0:00:02 > 0:00:04We're under pressure to make money go further,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07so what's worse than something wrong with our homes?
0:00:07 > 0:00:11Last year, we spent a staggering £15 billion on house repairs.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15But who can tell for sure that we've not been taken for a ride?
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Well, it's 475 in all.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21- 350 quid?- Yeah. - You're joking, aren't you?
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Probably about 7,500.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Thanks to audacious secret filming,
0:00:27 > 0:00:31we'll demonstrate how easy it is to be ripped off in your own home.
0:00:31 > 0:00:36- I'm afraid you've been ripped off. He's not a real tradesman.- Really?
0:00:36 > 0:00:39It's a lot of money for ten minutes' work.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42- Were we set up as well?- No!
0:00:42 > 0:00:47We show the consequences of some truly shocking tradesmen rip-offs.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51There's always cowboys in every business. I was unlucky.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Having no roof is horrific, really.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58I just couldn't believe it, I was totally devastated.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Coming up on today's show...
0:01:00 > 0:01:04Our own dirty rat Roger takes on the rodents of East London.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06But will he get away with charging a fortune
0:01:06 > 0:01:08to clear their non-existent nests?
0:01:08 > 0:01:12Just close the door slightly in case one runs.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14They might just run in there if they see the door open.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18The shocking story of an elderly Gloucestershire consumer
0:01:18 > 0:01:21relentlessly swindled out of thousands of pounds
0:01:21 > 0:01:22for shoddy guttering work.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26I must admit, he seemed such a nice young lad,
0:01:26 > 0:01:28I sort of felt like he could have been a grandson.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32And Roger pretends to play almost every trick in the book
0:01:32 > 0:01:34on an unsuspecting Hertfordshire barmaid,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37determined to con as much as possible.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40They've got broken slates here and everything.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42These are the dirty tricks of the tradesmen.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Let's be honest, most of us know very little about the trades -
0:01:51 > 0:01:53plumbing, electrics, roofing -
0:01:53 > 0:01:56so we put our trust in tradesmen and expect them to play fair.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01Of course, the vast majority do. It's a small minority who turn rogue
0:02:01 > 0:02:05and make life a misery for thousands of us each year.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09Today we're meeting people who've been ripped off by the cowboys.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12What's more, with your help, we'll show you how just easy it is
0:02:12 > 0:02:15to fall for some of the oldest tricks in the tradesmen's books.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18People have been setting up friends and relatives
0:02:18 > 0:02:20for a visit from our own tradesman.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Why? To show you how to avoid being taken to the cleaners.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26This is Roger Bisby.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31That youthful face belies four decades of hard experience.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37In that time, he's grown to detest rogue builders
0:02:37 > 0:02:41and everything they stand for, the rotters!
0:02:41 > 0:02:44But we're asking Roger to change tack just for today
0:02:44 > 0:02:47and go against his deeply-held beliefs.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52He's going to play a dodgy tradesman and show us how not to get conned.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55We've arranged some minor household problems.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Roger will be going in to fix them,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00as well as playing dirty tricks for our benefit.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02It's all being filmed in secret,
0:03:02 > 0:03:06and he's working with our cameraman, Luke, who's posing as his apprentice.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08We'll find out in just a moment
0:03:08 > 0:03:12who's on the receiving end of their first scam.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Limescale is that hard, chalky deposit that turns up in kettles.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18But it also can show up in boilers
0:03:18 > 0:03:21and in the inside of central-heating systems
0:03:21 > 0:03:22if they haven't been maintained.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Roger's got access to a bathroom in Hertfordshire,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29and he's about to tell some very tall stories about limescale
0:03:29 > 0:03:30and how to get rid of it.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35This Hertfordshire pub is run by Jay Franco,
0:03:35 > 0:03:39and he's setting up his lodger and barmaid, Hannah.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Hannah thinks we're having a local tradesman in
0:03:42 > 0:03:45to fix some plumbing works in the bathroom.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48The pub's quite old, there's lots that needs doing,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50so it's not too strange for us to have a tradesman in.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53So that's what Jay's told Hannah.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57As for Roger, his aim is to pull off a limescale con,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00but his excuse for gaining entry is to quote for a new bathroom floor
0:04:00 > 0:04:03as the existing one is in poor shape.
0:04:03 > 0:04:08Of course, once inside, Roger will turn this into a much bigger and costlier job.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10The first trick will be to tell Hannah
0:04:10 > 0:04:13he needs to check all the plumbing so he can create a problem with it,
0:04:13 > 0:04:15probably to do with the limescale,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18then he'll overcharge her for solving it,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21using whatever tools and gadgets he can find.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Remember, there's nothing wrong with the bathroom at all!
0:04:27 > 0:04:29According to Jay,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Hannah loves playing practical jokes on people at the pub,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35so I wonder how she'll respond to Roger and Luke's dirty tricks.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38It's around 9:30am when they arrive.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Shall we try the back? Let's try the back door.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Back-door man!
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Hello? Hiya, sorry.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51Sorry if we're late. Are we late? You don't know, you don't care, do you?
0:04:51 > 0:04:54You're going to show me... the loo upstairs, I think.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Hannah's not saying much.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Like many of Roger's clients,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01she's quite trusting and hasn't checked his ID.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05- It won't give her much comeback if anything goes wrong later.- Oh!
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Do you want the light on, Rog?
0:05:07 > 0:05:09- It's a bit up and down, isn't it? Can you see?- Yes.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11It's here, there and everywhere.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17Right, that's... that's interesting.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20- Does this work, this loo? - Yeah.- Does it?
0:05:20 > 0:05:23It defies gravity, it's great.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Going on a major charm offensive,
0:05:25 > 0:05:29Roger does all he can to put Hannah at her ease.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33He's probably trying to lull her into a false sense of security.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36I'd have to take all this out to... to do the floor.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38I think I'll leave the bath in
0:05:38 > 0:05:42and take the basin out, all this out.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45I'll try and level it a bit.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47It's a bumpy old floor, and no mistake.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Genuinely, as we find quite a lot,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56there is quite a bit of work to do in there,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58but I'm not going to do it.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01The floor's a bit bouncy, it could do with reinforcing.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03It's also dropped in the middle,
0:06:03 > 0:06:07so if I was to put a new floor in, I would level that through.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09The plumbing is a bit old.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12That could do with renewing before we put the floor down.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16So all in all, what I'm saying there is not exactly a lie,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18but I'm trying to get a deposit out of her.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21I'm trying to get a bit of money for now,
0:06:21 > 0:06:23and I'll probably never come back.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29You'd be surprised how often conmen will play the old deposit trick,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32pitching a plausible job, taking a few hundred upfront
0:06:32 > 0:06:35and then doing a moonlight flit.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37You've been warned, folks.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Roger soon sets to work
0:06:39 > 0:06:43on gathering measurements to quote for the new floor.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47Right, what are we going to do this by? What shall we do?
0:06:47 > 0:06:51- Shall we use a metric system or the...- Metric.- ..or the imperial?
0:06:51 > 0:06:532,470, as we say in the trade.
0:06:53 > 0:06:562,470. Let's open that window, give ourselves a bit of...
0:06:56 > 0:07:01Oh... Oh, dear, sash cords. You need some new sash cords here.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04New sash cords, eh? You don't miss a trick, do you, Roger?
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Hang on, let's do that,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09otherwise you get the old French Revolution bit.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Oh, look, they've got broken slates here and everything.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Looking for opportunities to big up the workload
0:07:15 > 0:07:17in order to charge more money
0:07:17 > 0:07:20is another popular trick with con artists.
0:07:20 > 0:07:21Loads of work!
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Hmm...
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Yeah...
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Right... OK.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37OK, he's got all the room measured for his floor quote.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Time to start working around to the dirty tricks.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42The plumbing is a real mess under there.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45If we just put the floor down on top of it,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48which is what I initially thought it was,
0:07:48 > 0:07:53then there's going to be loads of other problems coming up with it.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55So we're going to have to take this out,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58so what I'm going to do is I'm going put in a price
0:07:58 > 0:08:01for rationalising the plumbing and making it a bit better.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04If you get a problem, you have to get from underneath,
0:08:04 > 0:08:06or you have to take the floor up again.
0:08:06 > 0:08:11What an awful lot of flannel, Roger! Hannah wasn't expecting that before breakfast.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15What concerns me a little bit is this.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19You've got very little pressure on that cold water.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- This is the hot, is it? - Yeah, that's the hot.- On the left?
0:08:22 > 0:08:25That one's the hot. Why has that got such a lot of pressure?
0:08:25 > 0:08:29Do you know where your hot water is? I'm asking like you're a plumber.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Our barmaid probably knows how to change over a barrel,
0:08:32 > 0:08:36but I expect the finer points of central heating are beyond her.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38They're beyond most of us.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Let's see what Hannah makes of your dirty tricks, Roger.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46What I was going to say to you, what goes on in that hall out there?
0:08:46 > 0:08:50- Which one?- The back hall there. - Oh, it's a function room.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55- Is it? Music? - Music, parties, private parties.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58- There's a few slates missing off the roof, did you see that?- No.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02And the gutter's dropped down, so there must be a bit of vibration.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05I think it's having an effect on this plumbing.
0:09:05 > 0:09:10This plumbing...is really in quite a bad state.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13It's got...a bit of scale on it.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15So what happens, if you get vibration,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18like you could get a resonance through the pipes from the music,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20and it shakes the scale off.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23The scale sticks to the inside of the pipe,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27and then if you get vibrations, traffic noise, music noise,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30you get clogging up of the thing.
0:09:30 > 0:09:31Oh, please!
0:09:31 > 0:09:35You're suggesting that the bands who play in the function room
0:09:35 > 0:09:38are making the pipes vibrate and clog up with limescale?
0:09:38 > 0:09:42That is ridiculous! Surely Hannah won't fall for that.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44So what I would suggest,
0:09:44 > 0:09:48I put in an electronic scale-management device, which I can put in very quickly,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51and that will protect against that to a certain extent.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54We're going to have to re-plumb all this, because it's horrible.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57You're the only horrible thing in here, Roger.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00It's your penchant for pulling people's legs.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04Later, Hannah's on the receiving end of yet more fraudulent fast-talking.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Either one of those for a knockdown price.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10So do you want me to leave you these samples?
0:10:10 > 0:10:12- You can do.- You couldn't care less, could you, really?
0:10:12 > 0:10:16How will she react when she realises she's been conned?
0:10:16 > 0:10:18How do you feel about that?
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Roger's antics sometimes seem hard to believe,
0:10:26 > 0:10:30but they're not as devious as the tricks played by real rogue tradesmen.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33It's bad enough if a stranger cold-calls at your door
0:10:33 > 0:10:34and tries to rip you off.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38But imagine being ripped off by someone you've known for years.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43But that's just what happened to 83-year-old Christine Roberts.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47The knock on her door came from one of the Evans family.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50She'd known them locally for ten years.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52When they started coming back for more,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55that's when I really got caught out.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59Various members of the Evans family targeted elderly victims
0:10:59 > 0:11:02all over Gloucestershire with large savings.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05They'd turn up many times in their quest for cash.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09The work that these men would carry out on people's properties
0:11:09 > 0:11:15tended to be roofing, guttering, or fascia work.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18The type of work that would be very difficult to be checked
0:11:18 > 0:11:19by someone of limited mobility.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23When they called at Christine's door in August 2008,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26offering a gutter clear-out, she was delighted.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29They were like old friends.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33I've known these people for quite a few years,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36in fact must have been ten... Ten years or more.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40And they used to come and do odd jobs and...
0:11:40 > 0:11:44Well, we got on quite well with them, really, to that extent.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Over the next two months, the family exploited this shared past
0:11:48 > 0:11:51as a way of scamming Christine.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55When they came, they said would I like the guttering cleaned out?
0:11:55 > 0:11:59I said, "Yes, fair enough, that would be a good thing done."
0:11:59 > 0:12:01I had to take them at their word,
0:12:01 > 0:12:05cos I didn't know whether there was anything wrong up there or not.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10Cleaning out a blocked gutter shouldn't cost more than £50 to £80.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14But the Evans' had far higher sums in mind for the bill.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Gross overcharging was their first dirty trick.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22To charge Mrs Roberts £1,000 for an hour's work on some guttering
0:12:22 > 0:12:25clearly isn't a fair price in anyone's eyes.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Unfortunately Mrs Roberts is a trusting person and she did pay that.
0:12:29 > 0:12:35£1,000 for an hour's work to clean some gutters - that's outrageous!
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Unfortunately, for Christine, the rogues were soon back
0:12:37 > 0:12:40and brought a very different dirty trick with them.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45Well, about a week later, they came back and said they hadn't charged me
0:12:45 > 0:12:53for VAT and that I had to pay them a couple of thousand, I think, then.
0:12:53 > 0:12:54VAT, my foot!
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Claiming not to have charged VAT
0:12:56 > 0:13:00and then returning to collect it is a classic conman trick.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04The Evans' gang first charged Christine £1,000 for cleaning the gutters.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Now they were charging her an extra 2,000 on top,
0:13:07 > 0:13:09saying it was all for VAT.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14So let's be clear - in their warped world, the rate of VAT is 200%?!
0:13:14 > 0:13:18But from now on they used the VAT man in a very different way
0:13:18 > 0:13:22and took their scam on to a totally different financial level.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Mrs Roberts was visited several times during a two-month period.
0:13:26 > 0:13:31Each time, Shannon Evans would claim more money was owed for VAT
0:13:31 > 0:13:35and that he needed her assistance in order to pay that money off.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37He assured her that he would pay the money back
0:13:37 > 0:13:40and Mrs Roberts trusted and believed that he would.
0:13:40 > 0:13:41As Christine had known Shannon
0:13:41 > 0:13:44since he was ten years old, you can see why she would.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47But each time he visited, the charming Shannon was taking away
0:13:47 > 0:13:50cheques for hundreds, even thousands of pounds.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53I must admit, he seemed such a nice young lad
0:13:53 > 0:13:57that you couldn't... In a way, you couldn't doubt him.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01You sort of felt like he could have been like a grandson
0:14:01 > 0:14:04coming in to see you, that's how I felt at the time.
0:14:04 > 0:14:09But hopefully a grandson wouldn't have done what he was doing.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Shannon Evans was a charming character. He was well-spoken.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15He came across as a likeable person.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19It's understandable that he would ingratiate himself with people.
0:14:19 > 0:14:24But by October 2008, Christine was growing worried about the money
0:14:24 > 0:14:25she was paying to Evans.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29When she told a friend about what was happening, they smelt a rat
0:14:29 > 0:14:30and contacted the police.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33It's quite usual that these sort of offences
0:14:33 > 0:14:35are reported by third parties.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40Unfortunately, the victims of this type of crime may be in denial
0:14:40 > 0:14:44about what's happening to them, or they may not recognise
0:14:44 > 0:14:48that they're being victimised in this way.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Thankfully, the police were able to take swift measures
0:14:52 > 0:14:56to round up the rogues, using a variety of methods.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58We identified the gang through telephone numbers
0:14:58 > 0:15:01and other forensic means, fingerprints.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06But identification procedures were also used in Mrs Roberts' case
0:15:06 > 0:15:10and she picked out the suspect, Shannon, and Buddy Evans.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14The police now had enough evidence to arrest Shannon Evans
0:15:14 > 0:15:15in November 2008.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19It was only then the shocking scale of the gang's crimes came to light.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23The police linked them to eleven elderly victims,
0:15:23 > 0:15:28who had paid for unnecessary, or shoddy, work between 2003 and 2008.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32They scammed a 94-year-old widow out of £68,000.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37They defrauded £39,700 from an 88-year-old.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42From Christine, they took a total of £25,000.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46In the region of around £200,000 was taken from the victims.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50As for where the money went after it was taken,
0:15:50 > 0:15:54I believe it funded a lifestyle for the suspects.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59Rather than doing work, as most people normally would,
0:15:59 > 0:16:01this was their livelihood.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06In September 2010, the gang all admitted conspiracy to defraud
0:16:06 > 0:16:10at Bristol Crown Court and received a total of 19 years in prison.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13The head of the crime family, David Evans,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16received six years and four months, whilst his son, Shannon,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19was locked away for three years and seven months.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23Since the sentencing and that, and they've been put in jail,
0:16:23 > 0:16:28I sort of feel now that I am more relieved
0:16:28 > 0:16:33and I can let things go on now and I must carry on with life.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36It's no good keep looking back and saying what I should have done
0:16:36 > 0:16:38and what I shouldn't have done.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40It's just learning from my mistakes.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44My advice to anyone considering home improvements would be
0:16:44 > 0:16:46not to deal with anyone calling door-to-door.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48If you need to have work done,
0:16:48 > 0:16:52there are many accredited, registered tradespeople,
0:16:52 > 0:16:59who can be contacted via Age Concern or through relevant trade bodies.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Shocking stuff. And we've another extraordinary story later,
0:17:10 > 0:17:12as rogues target hundreds of consumers in Yorkshire
0:17:12 > 0:17:17and leave one retired couple with a collapsing conservatory.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20I looked at the conservatory and saw the roof was sliding off.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24Plus, in our quest to show you how NOT to be ripped off,
0:17:24 > 0:17:28Roger plays more devious tricks on a consumer in East London.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Honestly, I have been into houses where they've had them
0:17:31 > 0:17:33come up through the U-bend.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Hello?
0:17:35 > 0:17:37But first, time to catch up with Hannah Maloney,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39a barmaid at a Hertfordshire pub.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Her landlord, Jay, set her up
0:17:41 > 0:17:44and Roger came to quote for a new bathroom floor.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Roger's trying to make her think the bathroom pipes are choked
0:17:47 > 0:17:51with limescale, shaken loose by vibrations from the function room downstairs.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Scale sticks to the inside of the pipe
0:17:54 > 0:17:57and then you get vibrations, traffic noise,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01music noise and it breaks up, so you get clogging up of the thing.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04He is telling Hannah he can fix a specialist gadget to clear all
0:18:04 > 0:18:06the limescale problem.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09In due course, he'll probably charge her way over the odds for it.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11But first thing's first,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13there is the new floor on the uneven boards to consider.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17This floor, when you watch a fat boy walk over it here, look,
0:18:17 > 0:18:19watch him go over there, you can see it move.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22It's bouncing. Don't bounce too much, Luke.
0:18:22 > 0:18:23I don't want the ceiling to come down.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27- You can see it flexing there.- I know it moves.- That's over the bump.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Does it move when you walk across it, cos you're very light?
0:18:30 > 0:18:32I shouldn't imagine it does.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35But he is like, he's the equivalent of two people, really, isn't he?
0:18:35 > 0:18:37He's a nice person to work for(!)
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Yeah, not a lot of bromance going on here!
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Hannah wants to hear is your quote for the new floorboard,
0:18:42 > 0:18:44so cut to the chase, guys.
0:18:44 > 0:18:50What I have got here is a couple of samples of flooring, yeah?
0:18:50 > 0:18:57We can do this either one of those, or that one, for a knockdown price.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59So do you want me to leave you these samples?
0:18:59 > 0:19:03- You can do.- You don't mind. Couldn't care less, could you, really?
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Offering something too good to be true at a knockdown price,
0:19:06 > 0:19:08as long as you agree to get it done today,
0:19:08 > 0:19:12is a classic conman's line. Don't fall for it, Hannah.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17That gadget, I've really got to put that electronic scale device on there now.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21If we charge you just to put that scale device on now,
0:19:21 > 0:19:26250 quid for that, yeah? And we fit that now.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30And then we come back and give you a quote to do the bigger job,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32because it's more than I thought.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Hannah barely has a chance to get two words out
0:19:34 > 0:19:38before Roger collects his limescale-busting gadget from the van.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42He must think he can just bulldoze her into accepting it.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Reincarnation of Oliver Cromwell!
0:19:46 > 0:19:50Yes, even Luke's shocked by Roger's ruthless behaviour.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53What I'm doing here, eleven times around the pipe, yeah?
0:19:53 > 0:19:57- Yeah.- That's it, eleven times, OK? No more, no less.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02And what it does, when I plug it in to the electrics, yeah,
0:20:02 > 0:20:07it sends a signal, a radio signal around the pipes.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Now, there are gadgets on the market to treat limescale.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14The con here is that there is no limescale!
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Roger's taking the truth about a process
0:20:16 > 0:20:19and mashing it up with lies about the location.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20You rat-bag!
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Right, couple of cable ties, my little friend.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28I call you my little friend, even though you're quite big!
0:20:28 > 0:20:29I'm not big.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33No, you're not. I didn't say you were big, I said you were QUITE big.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35I'm sure Luke doesn't deserve this, Roger.
0:20:35 > 0:20:36He's doing his best.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I hope this isn't the end of a beautiful friendship.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44Isn't it about time you showed Hannah your treatment for fake limescale?
0:20:44 > 0:20:48OK, so there it is.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Yeah? Magic device.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Electronics, going through the mains pipe here,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56and it's got a little wrap around the wire
0:20:56 > 0:21:00- and that just puts electrical signal through the pipe.- Did he say magic?
0:21:00 > 0:21:03I can't tell if Hannah's falling for this or not.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05She just looks stunned. And he's not finished yet.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09There's a really, really tall story heading her way.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12You know when you've got snowflakes,
0:21:12 > 0:21:15if you see a snowflake under a magnifying glass,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17they're all different shapes, aren't they?
0:21:17 > 0:21:21What they do, snowflakes, is they all knit together, yeah,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23and that's what 'scale's like.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26What this thing does, it puts an electronic signal through them
0:21:26 > 0:21:30and it makes the snowflakes go like needles.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Are you keeping up with all this, Hannah(?)
0:21:32 > 0:21:35They go straight through the system and out.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39And as they go through, they reduce the 'scale on the pipes,
0:21:39 > 0:21:43so in about two or three years' time,
0:21:43 > 0:21:46all the scale on the pipework goes, and also on the boiler,
0:21:46 > 0:21:50which is important, cos otherwise you might have to have a new boiler.
0:21:50 > 0:21:51Ladies and gentlemen,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54that was from the Bumper Book Of Tradesman's Codswallop.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Poor Hannah wasn't expecting a fairytale,
0:21:57 > 0:22:00she was just expecting you to report back on the bathroom floor.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03We'll give you a quote for this. Can I interest you in this flooring?
0:22:03 > 0:22:06- Erm...- You want a bit of this? - Not my decision.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08All right, I'll leave that with you,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11and we'll just charge you for the scale device today, yeah?
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Then we'll come back and do the rest of it.
0:22:14 > 0:22:19Today, Hannah Maloney's let a fraudulent flooring contractor
0:22:19 > 0:22:21into her boss's bathroom.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Roger has measured up, to deliver a quote,
0:22:23 > 0:22:27but, having gained access, he's invented unnecessary extra work
0:22:27 > 0:22:30and installed gadgets to tackle problems which don't exist,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33all under her very nose.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35So will she pay Roger for his work today?
0:22:36 > 0:22:42Right, so that's 250 quid, plus the call-out of £75, yeah? All right?
0:22:42 > 0:22:46- Can you do that? Can you add that up? You're a barmaid, you must be able to.- Yeah.- Thank you.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50I can tell you what it is, £325 for wrapping some plastic cable
0:22:50 > 0:22:54around a pipe in the airing cupboard. You must be joking!
0:22:54 > 0:22:56No wonder you've got that smile on your face.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59Have you given me that money in a brown envelope? Fantastic.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03I love that. I love the old brown envelope bit.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08Oh, Hannah! £325 handed over without seeing a written quote
0:23:08 > 0:23:10or even the tradesman's ID.
0:23:10 > 0:23:15Not that I don't trust you, Hannah, but I'm just going to check it, cos that protects everyone.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Brilliant. That's lovely. Thank you very much indeed.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32I'll leave those samples with you, all right?
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Roger's now about to disappear with the boss's cash
0:23:35 > 0:23:37and leave Hannah to face the music.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46With Roger out of sight,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49it's time for our producer to let her know the truth
0:23:49 > 0:23:50behind his dirty tricks.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Hello, sorry to bother you.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01We're from the BBC. I wondered if I could ask you a couple of questions?
0:24:01 > 0:24:05It's about builders, plumbers, electricians.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09I've had some work done this morning.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10This morning?
0:24:10 > 0:24:13What did you have done, do you mind telling me?
0:24:13 > 0:24:18He installed some sort of, I'm not sure exactly what it was.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Um, I think it's to, um...
0:24:23 > 0:24:28There was, um, limescale in the pipes
0:24:28 > 0:24:33and this little electronic device that, sort of, sorts it out.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36- Did he charge you for the job he did?- Yeah.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40Do you mind me asking how much?
0:24:40 > 0:24:43£250 and a £75 call-out fee.
0:24:43 > 0:24:48I'm afraid to tell you that I think you've paid £250
0:24:48 > 0:24:51- and £75 for not much work at all. - OK.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58- How do you feel about that? - Quite annoyed.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Well, she's taking it very calmly,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05so it's time for Roger to return the cash with Hannah's boss Jay
0:25:05 > 0:25:09and his friend Colin on hand to help.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12I'm afraid to tell you you've been set up.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14You've been set up by your boss.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21All right? That bit for Luke.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24Always a little drink for Luke.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Hang on.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Hannah was a terrific sport there, but what should she have done
0:25:32 > 0:25:35and what should you do in a similar situation?
0:25:36 > 0:25:41First, keep a close eye on any tradesmen who visit your home
0:25:41 > 0:25:44or business, so they can't plot any dirty tricks.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Second, always get three written quotes before accepting any work.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Don't allow yourself to be talked into jobs on the spot.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Finally, if you suspect anything fishy, call for help.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58You can also try contacting Trading Standards for advice.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06Sadly, the days when most local authorities provided a rodent control service for free
0:26:06 > 0:26:08seem to be a thing of the past,
0:26:08 > 0:26:12so more and more consumers are relying on private pest controllers.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Of course, most of them are legitimate and hard-working,
0:26:15 > 0:26:19but, as in many trades, there are some dirty tricksters out there -
0:26:19 > 0:26:20and there's Roger.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Mum-of-two Claire Steele lives in East London.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28Her aunt Doreen is a feisty lady and Claire's asking her to house-sit
0:26:28 > 0:26:31while our tricky tradesman pays a visit.
0:26:31 > 0:26:37My Auntie Doreen, she's outgoing, she's funny and...
0:26:37 > 0:26:40she's just hilarious, she just makes everybody laugh.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46Claire's telling Doreen that there's a rat problem in her flat and garden.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48If you and I suspected problem rodents,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51we could contact our local environmental health team
0:26:51 > 0:26:54for advice on the best way forward.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57But Doreen's due a visit from rat-catchers Roger and Luke.
0:26:59 > 0:27:04Today is all about Roger Attempting Tricks, or RAT, for short.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07First, he'll check for genuine signs of rodents,
0:27:07 > 0:27:09and once he's sure the coast is clear,
0:27:09 > 0:27:11he'll fake a rats' nest, using twigs.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13Then he'll pretend to get rid of the nest,
0:27:13 > 0:27:18and to be sure they stay away, he'll sell Doreen a sonic rat repellent.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20And, of course, he'll massively overcharge.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24To be honest, the only rat in Doreen's manor today is Roger himself.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Pest controllers can charge £50 to £75 for call-outs,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32but Roger's aiming to pocket at least £200.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36That's a hefty profit on the going rate.
0:27:36 > 0:27:41It's just before 10am when our boys arrive.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46Hello. Good morning.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51- You come for the rats?- We've come for the rats! We are the rats! Ha-ha!
0:27:51 > 0:27:54- Are we late?- No, you're all right. - I didn't know if we were late.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56- No, you're all right. - It's horrible out there.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Doreen may be expecting them, but they could still be anybody.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02She ought to have rat-ified their identity,
0:28:02 > 0:28:05instead of letting them in unchecked.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08- Can I have a little tour? Is that all right? - Yeah, upstairs.
0:28:08 > 0:28:13- I just want to know my way around. - Go ahead, Roger. Make yourself at home!
0:28:13 > 0:28:16- I'm just looking for points of entry, that's my point. Doreen?- Yeah.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18What's going on with this loo at the back?
0:28:18 > 0:28:22It looks to me like it's been damaged at some point here.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27- It's all got cellophane around it. - Is that where they're coming...?
0:28:27 > 0:28:30They will always go for light. They will never swim underwater
0:28:30 > 0:28:33- unless they can see daylight. - All right.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36If they can see daylight, they'll go underwater.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40Because it's clear, the rats in the drain can see daylight.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Is he making this up,
0:28:42 > 0:28:44or is he putting the frighteners on poor Aunt Doreen?
0:28:44 > 0:28:48- Watch your step, Roger. - Honestly, I've been into houses
0:28:48 > 0:28:51where they've had them come up through the U-bend.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53Luke, what does that look like to you?
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Does that look irregular around there, like a bit of chewing?
0:28:56 > 0:28:57- Definitely.- Is it?
0:28:57 > 0:29:03Hmm, it looks like he's convinced Doreen the downstairs loo may have had a rat visit in the past.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06I'm just going to open this lid. Hang on. Let's have a quick look.
0:29:06 > 0:29:11- I've been on the toilet today! - No, we're all right. There's nothing there.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20Well, what a jolly lady she is.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24We've had a look round. We've already found some good evidence of rats,
0:29:24 > 0:29:28so all we've got to do is plant a few further bits of evidence
0:29:28 > 0:29:30and then we can show her,
0:29:30 > 0:29:33and hopefully, she'll believe that there are rats there.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36Roger needs to strengthen his case
0:29:36 > 0:29:38by planting that fake evidence in the back garden.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41He's got a bag full of paper, twigs and fur,
0:29:41 > 0:29:44which will come in very handy.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48Now I've got to carry that in without being seen.
0:29:49 > 0:29:50Well done, Roger.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54Where's the best place for you to put that fake rats' nest?
0:29:54 > 0:29:57This is where they love it, through here.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01Look at that.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03Looks like he's found the perfect spot.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05See down there?
0:30:05 > 0:30:07With the location chosen for the fake nest,
0:30:07 > 0:30:11the next job is to raid his bag of twigs and newspaper
0:30:11 > 0:30:14to dress the nest and give it a lived-in look.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17That's the sort of thing you get in rats.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21HE COUGHS It's horrible.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24The stench coming from in there.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29So, will Aunt Doreen fall for his first dirty trick?
0:30:29 > 0:30:33Do you want to come out and find this big rats' nest that we've found?
0:30:33 > 0:30:35Do you want to come out and look at this big rats' nest?
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Understandably, Doreen isn't keen to step too far outside.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42Well, would you step into a garden that was supposedly full of rats?
0:30:42 > 0:30:45- Come and have a look. Can you see out the back window?- I'm not coming out.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47All right. If you can see out the window,
0:30:47 > 0:30:50I'll show you where it is. And you can see it.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52- All right.- It's actually a big hollow under there,
0:30:52 > 0:30:55and we've found where they come in and out.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59Looks like she might have fallen for the first trick without him even needing to fake the nest.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01With so many tricks still to play,
0:31:01 > 0:31:05will Doreen fall for Roger's outrageous rip-off?
0:31:05 > 0:31:08- How much is it? - £215. The meter's ticking.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12And how will she react when finds out she's been conned?
0:31:12 > 0:31:13Oh, I'm going to kill you!
0:31:19 > 0:31:22If there really were dirty rats in that garden,
0:31:22 > 0:31:24they'd still look angelic compared to Roger.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27He's doing a great job of showing us how cunning the rogues can be,
0:31:27 > 0:31:29which is just the word I'd use
0:31:29 > 0:31:31to describe the tricky pair in our next story.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34But thankfully, they got their just desserts.
0:31:35 > 0:31:40From afar, this may seem like just another conservatory. But it's not.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42Take a closer look.
0:31:42 > 0:31:43It was coming away from the walls,
0:31:43 > 0:31:46and there was water coming through the conservatory.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49What's more, the roof's falling off.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53It wasn't worth three halfpence, never mind thousands of pounds.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57This shocking work cost £5,700.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02This is the story of how this conservatory was built,
0:32:02 > 0:32:05why it fell apart and the two rogues who were behind it,
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Dennis Price and John Smith.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11In the summer of 2008,
0:32:11 > 0:32:15300,000 homes throughout South Yorkshire received leaflets.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19Sent by Price and Smith, the leaflets used various company names
0:32:19 > 0:32:22and offered a variety of home improvements.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25They promised the Earth, but in the end, they delivered only misery.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30In some cases, they didn't do the work at all.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32In other cases, the work was of poor quality.
0:32:32 > 0:32:36The elderly customers in our story wish to remain anonymous,
0:32:36 > 0:32:38so we'll call them Mary and Bill.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42After they received a leaflet, they had some guttering work done.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45It's one of the oldest tricks in the book for a rogue
0:32:45 > 0:32:47to do a small job, gain some trust
0:32:47 > 0:32:50and slam you for thousands on the next job.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53This is exactly what happened here. Happy with the guttering,
0:32:53 > 0:32:57Mary said she'd be interested in a new conservatory.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59It affected their life immensely
0:32:59 > 0:33:03because the lady was partially blind, she wanted a conservatory
0:33:03 > 0:33:07to sit in the garden, to relax with her partner,
0:33:07 > 0:33:08and it just didn't happen.
0:33:08 > 0:33:13Price and Smith told the couple they'd be eligible for a special
0:33:13 > 0:33:16government grant, enabling them to claim back
0:33:16 > 0:33:17up to 40% of the build.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21It was to draw in consumers into a scam,
0:33:21 > 0:33:24and that's exactly what it was - a scam.
0:33:24 > 0:33:25There was no government grants.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Unfortunately for Mary and Bill, they'd been sucked into
0:33:28 > 0:33:32the rogues' tall tales and agreed to the job they'd been quoted,
0:33:32 > 0:33:35which would cost £5,700.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38When it was finished, all seemed well, so they paid up
0:33:38 > 0:33:40and went on holiday.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43But when they returned, they were in for a shock.
0:33:43 > 0:33:48They looked at the conservatory and they saw the roof was sliding off.
0:33:49 > 0:33:54They were absolutely horrified and contacted Smith and Price,
0:33:54 > 0:33:55but they got no response whatsoever.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59We all know conmen will go AWOL once they've got your dosh,
0:33:59 > 0:34:03and that's what happened here. But Mary wouldn't give up.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05She called South Yorkshire Trading Standards,
0:34:05 > 0:34:07who sent their own surveyor to look at the job.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09I was asked to say what was wrong
0:34:09 > 0:34:13and honestly, it was difficult to find anything that was right.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17There were gaps everywhere and the wind was just whistling in.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20The work was so poor that the trim was put up with
0:34:20 > 0:34:23double-sided Sellotape.
0:34:23 > 0:34:28It was just in poor condition, it was just bad quality workmanship.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31My conclusion was it was one of the worst conservatories I'd ever seen.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35It was put up by idiots. It needed pulling down and starting again.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37And that's what happened.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41A new conservatory cost Bill and Mary another £12,000.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45The surveyor's evidence helped build the case against Price and Smith.
0:34:45 > 0:34:50More details came from the financial paper trail they left behind.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52They used to cash the cheques in the cheque shops
0:34:52 > 0:34:58around the South Yorkshire area, and in total, they cashed over £100,000.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02£100,000! Unbelievable.
0:35:02 > 0:35:07I find it hard to believe how so-called builders can be
0:35:07 > 0:35:12so ruthless in taking thousands and thousands of pounds off people
0:35:12 > 0:35:16for a job that doesn't cost them
0:35:16 > 0:35:19anything except a bit of time and a few quid in materials.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21You're not wrong, Keith.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Thankfully, though, Sue's net was closing in on the rogues.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27We obtained the cheques from the cheque shops
0:35:27 > 0:35:30and then we linked them back to Smith and Price.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33And they had photographic evidence
0:35:33 > 0:35:35of Price that confirmed that that was him.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40They had identified their men and Price and Smith were arrested.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44In September 2010, they pleaded guilty to fraud.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46They were ordered do 150 hours' unpaid work
0:35:46 > 0:35:50and pay £2,060 in compensation.
0:35:50 > 0:35:55For Mary and Bill, the whole sorry experience
0:35:55 > 0:35:57has had repercussions to this very day.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01They've been really affected by it, really distressed,
0:36:01 > 0:36:06won't open the door to anybody. And not trusting to anyone.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Thankfully, there are easy steps to take
0:36:09 > 0:36:13to make sure you don't fall foul of fraudsters.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18I would recommend to anybody that's going to install a conservatory
0:36:18 > 0:36:22or any other home improvements to get three quotes.
0:36:22 > 0:36:27Also, look to see if those traders are a member of any association
0:36:27 > 0:36:31and get three references, and even go and look at their work.
0:36:34 > 0:36:35Excellent advice there.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39It's also best to use a written contract with tradesmen,
0:36:39 > 0:36:42as it will offer you protection if anything does go wrong
0:36:42 > 0:36:43and it'll give a paper trail
0:36:43 > 0:36:46for organisations like Trading Standards to follow up.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50Now, what about Doreen in East London?
0:36:50 > 0:36:55Roger's played one trick already - convincing her she's got rats.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59I've been to houses where they've had them come up through the U-bend.
0:36:59 > 0:37:00And created a fake nest to prove it.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04That's the sort of thing you get in rats.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08Now, he's about to rid Doreen of her rodents by destroying the lair.
0:37:08 > 0:37:13And he's got some sonic rat repellents to overcharge for, too.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16He is looking to make £300 today, for virtually nothing.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18See under there?
0:37:18 > 0:37:20That's a big hollow.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23That hole at the back there, that's where they come in and out.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25Is it?
0:37:25 > 0:37:27All this area under here, if we dug that up,
0:37:27 > 0:37:29we'd probably unleash loads of them.
0:37:29 > 0:37:34Poor Doreen. A conman's tall stories can be very convincing.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38Just close the door slightly, to keep... in case one runs.
0:37:38 > 0:37:39They're all going to run
0:37:39 > 0:37:43and they might run in there if they see the door open. All right? OK.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46By scaring her back into the house where she can't see what he's up to,
0:37:46 > 0:37:49he's made it easy to complete trick two.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56Of course, that isn't the right way to get rid of a rat's nest.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58But that doesn't worry this dodgy tradesman. Why?
0:37:58 > 0:38:00Because there are no rats.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04Did you see that? Yeah, there it is. Got it.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07It's a good job she's not watching you, Roger.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11Imaginary rats banished, it's time to sell Doreen
0:38:11 > 0:38:14that sonic repellent to keep them away for good.
0:38:14 > 0:38:19What we'll do, all we'll do now is I have an electronic device
0:38:19 > 0:38:21and we plug it in inside and what it does
0:38:21 > 0:38:24is it sends an ultrasonic signal around the wiring in your house
0:38:24 > 0:38:26and the rats don't like it.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28When they hear that signal, they'll go.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31The reason I'll give you that... Well, I'll not GIVE it to you,
0:38:31 > 0:38:33I'll to sell it to you for a lot of money!
0:38:33 > 0:38:35The reason is we've made them homeless...
0:38:35 > 0:38:37So they've got to go somewhere.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40So what I don't want them to do is go in your house.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42God, she'll go mad!
0:38:42 > 0:38:45The thoughts of rats running around inside the house
0:38:45 > 0:38:46is too much for Doreen.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49- So that does what? - That sends out an ultrasonic sound.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53It also puts a signal through the wiring,
0:38:53 > 0:38:55all the way around the house, all right?
0:38:55 > 0:39:00So wherever that wiring goes, that's sending a little signal through that wiring.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04- It's ultrasonic.- We won't get no rats?- It'll just scare them off.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06Roger's playing up these scare tactics
0:39:06 > 0:39:09about rats running around the house.
0:39:09 > 0:39:10But it all helps.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16We're about to introduce that subject of money.
0:39:16 > 0:39:21I know from experience, this is when it all turns nasty.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24Well, Roger, considering you've done nothing
0:39:24 > 0:39:27but plant some bits of debris into her niece's garden
0:39:27 > 0:39:28and poke about in a hole,
0:39:28 > 0:39:31Doreen shouldn't be charged anything at all.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33So we'll flog you that, OK?
0:39:33 > 0:39:35- Yeah. How much is that? - That's 35 quid for that.- Right.
0:39:35 > 0:39:39But that sonic charger only cost you 13 quid.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43I can't wait to see what Roger charges for clearing the nest.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45£180 for that.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47Bringing the total to?
0:39:47 > 0:39:50- 215.- 215. Hold on.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Good, Doreen, take your time here.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57Are you about to question Roger's rampant overcharging?
0:39:57 > 0:39:59- How much?- Sorry?- How much is it?
0:39:59 > 0:40:00215.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04It's going up by the second. The meter's ticking!
0:40:04 > 0:40:06HE LAUGHS
0:40:09 > 0:40:14So, Doreen still let a rapscallion rat-catcher into her niece's home.
0:40:14 > 0:40:15Roger planted a fake nest
0:40:15 > 0:40:19and is now overcharging four times the going rate for the treatment.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22What, er...a rat!
0:40:22 > 0:40:25So will Doreen pay up or read him the riot act?
0:40:25 > 0:40:28- You said 215.- I've got 20.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30I'll tell you what I'm going to have to do.
0:40:30 > 0:40:35- I'll have to just take the 200. - Right, so that's 200?
0:40:35 > 0:40:36Unbelievable.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Doreen completely fell for Roger's tall stories,
0:40:39 > 0:40:42paying him four times more than she ought to have done.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45Nice to meet you. You're a lovely lady.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47Yes, she is, too nice for you.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49It's time for our con artist to leave faster
0:40:49 > 0:40:51than you can say "pied piper".
0:40:51 > 0:40:55With Roger out of sight up the street, our producer must reveal
0:40:55 > 0:40:58the truth about his dirty tricks to Auntie Doreen.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03Hello, there. Hi, we're from the BBC.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05We're doing some investigations into the area
0:41:05 > 0:41:08and we're looking at various tradesmen
0:41:08 > 0:41:12and asking if anyone's been unhappy with any of the work they've done lately.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14I don't know, I've just had someone in.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17I'm in my niece's house. I just had someone in to kill the rats.
0:41:17 > 0:41:21I was just going to follow them cos they didn't give me a receipt.
0:41:21 > 0:41:26- Did you pay a lot of cash? - 200. 215 but they took 200.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28It's a lot of money for ten minutes' work.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Well, Doreen, it's not your niece, Cathy, who's been done,
0:41:31 > 0:41:33but she was the one who set you up.
0:41:33 > 0:41:38- Oh, you- BLEEP! - Oh, I'm going to kill you!
0:41:38 > 0:41:41I'm going to kill you! Stay out there!
0:41:41 > 0:41:43I thought it a bit weird at first.
0:41:43 > 0:41:48I believe she was taken in by Roger, definitely was taken in by him.
0:41:48 > 0:41:49They scammed her.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52Oh, my God! I'm going to kill you.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55I was watching through the blinds, they were in the van,
0:41:55 > 0:41:57and I thought, "They're taking a bit of time."
0:41:57 > 0:41:59Here's your money back. I've got to do this.
0:41:59 > 0:42:04- You were such good entertainment. - Thank you. Thank you.
0:42:04 > 0:42:05Don't be taken in.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09Don't - even if they've got smiles and they're nice, blah, blah, blah,
0:42:09 > 0:42:11don't get taken in, cos it's a lot of money, £200.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15My advice to people would be to know...
0:42:15 > 0:42:19who it is you're getting in to come and do work in your house
0:42:19 > 0:42:22and to preferably get recommendations from someone
0:42:22 > 0:42:26instead of going online or getting someone out of a newspaper.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28And to definitely ask for a receipt.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31Doreen, you were an absolute star!
0:42:31 > 0:42:34You can rely on the majority of tradesmen being honest
0:42:34 > 0:42:37and hard-working, it's only a very few who let the side down
0:42:37 > 0:42:39and play dirty tricks.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41Remember, if in doubt, keep them out.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43Thanks for watching and I'll see you next time.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49If you'd like to help us reveal how easy it is to fall for the cons of the rogue tradesmen
0:42:49 > 0:42:54by sending our trickster to visit your unsuspecting friends or family,
0:42:54 > 0:42:57you'll find all the details at...
0:43:14 > 0:43:18Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:18 > 0:43:21E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk