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 > 0:00:16Who can tell for sure that we've not been taken for a ride?
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Do you want to go for 225?
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Just for today, 500 quid, cash.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Probably about seven and a half grand.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Thanks to audacious secret filming,
0:00:26 > 0:00:31we'll demonstrate how easy it is to 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 truly shocking tradesmen rip-offs.
0:00:46 > 0:00:51There's always going to be cowboys in every business. I was unlucky.
0:00:51 > 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 > 0:01:02'our plumber Roger acts rotten and tries to turn a simple tap repair
0:01:02 > 0:01:06'into a rip-off worth hundreds of pounds.'
0:01:06 > 0:01:09"Must rise continuously to an open vent."
0:01:09 > 0:01:13If it doesn't, the pressure builds up, and the thing goes sky high.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20'A ruthless team of crooks who pocketed £6,500
0:01:20 > 0:01:25'from building and driveway tricks they played on an elderly consumer.'
0:01:25 > 0:01:29He can't use his hands very well. They were writing cheques for him.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34'And how will a consumer wiggle out of paying an extortionate bill
0:01:34 > 0:01:40'when Roger plans an outrageous wiring job in Buckinghamshire?'
0:01:40 > 0:01:43We can actually fit that. That is normally 500 quid.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47I really don't want to leave it like that.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49What if I did it for 450?
0:01:49 > 0:01:52These are the dirty tricks of the tradesmen.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03I know little about the workings of boilers, fuse boxes
0:02:03 > 0:02:06and central heating systems - who does?
0:02:06 > 0:02:10The specialists do. Thankfully, the majority do a terrific job.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12But there is a small minority
0:02:12 > 0:02:16whose only interest is in making money - at our expense.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Today, we're meeting people who've been ripped off by the cowboys.
0:02:20 > 0:02:27With your help, we'll show you how easy it is to fall for the oldest tricks in the tradesmen's book.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32People have been setting up friends and relatives for a visit from our own tradesmen. Why?
0:02:32 > 0:02:35To show you how to avoid being taken to the cleaners.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39'Meet the man of the hour, Roger Bisby.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44'He's got more than 40 years' experience in the building trade.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48'There's little he doesn't know about boilers and gutters
0:02:48 > 0:02:52'or fascias and soffits - and door handles!'
0:02:52 > 0:02:57We're asking Roger to change tack and go against his deeply held beliefs.
0:02:57 > 0:03:03He's going to be a dodgy tradesman and show us how not to get conned.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07'We've set up a few minor household problems.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10'Roger's going to fix them and play some dirty tricks.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13'He's working with cameraman Luke,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17'who's acting as an apprentice, so they can film everything in secret.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22'In a moment, we find out which family they'll be hitting first.'
0:03:22 > 0:03:27It's surprising that only one consumer who's met Roger this series
0:03:27 > 0:03:31has asked to see his ID or try to check his qualifications.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35If that's how YOU treat REAL tradesmen, it can be very dangerous.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Not only for the wallet, but also for home safety.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Would you let a complete stranger tackle your power supply?
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Roger's on his way to Buckinghamshire to find out.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52'Lois Gratericks lives in a rented home with her boyfriend
0:03:52 > 0:03:55'and her 24-year-old brother, Gareth.'
0:03:55 > 0:03:58All he wants to do is play on his computer.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Trying to get him out of the house is near on impossible.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06I just want him to have a little bit more aims in life.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11'Today, Lois is determined to put Gareth in the firing line.'
0:04:11 > 0:04:15I want to set my brother up because he's lazy and it's bugging me
0:04:15 > 0:04:19that me and my partner are at work 24/7, working all the time.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24We come home, the tidying up's not done. He just doesn't do anything.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27So this is a little bit of revenge, I guess.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32'Lois is telling Gareth that the fuse box has a problem.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36'Sparks may fly when Roger and Luke act as dodgy electricians.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40'They've brought a gadget which Roger had lying around.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44'They'll want to over-charge Gareth to install it.'
0:04:44 > 0:04:48- What have we got there? - A box with a few buttons and lights.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52We're going to tell them that this box is worth £500.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56We'll charge them that, but if they sign up for the bigger job,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00having the house re-wired, we'll give them a discount of £500
0:05:00 > 0:05:02off the bigger job.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Roger has three tricks in mind.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09First, he'll shower Gareth with scare stories about the wiring,
0:05:09 > 0:05:11a common rogue's trick.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Then he'll offer two solutions, both unnecessary.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19The full re-wiring will solve the problem, worth thousands of pounds,
0:05:19 > 0:05:23or there's a temporary solution, a circuit breaker costing £500.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Roger makes money either way.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30'When it comes to repairing fuse boxes,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32'a typical cost is £200, all-in.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34'Some tradesmen may do the work
0:05:34 > 0:05:37'on a:
0:05:37 > 0:05:41'If he talks Gareth into having the circuit breaker installed
0:05:41 > 0:05:44'that could bring Roger as much as a £300 profit.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47'We know what a silver-tongued trickster he can be.
0:05:47 > 0:05:53'It's just before four o'clock when he arrives.'
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Hello. We've come to look at the electrics.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59- Hello, dogs. Look at you! - PAWS SCAMPER AND SLIDE
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Can't run very much on that laminate!
0:06:02 > 0:06:07- Where am I going? Fuse box. - What do you want?- Fuse box.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10That's what I'm here to look at. It's down there?
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Oh, yeah, this is an old re-wired job.
0:06:14 > 0:06:20'Like so many people Roger visits, Gareth hasn't asked to see any ID.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24'He might want to check that Roger is an approved electrician. No.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28'He lets him walk straight in, which is Roger's cue to rip him off.'
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Look at that! What have we got here?
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Bit of an old wiring system, Luke.
0:06:34 > 0:06:39'Roger's ready to spark into action and play his first dirty trick.
0:06:39 > 0:06:45'Gareth needs to look out. There's a belly full of scare tactics heading his way.'
0:06:46 > 0:06:48These old re-wirable fuses,
0:06:48 > 0:06:53there's a fire risk with these, that's why people take them out.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58Every year, there's thousands of house fires caused by wiring.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Wiring is the most common cause of house fires.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05What we ought to do is replace this board here.
0:07:05 > 0:07:12'Roger's twisting the facts about fires to suit his own means, one of the oldest tricks in the book.'
0:07:14 > 0:07:16At the moment, it's all nice.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20I told him there's a possibility that his house could burn down,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23but I haven't laid it on thick with a trowel.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28Let's try upping the game and seeing where we can get with it.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Luke, if I gave you a guess,
0:07:30 > 0:07:35how many deaths do you think are caused every year by faulty wiring
0:07:35 > 0:07:37in the UK?
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- Er...200.- 200?
0:07:40 > 0:07:46It's not as many as that but there are 1,200 house fires every day
0:07:46 > 0:07:49caused by faulty wiring.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56- What do you think to that? - It's quite a lot.- Every day, Luke.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00'In fact, according to the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents,
0:08:00 > 0:08:05'the figure is closer to 1,900 house fires caused by faulty wiring
0:08:05 > 0:08:07'every YEAR.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11'It's still rotten of you to use this as a scare tactic.
0:08:11 > 0:08:16'With Gareth spooked, it's time to bring out the bogus circuit breaker
0:08:16 > 0:08:21'and hopefully secure a nice big re-wiring job down the line.'
0:08:21 > 0:08:25- That fuse board is...iffy. I think it ought to be replaced.- OK.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29That'll be around £1,500 to do that job.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32What I'm thinking, in the meantime, to protect the house,
0:08:32 > 0:08:36till either us or somebody else can get round to it,
0:08:36 > 0:08:40we can fit a device which protects against fires.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43It'll cut the power circuit off
0:08:43 > 0:08:46if there's any trace of a fire.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50We can fit that. They're normally about 500 quid.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54'Remember, that fake circuit box cost Roger next to nothing.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58'He'll be quids in if he persuades Gareth to agree.'
0:08:58 > 0:09:02If we take that back when we do the proper job,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05we give you the money back.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08But if I stick that unit in, just to protect you...
0:09:08 > 0:09:12- I'd have to ring my landlady. She's going to be paying for it.- OK.
0:09:12 > 0:09:18'Uh-oh. There's a landlady, Roger. That might scupper your dirty trick.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23'So, will Roger succeed in parting Gareth from his money?'
0:09:23 > 0:09:27- Your chequebook's out of date? - I've got a 2006 chequebook!
0:09:27 > 0:09:31'And how will Gareth react when the penny finally drops?'
0:09:31 > 0:09:35I did think it was weird I didn't get any paperwork.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37I didn't think to question that.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46If you think Roger's bad, wait till you see this next true-life story.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51'There's nothing more shocking than falling victim to tricky tradesmen
0:09:51 > 0:09:56'who have only one thing in mind - to extort huge sums of money
0:09:56 > 0:09:58'to fix damage to your home.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03'This was the scenario facing Ian and Cynthia Watt of Dorset.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05'They fell prey to a dodgy builder
0:10:05 > 0:10:12'who caused damage to their home and made their lives absolute hell.'
0:10:13 > 0:10:16I've lived here for over 45 years.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19This is the first time I've ever been scammed.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21'Fortunately for Ian,
0:10:21 > 0:10:25'he had Ivan Hancock from Dorset Trading Standards
0:10:25 > 0:10:29'fighting on his side against this tricky tradesman.'
0:10:29 > 0:10:34The main point of the case against Kevin Sherwood was the fact that
0:10:34 > 0:10:38he got the consumer, Mr Watt, to have roofing work done
0:10:38 > 0:10:40when that work wasn't required.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46'It all began on 15th January 2009, when Ian and his wife were asleep
0:10:46 > 0:10:49'and something went bump in the night.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52'They didn't investigate until the next morning,
0:10:52 > 0:10:57'when they found the frontage of their garage roof on their driveway.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01'Somehow, it must have fallen off in the night.'
0:11:01 > 0:11:06All of a sudden, a gentleman came and said he was just driving by,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10saw we had a problem and would fix it for £20.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13'A stroke of luck? A coincidence?
0:11:13 > 0:11:16'Who knows? Roofer Kevin Sherwood was quickly on the scene.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21'Having spotted an opportunity, he sprang his first dirty trick -
0:11:21 > 0:11:25'to take advantage of Ian and Cynthia's immobility
0:11:25 > 0:11:29'and con them out of as much cash as possible.'
0:11:29 > 0:11:32They went up onto the roof,
0:11:32 > 0:11:34found tiles were broken and they needed money
0:11:34 > 0:11:38to pay for more materials they thought they needed.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42The price went up to £900.
0:11:42 > 0:11:49'£20 up to 900! That's a staggering 4,400% increase!
0:11:49 > 0:11:52'But Sherwood had another dirty trick up his sleeve.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55'He agreed a contract for £900,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58'including a seven-day cooling-off period.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03'But he broke that agreement and continued to charge more and more.'
0:12:05 > 0:12:09And then it escalated to £2,500.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13Then it went up to over £3,000.
0:12:13 > 0:12:19He was now entering into a contract to do a much higher priced job.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22It had escalated to such a level
0:12:22 > 0:12:25that new contract documents should have been given.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29'It seems the only paperwork that interested Kevin Sherwood
0:12:29 > 0:12:32'was the money kind.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35'The roof was becoming susceptible to the elements.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40'That caused distressing problems inside, for Ian and his wife.'
0:12:40 > 0:12:44And then it started to rain and the water was pouring in
0:12:44 > 0:12:47to the front room.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50The water poured in over the top of the window.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55It was like a miniature waterfall all down the window.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59Everything got soaking wet and it's caused black mould
0:12:59 > 0:13:02to grow underneath the window and on the wall.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07My wife and son kept soaking it up with a load of towels,
0:13:07 > 0:13:12and then spin-drying them in the washing machine
0:13:12 > 0:13:15to keep up with the water that was coming in.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19'These poor people! What could they do, trapped in this situation?
0:13:19 > 0:13:22'It was Sherwood's greed that put a stop
0:13:22 > 0:13:25'to his relentless stream of trickery.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30'He demanded full payment of £3,700 in a bank transfer.'
0:13:30 > 0:13:34He gave me a bank card, his bank card,
0:13:34 > 0:13:36to go and transfer money
0:13:36 > 0:13:39from my account to his account.
0:13:39 > 0:13:46The bank said they'd never heard of this type of transaction before,
0:13:46 > 0:13:50they didn't like it and I should contact the police.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55'Thanks to quick-thinking bank staff
0:13:55 > 0:14:01'Dorset police confirmed the suspicion of fraud, and alerted Ivan Hancock's team.'
0:14:04 > 0:14:09An independent surveyor was able to look at the pieces of wood
0:14:09 > 0:14:16that had been removed from the roof, and draw conclusions about whether or not work was necessary.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18'The surveyor believed Ian's roof
0:14:18 > 0:14:22'had at least another 20 years of life in it.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26'Claiming that it was at risk of leaking was a misrepresentation.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30'Trading Standards had Sherwood bang to rights.'
0:14:30 > 0:14:32I wanted to go to court
0:14:32 > 0:14:38cos I wanted them to stop these people doing these scams.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41I think I did want them to be punished.
0:14:41 > 0:14:47'Because the police and Trading Standards acted quickly, Ian never paid a penny
0:14:47 > 0:14:49'of the £3,700 demanded.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52'However, it cost him £2,500
0:14:52 > 0:14:55'to have a reputable roofer put the damage right.'
0:14:55 > 0:14:58I did try to make an insurance claim
0:14:58 > 0:15:02but I wasn't insured for that type of damage
0:15:02 > 0:15:04because it was malicious, not accidental.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09'I'm desperate to know what happened to tricky tradesman Kevin Sherwood.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11'He was found guilty of three counts
0:15:11 > 0:15:13'of engaging in misleading commercial practice
0:15:13 > 0:15:19'including his failure to provide Ian with written information regarding cancellation rights.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23'He received a nine-month sentence, suspended for 12 months,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25'and 200 hours' community service.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29'Hopefully, this will put a stop to his dirty tricks.'
0:15:29 > 0:15:32The court case was to change someone's behaviour.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36- It's not about trying to get people sent to prison.- No.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40It's about stopping people misleading the likes of yourself
0:15:40 > 0:15:42and making sure they do their job properly.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45'The Watts now have strong feelings
0:15:45 > 0:15:50'about cold callers and leaflet drops, even if they're genuine.'
0:15:50 > 0:15:54This is a leaflet put through the letter box.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58All there is is a mobile telephone number.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00There's no company address
0:16:00 > 0:16:06or anything that you can check to see if it's bona fide or not.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11Well, it's most unfair, isn't it? To be targeted like that.
0:16:11 > 0:16:18'You're right, Ian, but there's a lesson to be learnt, no matter how distressful the circumstances.'
0:16:18 > 0:16:23- The main thing is for people to see examples like this and realise... - It's so easy.
0:16:23 > 0:16:28The best thing is to go out and you look.
0:16:28 > 0:16:33If you think your roof needs fixing, to go out and look for a company,
0:16:33 > 0:16:37get a few alternatives, like you had to after they'd been.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39You're the one doing the choosing.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44- It's easy to be misled if someone comes to the door. - This is the trouble.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46I'd change things now.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49Of course, with hindsight, it's easy to say that.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01'We've an extraordinary story still to come, as heartless rogues
0:17:01 > 0:17:04'rip off an elderly consumer in Norfolk.'
0:17:04 > 0:17:09He was taken to the bank. Monies were obtained and he was left to walk home.
0:17:09 > 0:17:15We felt sorry for Bill that he'd been treated this way. He really didn't deserve that.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19'Plus, as we show you how not to be ripped off,
0:17:19 > 0:17:23'our acting rogue Roger has more dirty tricks in store in Berkshire.'
0:17:23 > 0:17:26I can't turn the hot water back on.
0:17:26 > 0:17:31Because it's dangerous. If anything happens to it, I'm in trouble.
0:17:31 > 0:17:331,200 for that.
0:17:33 > 0:17:39'But first, time to find out if Gareth in Buckinghamshire will fall for our tradesman's swindle.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42'Gareth's sister Lois set him up.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46'Now Roger's lied to him that the wiring is in a perilous state.'
0:17:46 > 0:17:51That fuse board is iffy. I think it ought to be replaced.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55'He's pushing to install a circuit breaker device and charge £500.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00'He'll give him a discount if Gareth agrees to have the house re-wired,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03'at a much bigger cost, of course.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07'Gareth's checking with the landlady to see if that's allowed.'
0:18:07 > 0:18:09- I spoke to my landlady.- Yeah.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12- She left me 400 quid.- Ooh, um...
0:18:12 > 0:18:17- And my chequebook's out of date. - Your chequebook's out of date?
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Yeah. I've got a 2006 chequebook.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22'Chequebooks don't go out of date, do they?
0:18:22 > 0:18:25'Perhaps Gareth's trying it on.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29'Even so, he's around £100 short.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33'Roger has to think quickly to resolve this set-back over money.'
0:18:33 > 0:18:36So, really speaking, we want...the 500 for that,
0:18:36 > 0:18:40because it's quite an expensive bit of kit.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43I don't want to leave it like that.
0:18:43 > 0:18:49What if I did it for 450? That means you won't get 500 back off the other job.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51- I can do 450.- Can you?
0:18:51 > 0:18:56I'm doing myself, really, but as I say, I'd rather do it and walk away
0:18:56 > 0:18:59knowing I've done a safe job.
0:18:59 > 0:19:05'Gareth, you saved yourself from a rip-off worth several thousands by turning down that re-wiring job,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08'but you've still been conned out of 450.'
0:19:08 > 0:19:12That's lovely, isn't it? That looks perfect in there.
0:19:12 > 0:19:18'You'd better install that useless gadget before Gareth gets a proper look at it.'
0:19:18 > 0:19:21- How long are you going to be? - Nearly done.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- BEEP - Look at that! Beautiful!
0:19:24 > 0:19:30'Job done, and to reassure his client, he gives some helpful, if obvious, advice.'
0:19:32 > 0:19:34If this goes off..
0:19:34 > 0:19:37it'll just cut one of those circuits down.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41All you've got to do is press the reset button.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45If there's not a fire in the house, then you're all right.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47If there is, call the fire brigade.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50'I can't tell if Gareth is impressed or just stunned.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57'So, Gareth Gratericks allowed a rogue electrician
0:19:57 > 0:20:00'to tamper with the family fuse box.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04'Roger tricked him with stories about house fires and accidents.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08'Now he's persuaded Gareth to have a fake circuit breaker fitted.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12'All completely unnecessary, so will Gareth pay up?'
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Have you got a sack for all that money?
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- LAUGHTER - No, I had it all rolled up.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22That's one, two, three...
0:20:22 > 0:20:25'What a disaster! If only Gareth had checked for ID.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29'If only he'd asked questions about this bogus equipment.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34'If only he'd asked for a guarantee! He's let Roger walk all over him.'
0:20:34 > 0:20:37- LAUGHS - You want to become an electrician!
0:20:37 > 0:20:43'As Roger flaunts his bounty, he's offering Gareth advice about breaking into the wiring trade.
0:20:43 > 0:20:48'This could be music to the ears of his sister Lois, who set him up.'
0:20:48 > 0:20:50That's it. Lovely.
0:20:50 > 0:20:55'And there it is - £450 for nothing! Plugging in a useless box.'
0:20:55 > 0:21:00- Well, I'll contact your landlady and get the other job booked in.- OK.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Cheers.
0:21:02 > 0:21:07'Weighed down by Gareth's cash, Roger and Luke make a sharp exit.
0:21:10 > 0:21:16'Roger out of sight, our producer breaks the news that Gareth has been ripped off.'
0:21:16 > 0:21:20- Hello.- Hello, there. Sorry to bother you. We're from the BBC.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22We're doing a show about people
0:21:22 > 0:21:26who haven't been happy with the work tradesmen are doing.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28I had the electricians round today.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32As far as I was aware, I was happy with it.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37We've been following a guy in the area who works with an apprentice.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42- Yeah.- We've had reports... - Was his name Roger?
0:21:42 > 0:21:46So are they actually doing any real work or are they pretending to?
0:21:46 > 0:21:51I'm afraid they're pretending to. They're not bona fide tradesmen.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54I did think it was weird I didn't get any paperwork.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56I didn't think to question that.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01'It's time for sister Lois to return with Roger and explain her part.'
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Oh, that's my sister.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07- < You have been set up. - I've been set up?
0:22:07 > 0:22:09LOIS LAUGHS
0:22:10 > 0:22:14I thought Roger was quite a friendly chap.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17He seemed to know what he was talking about, which convinced me.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20We were just playing a little trick on you.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25The first thing is, I've probably got to give you the money back.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29I'm clueless when it comes to DIY, so seeing someone else do it
0:22:29 > 0:22:31is kind of...
0:22:31 > 0:22:35I just believe that they know what they're doing.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39In the future, I'll definitely check their ID, if they've got some.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43Which, I guess, they should actually have.
0:22:43 > 0:22:48A registration number, I think electricians have, don't they?
0:22:48 > 0:22:53And I won't pay anything without seeing some kind of receipt
0:22:53 > 0:22:58or knowing that they won't only take cash.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02I guess that should be an alarm bell, perhaps.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04Thanks, Gareth. You were great.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08What should YOU do in that situation to avoid a con?
0:23:08 > 0:23:12Obviously, check the ID of any tradesman who turns up.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Ensure they're qualified to do what they do.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20If you're suspicious that the work doesn't need doing, raise the alarm.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24The local Trading Standards should be able to give you advice.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Do-it-yourself is not my strong point.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Still, thousands of us relish grouting tiles and lagging pipes.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38You have to get it right. A mistake could cost thousands to correct.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43Especially if you meet a rogue tradesman who wants to rip you off.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45So, where's Roger going next?
0:23:45 > 0:23:50'Robert Rogerson from Berkshire is a mechanic who deals in used cars.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54'A master of his own trade, he tries to be a Jack of all trades
0:23:54 > 0:23:57'and insists on doing DIY on the family home.
0:23:57 > 0:24:02'His wife Angela is dubious of his skills.'
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Angela knows that I've done all the plumbing.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07I was helped by a plumber.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Plumbing's plumbing, but I'm not a plumber.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13'Angela sounds like she's got a lot to put up with,
0:24:13 > 0:24:18'including a tap that's been dripping since Robert installed it.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21'It must be a relief that he's called a plumber to fix it.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23'Except, he's called Roger.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27'Replacing the washer should cost no more than £60.'
0:24:27 > 0:24:30But Roger doesn't want just £60.
0:24:30 > 0:24:36His first trick will be to blind Angela with science about her husband's handiwork.
0:24:36 > 0:24:42Knowing Roger, he'll also make her think that there are other issues that need attention.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46The real trick will be to overcharge her, possibly as much as £150.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48What a rotter!
0:24:48 > 0:24:50'Angela is alone in the house
0:24:50 > 0:24:55'when our cowboys show up for their two o'clock call-out.'
0:24:55 > 0:24:56Hello. Plumbers.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Sorry we're late. We got way-laid.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04Oh, you don't know! I wish I hadn't said we were late.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07'To be fair, Angela thinks her husband booked these two,
0:25:07 > 0:25:11'but that's no excuse for not checking ID.'
0:25:11 > 0:25:14- Dripping tap. - Must be the one in there.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18All I can tell you is, I can turn it on,
0:25:18 > 0:25:25- but it'll come back on again. - Oh, OK. I know, yeah.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29- It keeps emptying our hot tank. - Yes. It's riding round. All right.
0:25:29 > 0:25:35- Doesn't matter how many times we change the... - Washers.- ..it still does it.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38'Sounds like a simple fix-it job.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41'Roger should be done and dusted in half an hour.'
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Where can I turn the hot water off?
0:25:44 > 0:25:49- Do you know where the airing cupboard is?- No. I'm sure I could find it.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56Cos my husband, he put the central heating in.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00- And put that other tank in for the central heating.- Mm.
0:26:00 > 0:26:05They sort of cross over. I don't know anything, cos he deals with it.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09'Robert's DIY heating system has two hot water cylinders.'
0:26:09 > 0:26:11- Is he unreliable?- Oh, yeah.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14'That's a bit tough, Angela.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17'You could be giving Roger opportunities to rip you off.'
0:26:17 > 0:26:20That should normally turn off the hot water.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24I'll have to have a look. He's got two cylinders.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28If you do it wrong, you can have bad consequences.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31You can demolish a house with a hot water cylinder.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35- LUKE: It's a very strange system. - It is.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39- Bizarre.- I haven't seen many, but this one's quite odd.- Yeah.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45It is one of the most bizarre plumbing systems
0:26:45 > 0:26:48I've seen in a long time.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51He's got two cylinders linked up in some weird way.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55It's a very easy job for me to just say,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58"I'm not going to turn this back on because it's dangerous."
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Let's see where we go from here.
0:27:00 > 0:27:07'So, you're going to make Angela think her eccentric double cylinders are wrapped up in this?
0:27:07 > 0:27:09'You're being specially devious today.'
0:27:09 > 0:27:12All done. That's perfect.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15That's the tap done. That's the easy bit.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Let's go back up and turn the water back on.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23'You cheeky devil, Roger.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26'That's £150 for a simple repair,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29'a massive hike on the recommended £60.
0:27:29 > 0:27:36'Time to carry out the rest of your strategy and rubbish the DIY projects made by Angela's husband.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39'Maybe this wood burner has possibilities.'
0:27:42 > 0:27:47It's gonna be a bomb if that ever goes off. Who put this in?
0:27:47 > 0:27:49He did.
0:27:49 > 0:27:54Do you know what? It's a good job I got here, really.
0:27:54 > 0:27:59Cos that is a high spot, it's supposed to go up to the air vent.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04You get the heat building up. It's got to work on gravity circulation.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06If it doesn't, it builds up...
0:28:06 > 0:28:08Then goes pop?
0:28:10 > 0:28:14'There's no stopping our rogue, as he piles the pressure on Angela.'
0:28:14 > 0:28:18It says on the regulations, "Must rise continuously to an open vent."
0:28:18 > 0:28:22If it doesn't, the whole thing'll go sky high.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25'Could his dirty tricks be getting too much?'
0:28:25 > 0:28:27- I don't know what the- BLEEP - I'm talking about!
0:28:31 > 0:28:38Now, dodgy repair men may be common, but they're easily out-numbered by dodgy driveway installers.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42Trading Standards record 1,200 complaints about them each year.
0:28:42 > 0:28:47This ruthless duo in our next story played the dirtiest tricks.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50Fortunately, they were caught bang to rights.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53'You'd think the picturesque landscape of Norfolk
0:28:53 > 0:28:56'would be perfect for a happy retirement.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00'For 80-year-old Bill Neal, the happiness of his twilight years
0:29:00 > 0:29:05'was about to be shattered by two rogue tradesmen, Michael Williams and Anthony Field,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08'against whom, Bill wouldn't stand a chance.'
0:29:08 > 0:29:12He can't use his hands well. They were writing the cheques for him.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16He was taken to the bank, monies were obtained from him,
0:29:16 > 0:29:19and he was left to walk home on his own.
0:29:19 > 0:29:25'Williams and Field embarked on a two-year crime spree from January 2009.
0:29:25 > 0:29:29'The main tricks they used were to cold call on elderly victims,
0:29:29 > 0:29:33'gain their trust and carry out work for exorbitant amounts of money.'
0:29:33 > 0:29:39When they found a customer, they would befriend him,
0:29:39 > 0:29:41especially Mr Williams,
0:29:41 > 0:29:44who built up very great relationships with his victims.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48'In September 2009, the rogues knocked at Bill's door.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52'He'd been thinking of having a new driveway done.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56'Bill's daughter-in-law Susan takes up the story.'
0:29:56 > 0:29:59We visit Bill two or three times a week.
0:29:59 > 0:30:05We come round and the drive had been put down over the weekend.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07We didn't know anything about it.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11We couldn't get the gates to open properly.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14'The cowboys had just laid Bill's new drive
0:30:14 > 0:30:18'over his old one, and the shoddy workmanship didn't end there.'
0:30:18 > 0:30:23Bill has mobility problems. He needs a nice smooth surface to walk on.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26They just left it really bad.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29As you can see, the bricks are loose.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33They come out. They're not fixed in properly.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37'For leaving him with a huge step, making his front door unusable,
0:30:37 > 0:30:42'for bricks left in dangerous positions, for the whole sorry job,
0:30:42 > 0:30:46'Bill was charged an eye-watering £1,500.
0:30:46 > 0:30:50'As well as his money, the conmen had secured Bill's trust.'
0:30:50 > 0:30:53He'd got quite friendly with the chap.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56He'd been indoors and sat talking to him.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00He'd built up quite a relationship and thought he was doing good work.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03'That's a common trick of rogue tradesmen.
0:31:03 > 0:31:08'Once they've secured a job, they'll keep returning for more work,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10'all the time, building their trust.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14'So when the pair knocked once more with an offer for a new garden path,
0:31:14 > 0:31:17'Bill agreed to their scheme.'
0:31:17 > 0:31:21We came to visit Bill again and a path had been put in
0:31:21 > 0:31:25between the block pave and drive and his front door,
0:31:25 > 0:31:29which was worse workmanship than the drive itself.
0:31:29 > 0:31:34Weeds all growing through. The bricks are really loose.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37No footings had been dug.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40They're just a load of bricks laid across the garden.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44'When she saw this new work, Susan had had enough.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48'She telephoned Williams to tell him to stay away from Bill's property.'
0:31:48 > 0:31:51Even when the family intervened,
0:31:51 > 0:31:55Williams and Field continued to call at this gentleman's door
0:31:55 > 0:31:57and take money from him.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01Sadly, they talked him into having some more work done in his garden.
0:32:01 > 0:32:06They came and put shingle down in the front garden,
0:32:06 > 0:32:08at a price of £1,400,
0:32:08 > 0:32:12for a bag of shingle tipped out over the soil that was there.
0:32:12 > 0:32:17The weeds have grown back through. The whole garden is just a mess.
0:32:17 > 0:32:21'A bog-standard bag of shingle might set you back, what?
0:32:21 > 0:32:23'Around £80 to £150.
0:32:23 > 0:32:29'To charge £1,400 to just empty one bag of the stuff onto Bill's garden
0:32:29 > 0:32:31'is an absolute disgrace.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35'Together with the two other jobs, the rogues overcharged Bill
0:32:35 > 0:32:40'to the tune of £6,500 - a lot of money in anyone's book.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43'Bill thought he had sufficient funds.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47'Then, in January 2010, a letter from his bank informed him
0:32:47 > 0:32:50'a series of cheques had bounced.'
0:32:50 > 0:32:52We didn't know what had happened.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56We thought he'd got a bit muddled with his finances
0:32:56 > 0:32:58and wasn't sure what he'd spent out.
0:32:58 > 0:33:03'Susan stepped in to help, and she discovered that her father-in-law
0:33:03 > 0:33:07'had been the victim of some very dirty tricks indeed.'
0:33:07 > 0:33:12We found out that they'd been asking him for money for materials,
0:33:12 > 0:33:14then for the labour costs,
0:33:14 > 0:33:19then as the job was progressing, extra money for bits and bobs
0:33:19 > 0:33:21which, obviously, was a rip-off.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25They were just using it as an excuse to get more money out of him.
0:33:25 > 0:33:30'Susan quickly contacted the police. Their investigations revealed
0:33:30 > 0:33:35'there were no depths to which these two conmen wouldn't sink.'
0:33:35 > 0:33:39He can't use his hands very well. They were writing cheques for him.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42They'd take a blank cheque.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45Because his hands are so bad, his signature varies.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47They could have signed anything.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51He was taken to the bank, monies were obtained from him,
0:33:51 > 0:33:54and he was left to walk home on his own.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58We felt really sorry for Bill, that he'd been treated this way.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02He's a lovely old gentleman and he really didn't deserve that.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06'Sadly, Bill didn't get any of his money back.
0:34:06 > 0:34:10'Anthony Field and Michael Williams received their just desserts.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13'They were sentenced at Norwich Crown Court in January 2011
0:34:13 > 0:34:16'on multiple counts of conspiracy to defraud.'
0:34:16 > 0:34:21Michael Williams was sentenced to eight years in prison,
0:34:21 > 0:34:23and Anthony Field to six years.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27They scammed over £90,000 off vulnerable victims.
0:34:27 > 0:34:32'£90,000 from over 30 victims, but what can we learn from this?'
0:34:32 > 0:34:38Phone Trading Standards. Make them aware of what's happening and seek their advice.
0:34:38 > 0:34:43If you're not sure, tell them you're not interested and shut the door.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47'Bill's case is a very sobering one.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51'The balance between interfering with a relative's independence
0:34:51 > 0:34:55'and taking a hand with their affairs can be difficult.'
0:34:55 > 0:34:58I regret that we didn't step in earlier
0:34:58 > 0:35:02and be more thorough about finding out what had gone on.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04We should have done more about it.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06It's changed Bill totally.
0:35:06 > 0:35:11He got frightened to answer the door, frightened to answer the phone.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13We put different phones in.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16He got nervous of people coming to the property.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19That really did upset him.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21For anyone with elderly parents,
0:35:21 > 0:35:26check on them, make sure what people they are having round their house,
0:35:26 > 0:35:28because you just really don't know.
0:35:34 > 0:35:39Thanks to Susan and her family for sharing that shocking story.
0:35:39 > 0:35:44Trading Standards Officers respect your confidentiality, so there's nothing to fear.
0:35:44 > 0:35:48You could be stopping another consumer from becoming a victim.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53'Back to our consumer, Angela Rogerson in Berkshire.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56'She was set up by her husband, Robert.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59'Our plumber Roger was called to fix the bathroom tap,
0:35:59 > 0:36:04'which had been dripping ever since her old man installed it.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07'Roger is saying that hubby's DIY isn't first-rate.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11'He's using this theory as a way to try and con Angela.'
0:36:11 > 0:36:13- Is he unreliable?- Oh, yeah.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17'He's trying to pocket £150 for his ten-minute repair job,
0:36:17 > 0:36:21'which is a massive hike on the normal cost.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24'By turning up the heat with his scare tactics,
0:36:24 > 0:36:28'he's playing every trick he knows to make her pay even more.'
0:36:28 > 0:36:30- Who put this in?- He did.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32It's a good job I got here.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36Trouble is, when I'm the last on the scene,
0:36:36 > 0:36:39it comes down to me, professionally, you know?
0:36:39 > 0:36:44'You're treading a very fine line between truth and lies, Roger.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46'That's what genuine rogues do.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49'They play on people's fears.'
0:36:49 > 0:36:53That pipe needs to go straight out from there and up.
0:36:53 > 0:36:58It can't afford to go down, because you've got a load of hot water...
0:36:58 > 0:37:05- He's taken it exactly from where the pipes were.- Yeah. On the old boiler.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09- The back boiler.- Which was much lower, that's the point.- Ah!
0:37:09 > 0:37:14It says on the regulations, "Must rise continuously to an open vent."
0:37:14 > 0:37:18If it doesn't, then the pressure builds up, the heat builds up
0:37:18 > 0:37:20and the whole thing goes sky high.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24'Angela seems to believe what he says, but she's no fool.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27'Rog, give her some details
0:37:27 > 0:37:29'to back up that tall story.'
0:37:29 > 0:37:33Solid fuel's got its own requirements anyway.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37That pipe has to go along there into the cylinder.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41- It can't drop down like that one... - Right.- ..and then go back in.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44Do you want me to just give you a quote
0:37:44 > 0:37:47for what requires doing?
0:37:47 > 0:37:52'How will Angela react to his over-inflated charges?'
0:37:52 > 0:37:541,200 for that, including the VAT.
0:37:54 > 0:38:00- A thousand two hundred... - Yeah. That's the 200 tax.
0:38:00 > 0:38:05This one, with the call-out charge today, we'll just call 150 quid.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07OK.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11'You could be looking at £1,350!
0:38:11 > 0:38:15'All inflated from a tap repair that was worth 60 quid.
0:38:15 > 0:38:21'To be sure she doesn't seek quotes elsewhere, it's essential that he persuades her to sign up now.'
0:38:21 > 0:38:25I'm not allowed to turn the water back on
0:38:25 > 0:38:27until you've committed to the job.
0:38:27 > 0:38:32If anything happens, I'm the last bloke on the scene, all right?
0:38:32 > 0:38:36- What water not turned on? - I can't turn the hot water back on.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40Because it's dangerous and I was the last person to see it.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44- If anything happens to it...- Right. - ..then I'm in trouble.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48- So we don't have hot water now? - Well... I can do the job tomorrow.
0:38:48 > 0:38:54If you want to commit to it and, say, give me, 300 quid deposit,
0:38:54 > 0:38:58- then I'll book it in and we'll do it as a matter of urgency.- OK.- Yeah?
0:38:58 > 0:39:02- I can't do anything without him. - Fair enough.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06'Very wisely, Angela decides to check this major investment
0:39:06 > 0:39:09'with her husband Robert.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13'Of course, it's Robert who set her up for the dirty trick.'
0:39:13 > 0:39:16Just make sure everything's kosher, yeah?
0:39:16 > 0:39:21- Yeah. He seems to know what he's doing.- He knows what he's doing?
0:39:21 > 0:39:26Well, if you're happy with it, I'll let you fix that out, yeah?
0:39:26 > 0:39:28- I don't- BLEEP- know, do I?
0:39:28 > 0:39:33I'm leaving it in your hands. I'm busy at the garage.
0:39:33 > 0:39:37- I don't know what the- BLEEP - he's talking about.
0:39:37 > 0:39:41'Today, Angela Rogerson let an unknown plumber into her house
0:39:41 > 0:39:43'to repair a leaking tap,
0:39:43 > 0:39:46'without asking him to quote for it or checking his ID.
0:39:46 > 0:39:51'He's found a way to exploit her husband's DIY to extort more cash.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54'Now he's chasing her for a deposit to install boiler pipes,
0:39:54 > 0:39:58'without allowing her a cooling-off period.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01'Will she fall for his dirty tricks and pay up?'
0:40:03 > 0:40:05- Ooh, look at that!- 300 quid.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08Did you want the other 150 as well?
0:40:08 > 0:40:11- Yeah, I'd like it. - I've got that as well.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14'Roger, you really are the pits.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19'Angela's handed him £450, just for fixing a leaky tap.'
0:40:19 > 0:40:21- Can I have a receipt? - Course you can.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25'That's a good effort, but the piece of paper is worthless.
0:40:25 > 0:40:30'He's used a false name and address to make it difficult to be traced.'
0:40:30 > 0:40:32Thank you very much indeed.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35'So, with 450 quid in his pocket,
0:40:35 > 0:40:37'time for Roger to quit the scene
0:40:37 > 0:40:41'before Angela realises she's been conned.'
0:40:41 > 0:40:44- Cheers.- See you tomorrow. Have a nice evening.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46See you in the morning. You'll be lucky.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Eight o'clock? You must be joking!
0:40:49 > 0:40:54'The wood burning stove, which Roger says he'll come back and fix,
0:40:54 > 0:40:57'is not in any danger - it's not even connected!
0:41:00 > 0:41:04'Roger out of the way, it's time for our producer to pay Angela a visit
0:41:04 > 0:41:07'and reveal the truth of the scam.'
0:41:09 > 0:41:12- Oh!- Hello, there. We're from the BBC.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16We've been doing some investigations in the area
0:41:16 > 0:41:18into various tradesmen -
0:41:18 > 0:41:20builders, plasterers and plumbers.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25Have you had any experiences lately? Has anyone been to fix anything?
0:41:25 > 0:41:29Oh! Are you talking about some plumbers?
0:41:30 > 0:41:34Yeah, potentially. They masquerade as plumbers, painters.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39I've had two gentlemen round this afternoon. My husband organised them to come round.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42Just came in, fixed a washer on the tap,
0:41:42 > 0:41:46had a look at the boiler,
0:41:46 > 0:41:48and then off he went.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51That was it. Are they dodgy, then?
0:41:51 > 0:41:55'Time to bring in husband Robert, who set it all up.'
0:41:55 > 0:41:57He's a very bad boy.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01All right?
0:42:01 > 0:42:03Alarm bells didn't ring at all.
0:42:03 > 0:42:08That was only because my husband had organised it.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11I wouldn't have given you MY money!
0:42:11 > 0:42:15If a tradesman just knocked on the door, he would not get past.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18I would tell him, "No!" And tell him to go away.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21Doesn't matter whether I needed work done or not.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24It's hard to get past me.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26Angela was such a good sport.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30Roger's only playing rogue for us. He's not a rogue in reality.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33You CAN rely on the vast majority of tradesmen
0:42:33 > 0:42:35being honest and hard working.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39The crucial thing to remember, as ever, if in doubt, keep them out.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time.
0:42:43 > 0:42:48'If you'd like to help us reveal how easy it is to fall for cons,
0:42:48 > 0:42:52'by sending our trickster to visit friends or family,
0:42:52 > 0:42:57'you'll find all the details at:'
0:43:02 > 0:43:04Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:04 > 0:43:07E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk