done a test on the meter. It's fine.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47Basically, that pump is so powerful...
0:17:47 > 0:17:50..it runs through...
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Now, remember that agreed final cost of £400?
0:17:53 > 0:17:57A deal's a deal. Unless you're a cowboy, of course...
0:17:57 > 0:18:03£400, then, and 65 for the initial call out.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Is that all right?
0:18:07 > 0:18:10So Henry was housesitting for his son
0:18:10 > 0:18:14and let in a tricky tradesman, without checking his identity.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Roger turned a simple £100 repair
0:18:17 > 0:18:21into a £465 central heating rip-off.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24He's used gadgets and scare tactics to persuade Henry
0:18:24 > 0:18:29that the pipes were filled with rust and needed flushing out.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Will Henry pay Roger's asking price?
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Is that all right?
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Sorry, we had the... That was for the flush.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Power flush. That's all right.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47That's lovely. Thank you. Pleasure to meet you. Cheers, mate.
0:18:47 > 0:18:53With the cash safely in his pocket, our cowboy rides off with £465,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56handed over without any second opinion, written quotation,
0:18:56 > 0:19:00any receipt or any evidence that the work has been done
0:19:00 > 0:19:03because Henry was rushed into the job.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07As Roger leaves, it's time for our producer to reveal the truth.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11First off, what did he make of our plumbers? Remember, he's in the trade.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15I thought they was great, actually. The boiler's done.
0:19:15 > 0:19:20They drained all the boilers out, because we had corrosion in the boiler and the radiators,
0:19:20 > 0:19:25so they drained all that out, they done the job, I paid them and I'm quite contented.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Good news, but let's see how he reacts
0:19:27 > 0:19:31when we tell him the work was completely unnecessary
0:19:31 > 0:19:35and that he's handed over £465 for nothing.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Well, I don't know. I'm absolutely gutted to think that.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44But I didn't know that at the time.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Everybody gets builders in, don't they?
0:19:47 > 0:19:50We take their word for it.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Of course, the radiator is fine.
0:19:52 > 0:19:57Just to make sure there are no hard feelings, here comes Roger with the cash.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59You're a nice bloke!
0:19:59 > 0:20:04If this happened again, I don't think I'd let him come in just like that.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08I would've checked IDs and one thing and another.
0:20:08 > 0:20:13There's the money back, all right? I'll keep 20 for myself!
0:20:13 > 0:20:17There you are. Cheers. Thank you. That's brilliant.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20I wouldn't have left them in the house, another thing I done wrong,
0:20:20 > 0:20:25but I thought they was a couple of good guys, fair enough.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28And I certainly wouldn't have paid the money.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- I'm really sorry, Dad. Do you still love me?- No hard feelings!
0:20:31 > 0:20:35I'm really sorry, mate. You're a good sport and I love you to bits!
0:20:35 > 0:20:37Henry was such a good sport there.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41But what should you do if you're in that situation?
0:20:42 > 0:20:45First, always get at least three quotes.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50Second, do your best to check tradesmen's credentials.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52And finally, never leave them alone.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55If Henry had stood over Roger and Luke,
0:20:55 > 0:20:58they wouldn't have got away with so much.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Now, plumbing scams are very common, but statistics show the highest number of complaints
0:21:06 > 0:21:09tend to be about dodgy roofing jobs.
0:21:09 > 0:21:14In fact, in 2009, there were more than 1,500 reported complaints.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Cowboys use allsorts of scare tactics
0:21:17 > 0:21:21to turn simple repairs into full-scale roof replacements.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24So, how convincing are these dirty tricks?
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Well, Roger's on another mission to show how easy it is to be ripped off.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35When Pauline isn't running a bowling alley in Kent,
0:21:35 > 0:21:39she's running around her house and garden in Chelmsford in Essex.
0:21:39 > 0:21:45She's invited us to send Roger round to trick her husband David, a former boxer and bouncer,
0:21:45 > 0:21:48who's now training to be a psychic medium.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53I think David does fall for some tricks sometimes. He can be a bit gullible.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57There's been a tile missing from the front of their roof for six months now
0:21:57 > 0:22:01and Dave still hasn't got round to getting it fixed.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05Remember, David has no idea that he's been set up by his wife.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10A gap in the roof is all Roger needs to spring his dirty tricks.
0:22:10 > 0:22:16I've come to Chelmsford and it's a lovely sunny day. It's ideal for being out on a roof.
0:22:16 > 0:22:21- I've got Luke. You've got a few props.- I went to a roofers merchant and they gave us these samples.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- You've got one of each colour, which is sensible.- Yes.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Now, here's an idea. I've got the magic spray here.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33This is a foam that fixes everything. If I tell him his roof is in danger of slipping off,
0:22:33 > 0:22:35then I can really push him.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38So the plan is to repair the missing tile,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41but convince David the roof is about to collapse,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44a common trick used by cowboys.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48The next trick will be to sell David an unnecessary coating of foam spray
0:22:48 > 0:22:54and, finally, convince him to have the whole roof repaired at a later date,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56hopefully at the cost of a few thousand pounds.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59Roger's having a day on the tiles.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Including labour, replacing a single roof tile
0:23:06 > 0:23:09shouldn't cost more than £40-50.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Roger doesn't trifle with small change
0:23:12 > 0:23:17and his dirty trick should bring him six times that amount in cash today.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23David's alone when our cowboys rock up at three o'clock.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27- It's a nice day for it.- Beautiful.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41- Hello there.- Hiya, mate.- Mr Hanlon? We're going to look at...
0:23:41 > 0:23:45- It's your roof, isn't it? - It's only a matter of one tile.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48- That shouldn't take a few minutes. - Can you see it, Rog?- Yes.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51I'll nick one from round the side to put in there.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54I'll put the new one in round the side so that it won't stand out.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58Then nobody will know any difference.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01He's very trusting. He hasn't asked Roger for ID.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05But to be fair, he thinks his wife, Pauline, booked a reliable builder,
0:24:05 > 0:24:06known to family.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Roger's doing all he can to gain his victim's trust,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16crucial if he's to squeeze out the most money.
0:24:16 > 0:24:22But hang on. Is our victim about to hand Roger a whole new scam idea?
0:24:22 > 0:24:27- Do us a favour...- Sorry? - Could you see if there's anywhere squirrels could get in?
0:24:27 > 0:24:30- Have you got a squirrel problem? - I think so. In the loft.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34- Really? Have you seen them in there? - No. They're always on the roof.
0:24:34 > 0:24:39- My son, who's in the front bedroom, heard scratching and dragging. - Oh, no.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42OK, I'll have a look at that, for sure.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- Watch him.- I'll watch him.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50OK, well,
0:24:50 > 0:24:54I was just going to go up there and replace that tile
0:24:54 > 0:25:00and just tell him a story about the sagging battens and so on,
0:25:00 > 0:25:04but he's just told us that he's got a squirrel problem
0:25:04 > 0:25:09and there may be somewhere up there that squirrels are getting in. So we'll have to see how it goes.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14We may be changing our tactics slightly. We'll see what we can do.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Roger had planned his dirty tricks carefully.
0:25:18 > 0:25:24Let's hope this last-minute change of strategy with squirrels doesn't backfire on him.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29First things first, Roger will slip his new, darker tile into the side section of the roof
0:25:29 > 0:25:32so that it's hidden from our street view by the chimney.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34He's not wearing a hard hat.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38It's reckless. The kind of thing a rogue might do.
0:25:38 > 0:25:45Now he has an old yellow tile to use on the front of the roof to complete his job.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51- OK, I've got the tile here.- Good. - This is the one we need.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55- If you grab that... There you go.- All right, mate.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59David's not showing too much interest in the tradesman scampering over his property.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02Roger has free reign to do what he likes.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06But David would be better to stay watching him like a hawk.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08When it comes to some rogue tradesmen,
0:26:08 > 0:26:12don't even trust them with your teacups.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16THEY LAUGH
0:26:16 > 0:26:18Oh, tea!
0:26:19 > 0:26:23- Oh, that's got sugar in it! - It's the other way round, isn't it?
0:26:23 > 0:26:25- Let's get the deck chairs out. - Shall we?
0:26:25 > 0:26:29I think we're going to have to carry deck chairs in future!
0:26:29 > 0:26:32I know you're trying to brazen it out to charge for extra time,
0:26:32 > 0:26:36but come on, guys, the roof has a hole that needs filling!
0:26:51 > 0:26:55With the jigsaw neatly finished, the roof is repaired.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Roger's almost ready to spring the first of his dirty tricks.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02But what story will he spin David?
0:27:02 > 0:27:08- We're going squirrel hunting now. It's that chimney, isn't it?- Sorry?
0:27:08 > 0:27:11- I reckon it's got to be that chimney.- Right.
0:27:11 > 0:27:16Are the rafters rotting from damp, or have the squirrels had them for breakfast?
0:27:16 > 0:27:19I'm on the edge of my seat here.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23I think what I'm going to do is,
0:27:23 > 0:27:28I'm going to say that we can fix the squirrel problem,
0:27:28 > 0:27:32and, erm, then I'll talk to him about the ridge tiles coming off
0:27:32 > 0:27:37and say we'll do all the bits and pieces altogether, er,
0:27:37 > 0:27:41and that'll be... we'll take £1,000 for that.
0:27:41 > 0:27:46But I'll get this squirrel problem out the way for about £300.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Squirrel infestation and ridge tiles?
0:27:49 > 0:27:55Roger could now be looking at £1,300 for a job he's invented from nothing.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58Time to spring the trick on the trusting David,
0:27:58 > 0:28:03probably with a load of Roger's trademark highfalutin flannel thrown in.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06David? All right.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10There's a few places round the back where it could be getting in,
0:28:10 > 0:28:14on the flat roof where it joins up to the pitched roof.
0:28:14 > 0:28:19What I could do is squirt some foam in there all the way along.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22- Have you seen that fixer foam, that expanding foam?- Yes.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24I could put that all the way along the gap.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28They can chew their way through that and they'd probably get bored with it.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31The tile wasn't too much of a problem.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33There's a bit of water got in there.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37The rest of the roof is a little bit...
0:28:37 > 0:28:42The hips look like they might blow off if you get a strong storm or something.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45I could do that, but that'd be a later date.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49If you want me to fill the back where the squirrels are coming in...
0:28:49 > 0:28:51How much is that going to cost?
0:28:51 > 0:28:55With the tile I've already done, say £350 for the lot?
0:28:55 > 0:28:59- £350?!- Yes.- You're joking?
0:28:59 > 0:29:02Watch out, Roger, he's a big lad.
0:29:03 > 0:29:08So, will David hand over the £350 for nothing?
0:29:08 > 0:29:10You are joking, mate?
0:29:10 > 0:29:14How far will Roger push him to grab that cash?
0:29:14 > 0:29:19There's cowboy builders out there, but there's also cowboy customers.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26Brilliant. I love it when the public fight back.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28Now, Roger's tricks are based on real life,
0:29:28 > 0:29:34but when you compare them to some of the genuine roofing catastrophes we've heard about,
0:29:34 > 0:29:36he seems almost restrained.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38As you watch our next story unfold,
0:29:38 > 0:29:41once again, you'll see that crime doesn't pay.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44Take a look at this.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48And this. And this.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51It's the work of roofing scammer Aaron Barnes.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54Not only is this job shockingly awful,
0:29:54 > 0:29:59it cost an eye-watering £7,810.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01Mr Barnes would always start off
0:30:01 > 0:30:06doing a small amount of work for a few hundred pounds, say,
0:30:06 > 0:30:09and then he'd always notice that roofing work was needed
0:30:09 > 0:30:11and the price would escalate.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13Before consumers knew it,
0:30:13 > 0:30:16they were agreeing to thousands of pounds of roofing work.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20Barnes operated around the Ringwood area of Dorset.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22In April 2009, he knocked at the door
0:30:22 > 0:30:27of retired engineer Paul Dickson and his wife Roberta.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31He said, "I can see you need work on your gutterings and fascia boards."
0:30:31 > 0:30:34I said, "Yes, I do.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38"But I don't take work from builders who just call at the door."
0:30:38 > 0:30:41I thought that was that, but he was very persistent.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45He said, "I'll just give you a price if you'd like."
0:30:45 > 0:30:49He gave me a price of £1,800, which was quite reasonable.
0:30:49 > 0:30:54Mr Dickson felt £1,800 to replace fascias, soffits and guttering sounded like a bargain.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58Barnes said this work would take three to four days.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00They came along, it was a very wet day,
0:31:00 > 0:31:03it rained half the day,
0:31:03 > 0:31:09but they carried on, they took all the fascia boards, the soffits off, the guttering all came down.
0:31:10 > 0:31:15An awful lot of trust is put in a business like a roofer
0:31:15 > 0:31:19because it's hard for the individual to judge for themselves
0:31:19 > 0:31:21whether or not roofing work needs doing.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25Barnes was about to severely breach that trust
0:31:25 > 0:31:28and play some really rotten tricks.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31He came to me and said,
0:31:31 > 0:31:34"You've got problems with the timber in the roof.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38"A lot of it's rotten. The verges are all crumbling away."
0:31:41 > 0:31:45Barnes told Paul some of his rafters needed replacing urgently.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48His original quote had been £1,800.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52Now Barnes quoted £7,810,
0:31:52 > 0:31:57a whopping 400 percent increase on his original estimate.
0:31:57 > 0:32:03I felt very trapped because the price had gone up so much - nearly four times the original.
0:32:03 > 0:32:08I felt over a barrel. I couldn't get other builders to give me quotes
0:32:08 > 0:32:13because he said he would leave the job if I didn't carry on.
0:32:13 > 0:32:17As Barnes and his men worked, the Dicksons grew increasingly uneasy.
0:32:17 > 0:32:22Wisely, Mr Dickson decided to keep a photographic record of the work in progress.
0:32:22 > 0:32:28After six days of work, Barnes left and the Dicksons' fears proved well founded.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30Just two days after the work was finished,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33just up there at the end of the gulley,
0:32:33 > 0:32:36water was pouring into our lounge.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40To see all the mess,
0:32:40 > 0:32:44and also to have this awful leak
0:32:44 > 0:32:47that came right through the bedroom down into the lounge,
0:32:47 > 0:32:50I was absolutely livid.
0:32:50 > 0:32:55The Dicksons were uncertain of what to do next. But it was a neighbour who brought things to a head.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59They'd reported Barnes to Trading Standards for cold calling in the area.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02Acting on complaints they'd received about Barnes,
0:33:02 > 0:33:08they sent a surveyor to investigate the Dicksons' new roof in May 2009.
0:33:08 > 0:33:13His findings turned out to be worse than first imagined.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15What our evidence showed
0:33:15 > 0:33:20was that the additional work that took the job up to £7,800
0:33:20 > 0:33:22was totally unnecessary.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25So the escalation of price and the work done
0:33:25 > 0:33:28was actually fraudulent and dishonest.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30With evidence like the surveyor's report,
0:33:30 > 0:33:33Trading Standards now initiated legal proceedings.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36Knowing he was likely to face prosecution,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Barnes returned to Mr Dickson's house.
0:33:39 > 0:33:45He did try and placate Mr Dickson and put certain things right,
0:33:45 > 0:33:47but he didn't address the main problem,
0:33:47 > 0:33:52and that was that the £6,000 of work
0:33:52 > 0:33:54that was added to the initial bill
0:33:54 > 0:33:56was for work that wasn't necessary.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00At Bournemouth Crown Court, Barnes pleaded guilty to fraud
0:34:00 > 0:34:06and was given 250 hours of community work and a 12-month suspended sentence.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08By March 2011, he was back in court,
0:34:08 > 0:34:11when a financial investigation showed he'd pocketed
0:34:11 > 0:34:16a whopping £50,000 from all that unnecessary work.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20He was ordered to pay, by the court, £17,000
0:34:20 > 0:34:23as a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
0:34:23 > 0:34:28What a result. So two long years after Barnes first called at their house,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31the Dicksons received £6,000 of their money back.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34They've certainly learned from this experience.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39Basically, I never take cold callers knocking on the door any more.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42That's a policy now.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45I check online and get quotes.
0:34:45 > 0:34:50Really go into it in great detail before I make any decisions.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54It's great to see justice being done.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Now, what about our family in Chelmsford?
0:34:57 > 0:35:00Considering the roofing tricks Roger's been playing there,
0:35:00 > 0:35:04I wonder if David Hanlon will bite back.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06- Hello there.- Hiya, mate.- Mr Hanlon?
0:35:06 > 0:35:11The initial plan was to make out that a cracked tile let in so much water
0:35:11 > 0:35:13that David's roof was about to collapse.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17Roger's replaced a tile, a job that normally costs around £50.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21Now he's angling for more than six times that to seal up the roof
0:35:21 > 0:35:23against, of all things, squirrels.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26In fact, there's nothing wrong with the roof.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30If you want me to fill the back where the squirrels are coming in...
0:35:30 > 0:35:32How much is that going to cost?
0:35:32 > 0:35:36With the tile I've already done, say £350 for the lot?
0:35:36 > 0:35:40- £350?!- Yes.- You're joking?
0:35:41 > 0:35:46Well, it's going to take us a little while to do it.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50- How much just for the tile? - Just for that one tile?
0:35:50 > 0:35:53- Well, you can call it £150 cash. - For one tile?
0:35:53 > 0:35:56£150 just to put one tile on?
0:35:56 > 0:35:58Yeah!
0:35:58 > 0:36:01Do you know how much a gallon of petrol is now?
0:36:01 > 0:36:07I'll ring my missus, because she's the one who organised all this. She should be here in a minute.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10I would've given you a quote. I've done the job now.
0:36:10 > 0:36:16- You let me go up there without - - Give me ten minutes. I'll try and get hold of her.- OK.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21Ever resourceful, let's see how the artful Roger
0:36:21 > 0:36:25digs himself out of this little setback.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27He's not biting.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31He's not very happy. I'm only charging £150. I was going to go for 300,
0:36:31 > 0:36:34so it's a bit of a shame that he's baulked on that.
0:36:34 > 0:36:39But what he didn't do, of course, is to ask me for a quote before I went up to do the job.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42He just assumed it would be reasonable.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44We'll see what we can do. Bit of leverage.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47But he's far from happy.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Mr Hanlon?
0:36:49 > 0:36:51She's on her way.
0:36:51 > 0:36:56What did you think was a reasonable figure for doing that job?
0:36:56 > 0:37:01I'd have given you £40-50. You just put a ladder up and changed a tile.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04- I risked my life to get up there. - Be real!
0:37:04 > 0:37:09- Seriously.- We risk our life every day when we drive a motor, don't we? - Yes.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11- But, you know... I mean, you could've done it.- Huh?
0:37:11 > 0:37:14- You could've got up there. - If I had a ladder, I would.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17There you are! So, where do you get a free ladder from?
0:37:17 > 0:37:23- If you hire a ladder - - I could borrow the neighbour's. - You didn't, though, did you?
0:37:23 > 0:37:26Roger's following a classic rogue tradesman technique.
0:37:26 > 0:37:31He wants his money, and gradually increases his levels of intimidation.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34How long before he tries driving David to the nearest cashpoint?
0:37:34 > 0:37:38Difficult to say, but if he's not careful, the ex-boxer may hit him
0:37:38 > 0:37:40with more than stiff words.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44We're standing here, arguing the toss, losing money.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49- We're not arguing at all. You're asking questions and I'm telling you. - OK.- My missus is coming now.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51Well, time's ticking. As far as we're concerned,
0:37:51 > 0:37:54we're losing dosh standing here talking about it.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58- OK, we'll wait for your wife. - She'll be here in five minutes.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02That's fair enough. I don't want to cause a ruck with you.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06Try to do an honest job for you and, er...
0:38:06 > 0:38:10There's cowboy builders out there, but there's also cowboy customers.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13We'll see what she says. But the time is ticking.
0:38:13 > 0:38:18It'll be another £25 before... before we've gone.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23Definitely not a happy medium.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27David's wife Pauline is parked around the corner, helping us spring this trick.
0:38:27 > 0:38:33As Roger waits for her decision about his money, Pauline receives over 20 calls from her husband,
0:38:33 > 0:38:36who's getting more and more irate.
0:38:36 > 0:38:37Finally, she picks up.
0:38:37 > 0:38:42- Hi, hun.- "Paul?"- Yes? - Where the- BLEEP- are you?
0:38:42 > 0:38:43I'll be home shortly.
0:38:43 > 0:38:48- "Where are you?"- Just coming off the A12. I should be about five minutes.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51"You'd better be because I ain't paying them."
0:38:51 > 0:38:55- All right. See you in a minute. - BOTH: Bye.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00Dave sounded like he had the hump!
0:39:02 > 0:39:06For Roger to stand a chance of collecting any money today,
0:39:06 > 0:39:10there's no choice but for Pauline to speed back and help resolve the situation.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14- I've done a lovely job for you! - Hiya.- I've put it back.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17- Thank you.- And now your husband doesn't want to pay me.
0:39:17 > 0:39:22I thought it was quite a reasonable job, you know, £150.
0:39:22 > 0:39:27We had to come out, put diesel in the van. We've got another job to go to.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30DIALOGUE BLEEPED
0:39:30 > 0:39:34Hun, the man's done the job. We've got to give him something.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37Things are not looking great for our cowboy builder.
0:39:37 > 0:39:41Has he come up against a consumer who knows the value of a job
0:39:41 > 0:39:45and won't be led astray by a cowboy?
0:39:45 > 0:39:47What do you want to give me?
0:39:47 > 0:39:52- £40.- £40?! How about 80?
0:39:52 > 0:39:56- DIALOGUE BLEEPED - All right, I'll tell you what. Er...
0:39:57 > 0:40:0175, how about that? I'll give you a discount.
0:40:01 > 0:40:06If looks could kill, Roger would be dead on the driveway.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09Today, David Hanlon has let a tricky tradesman onto his roof
0:40:09 > 0:40:13without asking for a quote or checking his ID.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16Roger's replaced a tile and dreamt up several dirty tricks
0:40:16 > 0:40:20to squirrel away £300 of David's money.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23The red mist came down for our homeowner,
0:40:23 > 0:40:26but will he finally pay up?
0:40:26 > 0:40:29If you need another apprentice, I'm your man.
0:40:29 > 0:40:34- Good man! Do you want a receipt? - No.- You don't?- My wife might.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36So upset, he doesn't even want a receipt.
0:40:36 > 0:40:41David took a tough stance against the conman and won a battle for consumer rights.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43It's not looking good for our tricky tradesman.
0:40:43 > 0:40:48£70 is just £20 more than the going rate for a tile repair,
0:40:48 > 0:40:50so it's hardly been worth his while.
0:40:50 > 0:40:55With Roger safely round the corner, it's time for our producer to pay David a visit
0:40:55 > 0:40:58and reveal the truth of the scam.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01We're doing some filming in the area,
0:41:01 > 0:41:04just asking people whether they've had tradesmen calling at all.
0:41:04 > 0:41:10It's funny you should say that, mate. There was one nearly killed on the doorstep a minute ago.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13- Right.- Yes.- Right.- A roofer.- OK.
0:41:13 > 0:41:18He moved one tile for me and he wanted £150 for doing it.
0:41:19 > 0:41:23- Did he come through you, then, this guy?- Well, yes.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27Can I have my money back, then, for the one tile he put up?
0:41:27 > 0:41:30He's coming. He's coming. Roger!
0:41:30 > 0:41:32Give us my money back, Roger.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36- How do you get up in the morning? - I just spent it.
0:41:38 > 0:41:44I'm shocked, actually, but I can see the point of it now, you know, people do get ripped off.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48And if it helps anyone, I'm glad.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52- Sorry to do that to you, mate. - That's all right. I could be your apprentice!
0:41:52 > 0:41:55- Easy money! - I could do with you as the muscle.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59If it ever happened again, I would ask for the quote first.
0:41:59 > 0:42:05And if they're pensioners or someone that is physically vulnerable,
0:42:05 > 0:42:10I would make sure I had someone with me to deal with it.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15Because they can obviously be very intimidating, can't they?
0:42:19 > 0:42:21Thanks for taking it so well, David.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25Isn't it terrific to see people trusting their instincts
0:42:25 > 0:42:27and standing their ground?
0:42:27 > 0:42:30You can rely on the majority of tradesmen being honest and hardworking.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34It's only a very few who play dirty tricks.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38If there's one things to remember - if in doubt, keep them out.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:42:44 > 0:42:49E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk