0:00:02 > 0:00:07There's nothing more frustrating than when something goes wrong in your house.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10Last year, we spent £15 billion on house repairs,
0:00:10 > 0:00:16but how can we tell if we've got a good deal or if we've been taken to the cleaners?
0:00:16 > 0:00:18225? Do you want to go for 225?
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Just today, 500 quid if it's cash.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Probably about seven and a half grand.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28We've been secretly filming up and down the UK
0:00:28 > 0:00:33and we reveal how shockingly easy it could be for you, yes, you, to be duped.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38- I'm afraid you've been ripped off. He's not a bona fide tradesman. - He's not?
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Have I been done?
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Yeah, I've been done maybe.
0:00:43 > 0:00:48This is the bit I love. We expose the UK's most outrageous tradesmen rip-offs.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53- He didn't give a jot about his victims.- It was such a dirty trick.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57He put my kids in danger. He ripped me off. I could kill him.
0:00:57 > 0:01:03Coming up - our rogue Roger plays dirty in Berkshire and tries to convince a no-nonsense lecturer
0:01:03 > 0:01:08to pay hundreds of pounds for a cheap gadget he doesn't even need.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12No, there is no phone number at all, no.
0:01:12 > 0:01:18The shocking story of a pensioner subjected to a horrible roofing rip-off,
0:01:18 > 0:01:24rescued at the last minute with the help of, would you believe it, his local bank.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Something didn't seem quite right. We needed to call the police.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32I cannot believe that people will treat pensioners in this way.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36And a Hertfordshire woman gets tough with Roger's burglar alarm con,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39- but will she pay up? - I can't afford it.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Stand by for Dirty Tricks Of The Tradesmen.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51Hello. I don't know about you,
0:01:51 > 0:01:55but I don't know a huge amount about trades like roofing or plumbing.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57That's why we rely on tradesmen.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01The vast majority of them are professional and hard-working,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05but a small minority give tradesmen a bad name with their dirty tricks.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10Today, we're meeting people who have been ripped off by the cowboys.
0:02:10 > 0:02:16What's more, we'll show you how easy it is to fall for some of the oldest tricks in the tradesmen's books.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21People have been setting up friends and relatives for a visit from our very own tradesmen. Why?
0:02:21 > 0:02:25To show you how to avoid being taken to the cleaners.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Meet Roger Bisby. With 40 years' experience,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34there's little he doesn't know about the building game.
0:02:34 > 0:02:41If there's one thing he doesn't like, it's con men cashing in using dirty tricks.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46But we're asking Roger to turn tricky, to become a bad apple,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50one of the dodgiest tradesmen you could ever meet. Why?
0:02:50 > 0:02:52To show you how not to get conned.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57We're setting up small property problems and sending Roger round
0:02:57 > 0:03:01to show us how easy it is to be tricked into unnecessary work.
0:03:01 > 0:03:07It's being filmed in secret and he'll work with our cameraman Luke, pretending to be his apprentice.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11We'll discover the location of their first sting in just a moment.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17Now, it's been estimated that in the UK, a home is burgled every 37 seconds.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21And it's statistics like these that rogues can use
0:03:21 > 0:03:25to persuade unwary consumers into buying costly burglar alarms.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29Roger's going to try this trick on a smart young woman in Hertfordshire.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33It's at the invitation of her boyfriend Matt Birchmore.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37His 20-year-old partner is Abby Finester, a beauty therapist.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Abby's quite outgoing, a very bubbly person.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43I don't think she's got a great idea about DIY.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48Well, the basics, I suppose, but obviously, she'll know that she's being conned.
0:03:48 > 0:03:54Will she really? Matt and Abby's flat has a broken glass panel on the front door.
0:03:54 > 0:04:01It needs replacing, so Abby is staying in because someone is coming round to fix it - Roger and Luke.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04So the strategy is all to do with overcharging.
0:04:04 > 0:04:10Roger will fix that window for real, but he'll aim to squeeze as much cash out of Abby as possible.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14His next trick will be to play on the couple's fears about break-ins.
0:04:14 > 0:04:20He'll try to sell Abby some basic alarms for seven times what they'd cost her in the shops.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24Hopefully, her own alarm bells will start ringing.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27It's just a small door panel that's broken.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32A local glazing firm would typically charge £90 to £100 to replace it.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37Today, Roger wants to charge her at least double that. His target - £200.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41With the burglar alarms on top, it could make him a cool £300.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45It's getting late when our tricky twosome rock up.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49- Hello.- Hello.- Sorry we're so late. - That's not a problem.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Do you know why? Cos we work constantly. We never stop.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56- Tea or anything?- You're speaking my language!- Yeah?- Yeah.- Love it.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00- Sugar?- One for me, please. - Sugar for him, none for me, thanks.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05I'll just get a measurement here.
0:05:05 > 0:05:12It never ceases to amaze me that people let Roger in without checking his ID. He could be anyone.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15That's going to be 600 millimetres...
0:05:16 > 0:05:19..by 475.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24600 by 475. I'll go and call the glazier.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29With the door assessed, Roger orders a new window panel from a local glazier,
0:05:29 > 0:05:31but they have to collect it.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Don't forget your tea!
0:05:34 > 0:05:41- Take them with us? We'll bring the cups back.- Yeah.- We'll just take the teas with us.- All right.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45- Make sure they return those cups, Abby.- Let's go get this glass.- OK.
0:05:45 > 0:05:51Hot teas in hand, our cowboys pick up the replacement glass and are back with Abby in no time at all.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Take the cups back in, Luke.
0:05:54 > 0:06:00We've got the glass, we're back in now. We're going to fit that as quickly as we possibly can.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Thank you so much for that.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08Well, at least they brought the cups back!
0:06:08 > 0:06:12- It's laminated, this glass.- Yeah. - Do you know what that means...? Don't you?
0:06:12 > 0:06:18- Didn't you pay attention at school during the laminated glass lesson? - I didn't pay attention at school.
0:06:18 > 0:06:25- What it is... You can't smash it. It's the sort of thing they use on security vans.- Oh, right.
0:06:25 > 0:06:31- Look at this. There's two sheets of glass there.- Yeah.- It's got a little, thin film inside it.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34- Right.- If you tried to kick it in, you wouldn't do it.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38Hmm, toughened glass. Abby hasn't asked for a quote yet.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42I tell you what - you can't rush a craftsman, can you?
0:06:42 > 0:06:46Yeah, especially not one who charges by the hour, eh, Roger?
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Now, this job seems to be going very smoothly.
0:06:51 > 0:06:57No sign of dirty tricks yet, but you can be sure Roger isn't going soft.
0:06:57 > 0:07:02To make laminated glass work properly, it needs to be securely held, the sides held.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07If that was loose and you kicked it in the middle, it would bend slightly.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Abby seems quite relaxed with our cowboys.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15Unfortunately, she's about to break one of the golden rules.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19- Will you guys still be here if I nip to the shop quickly?- Yeah.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Abby, really!
0:07:21 > 0:07:27No matter how friendly our tradesmen may seem, you should never leave strangers alone in your house.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31You've not seen their ID. They could do anything while you're out.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35- That's great. She's left us in the house.- All on our own.
0:07:37 > 0:07:38INTERCOM RINGS
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- That made me jump. You do it.- Hello. - INAUDIBLE REPLY
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Ask who she is, Luke. Don't just let any stranger in.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Ask for her ID!
0:07:48 > 0:07:54Now, you're just going to have to spend the night out on the balcony. We've got to let this adhesive set.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Here you are, come on. I'm only kidding you. Come in.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01Mind how you tread. I've got all this muck over here.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03- She's on the phone.- Thank you.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06- I'll have to do something with it. - Yeah...
0:08:06 > 0:08:09I'll go and get something to clean this lot up with.
0:08:09 > 0:08:15That's very good of you, Roger. More time on the clock and if she thinks you're doing a good job,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18she's much more likely to go for your next trick.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22- I'll do that.- No.- I've got to hoover anyway. The floor's terrible.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27Are you sure? I've got a portable vacuum. OK, I'll be back in a sec.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Right, it's getting very dark in here.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37We've finished the job, we've done a great job there
0:08:37 > 0:08:41and now I just want to charge her for a couple of security devices.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43That'll up the ante for us.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50So by the time Abby pays him, in theory, that's £180 in Roger's pocket.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54So it's time to spring a really dirty trick.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58He's brought some domestic burglar alarms which cost £10 in the shops.
0:08:58 > 0:09:03He'll try to talk Abby into paying the extortionate sum of £75 for them.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Sadly, this kind of scam is all too common.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Now, these... It's a little alarm.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15- Right.- If you stick that on the door, it senses vibration.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17It also senses intruders.
0:09:17 > 0:09:23- If anybody tries to get in your door, it's vibration and movement... - Where do you put it? Just up there?
0:09:23 > 0:09:27- We can fit it for you if you want. No, it goes on the inside.- OK.
0:09:27 > 0:09:34It'll just pick up any vibration on the frame, so if anybody tries to get in your door and in there...
0:09:34 > 0:09:38It's up to you. We just keep a few of these devices on the van.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40They're 75 quid.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- It's up to you entirely.- OK.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47I just thought we'd offer you that as a bit of extra security.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52Yes, Roger, secure in the knowledge that you picked them up for a tenner down the shops!
0:09:52 > 0:09:56- Let me just slice this up.- Sorry. - Do you want to go in with Abby?
0:09:56 > 0:10:01- Just try and sweet-talk her into buying something, Luke.- Yeah! LAUGHTER
0:10:01 > 0:10:05I bet you've got your fingers crossed, you rascal!
0:10:06 > 0:10:10So, I wonder if Abby will fall for Roger's overcharging?
0:10:10 > 0:10:15- I'm going to go and sell one to your neighbour.- Yeah! - I'll charge her 200 quid.
0:10:15 > 0:10:21- What will she make of his bill for the window, worth a week's wages? - I didn't think it'd be that much.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27Hmm, overcharging for burglar alarms.
0:10:27 > 0:10:33It may sound an unlikely dirty trick, but it really happened to some consumers in the north-east.
0:10:33 > 0:10:40The story of what this con man did and what happened to him is proof yet again that crime does not pay.
0:10:40 > 0:10:47Take a good look at Derek Hepple whose tricks and cons brought misery to a consumer in the Durham area
0:10:47 > 0:10:51and whose history of fraud dates back to 2001.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54He had a horrendous previous conviction
0:10:54 > 0:10:57where he conned an elderly mother and son
0:10:57 > 0:10:59out of over £30,000.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03After serving four years at Her Majesty's pleasure,
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Hepple's appetite for swindling the elderly remained undiminished
0:11:07 > 0:11:11as recently widowed Elizabeth Wright would discover.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Hepple's first trick was to make friends with his potential victim.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17He was absolutely charming.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21He was very friendly, he was very well dressed.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24He was mannerly, polite
0:11:24 > 0:11:26and became a friend.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31At this point in 2007, Hepple ran a legitimate security alarm business
0:11:31 > 0:11:38in Tyne and Wear called Night And Day, not to be confused with any other companies of similar name.
0:11:38 > 0:11:45Though his operation was largely above board, Hepple found a way to trick a handful of his clients.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Hepple targeted the elderly or vulnerable in his customer base
0:11:49 > 0:11:52and oversold and mis-sold products to them.
0:11:52 > 0:11:58In some instances, the products that Hepple was selling were 20 times over the value that you'd expect.
0:11:58 > 0:12:04Having gained Elizabeth's trust, he first saw the opportunity to rip her off
0:12:04 > 0:12:07when she mentioned her need of a stair-lift.
0:12:07 > 0:12:12He started saying, "Are you really sure you need this stair-lift?
0:12:12 > 0:12:19"Perhaps you could be better off without your stair-lift and instead have a new alarm system
0:12:19 > 0:12:25"because a new alarm system is going to be far safer for you than any stair-lift."
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Of course, it wasn't a small or cheap system.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Hepple's men fitted burglar, carbon monoxide and smoke alarms.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37You and I can buy a couple of smoke alarms in the shops for a tenner,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41but Hepple inflated these charges to a whopping £1,500.
0:12:41 > 0:12:47Not content with leaving things there, Hepple continued to sell products to Elizabeth,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50using his whole box of treacherous tricks.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Hepple would use jargon to sell his products.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57He made great play on a change in EU legislation, frequency changes.
0:12:57 > 0:13:03He would bamboozle his customers and tell them that their systems were breaching EU law.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05This was, in fact, a lie.
0:13:05 > 0:13:11Hepple would make his victims think they needed to take out extra insurance in the form of warranties.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13They were totally unnecessary.
0:13:14 > 0:13:20He tried to sell me a warranty for £654 or something.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24And that would be a five-year warranty.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Then a short time later,
0:13:26 > 0:13:34I got a phone call to say he would sell me a lifetime guarantee for about twice the amount of money.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37Over the three years
0:13:37 > 0:13:42from September 2006 to October 2009,
0:13:42 > 0:13:46Derek Hepple made ten different charges to Elizabeth,
0:13:46 > 0:13:51either directly by invoice or withdrawn from her account without her knowledge.
0:13:51 > 0:13:57The grand total came to £14,996.15.
0:13:57 > 0:14:03In all, nearly 15 grand for three alarms and a couple of bits of paper.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Disgusting!
0:14:06 > 0:14:12Hepple may have thought he was on the gravy train, but by 2009, his days were numbered.
0:14:12 > 0:14:18Another elderly victim had noticed a large hole in her bank account and contacted the police.
0:14:18 > 0:14:25She'd noticed over £15,000 had been taken electronically without her knowledge or her authorisation.
0:14:25 > 0:14:31It was clear from the transactions the monies had gone into an account in the name of Night And Day.
0:14:31 > 0:14:37Financial enquiries showed that this was an account owned and run by Derek William Hepple.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40In all, the police tracked down 15 victims.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45Many of them, like Elizabeth, hadn't even realised they'd been conned.
0:14:45 > 0:14:51The grand total that Hepple extorted from them came to £121,000.
0:14:53 > 0:14:59When the police told me what Hepple had been doing, I just couldn't believe it.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02I was totally devastated.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07I had trusted him all the time and to think that over three years,
0:15:07 > 0:15:11he had actually taken £15,000
0:15:11 > 0:15:18of my hard-earned, 40 years' working life out of my account
0:15:18 > 0:15:20and many times without me knowing,
0:15:20 > 0:15:25I just felt that he had betrayed my trust altogether!
0:15:25 > 0:15:30Following a positive ID at an identity parade, Hepple was arrested.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34And close examination of his business affairs revealed victims
0:15:34 > 0:15:38as far afield as Birmingham to the north of Scotland.
0:15:38 > 0:15:44Finally, to prove the case against Hepple, we engaged an industry expert on the matter
0:15:44 > 0:15:47who took an overview of the statements,
0:15:47 > 0:15:52invoices were recovered from either the victims or the search of the business premises,
0:15:52 > 0:15:56and essentially, this expert concluded that, in his opinion,
0:15:56 > 0:16:01the victims represented the worst case of exploitation he'd seen in 32 years
0:16:01 > 0:16:05and that Hepple was a disgrace to the intruder alarm industry.
0:16:05 > 0:16:12In May 2011, Hepple pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud 15 victims.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15His sentence was four years and eight months.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20A proceeds of crime case is attempting to recover his ill-gotten gains.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23Hepple was a callous and calculating man.
0:16:23 > 0:16:29He was able to gain the trust of his victims and betray that trust and massively overcharge them.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Elizabeth is now getting on with her life.
0:16:33 > 0:16:39The dirty tricks played on her were devastating, but perhaps there are lessons for us all.
0:16:39 > 0:16:45Take advice before you purchase anything. Get additional quotes, an idea of what something is worth.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Where possible, work off a recommendation.
0:16:48 > 0:16:54Check up on your bank balance and make sure you get a receipt for absolutely everything.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58Check that that's the only thing that has come out of your account,
0:16:58 > 0:17:05but do be careful because there are so many very charming rogues that come to visit.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18Later on, we have another extraordinary story
0:17:18 > 0:17:23as a Liverpool pensioner's roof is actually vandalised by tradesmen
0:17:23 > 0:17:27who then try to charge thousands of pounds for its repair.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31I wasn't to tell any neighbours, just keep it a secret between ourselves.
0:17:31 > 0:17:37Plus, our Roger tries to convince a college lecturer in Berkshire to let him fix his central heating,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40but it isn't even broken.
0:17:40 > 0:17:45- 20, 40, 60, 80, one ton, yeah? - One ton, yeah.
0:17:47 > 0:17:53First, let's see if Abby Finester from Hertfordshire falls for our rogue glazier and his dirty tricks.
0:17:53 > 0:17:59Her boyfriend Matt is on it and Roger has been trying to distract her with his builder's banter.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02You'll have to spend the night out on the balcony.
0:18:02 > 0:18:08All the while planning to charge double the going rate for replacing the broken glass in her front door.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12It gets worse. The normal price for a burglar alarm is about £10.
0:18:12 > 0:18:17He's going to ask for seven times that, but will she fall for it?
0:18:17 > 0:18:21It's just a little extra we can do while we're here if you want,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24if you want the security, the extra safety.
0:18:24 > 0:18:30- You don't want this?- Not at the moment.- He failed miserably. - I can't afford it.
0:18:30 > 0:18:36It's good to see Abby side-stepping a really nasty con - a £10 alarm sold for £75.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40That would have been a £65 profit for Roger.
0:18:40 > 0:18:47- I'm going to go and sell one to your neighbour.- Yeah.- I'll charge her 200 quid.- Yeah.- OK then...
0:18:47 > 0:18:50So no extra cash there. Back to the original job.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Can he make her pay through the nose for that window pane he fitted?
0:18:54 > 0:18:58It should cost £90 to £100, but he's aiming for double.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00How much do I owe you?
0:19:00 > 0:19:04For the glass and that, it's 175 quid if it's cash.
0:19:04 > 0:19:09A hundred and seventy-five quid?! I bet Abby didn't see that coming.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13All right. Do you want your light as well?
0:19:13 > 0:19:16Yeah, we'll take the light. Let there be light!
0:19:16 > 0:19:22Abby Finester has let a cheating glazier into her home without checking his ID.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25She left him alone while she popped out.
0:19:25 > 0:19:30He's tried and failed to sell her a cheap burglar alarm with a massive mark-up.
0:19:30 > 0:19:36Now he's trying to charge her double for his window repair because Abby didn't get a quote up front.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38So will she stand firm or pay up?
0:19:38 > 0:19:43I've only got 20-notes, so have you got any change?
0:19:43 > 0:19:49- Yeah, yeah.- What was it? 20, 40, 60, 80... 175 you said?- Yeah.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53- He's got change. - Have I? I've got nothing. I spent it on fish and chips.
0:19:53 > 0:19:59- Have you got 180?- Yeah.- We'll get you a fiver. Don't worry. We'll take this stuff down and find a fiver.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03- Have you got any change, Luke? - I've got three.
0:20:03 > 0:20:08See if we can get away with that - giving her three, telling her that's all we've got.
0:20:08 > 0:20:13Looks like Roger may not be finished yet. Even at this late hour,
0:20:13 > 0:20:17will he twist a few more pounds out of Abby's rapidly emptying purse?
0:20:17 > 0:20:22- We're struggling to find £5. - 175, you want five. We've got three plus a bit of shrapnel.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27Or we've got a tenner. We'll have to give you a discount or you'll have to give Luke a tip.
0:20:27 > 0:20:34- Which do you want to do?- I didn't think it would be that much.- All right, I'm giving you a discount.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39- Cos I like you.- Thank you very much. - You're a nice person. You'll be secure now.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43Nobody can kick your door in now. Have a nice evening.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47- Take care.- You too.- Thanks a lot, Abby. Cheers. See you, bye!
0:20:49 > 0:20:52We gave her a discount. What am I?
0:20:54 > 0:20:59With Roger out of sight, our producer knocks on the newly repaired door
0:20:59 > 0:21:02to break the news about our trickster's work.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06KNOCKS ON DOOR
0:21:09 > 0:21:13- Hello.- Hello.- Sorry to bother you. - That's all right.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17We're from the BBC and we've had a few reports in the area
0:21:17 > 0:21:23- about various tradesmen who are trying to scam people in the neighbourhood.- OK.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28Have you had any experiences lately of that kind of thing, any plumbers, painters...?
0:21:28 > 0:21:34I've literally just had my door done and that cost £175.
0:21:34 > 0:21:40And I thought... My boyfriend's just gone out. He gave me 40 quid cos he didn't think it would be much more.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43But it just cost £175.
0:21:43 > 0:21:48I thought that was expensive, but I didn't know if it was because I'm a girl that they thought,
0:21:48 > 0:21:52"Her boyfriend's not here, let's..." I don't know.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57- We have had some reports and they're actually a couple of scammers basically.- Really?
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Oh, my word! Seriously?
0:22:00 > 0:22:02How do you feel about that?
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Well, that was my wages.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10So... Oh, dear.
0:22:10 > 0:22:15Luckily for Abby, Roger and boyfriend Matt are about to return with her wages.
0:22:15 > 0:22:20- You have been a victim of a scam, I'm afraid.- OK.
0:22:20 > 0:22:26- You thought you would never see us again.- Is that a joke? - We've come back to haunt you.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28- Are you joking? Oh, my God!- BLEEP
0:22:28 > 0:22:31You're such an idiot!
0:22:31 > 0:22:34Oh, my word!
0:22:34 > 0:22:37- There's your money back. You didn't give us a tip!- I know.
0:22:37 > 0:22:42When they first came in, they were both very welcoming, really chatty.
0:22:42 > 0:22:47I didn't think anything funny about it. They were really nice. I made them a cup of tea.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51- That's for you.- Thank you.- And you've also got your window fixed.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Yeah, thank you very much.
0:22:54 > 0:23:00When I handed over the cash, I was absolutely...well, gutted because it's a lot of money.
0:23:00 > 0:23:07If anyone else was in the same situation as me, I'd just say ask for some identification first.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11Make sure you ask for a receipt as well and don't leave the house
0:23:11 > 0:23:15because next time, I don't know, something could be taken.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20Thanks very much, Abby, for helping us out. You were terrific.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24But what should you do to avoid being the victim of a con like that?
0:23:24 > 0:23:30For starters, leaving her home unattended was a big problem. Never do that.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35Always think, "Why am I being offered a deal that's too good to be true?" It rarely is.
0:23:35 > 0:23:40And never let a tradesman tackle any job without getting a written quotation.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Your local Trading Standards will also offer advice.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50According to the Office of Fair Trading,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54there were 1,000 complaints about the solar panel industry in 2009,
0:23:54 > 0:23:57mainly to do with unfair sales tactics.
0:23:57 > 0:24:03It's also worth thinking about the tricks rogues can play when it comes to keeping solar panels maintained.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Talking of which, what's Roger up to?
0:24:06 > 0:24:11English lecturer Gillian Tunley enjoys a bohemian house share
0:24:11 > 0:24:18with her Scottish lodger Desmond Dawson, a fellow teacher and a former RAF engineer.
0:24:18 > 0:24:24We have a very easy-going relationship based on humour and, um...
0:24:24 > 0:24:28We both hold the same sort of values, I guess.
0:24:28 > 0:24:33We're both teachers, so we sing from a similar hymn sheet.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38She hopes Desmond's engineering background won't make him too suspicious of Roger's tricks.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42She suggested a con involving the solar panels on her roof.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47They provide heating during the day while a range cooker heats the house at night.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52There's a small issue with the panels and sometimes they offer no heating during the day,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55so Roger has a perfect reason to call by.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00- You've been shopping for something. What is it? - I've got a cheap alarm clock.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03It's not just an ordinary alarm clock.
0:25:03 > 0:25:09It picks up a signal from the Meteorological Office and tells you what the weather's going to be.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12We're going to incorporate this into the solar panel
0:25:12 > 0:25:17and fool the householder into thinking this is telling his solar panel
0:25:17 > 0:25:20if it's needed or not every day.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24- How much are you hoping to get for this?- That's cost us about 20 quid.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29So I reckon somewhere around £200, that sort of money. Let's see what he'll go for.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32So Roger will play two tricks today.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36First, flannel Desmond with nonsense about the lack of hot water,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40then try and persuade him that a special gadget is needed
0:25:40 > 0:25:46to make sure the solar panels work better, even though it's just a cheap alarm clock costing 20 quid.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51Gillian is at work, so Desmond is on his own at the house when Roger arrives
0:25:51 > 0:25:54just after 11 o'clock.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Hello. I've come to look at the solar panels.
0:26:00 > 0:26:05If you're just a friend, you're doing yourself a disservice there. I'm sorry.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Which roof is the panel on?
0:26:10 > 0:26:16Oh, it's on the front. It's south-facing. It would be because that's where the cylinder is.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19- Is that all right if I just go upstairs?- Yeah, yeah.
0:26:19 > 0:26:25Desmond seems laid-back, so laid-back that he doesn't even ask to see Roger's credentials.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27But our man can't relax.
0:26:27 > 0:26:34Talking to someone with engineering knowledge from the RAF, will trick number one pass muster?
0:26:34 > 0:26:39What we've got here is the flow temperature coming down from the panel.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42That's the return temperature.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44If you look at them, they're the same.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49What the problem is here, I think, is that...
0:26:51 > 0:26:55..and that solar are basically doing the same job.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Basically, what should be happening is that should be switching off
0:26:59 > 0:27:02when, um... when the solar's doing the job.
0:27:02 > 0:27:07There should be a differential between that flow and return to make that work.
0:27:07 > 0:27:13These need to talk to each other, so that knows that the solar is doing the job.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17It's almost like it's taking heat and dumping it out on the roof.
0:27:17 > 0:27:22Where do you get this nonsense, Roger? Still, Desmond's not batted an eyelid.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26So what we need to do really is to fit a weather compensator on it
0:27:26 > 0:27:29and it picks up a signal from the Met Office.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34Basically, it says, "It's going to be a good day today. Don't worry.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37- "This will take care of it." Yeah?- Cool.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45It'll pay for itself in no time because once that's done the job, it can't undo the job.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49Seven o'clock in the morning, it's done the job,
0:27:49 > 0:27:53then the solar panel's going, "What am I here for? I've nothing to do."
0:27:53 > 0:27:58It seems the first dirty trick is working and Desmond is falling for the flannel.
0:27:58 > 0:28:03I'll just go and get a price for that. I'll make a call and see what we can do.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06That is definitely the way to solve it.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11The key to the house? OK, cheers.
0:28:11 > 0:28:16Did you hear that? You won't believe this, but Desmond's given them the house keys,
0:28:16 > 0:28:21so they can come and go more easily. It's a nightmare. They've only just met!
0:28:21 > 0:28:26He's gone for it. It seems that he understands there's a problem with the panel
0:28:26 > 0:28:32and the way that it's hooked up to that boiler and now I'm going to introduce a bit of technology.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34I've got this clock. It cost £15.
0:28:34 > 0:28:39It receives a signal from the Met Office to tell you what the weather is.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43It won't do anything, but I think we'll make some money on this one.
0:28:43 > 0:28:48Time for the alarm clock or weather compensator, as Roger calls it.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52Has anyone got any idea about how much this is going to cost?
0:28:52 > 0:28:55What's it looking like, Roge?
0:28:55 > 0:28:58It's got 65 on the cylinder.
0:28:58 > 0:29:03Lads, I'll need to leave you. Believe it or not, I'm teaching at the minute on the internet.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07Uh-oh! Not only has Desmond not asked for a quote,
0:29:07 > 0:29:11he's leaving Roger to it while he starts an online English class.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14The poor man is asking to be ripped off.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19So will Desmond ever take an interest in these dodgy tradesmen?
0:29:19 > 0:29:24- The fluid goes a bit like toffee. - I've got to go.- That's all right.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28How will he react when he realises he's been conned?
0:29:28 > 0:29:31There is no phone number at all, no.
0:29:35 > 0:29:41We'll be back at Desmond's in just a moment, but first, a shocking story from the north-west.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44It's only a tiny minority of tradesmen who misbehave,
0:29:44 > 0:29:51but when they do, they can create havoc and heartache, but watch how the crooks got their just deserts.
0:29:52 > 0:29:59In January 2011, 72-year-old Ray Wood was at home in Merseyside when there was a knock at his door.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03Two swindlers, Amos Price and Craig Dearden, were cold-calling
0:30:03 > 0:30:07and were about to attempt a daring and heartless fraud.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12Rogue traders like Price and Dearden will visit areas like this.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15They will drive up and down
0:30:15 > 0:30:18and try and identify where people live alone.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22I'd say the elderly are the most vulnerable.
0:30:22 > 0:30:27When I opened the door, there was this man that I'd never seen before.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31He said they'd done some work on the neighbour's roof and he thought
0:30:31 > 0:30:34that my roof was in a state of bowing,
0:30:34 > 0:30:36so could he go up and have a look?
0:30:36 > 0:30:41And before you could say like Jack Robinson, he scrambled up.
0:30:41 > 0:30:47It's true that bowing or sagging can occur when timbers supporting the roof have weakened.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51This will cause the roof to dip in the middle and the tiles to slip.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55Without giving Ray a chance to question what they were doing,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58Price and Dearden had set their scam in motion.
0:30:58 > 0:31:03From up on the roof, they just started to throw the ridge tiles down.
0:31:03 > 0:31:08They were going quite near to the car. I was getting a bit worried.
0:31:08 > 0:31:13Not taking any precautions or anything, just throwing them down ad-lib.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Starting a job without someone's consent
0:31:16 > 0:31:21is one dirty trick of the fraudster all too familiar to the police.
0:31:21 > 0:31:27There was no reason why they should have been doing this. They hadn't asked Mr Wood's permission
0:31:27 > 0:31:33and before Mr Wood has time to think about it, Price is in his house trying to agree a price with him.
0:31:33 > 0:31:38So after damaging Ray's roof and littering the road and garden with tiles,
0:31:38 > 0:31:43the two scammers entered his house to discuss the cost of remedying the problem.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47He said that his initial offer was £8,000,
0:31:47 > 0:31:52but he could do a good deal, only for that day, at £6,000.
0:31:52 > 0:31:57It was such a good deal that I wasn't to tell any of the neighbours or anything,
0:31:57 > 0:32:01just to keep it a secret between ourselves.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03It's a classic con man trick.
0:32:03 > 0:32:09By law, we're allowed a seven-day cooling-off period for goods or services sold to us in our homes,
0:32:09 > 0:32:12but these guys were really turning up the heat.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16They put Mr Wood under an immense amount of pressure.
0:32:16 > 0:32:22Price was in his house within seconds of calling at the door, saying that work needed doing now.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26At that time, we were having a lot of snow, it was extremely cold.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29This is an elderly gentleman living on his own.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33They were forcing him into giving them that money,
0:32:33 > 0:32:37even with the cheek of giving a discounted price of two grand.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41I thought we had gone beyond the point of no return.
0:32:41 > 0:32:47I was in such a situation that the roof had to be repaired.
0:32:47 > 0:32:54He said that he wanted his money right away and he didn't take cheques or anything. He wanted cash.
0:32:54 > 0:33:00Whilst the rogues waited at his house in their van, they made Ray drive to the bank.
0:33:00 > 0:33:05It had been a dizzying train of events. Two men had called cold, thrown tiles from his roof
0:33:05 > 0:33:09and they pressured him to go and get six grand to fix it.
0:33:09 > 0:33:14Thankfully, Ray encountered someone who genuinely had his interests at heart.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16An elderly gentleman called in
0:33:16 > 0:33:20and asked to draw a large sum of money out of his account.
0:33:20 > 0:33:24I asked him some questions and he just seemed a little bit nervous.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Something just didn't seem quite right.
0:33:27 > 0:33:32When I asked him a few more questions, I realised we needed to call the police.
0:33:32 > 0:33:38What a star - trusting her instincts and leaping to Ray's help at his moment of need!
0:33:38 > 0:33:42Kathie, your quick thinking saved Ray from losing a fortune
0:33:42 > 0:33:45and also helped him to see the ugly truth.
0:33:45 > 0:33:50I thought to myself that I'd been conned. There was no other word for it.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54The way the cashier responded was absolutely excellent.
0:33:54 > 0:34:00If it wasn't for them, we couldn't have responded so quickly to take Price and Dearden off the street.
0:34:00 > 0:34:07When the police arrived at Ray's house, Price and Dearden tried to flee, but were caught and arrested.
0:34:07 > 0:34:13It wasn't long before the police discovered why they tried to leave the scene of the crime so quickly.
0:34:13 > 0:34:18The van they were sitting in and had been using that day was later searched.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22There was no evidence of any tools, tiles or work equipment in the back.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26They had no intention of doing any work to Mr Wood's roof.
0:34:26 > 0:34:32Proof then that these two bad apples planned to take Ray's £6,000 and then scarper without doing the work.
0:34:32 > 0:34:38An investigation showed the fraudsters had lied from the start in their quest for Ray's cash.
0:34:38 > 0:34:43The chartered surveyor's report revealed that the work didn't need doing.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47The damage they had caused cost Mr Wood £350 to repair.
0:34:47 > 0:34:53The chartered surveyor was able to estimate that it should have cost no more than a few hundred pounds
0:34:53 > 0:34:58to replace some tiles. Definitely not the £6,000 that Price quoted to Mr Wood.
0:34:58 > 0:35:04According to the surveyor, Ray's roof needed a few hundred pounds' worth of work on it at most.
0:35:04 > 0:35:10What these two con merchants did was to wreck his roof, then try and take Ray to the cleaners
0:35:10 > 0:35:12to the tune of £6,000.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14It almost defies belief.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19But in April 2011 at Liverpool Crown Court,
0:35:19 > 0:35:25Amos Price was sentenced to 14 months in prison for his part in trying to scam Ray.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28Craig Dearden received nine months behind bars.
0:35:28 > 0:35:34The actions of these two scammers may remain with their victim for much longer than their sentences.
0:35:34 > 0:35:40I can't believe that people will treat pensioners in this way
0:35:40 > 0:35:43and con them out of their hard-earned savings.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47I'm much more cautious in the way I deal with people now,
0:35:47 > 0:35:50whether it's by telephone or any other means.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53It's good advice and remember to check your tradesman's ID.
0:35:53 > 0:35:58DC Cath Haggerty has some other pointers that should help keep out the fraudsters.
0:35:58 > 0:36:04My advice to avoid incidents like this, if in doubt, don't open the door.
0:36:04 > 0:36:09Reputable companies will not cold-call at your address.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13They will not try and sell you work to get it done there and then
0:36:13 > 0:36:16because if they're a good company, you'll go to them.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24Great advice. If you are thinking of using a particular tradesman,
0:36:24 > 0:36:29always use a written contract as it offers you protection if anything does go wrong.
0:36:29 > 0:36:34What about that college lecturer in Berkshire? Will he fall for our central heating con?
0:36:34 > 0:36:37- Hello there.- Hello.
0:36:37 > 0:36:42Remember, Desmond is lodging with Gillian Tunley, his fellow lecturer.
0:36:42 > 0:36:48She's left him in charge while Roger repairs a simple problem with the solar-panel heating system.
0:36:48 > 0:36:53So far, Desmond has fallen for Roger's first dirty trick - a load of old techno babble.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57It's almost like it's taking heat and dumping it out on the roof.
0:36:57 > 0:37:02What's more, he's given them keys to come and go as they please.
0:37:02 > 0:37:07He's let them start installing an unnecessary gadget without even asking for a quote.
0:37:07 > 0:37:12Lads, I need to leave you. I'm teaching at the minute on the internet.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14OK. All right, you carry on.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18Of course, Roger will be charging over the odds for this alarm clock
0:37:18 > 0:37:21which he's calling a weather compensator.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23You see this wiring? See that?
0:37:23 > 0:37:25There's...
0:37:25 > 0:37:28- And...- Look at that - multi-skilled!
0:37:28 > 0:37:33- It will go up there, OK?- Yeah. - That's called "plug and play".
0:37:33 > 0:37:39We could put a bit of gaff on there, but we don't want to waste any money. That's all wired in now, OK?
0:37:39 > 0:37:41That is going to start talking.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45Never leave untrustworthy tradesmen to work alone in your home.
0:37:45 > 0:37:50It leaves you wide open to them finding ways to increase the scale of the job they can do
0:37:50 > 0:37:53and crank up the costs as well.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57He's gone for the clock and we've pretended to install that.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01Now I'm going to tell him that his fluid needs changing.
0:38:01 > 0:38:07The stuff that goes through the panel has coagulated, so we need to pump some new fluid in there.
0:38:07 > 0:38:12I'm not going to bother doing it. We'll just pretend to do it.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16What a cheek, Roger! Throwing in a bonus trick?
0:38:16 > 0:38:20Sounds like more flannel could be heading Desmond's way.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22I'll just give this a hook-up.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25- What are we showing there, Luke? - 2.- 2 bar?
0:38:25 > 0:38:27- 2 bar.- Are we?
0:38:31 > 0:38:36When these panels don't work, when they sit there, the fluid goes a bit like toffee.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40Because it's been doing no work. We'll pump that round the panels.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43Then it'll just clear out any congealed...
0:38:43 > 0:38:48- It's a bit like the anti-freeze in your car.- I've got to go. - That's all right.
0:38:48 > 0:38:53Again Desmond leaves Roger to it and to aid his pretence of pumping,
0:38:53 > 0:38:58our tradesman makes some realistic swooshing sounds with a little water.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00One more, one more. That's lovely.
0:39:00 > 0:39:05- I've just poured it all over...- Oh, no. Can you get us a cloth, Luke?
0:39:05 > 0:39:07We've got a flood on our hands.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Look at that.
0:39:10 > 0:39:15- Can you wipe the top of that for me?- Of course. - Give it a quick wipe.
0:39:15 > 0:39:20How considerate of you, Roger(!) But you're about to wipe the floor with Desmond,
0:39:20 > 0:39:24if he's finished teaching English to his students around the world.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Do you want to pay us in yen or in English money?
0:39:28 > 0:39:31I can give you some yen. How much is this going to cost?
0:39:31 > 0:39:37- 250 for the whole...- BLEEP- ..thing. I'll let the fluid go for nothing. We normally charge 60 quid for that.
0:39:37 > 0:39:43Gilly's left me with what she thought was 200, but she's only left me 190,
0:39:43 > 0:39:45so I can give you 190 cash.
0:39:45 > 0:39:52Today, lodger Desmond Dawson let a pair of unknown tradesmen into his friend's home.
0:39:52 > 0:39:56He gave them free rein of the house, even the front door keys.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00Roger flannelled him with lies and is claiming money for gadgets
0:40:00 > 0:40:04and fluid changes that are unnecessary.
0:40:04 > 0:40:09- 20, 40, 60, 80, one ton. Yeah? - One ton, yeah.- All right?
0:40:10 > 0:40:1220, 30, 40, 50,
0:40:12 > 0:40:1460, 70,
0:40:14 > 0:40:1880, 90... 190 quid.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22There it goes - £190 for absolutely nothing.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26- We'll sort it out.- Can you give me a receipt?- I'll go and get one.
0:40:26 > 0:40:33He's right to demand a receipt, but it's a phoney document, not worth the paper it's written on.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36But hang on. Is the whole scam about to unravel?
0:40:36 > 0:40:41- Final question, mate.- Yes?- That wee box, so I can explain to Gilly...
0:40:41 > 0:40:43I'll tell her. I'll ring her.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46Quick thinking, Roger. Now time to skedaddle.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49- Cheers.- Cheers. Take care. - All the best.
0:40:55 > 0:41:01With Roger out of sight, it's time for our producer to call on Desmond and reveal the truth of the scam.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07- Hello there.- Hi. What the hell's happening?
0:41:07 > 0:41:14We've been doing some investigations for a TV show we're making about painters, electricians...
0:41:14 > 0:41:16We just had some today.
0:41:16 > 0:41:21It's really strange. It's pretty weird. I just had somebody coming round.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23Have you been tracking these guys?
0:41:23 > 0:41:28To be honest with you, I'm pretty sure you've been the victim of a scam.
0:41:28 > 0:41:33We've been following a couple of guys doing various jobs in the area
0:41:33 > 0:41:38and they haven't been doing anything and walking off with hundreds of pounds of cash.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41Can I show you the receipt, who they are?
0:41:41 > 0:41:44There is no phone number at all, no.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48I think it's about time to put Desmond out of his misery.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52I don't know if Gilly's going to be happy with that. I really don't.
0:41:52 > 0:41:58Here comes Gilly now and these are the two gentlemen. I don't know if you want to interview them?
0:41:58 > 0:42:02- You've been set up, I'm afraid. - Gilly, have I been set up?
0:42:03 > 0:42:06Desmond, surely not(!)
0:42:06 > 0:42:08Right, I'm going into Scottish mode here!
0:42:08 > 0:42:15When I handed the cash over to Roger, he got 190, but he reckoned that he'd done 250's worth.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18So he took the 190.
0:42:18 > 0:42:24Now, with hindsight, I obviously don't feel happy about that at all.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26I should be giving this to charity.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29I would say try and get a quotation,
0:42:29 > 0:42:35be more attentive to what people are doing when they're in the house and see what they're doing.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37You know, and, um...
0:42:37 > 0:42:41Although we can't be an expert on that,
0:42:41 > 0:42:45it's basically to stay with these people.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50Thanks for taking it so well, Desmond.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54The vast majority of tradesmen provide a reliable service.
0:42:54 > 0:43:00Only a very small minority try to con you. If in doubt, keep them out. See you next time.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2011
0:43:15 > 0:43:18Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk