0:00:02 > 0:00:07What could be worse than when something goes wrong with our homes?
0:00:07 > 0:00:12Last year, we spent a staggering £15 billion on house repairs.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Who can tell for sure that we've not been taken for a ride?
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Do you want to go for 225?
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Today, 500 quid, if it's cash.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Probably about seven and a half grand.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Thanks to audacious secret filming, we'll demonstrate how easy it is
0:00:28 > 0:00:31to be ripped off in your own home.
0:00:31 > 0:00:36- You've been ripped off. He's not a bona-fide tradesman.- He's not?
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Have I been done?
0:00:38 > 0:00:40So, yeah, been done, maybe.
0:00:40 > 0:00:46Plus, we show the consequences of some shocking tradesman rip-offs.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50One of the worst conservatories I've seen. It needed pulling down.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52The house was a death trap.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55There's no other word for it. Conned.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Coming up on today's show,
0:00:57 > 0:01:01'our rogue Roger dives into his dirtiest trick yet,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04'as he cons the owner of this swimming pool.'
0:01:04 > 0:01:07In three years, you'd get the money back.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11'The truly shocking story of rogue roofers in Oxfordshire
0:01:11 > 0:01:15'who pocketed almost £500,000 from their elderly victims.'
0:01:15 > 0:01:18This gentleman wasn't aware
0:01:18 > 0:01:22that they'd taken that much because it was in dribs and drabs.
0:01:22 > 0:01:28'And Roger turns a dripping tap into a bucketful of tall tales
0:01:28 > 0:01:33'to trick this house-sitting teen in Buckinghamshire.'
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Let's scarper, Luke.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38These are the dirty tricks of the tradesmen.
0:01:44 > 0:01:49I confess I know little about the workings of boilers, fuse boxes
0:01:49 > 0:01:51and central heating systems.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Who does? The specialists do, and the majority do a terrific job.
0:01:55 > 0:02:01There is a small minority whose only interest is in making money at our expense.
0:02:01 > 0:02:07People from all over the country are telling us shocking stories of being ripped off by the cowboys.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12Many are helping us blow the secrets of the most commonly used tricks
0:02:12 > 0:02:16by setting up friends and family for a visit from our own tradesman.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20It's all to show you how to avoid being taken for a ride.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22So who is our tradesman?
0:02:22 > 0:02:24'Meet Roger Bisby.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26'With 40 years' experience,
0:02:26 > 0:02:32'there's little he doesn't know about the building game.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35'There's also one thing he really can't stand - conmen
0:02:35 > 0:02:38'who cash in using dirty tricks.'
0:02:39 > 0:02:44We asked Roger to change tack and go against his deeply held beliefs.
0:02:44 > 0:02:50He's going to play at being a dodgy tradesman and show us how not to get conned.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54'So we're setting up small property problems and sending Roger round
0:02:54 > 0:02:58'to show us how easy it is to be tricked into unnecessary work.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02'It's being filmed in secret, and he's working with our cameraman Luke
0:03:02 > 0:03:05'who's pretending to be Roger's apprentice.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10'We'll discover the location of their first sting in just a moment.'
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Now, there are around 25 million households in the UK,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17which could mean as many as 50 million sinks
0:03:17 > 0:03:22and therefore 100 million taps - 200 million if you include the bath.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25There's nothing worse than a dripping tap.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29Roger's about to turn a small issue like that into a much larger con,
0:03:29 > 0:03:34using nothing more than a charabanc full of tall stories.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37'Patricia Greco lives in Buckinghamshire
0:03:37 > 0:03:40'with her beloved parallette Sweet.'
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Kisses.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47'Ah! And Salvatore, her 19-year-old son.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52'Apparently, he could do with having his eyes opened to the ways of rogue tradesmen.'
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Salvie, whatever you tell him, he believes you.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59No matter what. He's very gullible.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03He did a plumbing course in college for a year.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07He doesn't know a lot about the DIY but he knows a little.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12'Let's hope Salvie is switched-on enough to see through Roger,
0:04:12 > 0:04:17'who's got tricks up his sleeves regarding their dripping tap.'
0:04:17 > 0:04:23It's more than dripping. It's turning the wrong way and it's spluttering.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27We can fix those problems with a simple service and a new washer.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31But we're going to make it into something else.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34I've got all sorts of different sized washers.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37What we want to do is stretch this out a bit.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39We'll do a bit of time wasting,
0:04:39 > 0:04:42convince him we're doing more than we are,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45and hopefully get out with £150.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49Roger will probably repair the tap in ten minutes flat.
0:04:49 > 0:04:55His main trick will be to make a mountain out of a molehill, using whatever props he can find.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58We can expect him to flannel Salvatore
0:04:58 > 0:05:04and overcharge him at least £150 for a job that's only worth about £50.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Three times the price! The scoundrel!
0:05:08 > 0:05:13'It's around 11 o'clock when Roger and Luke rock up.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15'Salvie had better watch out.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19'They seem to be in fine and fraudulent fettle.'
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Hiya. All right? The plumber.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23- Do you know anything about it?- No.
0:05:23 > 0:05:30The amount of houses we go to where people go, "I don't know what's going on!
0:05:30 > 0:05:32"Help yourself. Do what you like."
0:05:32 > 0:05:38'I don't think anyone we've met on this series has asked to see your identification,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41'so Salvie has fallen at the first hurdle.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43'I'm sure he'll keep an eye on you.
0:05:45 > 0:05:51'No. Salvie may be too interested in video gaming to pay attention.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54'Let's hope that doesn't cost him dear.'
0:05:54 > 0:05:58- Hot or cold? - RUNS TAP
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- That DOES turn on the opposite way! - CHUCKLES
0:06:02 > 0:06:05That's weird, isn't it?
0:06:07 > 0:06:10I know why. I know what's in there.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Ceramic disc, hot cartridge.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17'The taps turn in the opposite direction to the way yours or mine turn.
0:06:17 > 0:06:23'The water washers are back to front. Roger will put this right before playing any dirty tricks.'
0:06:23 > 0:06:27What I'm going to do is swap the cartridges back over,
0:06:27 > 0:06:31the way they should be, then tell him I've got to nip out for a part.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38I just need to go upstairs, mate, just to turn the hot water off.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43'Swapping the cartridges should take a few moments.
0:06:43 > 0:06:49'After that, Roger can start his money-making, time-wasting tricks.'
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Need a plug to put in the sink.
0:06:51 > 0:06:57If you don't have a plug in and you drop a screw, it's in the U-bend.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04- See that?- Yeah. - What colour's that?- Red.- Right.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Well done, mate.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- Let's see what colour this is going to be.- Blue.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15- You reckon?- Definitely. Yeah.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18# Bum-ba-bum! #
0:07:18 > 0:07:23Right, this one's knackered. This one's had it.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27'I don't believe you, Roger. I bet it's fine.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31'You're stringing this out now, admit it.'
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- I'm going to nip down to get a new cartridge, all right?- Yeah.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39This one's not in... not in pristine condition.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44'Salvatore, busy playing with his joystick, hasn't even noticed.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47'He should be watching Roger like a hawk.'
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Ha. It was even easier than I thought.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54The taps were just on the wrong way round so I've swapped the cartridges
0:07:54 > 0:07:57and that would fix the problem.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01What we're going to do is pretend we're going to get a new part.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03We've got the old part here.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07In order to make that look new, it's a bit of old brass,
0:08:07 > 0:08:13verdigris round the top, all we need is a bit of mild acid,
0:08:13 > 0:08:17something like lemon juice or vinegar, maybe even a cola drink.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21We'll pour that over and that will bring it up as good as new.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24'Roger fixed the tap in just under ten minutes.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28'Not only is he misleading Salvatore over his whereabouts,
0:08:28 > 0:08:34'he'll simply clean up the existing part and overcharge for it.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36'Where are you heading now? A DIY store?
0:08:39 > 0:08:43'That's what I call playing for time. Pick me up cod and chips, Rog!
0:08:43 > 0:08:47'There we go, acetic acid, alias chip shop vinegar,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50'strong enough to strip the beard off Dave Lee Travis
0:08:50 > 0:08:55'and put a shine on Salvatore's tarnished tap cartridge.'
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Chip shop style vinegar, the best stuff you can get.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01'Is there no end to Roger's tricks?
0:09:01 > 0:09:07'With the old cartridge smuggled in, will he pull a fast one with the boy's money?'
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Let's scarper, Luke.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13'How will Salvatore react when he realises he's been conned?'
0:09:13 > 0:09:15BLEEP
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Yeah.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Chip shop vinegar, eh? Stranger things have happened.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28No matter how outlandish their cons, you can rest assured
0:09:28 > 0:09:32that the law usually catches up with the rogues and crime doesn't pay.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36But what are the most common dirty tricks they play?
0:09:36 > 0:09:41'It mostly relates to cold calling, where a trader touts for work.'
0:09:41 > 0:09:46It's very difficult to find the difference between a cowboy builder
0:09:46 > 0:09:48and a decent reputable trader.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53That is a real problem for any of us thinking about updating our house.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58'Cold calling is as common as muck, as one consumer survey showed.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03'In 2009, a hefty 5,300 complaints were received about traders
0:10:03 > 0:10:06'who offered work on the doorstep.'
0:10:06 > 0:10:08It's vastly under-reported.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Out of every 20 people that get ripped off,
0:10:12 > 0:10:16only one person will contact Trading Standards to let us know.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19'It's estimated that cowboy builders cost the economy
0:10:19 > 0:10:23'a purse-destroying £5 billion each year.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26'So with only one in 20 consumers complaining,
0:10:26 > 0:10:31'the real figure of those conned is probably around 106,000.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35'Knowing the rogues' tricks can help to keep them at bay.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40'Here's our guide to the top five cold-calling scams.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47'Creeping in at Number Five, the glamorous world of guttering!
0:10:49 > 0:10:52'Rogues love truffling about in your mucky gutters,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55'as it's tricky to check their work.
0:10:55 > 0:11:01'83-year-old Christine Roberts from Gloucestershire was scammed exactly this way.'
0:11:01 > 0:11:06He seemed such a nice young lad that, in a way, you couldn't doubt him.
0:11:06 > 0:11:12You sort of felt like he could have been a grandson coming to see you.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16'Christine forked out £25,000 to the conman
0:11:16 > 0:11:21'who, like many rogues, seemed to have a sixth sense.'
0:11:21 > 0:11:25They're very good at knowing how much money you've got in the bank.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30Their soul aim is to bleed that account dry till every last penny's gone.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32'To prevent that from happening,
0:11:32 > 0:11:37'you should never hand over your bank account details unnecessarily.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40'Also, make sure you seek a written agreement
0:11:40 > 0:11:42'of any work due to take place.'
0:11:42 > 0:11:47Get a written contract before you accept to have building work done.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51'Getting dirty at Four,
0:11:51 > 0:11:56'it's general building work, like plastering and gardening.
0:11:56 > 0:12:02'Any little job can soon mount up to massive overcharging.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07'That's what rogues Michael Williams and Anthony Field did
0:12:07 > 0:12:09'to Bill Neale from Norfolk.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13'For shoddy work to his garden, the rogues took a shocking...
0:12:16 > 0:12:22'Bill's daughter-in-law Susan wouldn't want anyone to go through the same experience.'
0:12:22 > 0:12:26For anyone with elderly parents, just check on them,
0:12:26 > 0:12:30make sure what people they are having round their house,
0:12:30 > 0:12:32because you just really don't know.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37'Thankfully, both rogues responsible felt the full force of the law
0:12:37 > 0:12:40'and were given lengthy stints in prison.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46'Number Three, earning more than enough to keep a con artist warm,
0:12:46 > 0:12:48'it's insulation!
0:12:48 > 0:12:52'In one case in Yorkshire, 300,000 homes
0:12:52 > 0:12:55'received leaflets promising government discounts
0:12:55 > 0:12:58'on energy-saving home improvements.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00'But they'd been posted by conmen.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04'One couple took up the offer and paid cash up-front
0:13:04 > 0:13:06'to have a new conservatory built.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10'It wasn't destined to win the Best Conservatory of the Year Award.'
0:13:10 > 0:13:15They looked at the conservatory and saw the roof was sliding off.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19They were absolutely horrified.
0:13:19 > 0:13:25'The rogues behind the scam told each customer they'd receive a large percentage of their money back.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28'But it was a massive con.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31'If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.'
0:13:31 > 0:13:35I would recommend to anybody that's going to install a conservatory
0:13:35 > 0:13:39or any other home improvements, to get three quotes.
0:13:41 > 0:13:46'At Two, with 23% of complaints, it's tarmac and paving.
0:13:48 > 0:13:53'Conmen like to offer slick and smooth driveways at bargain prices.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56'Sadly, they're also likely to deliver
0:13:56 > 0:13:59'a collection of potholes, cracks and weeds.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01'Thanks to cold callers in Lancashire,
0:14:01 > 0:14:06'that's exactly what happened to Jean and Jeff Cummings.'
0:14:06 > 0:14:11He started breaking it up. They were carrying great chunks of concrete.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14They'd dug it out, and at six o'clock, they left -
0:14:14 > 0:14:17and left me the weekend like that.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21'The fraudsters used a Freephone number to look the part.
0:14:21 > 0:14:27'Please don't be fooled by Freephone numbers or any telephone trickery the tradesman may try.'
0:14:27 > 0:14:31One warning sign is if you've only got a mobile number.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Phone up that builder, make sure you get a landline from them,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36not just a mobile.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43'And at Number One, with a whopping 28% of all complaints,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45'at the top, it's roofing.'
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Cold calls, they're not a good idea.
0:14:47 > 0:14:54If someone knocks on your door saying your roof needs doing, make sure you vet them, check them out.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57'72-year-old Ray Wood from Merseyside
0:14:57 > 0:14:59'probably wishes he'd done that.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03'When two con artists called, they scampered on top of Ray's roof
0:15:03 > 0:15:06'quicker than a pair of crooked monkeys.'
0:15:08 > 0:15:12They started to throw the ridge tiles down.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14I was getting a bit worried.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17'Paul and Roberta Dixon from Dorset
0:15:17 > 0:15:20'also fell victim to roof-top scammers
0:15:20 > 0:15:24'whose shoddy work left their property exposed to the elements.'
0:15:24 > 0:15:26We'd seen all the mess.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30Also, to have this awful leak that came right through the bedroom
0:15:30 > 0:15:33down into the lounge - I was livid!
0:15:34 > 0:15:38'Thankfully, in both these cases, the law caught up with the conmen,
0:15:38 > 0:15:41'proving crime really doesn't pay.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48'They are the top five cold-calling scams.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52'Remember, it's not illegal for tradesmen to tout for work.
0:15:52 > 0:15:57'Even so, simple steps can help keep conmen away from your wallet.'
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Get someone recommended by friends and family.
0:16:00 > 0:16:06Someone's had work carried out by a trader, they've done a good job, that's the best recommendation.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Use your instinct. If you feel uncomfortable with a builder,
0:16:10 > 0:16:14don't be afraid to say, "I'm going to get someone else."
0:16:14 > 0:16:17If you're handing over thousands of pounds,
0:16:17 > 0:16:21you want to make sure that person's doing the best job possible.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32'We've an extraordinary and gripping story still to come,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35'when two Oxfordshire rogues play such dirty tricks
0:16:35 > 0:16:39'that they make off with nearly half a million pounds.'
0:16:39 > 0:16:44He believed that what they were telling him was legitimate.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48'Plus, our Roger talks a consumer into letting him fix
0:16:48 > 0:16:52'the heating pump on her swimming pool, when it isn't even broken.'
0:16:52 > 0:16:56I reckon, in three years you'd get your money back.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Hiya. All right?
0:16:58 > 0:17:03'Time to catch up with Salvatore Greco, a young chap from Buckinghamshire
0:17:03 > 0:17:08'whose mum asked him to house-sit while Roger repaired their tap.
0:17:08 > 0:17:13'The teenager is so loathe to leave the comfort of his game console
0:17:13 > 0:17:15'that Roger's walking all over him.'
0:17:15 > 0:17:19I'm going to nip down to get a new cartridge.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22'Roger had the job done in ten minutes,
0:17:22 > 0:17:27'but they're stringing out a £40 repair into a £150 one.
0:17:27 > 0:17:33'Roger's latest trick has been to collect a bottle of vinegar to spruce up the old tap cartridge.
0:17:33 > 0:17:38'It looks brand new and, of course, he can overcharge for that.'
0:17:38 > 0:17:43Chip shop style vinegar. That's the best stuff you can get.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47I've put loads in there.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51- It's brightening up nicely, isn't it?- A little bit.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56- Give it a few minutes.- I've got all the time in the world, mate!
0:17:56 > 0:17:59'It's almost an hour since they got here,
0:17:59 > 0:18:02'stretching a tap repair beyond credibility.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04'Surely, Salvatore smells a rat."
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- Needs a toothbrush.- It's not bad.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Just going to give it a bit of abrasive.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13'Come on, Salvie! He's still engrossed!
0:18:13 > 0:18:16'With Roger aiming for a massive mark-up,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19'it could soon be game over.'
0:18:19 > 0:18:23I'll clean off the verdigris, make that look shiny new.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26That's looking like a thing you'd buy out of a shop.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30These, you can pay about 40 quid for these.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Vinegar, 80p.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36It's a no-brainer, isn't it?
0:18:36 > 0:18:39'Yes, if you're a rogue, Roger.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43'For something that cost you 80p, you'll probably overcharge.'
0:18:43 > 0:18:46- Hello, mate.- Hiya.- Success.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Hot on the left, cold on the right.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55What you into? Boxing or cage fighting?
0:18:55 > 0:18:58- Both of them, really. - PHONE RINGS
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Hello?
0:19:00 > 0:19:03'Salvatore recently took a plumbing course.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07'This could have been his chance to catch Roger out.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11'Instead, his eyes are glued to his game, allowing Roger to pass off
0:19:11 > 0:19:15'the old tap part as new without needing evidence of the purchase.'
0:19:15 > 0:19:20- All working nicely now.- That's fine. - That works the way it should.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25The thing is, now you have to get used to it.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Your brain's kind of conditioned to doing it the other way.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33'He has one last trick, to overcharge for a tap repair.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37'It should have cost around £40 and taken ten minutes.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42'This job has been stretched over an hour. Roger's ready with the bill.
0:19:42 > 0:19:47'So, video kid, stop playing games and come into the real world.'
0:19:49 > 0:19:52- OK. That's good.- Yeah?
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Including the part, if I'm doing it for cash,
0:19:55 > 0:19:57I'll do it for 150, all right?
0:19:57 > 0:20:02'So, Salvatore Greco let a perfidious plumber into his home.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05'Roger fixed a dripping tap in minutes,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08'but stretched it out to make more money.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10'He passed off an old part as new,
0:20:10 > 0:20:12'using vinegar from the chippy.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16'Now he's inflating the bill by 200%.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21'That's your mummy's money, mate. Don't give it to our conman.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24'Even Sweet the parallette looks disappointed.'
0:20:24 > 0:20:28- There's 60 there. - Right, you need change. OK.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31'Come on, aren't you going to ask for a receipt?
0:20:31 > 0:20:33'This guy could be anyone.'
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Have you got a tenner?
0:20:36 > 0:20:38- I'll get it in from the van.- Yeah.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41'There's time for one last dirty trick.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43'Roger owes £10 change,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47'but Salvie won't be seeing it any time soon. Or a receipt.'
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Nick his tenner.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53'He doesn't even know Roger's name, let alone his contact details.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57'I bet our trickster can't believe he's got away with so much.'
0:20:57 > 0:21:02Let's scarper, Luke. We're not going to give him the change.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05'Now the conman has disappeared over the horizon,
0:21:05 > 0:21:09'it's time for our producer to reveal the truth to Salvatore,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12'who's probably none the wiser that Roger has even gone.'
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- Hello.- All right? - Hiya. We're from the BBC.
0:21:16 > 0:21:22We've been asking your neighbours if they've had any experiences with tradesmen.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24We've had a plumber here today.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28- What did he do?- Changed the tap. It was the wrong way round.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30- Did you get a receipt?- No.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34I think you've been scammed, unfortunately.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40I gave him £160, he was going to come back with a tenner change.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Yeah.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45'He doesn't look happy about losing £160
0:21:45 > 0:21:48'of his mum Patricia's hard-earned cash.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52'Maybe she'll give him a piece of her mind!'
0:21:52 > 0:21:54Oh, God!
0:21:54 > 0:22:00Roger charged me 150. I gave him £160 and he didn't come back with my change!
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Would you like your cash back?
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Wouldn't mind it.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10It's always handy. Here you are, mate. Count it, won't you?
0:22:10 > 0:22:13If that happened to me again, I'd advise everyone
0:22:13 > 0:22:17to ask people for their business cards and what they actually do,
0:22:17 > 0:22:22and their number or their boss's number or something like that.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24I think that's yours.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27- It wasn't mine.- No, it's not yours.
0:22:27 > 0:22:32'Patricia, leave your parallette in charge next time. Sweet.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Thanks, Salvatore and Mum for helping us out there.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39But what should he have done to avoid the con?
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Obviously, he should have checked the stranger's ID.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47Again obviously, he should have paid attention.
0:22:47 > 0:22:53Insisting on written quotes and receipts would have given him a leg to stand on to pursue the rogues.
0:22:53 > 0:22:58As it was, he had no evidence Roger had even been there.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06There are around 2,500 swimming pools built each year in the UK.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08A large number are for domestic use.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12They don't look after themselves. They need regular maintenance.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Roger's off to see a family in Kent whose swimming pool is in good nick,
0:23:16 > 0:23:21to see if he can con them for a repair they don't actually need.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26'Natalie Stern lives with her parents Carol and Paul
0:23:26 > 0:23:30'in a smart detached house in a beautiful garden.'
0:23:31 > 0:23:34We've got a swimming pool in the garden.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39We have it closed for six months, then every summer we open it back up.
0:23:39 > 0:23:45I want to teach Mum a lesson. If anyone comes to the pool she leaves them to get on with it.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49'Hoping to teach her mum to pay more attention,
0:23:49 > 0:23:55'Natalie's asked the maintenance man to pretend there's a problem with the heating system.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59'That's Roger and Luke's cue to pay Carol a visit.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03'Roger brings along a brick-in-a-box gadget.
0:24:03 > 0:24:09'He plans to persuade Carol that it's something she needs installing. How's he going to do it?'
0:24:09 > 0:24:15- What we've got, we're going to use this, a digital thermometer.- OK.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18I'm going to tell them it's not heating the pool up as it should.
0:24:18 > 0:24:23What it needs is a special bit of equipment, which I've fabricated.
0:24:23 > 0:24:28- It's heavy. There must be a lot of technology in there.- A house brick!
0:24:28 > 0:24:34We're going to seal it and say, "If you open this, the warranty's invalidated."
0:24:34 > 0:24:37They won't go snooping to find my house brick.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39I like the Japanese writing.
0:24:39 > 0:24:44That's a special message for the customer, if they translate that.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48- Where are you going to put that? - We'll just stuff it in anywhere!
0:24:48 > 0:24:54'By the way, that label translates as "This box is a fake"!
0:24:54 > 0:24:57'Let's hope Carol's Japanese is a bit rusty.'
0:24:57 > 0:24:59He'll use his digital thermometer,
0:24:59 > 0:25:03which he'll probably manipulate to show false readings.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07Then he'll flannel Carol with waffle, mainly about that gadget
0:25:07 > 0:25:11and how it'll save money on their electricity bills.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Stand by for Roger on true trickster form.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16'Carol's heat pump is working fine.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20'But a maintenance visit shouldn't cost more than
0:25:20 > 0:25:24'£40 to £50 per hour, excluding parts.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29'Roger's hoping for over £300 for the job - six times as much.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33'Roger arrives just after nine, closely followed by Luke,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36'pretending to arrive from another job.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40'He's driving our hidden cameras into position to view that pump.'
0:25:40 > 0:25:46- Did you get lost?- Yeah. - Finding the house is the thing.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50- I'll leave you to it. - Thank you.- Thanks very much.
0:25:50 > 0:25:56'Just as Natalie predicted, she leaves our tricksters to it.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59'She hasn't asked for any ID either.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03'They could be anyone rummaging around the pumping system.'
0:26:03 > 0:26:05What are we looking at, Rog?
0:26:05 > 0:26:09Oh, steady, Luke, steady. That's all live, mate.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13I'm not happy.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18'Not happy? I can't wait to see what Roger's found in there.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22'But he's not sharing his thoughts just yet.'
0:26:24 > 0:26:2621 going out.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33And it's 20 going in. It's only raising it by one degree.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Which, if you think about it, all that water...
0:26:36 > 0:26:40- It's working incredibly inefficiently, really.- Yeah.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45- Costing money! - 'What a stroke of luck!
0:26:45 > 0:26:49'Remember, there's nothing wrong with the pump.'
0:26:49 > 0:26:53I'm going to isolate it, then I'm going to call Carol out.
0:26:53 > 0:27:00'Roger's trick of faking those temperatures looks like it'll be easier than he thought.'
0:27:00 > 0:27:05- You've shut that down now? - Electricity's off.- Good.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08'The temperature trick is up and running.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10'But what is troubling Roger?'
0:27:10 > 0:27:14I know you don't know about these, but I just want to show you.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Look, all this stuff that's on here.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Can you see it's full of water?
0:27:20 > 0:27:23- That should be dry? - Yeah. That should be bone dry.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27What's happening with that, imagine in the winter, it's freezing up.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29It's just not good.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34'He's discovered water in the works that shouldn't be there,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38'unable to drain away because the outlet is blocked.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42'He'll want to clean it up and maybe even earn some extra cash.'
0:27:42 > 0:27:47You've got electronics. It's not good that it's inside the unit.
0:27:47 > 0:27:52- I'll put that drain on there and run it out. Just a bit of hosepipe.- OK.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55'Before he sorts out the real problem,
0:27:55 > 0:27:59'he's already fooling Carol into thinking her pool pump needs work.'
0:27:59 > 0:28:03The other thing is, it needs optimising.
0:28:05 > 0:28:10'He's going for the sell with all the techno-flannel he can muster.'
0:28:10 > 0:28:14What it's adding to your water, on a day like today, is one degree.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17It's probably losing heat as fast as it's bringing in.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20I can fit an optimiser to it.
0:28:20 > 0:28:26It basically just learns. It's like a computer, you know, programmer.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29'Now that does sound very clever indeed.'
0:28:29 > 0:28:33It goes into the controls and what it does, it learns what's happening.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37- Right.- And it measures the input and the output.
0:28:37 > 0:28:42Then it just adjusts the unit to work automatically on that.
0:28:42 > 0:28:48- Rather working arbitrarily... - Oh, OK. When it drops a level it kicks in?- Yeah.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50It runs it to optimum efficiency.
0:28:50 > 0:28:57There are days when it's so hot that it would be taking heat out of the pool and dropping it into there.
0:28:57 > 0:29:03'Let me get this right. On hot days, the pump takes heat out of the pool
0:29:03 > 0:29:06'and puts it into the pump? Oh, please!'
0:29:06 > 0:29:10It'll definitely improve it. I reckon, it's hard to say,
0:29:10 > 0:29:14but I reckon in three years you'd get the money back.
0:29:14 > 0:29:19'That is amazing. Especially as it's a brick-in-a-box!
0:29:19 > 0:29:22'So, will Carol fall for Roger's tricks?
0:29:22 > 0:29:24'He wants a lot of money for nothing.'
0:29:24 > 0:29:29- What do you want? 200?- Just to make it clear, I was after 325.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32'She really can't believe her ears.'
0:29:32 > 0:29:34Does that happen?
0:29:38 > 0:29:42We'll be back at Carol's in a moment but first a story from Oxfordshire
0:29:42 > 0:29:48that's shocking because of the ruthless way in which the rogues treated their victims
0:29:48 > 0:29:50and because of the money they made.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54In one case alone, almost half a million pounds.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58Even so, crime doesn't pay, and they're now behind bars.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03'Reports of conmen preying on Oxfordshire's elderly
0:30:03 > 0:30:07'have hit record levels in recent years.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09'This is the story of how two rogues,
0:30:09 > 0:30:12'Mark Shepherd and Scott Jackson,
0:30:12 > 0:30:16'swindled one victim out of hundreds of thousands of pounds.'
0:30:16 > 0:30:20I don't think we could believe it until we'd seen the bank details.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23'Over the course of 2004 and 2005,
0:30:23 > 0:30:27'Shepherd and Jackson scammed an 85-year-old person with dementia
0:30:27 > 0:30:31'out of more than £350,000.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34'Their work was worth just £30,000,
0:30:34 > 0:30:39'but this was to prove a rehearsal for a much bigger crime.'
0:30:39 > 0:30:41They'd go round parts of Oxfordshire
0:30:41 > 0:30:45with a high proportion of vulnerable people.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48They'd start with a cold call, then start with a small job.
0:30:48 > 0:30:54They would suggest extra work, then while they were doing the work they would befriend those people.
0:30:54 > 0:30:59'In September 2005, they knocked at the door of a retired 81-year-old,
0:30:59 > 0:31:02'who we'll call Mr Robbins.'
0:31:02 > 0:31:06It started with some tiles on the roof.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09Then they suggested that the roof was rotten.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14The gentleman could not go and see the work and he trusted them.
0:31:14 > 0:31:19He believed what they were telling him was legitimate.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21'All this was a pack of lies.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24'When a surveyor assessed the roofing work,
0:31:24 > 0:31:26'it was worth about £10,000.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30'Mr Robbins paid the rogues a whopping four times that amount.'
0:31:30 > 0:31:34It's a classic case where they gain the confidence
0:31:34 > 0:31:39of the vulnerable victim, escalate more and more work,
0:31:39 > 0:31:43and then take more and more money off the victim.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50'The list of jobs the pair undertook on the property is mind-boggling.
0:31:50 > 0:31:57'The sheer number of them was part of the scam to confuse Mr Robbins,
0:31:57 > 0:32:01'week after week, month after month.'
0:32:01 > 0:32:05More work was recommended, like gutterings, soffits, fascias,
0:32:05 > 0:32:10fencing, and then they set about dangerous asbestos on the garage.
0:32:10 > 0:32:15This, obviously, caused fear within the gentleman
0:32:15 > 0:32:18and he felt he had to have that work carried out.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20'Not only did they scare him,
0:32:20 > 0:32:26'the asbestos work probably didn't need doing in the first place.'
0:32:26 > 0:32:30The rogues used asbestos cos it's very expensive to get rid of.
0:32:30 > 0:32:36Often, the home owner is willing to pay that price to make sure it's got rid of properly.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39Quite often, those rogues are not licensed.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43They do not do the job properly and they cut corners.
0:32:43 > 0:32:48'After the staggering amount of jobs they'd done,
0:32:48 > 0:32:52'it's hard to believe there was anything to do on Mr Robbins' house.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55'Shepherd and Jackson weren't finished.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59'However, their days of making dodgy money were numbered,
0:32:59 > 0:33:01'thanks to their past roguery
0:33:01 > 0:33:04'and a sharp-eyed Trading Standards officer.'
0:33:04 > 0:33:08Jackson's been dealt with before by Trading Standards.
0:33:08 > 0:33:12Because we were aware of him, we kept an eye on him
0:33:12 > 0:33:16and he was seen leaving the property of the victim.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19That's when one of our officers and a police officer
0:33:19 > 0:33:24visited the victim, and that's when it all came to light.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27'The investigation assessed Mr Robbins' bank records.
0:33:27 > 0:33:32'He'd paid out a shocking amount of money to Shepherd and Jackson.'
0:33:32 > 0:33:36A statement was taken from the victim about what had happened
0:33:36 > 0:33:39and the work that was supposed to have been done.
0:33:39 > 0:33:44A surveyor was brought in to check what work had been carried out
0:33:44 > 0:33:47and what had been done to what value.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51'And what the surveyor's report said was truly shocking.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55'The real value of the work Shepherd and Jackson had done
0:33:55 > 0:33:57'was £55,000.
0:33:57 > 0:34:02'Bank records showed Mr Robbins had paid out a heart-breaking £500,000
0:34:02 > 0:34:04'over three years.
0:34:04 > 0:34:09'It's one of the biggest domestic scams ever carried out in the UK.'
0:34:09 > 0:34:14The victim wasn't aware at the time that they'd taken that much
0:34:14 > 0:34:17because it was in dribs and drabs.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21I think the reality of the amount of money he had lost
0:34:21 > 0:34:24of half a million hit home.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27'Despite the deep shock he felt, Mr Robbins could take comfort
0:34:27 > 0:34:31'in the sentences handed out to Mark Shepherd and Scott Jackson
0:34:31 > 0:34:34'in May 2010.'
0:34:34 > 0:34:39Both Shepherd and Jackson received a sentence of seven years between them
0:34:39 > 0:34:41and it sends a message out to these rogues
0:34:41 > 0:34:45that Trading Standards and the police work closely together
0:34:45 > 0:34:48to get these people before the courts.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52'An upsetting story but, please, bear these facts in mind
0:34:52 > 0:34:55'before agreeing to any trade work.'
0:34:55 > 0:34:58We always advise people, if you get a cold call,
0:34:58 > 0:35:03don't just go with the first quote, get other people in,
0:35:03 > 0:35:05get quotes from other companies
0:35:05 > 0:35:09and contact your local Trading Standards cos they've got schemes -
0:35:09 > 0:35:12in Oxfordshire it's Buy With Confidence -
0:35:12 > 0:35:15where they can give you reputable businesses
0:35:15 > 0:35:18and give you a list of those people.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20Top advice there.
0:35:20 > 0:35:26If you are thinking of using a particular tradesman, always use a written contract.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29It offers you protection if anything goes wrong.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32Now, what about our consumer in Kent?
0:35:32 > 0:35:36'Remember Carol? There's nothing wrong with her pool heating pump.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40'Roger has found water inside the pump.
0:35:40 > 0:35:45'That's a little problem, so Roger's looking for devious ways to make some real cash.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47'He's got a gadget.'
0:35:47 > 0:35:50It needs optimising.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53'It's an old brick in a plastic box.
0:35:53 > 0:35:59'He's done a lot of flannelling, but will she fall for his tricks?'
0:35:59 > 0:36:04It's hard to say. I reckon in three years you'd get your money back.
0:36:04 > 0:36:09And how much would it cost, all in all, you doing it and...?
0:36:09 > 0:36:1150 quid to do the bits and pieces.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15Say it's 250 for the unit.
0:36:16 > 0:36:21- You're looking at 325.- I'll have a chat with Paul.- See what he says.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24'So Carol's off to check with husband Paul
0:36:24 > 0:36:27'that it's OK to pay Roger 325 quid.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31'Even though there's nothing wrong with her pump,
0:36:31 > 0:36:34'apart from some spare water lying in its belly.'
0:36:34 > 0:36:39I'm going to get a sponge in there and get some of that water out.
0:36:39 > 0:36:44- You know that cup of tea you offered?- Yeah. - Have you got a coffee?
0:36:44 > 0:36:46Thank you so much.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49'Roger's really pushing his luck.
0:36:49 > 0:36:54'He's had the cheek to ask for £325, and then a cup of coffee!'
0:36:54 > 0:36:56Sponge. We need sponges.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59That's not a sponge. Are you making it up?
0:36:59 > 0:37:03If I put these in that pool, it would be empty!
0:37:03 > 0:37:06'So, while Roger waits for Carol's decision,
0:37:06 > 0:37:08'he and Luke clear out that water.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11'It's a good job they switched off the power first.'
0:37:11 > 0:37:16Look! That's ridiculous! This is inside the electrics.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20- That is so bad.- Look how much water's come out there.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24I thought you were telling me porky pies, but it does the job.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28The great thing is you don't have to tell too many lies,
0:37:28 > 0:37:31just have to embellish the truth slightly.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34'It's one of the oldest tricks going -
0:37:34 > 0:37:38'glossing up ridiculous claims with a veneer of truth
0:37:38 > 0:37:41'to make them much more believable.'
0:37:41 > 0:37:44- Where's the hole, Luke? - It's down there.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48- Just below the fan.- That's the baby.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52- So what are we going to do? - Going to get a spirit level.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55'The pump is leaning, blocking the outlet.
0:37:55 > 0:38:00'Stand it upright and the water will wash out. Bingo! More money!
0:38:00 > 0:38:04'Here's Carol with Roger's coffee and a decision about the cash.'
0:38:04 > 0:38:08- He doesn't really want to cos we're saving up for a holiday.- OK.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12But when I said that you said that it will work more efficiently
0:38:12 > 0:38:17and you'll get your money back over the next three years,
0:38:17 > 0:38:19he said, "Oh, OK, then."
0:38:19 > 0:38:22'Bang go Carol's savings to Roger,
0:38:22 > 0:38:26'who's done nothing expect sponge up some water.'
0:38:26 > 0:38:29- Where were you going on holiday? - Turkey.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32Oh, you wouldn't enjoy it.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36Spend your money on your pool pump and stay at home.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38'I wonder if she'll spend £325,
0:38:38 > 0:38:41'or has she got a few tricks of her own?'
0:38:41 > 0:38:44So what do you want, then? 200, wasn't it?
0:38:44 > 0:38:47'I like your style, Carol.
0:38:47 > 0:38:53'Carol Stern has let a bogus repairman tamper with her pool heating pump.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57'Roger's taken its temperature, flushed out some excess water
0:38:57 > 0:39:01'and has told her all the benefits of his fake money-saving gadget.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05'But will Carol agree to the work and the money Roger's charging?'
0:39:05 > 0:39:09- Just to make it clear, I was after 325 for the whole job.- Yeah.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Yeah? 325 in all.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16- Is that all right?- Yeah. - I'm sorry about your holiday.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20I'd love to do something about it but I need one too.
0:39:20 > 0:39:26'There it is. Carol's fallen for all Roger's tricks and agreed to his price.'
0:39:26 > 0:39:29She's going to go for the 325, so that's nice.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33We get that, stick that little box in there and be gone.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38'Roger has elevated dirty tricks to a high art.
0:39:38 > 0:39:43'Within 20 minutes, he has the pool pump drained, standing level
0:39:43 > 0:39:47'and then it's time to fit his heat pump optimiser, which is literally
0:39:47 > 0:39:50'a brick in a box with a wire hanging off it.'
0:39:50 > 0:39:55- It's fully waterproof. - That's a good job.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57All done.
0:39:59 > 0:40:00OK!
0:40:00 > 0:40:06Are you looking for a tarmac drive? I know a guy who can do that!
0:40:06 > 0:40:10- He's always got a bit left over. - Has he?- No! Don't touch 'em!
0:40:10 > 0:40:15- Don't worry.- I've heard some horror stories about those guys.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17'I bet you have!
0:40:17 > 0:40:21'Roger's charmed her out of £325 for practically nothing.
0:40:21 > 0:40:27'Our cowboys really cleaned up with this trick. Time to make a quick getaway.'
0:40:27 > 0:40:31- All right. Thank you very much indeed.- See you later.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41'With Roger off the premises,
0:40:41 > 0:40:47'it's time for our producer to pay Carol a visit and reveal the truth about the scam.'
0:40:51 > 0:40:55- Hello. Hi.- Sorry to bother you. - Oh! Am I on the telly?
0:40:55 > 0:40:57We're from the BBC.
0:40:57 > 0:41:03- I believe a guy called Roger came today to fix your pool.- He did.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07- Has he done any work for you? - No, he just, um...
0:41:07 > 0:41:10fitted the condenser and stuff.
0:41:10 > 0:41:15- It's very likely that you've probably been scammed by him.- Right.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18- Have you paid him much? - Yeah. A couple of hundred.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23- It's likely that he's sort of, um...done nothing.- Really?- Yeah.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27- Have you seen him go? - Yeah. He's got a silver van.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29- We've been following his number plate.- Right.
0:41:29 > 0:41:35'It's time to put Carol's mind at rest and reveal how daughter Natalie set her up.'
0:41:35 > 0:41:38I said to her, "Don't do it!"
0:41:38 > 0:41:42- You've been scammed!- It's not a nice thing to do to your mother.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44'It did sound plausible.'
0:41:44 > 0:41:47You put yourself in their hands.
0:41:47 > 0:41:53We added an optimiser box, which is a plastic box with a brick in it.
0:41:53 > 0:41:58- Then charged you a bit of money for it.- But God! Does that happen?
0:41:58 > 0:42:03Don't know how I feel, really. I don't think I've got over it yet.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05The good news is
0:42:05 > 0:42:08that you're not £325 poorer.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12And we have fixed the little problem with your heat pump.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14I think I would ask for ID now,
0:42:14 > 0:42:19'and just check that they're from a reputable company.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23'It will make me more aware in future.'
0:42:24 > 0:42:26Thanks for taking it so well, Carol.
0:42:26 > 0:42:32The vast majority of tradesmen provide a reliable service that you can rely on.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35It's only a small minority who try to con you.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37If in doubt, keep them out.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39I'll see you next time.
0:42:39 > 0:42:44'If you'd like to help us reveal how easy it is to fall for rogue tradesmen
0:42:44 > 0:42:48'by sending our trickster to friends or family,
0:42:48 > 0:42:53'you'll find all the details at:'
0:42:57 > 0:43:00Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:00 > 0:43:02E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk