0:00:02 > 0:00:06Nothing's more frustrating than something going wrong in your house.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Last year, we spent a staggering £15 billion on house repairs.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13But how can we tell if we've got a good deal,
0:00:13 > 0:00:16or if we've been taken to the cleaners?
0:00:16 > 0:00:18- How much? - 225? Do you want to go for 225?
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Just for today, 500 quid if it's cash.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Probably about seven and a half grand.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28We've been secretly filming up and down the UK,
0:00:28 > 0:00:31and we reveal how shockingly easy it could be
0:00:31 > 0:00:33for you - yes, you - to be duped.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36You've been ripped off, he's not a bona fide tradesman.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38He's not?!
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Have I been done?
0:00:40 > 0:00:43So yeah, I've been done, maybe.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45And this is the bit I love.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48We expose the UK's most outrageous tradesmen rip-offs.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53One of the worst conservatories I'd ever seen - it needed pulling down.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55The house was basically a death trap.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57There was no other word for it, conned.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Coming up...
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Our rogue tradesman, Roger, tries to con a Hertfordshire woman
0:01:02 > 0:01:06with shower repairs that are totally unnecessary.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08I can turn that into a better shower.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12I can put a little solar panel on it, and it will boost it no end.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15The Lancashire couple ripped off by driveway merchants
0:01:15 > 0:01:18who turned their garden into a disaster area.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21He came right up to me in a rather threatening way
0:01:21 > 0:01:24and said, "Don't you dare go down that road."
0:01:24 > 0:01:26I really was quite frightened.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29As Roger makes mountains out of molehills in Derbyshire,
0:01:29 > 0:01:33the price of a range-cooker removal is tripled.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36I just kind of hate being ripped off.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39Stand by for Dirty Tricks Of The Tradesmen.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Hello. Let's be honest, most of us know very little
0:01:48 > 0:01:50about trades like plumbing, electrics or roofing.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54We put our trust in tradesmen and expect them to play fair.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Of course, the vast majority are fair.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59It's a small minority who play dirty,
0:01:59 > 0:02:01and they can make our lives a misery.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05We're meeting people who have been ripped off by dodgy tradesmen,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08plus, with your help, we reveal how easy it is
0:02:08 > 0:02:11to fall for a typical set of tradesmen's tricks.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Our viewers have set up their friends and relatives
0:02:13 > 0:02:16to receive a visit from our very own tradesman.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Why? Well, to show you how to avoid being taken for a ride.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25This is Roger Bisby. After 40 years' experience,
0:02:25 > 0:02:29there's not much he doesn't know about the building game.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32If there's one thing he doesn't like,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36it's conmen cashing in on their dirty tricks.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41But in order to show you how not to get conned,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44we've asked Roger to go against everything he believes in,
0:02:44 > 0:02:46to become a rip-off merchant.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50We'll set up small property problems
0:02:50 > 0:02:54and send Roger round to show us how easy it is to be scammed.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57- Ah!- Filming with hidden cameras,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Roger will be working with cameraman and pretend apprentice Luke.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06We'll find out where they're springing their first trick in just a moment.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Did you know 85% of our homes have showers?
0:03:10 > 0:03:12They need regular maintenance,
0:03:12 > 0:03:16and that's when the con-artist can strike if you're not careful,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19so Roger's on his way to meet a streetwise young woman
0:03:19 > 0:03:23to see if she'll be taken in by his tactics.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Geraldine keeps a comfortable home in Hertfordshire
0:03:27 > 0:03:31and has invited us to play our tricks
0:03:31 > 0:03:34on her daughter, Joanna, who lives nearby.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36She's a bubbly person, she likes a laugh.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41Is she gullible? Very gullible, I'm afraid!
0:03:41 > 0:03:43Joanna's house-sitting
0:03:43 > 0:03:47because her mum's supposedly keeping a hospital appointment.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50A plumber's been called to fix a small but real shower problem,
0:03:50 > 0:03:54and - gullible or not - Joanna will want to keep an eye on things.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58So she will have to go up and make sure it's good,
0:03:58 > 0:04:00or she won't hand over the money.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04I wonder how Roger will turn that minor wiring problem
0:04:04 > 0:04:06to his advantage.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10One idea we've got is to put in a solar panel,
0:04:10 > 0:04:14which is a totally fictitious thing. To help me with this, I've got Luke.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- Have you got that solar panel? - Yep, got it here.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21This is really a low-powered unit - it won't do anything to the shower,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25but if we put it on the windowsill facing the sun,
0:04:25 > 0:04:27it's got a little flashing light,
0:04:27 > 0:04:31which will persuade them that it's kicking electricity into that shower.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35- You've got something else as well. - Yeah, something called an RCD.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39It's an essential bit of safety kit with an electric shower.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Water and electrics don't mix, so it's a really good thing to have.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45So our perfidious plumber is looking to blind Joanna
0:04:45 > 0:04:48with science about the state of the wiring.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Now, that should give him an excuse to fit the RCD unit.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54He's also trying to sell her a solar panel, too,
0:04:54 > 0:04:57if she believes his tall story about low power.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02You know what I think about Roger? I think he's an absolute shower.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Including labour, this job shouldn't cost more than £75.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10In fact, it might be less costly for the family to buy a new shower.
0:05:10 > 0:05:15But Roger has his heart set on making at least three times that.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19They arrive on time, just before one o'clock.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23- Full charm offensive, Luke. - I can't do that.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Hello! All right with shoes, or shall I take them off?
0:05:29 > 0:05:30Yeah, no, it's fine.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33I've noticed that no-one ever asks Roger for his ID,
0:05:33 > 0:05:35and Joanna is no exception.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39She's no idea who this plumber is or where he's come from.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Let's hope she keeps an eye on him.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45- Tea or coffee?- Yes, please. - Can I have a black coffee, please?
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Er, no, she's off downstairs to sort refreshments,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52giving Roger and Luke plenty of time to wreak havoc in the bathroom.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56- Do you see the shower, Luke? - It's hard to miss, isn't it?
0:05:56 > 0:06:00Some would miss it, those not trained in the art of shower recognition.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Nice sense of irony there, Roger.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06The question is, can you fix the genuine problem with the shower?
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Fuse box, fuse box, fuse box. Where's the fuse box? Under the...
0:06:10 > 0:06:14- I bet you don't know, do you? - I don't, no, it's my mum's house.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17I need to get to the electrics to turn it off.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19- Under the stairs? - I'll look, don't worry.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23- What's the fixation with witches? - My mum, she's a witch.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- Is she a witch, seriously? A real witch?- She's a proper witch?
0:06:26 > 0:06:30- She's a white witch. - Just as well she's in on the tricks.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32If Roger tried to pull a fast one on Geraldine,
0:06:32 > 0:06:36I bet she'd send some bad vibes in his general direction.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I'm just going to get some tools in.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43She seems a very pleasant young lady, very trusting.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46She's offered us a cup of tea within the first two minutes,
0:06:46 > 0:06:50which, in Luke's book, is the perfect woman.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Now we've got to find the fuse box, we're having difficulty locating it,
0:06:54 > 0:06:56and then I can move on to the shower.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02Fortunately, the power switch doesn't take too long to find,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05so Roger's soon ready to get to work on the shower.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08- I think. - That's the electric side of it.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12- I'm just going to test the shower. - Right, OK.- Can I borrow a towel?
0:07:12 > 0:07:17When I go underneath to test it, sometimes I get soaking wet,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20so I decided the best way of playing around with showers
0:07:20 > 0:07:24is I actually get in a shower and I work on it while I'm in it.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27So that's the easiest way, because I got soaked so many times.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30I have to go home, overalls soaking.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Any old towel. It could be a dog towel for all you like.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37Hmm, I reckon a dog towel would be appropriate for you, Roger.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39You're supposed to be blinding Joanna with science,
0:07:39 > 0:07:41not freaking her out.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44So you two talk amongst yourselves, all right? OK?
0:07:44 > 0:07:48# And did those feet
0:07:48 > 0:07:53# In ancient times... #
0:07:53 > 0:07:56- Are you all right there, Roger? - I'll be all right, you carry on.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00- I'm just... I'm working, Luke. - You're tone-deaf, mate.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Roger is actually repairing the genuine wiring issue
0:08:03 > 0:08:06while Luke keeps Joanna busy.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Joanne has been lulled into a false sense of security.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12She let Roger start work without asking him for a quote.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16He'll probably use this to do more work than is necessary,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19because it'll soon be too late for her to stop him.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- Did you like my singing, by the way? - No, it was dreadful.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26Right, I think we're rocking and rolling, Luke.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Simple, job done, shower apparently now in perfect working order,
0:08:30 > 0:08:34a job that usually costs around £75,
0:08:34 > 0:08:38but Roger's ready to start playing his tricks at any minute.
0:08:38 > 0:08:43What I think about that shower... I've fixed it.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46- Are you ready for it? - I just put in a new RCD in there.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Now, I can turn that into a better shower.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52We can give it a bit of a boost.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54I can put a little solar panel on it,
0:08:54 > 0:08:57and that will take a bit of electricity out of the sun
0:08:57 > 0:09:01- and it'll boost it no end, yeah? - You sneaky devil!
0:09:01 > 0:09:06Two tricks thrown in, in less time than it takes to rinse your roots.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09I can do it now or do it later. It'd be better if I did it now.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13Surely Joanna won't let Roger walk all over her.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17I'm almost inclined to fit that solar panel for you.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20How quickly will the penny drop that he's a rotter?
0:09:20 > 0:09:23I can do it now or do it later. It'd be better if I did it now.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Plumbing scams are common, but they're beaten by tarmacking tricks.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35In 2009, there were more than 1,200 reported complaints
0:09:35 > 0:09:37about dodgy driveways.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41The con-artists used every trick in the book to seem convincing.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44They even impersonate trusted brand names.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48The BBC's garden makeover series Ground Force
0:09:48 > 0:09:51ran for eight years until 2005.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Unfortunately for consumers in Lancashire,
0:09:54 > 0:09:56tricksters traded on its name.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Their audacious attempt to lend credibility
0:09:59 > 0:10:03to a fly-by-night tarmacking scheme is not to be confused
0:10:03 > 0:10:06with other reputable companies of the same name.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08This gang operated only in Preston,
0:10:08 > 0:10:12specialised only in driveways and vanished when they were rumbled.
0:10:12 > 0:10:17Fly-by-night cowboys are the trickiest to bring to justice,
0:10:17 > 0:10:22as local trading standards officer Tony Haslam explains.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26The most difficult aspect of solving a driveway scam such as this
0:10:26 > 0:10:29is usually the identification of the trader
0:10:29 > 0:10:31once they've gone with the money.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34If I'm honest about it, from the enforcement aspect,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37it is very difficult for us once we've reached that point.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41There's very little trail that's left by these guys.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Retired businessman Geoff Cummings and his wife Jean
0:10:44 > 0:10:49were among the victims taken in by the trader's choice of company name.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51In September 2009,
0:10:51 > 0:10:56a company called Ground Force knocked on the front door.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59To be honest, I thought it were t'BBC programme,
0:10:59 > 0:11:01which was named Ground Force,
0:11:01 > 0:11:03so I thought it was a legitimate firm.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07And they... they offered to do my drive.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11Scammers are becoming more sophisticated in a number of ways.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16One primary way that they do it is by livering their vehicles
0:11:16 > 0:11:19with company names, telephone numbers.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23They may even have hazard warning lights on the top of their vehicle
0:11:23 > 0:11:26to make them look like they are a legitimate set-up.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29And it was exactly this trick that Jean and Geoff fell for.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Lulled into a false sense of security,
0:11:31 > 0:11:36they entrusted him with the job of replacing their old concrete drive,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40which Geoff himself had built with his friends back in 1964.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45It was higgledy-piggledy, and it had cracked a lot.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48The drive had cracked across, it had cracked,
0:11:48 > 0:11:53it had lifted, part of the original path had lifted.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55And it was not very good,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58and, in fact, we'd talked about it for years to get it done,
0:11:58 > 0:12:00but it was money, money.
0:12:00 > 0:12:05That's why they picked us, because it wasn't very good, to be honest.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10I really thought he was from Ground Force,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13because he had his clipboard, he was well organised,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16plus the fact his van was parked at the end of the drive
0:12:16 > 0:12:20with Ground Force written on it, freephone number, mobile number,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23just like any other businessman, like, you know.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26He seemed quite a genuine bloke.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29He was very quiet, really, and he was on about, er...
0:12:29 > 0:12:34"We'll give you an estimate," and things like that.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Hoodwinked by the familiar sounding name of the company
0:12:37 > 0:12:41and the professional-looking vans, Jeff agreed to pay £1,500
0:12:41 > 0:12:43to have the old drive removed
0:12:43 > 0:12:47and a new tarmac drive blocked and installed.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51We walked down the drive together, I said, "I want it digging out,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54"and I want you to put blocks round, round the edges."
0:12:54 > 0:12:56We wanted it blocking round the edge.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01I want some little stones so it wouldn't look exactly black.
0:13:01 > 0:13:06And he said he would do all this, he said he would do it for £1,500.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09And he said, "You'll only need to pay me by cheque."
0:13:09 > 0:13:14The salesman urged the couple to let the work start the next day.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18He was so convincing, they agreed without checking quotes from other suppliers.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Two workmen turned up the next day,
0:13:20 > 0:13:23and while work was underway on transforming their drive,
0:13:23 > 0:13:27the couple's initial relief soon turned to alarm.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32The way that they started, erm... digging up the drive,
0:13:32 > 0:13:36they didn't seem to have the proper tools.
0:13:36 > 0:13:42They didn't look as though they knew what they were doing properly.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46Just messed about, doing nothing in particular,
0:13:46 > 0:13:48and spent most of their time in my garage, sat there,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52and then I began to wonder, "Oh, dear me, what have I done?"
0:13:52 > 0:13:56The next day, things went from bad to worse.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00A rigid wagon came, a flat-back, and it was like rent-a-mob.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05I've never seen anything like it, literally rent-a-mob.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10There must have been 15 men came, jumped off this wagon,
0:14:10 > 0:14:13and they came with... I don't know what you call them,
0:14:13 > 0:14:16and started breaking up, they started breaking up, right?
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Come down here with me now.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21They started breaking it up,
0:14:21 > 0:14:25and they were carrying big chunks of concrete out, all these guys.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29They were carrying it out and putting it on the flat of the wagon,
0:14:29 > 0:14:31and they dug it out to here, right?
0:14:31 > 0:14:35So now the rest of my drive is concreted, where I'd done,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38and all down here, they'd dug it out.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41And at six o'clock, they left and left me at t'weekend like that.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48And by this time, we were in...
0:14:48 > 0:14:51me and the wife were very upset about it.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54We knew by this time what we'd done,
0:14:54 > 0:14:58we realised what fools we'd been, if that's the right word to say,
0:14:58 > 0:15:00and we were both upset, we were...
0:15:00 > 0:15:03We couldn't sleep at night, we talked about nothing else,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07and we wondered how could we get out of it.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10The Cummings were trapped with half of their old driveway,
0:15:10 > 0:15:13half a strip of broken earth and no means of putting their car away.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Committed to the work,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18they were hostages to the traders' increasing demands.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21Two of them came knocking on the door,
0:15:21 > 0:15:25he said, "We'll block it for you for £4,400."
0:15:25 > 0:15:28I said, "Don't even go there." I said, "Don't go there."
0:15:28 > 0:15:31I said, "You're not blocking it, I can't afford that,
0:15:31 > 0:15:33"you're not blocking it."
0:15:33 > 0:15:38So, then they want cash, they were annoyed at that.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Then they asked me... they wanted cash.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42So then I had to phone up the bank
0:15:42 > 0:15:44and make arrangements to go and pick this £1,500 up.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49So much for paying by cheque.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53After Jeff was escorted to his bank to collect the cash payment,
0:15:53 > 0:15:55the tradesmen finished their rough work
0:15:55 > 0:15:59on the Cummings' driveway with nightmarish results.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03For their next trick they weren't even going to use the right materials.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08Another van, a wagon, a flat wagon turned up, right,
0:16:08 > 0:16:14with not tarmac but this pitch stuff that they fill road holes with.
0:16:14 > 0:16:19You know, the stuff that they fill holes in the road with? It was that.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22They just shovelled it in off the back of the wagon.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26He just said to the guy, "Just dump that there."
0:16:26 > 0:16:30And then they started up there and they just walked up
0:16:30 > 0:16:35and it was about quarter of an inch thick all the way down.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39They did it in an hour, an hour and a half.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43When they'd gone, I went up to the garage door
0:16:43 > 0:16:45and I couldn't close the garage door.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Jean Cummings felt the work was so shoddy
0:16:48 > 0:16:52she stood up to the rogues but was quickly put down.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56I said, "I don't think we should give you the full amount of money."
0:16:56 > 0:17:00And he came right up to me in a rather threatening way
0:17:00 > 0:17:05and said, "Don't you dare go down that road."
0:17:05 > 0:17:09And I was, I really was quite frightened.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13Ripped off and very scared, the couple had no option
0:17:13 > 0:17:17but to contact trading standards, who sent Tony Haslam to investigate.
0:17:17 > 0:17:22When I arrived at the premises and looked at the driveway,
0:17:22 > 0:17:27it was clear the quality and standard of work was pretty appalling.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30There were foot imprints on the tarmac
0:17:30 > 0:17:34where obviously people had walked while the tarmac wasn't solid enough.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38And Tony had more bad news for the couple.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41In relation to the Cummings' case,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44we obviously made as many enquiries as we could
0:17:44 > 0:17:48in relation to the information that they were able to give us
0:17:48 > 0:17:50but it became quite obvious early on
0:17:50 > 0:17:53that those avenues of investigation were going to lead nowhere
0:17:53 > 0:17:57in terms of investigating and bringing somebody to boot.
0:17:57 > 0:18:03The traders had vanished, taking the Cummings' £1,500 with them.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07On top of that, the couple paid another company £3,800
0:18:07 > 0:18:09to install a proper driveway.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Preston Trading Standards are aware of at least a dozen other victims
0:18:13 > 0:18:15of that Ground Force Driveways gang in Lancashire,
0:18:15 > 0:18:21who between them lost a total of £10,000 in three months.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Jean and Geoff hope others won't repeat their mistake.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28Nobody will ever sell me anything from the front door.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31They will not get through to me at all,
0:18:31 > 0:18:35they will not succeed in anything now.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37I've learnt my lesson, as old as I am.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40- Well, both of us have, haven't we? - Both of us have.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42It goes for me, too.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47We tried to track down the Preston Ground Force Driveway traders to give them the right to reply,
0:18:47 > 0:18:51but they appear to have vanished into a big black hole.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58We've another shocking case study later,
0:18:58 > 0:19:03when a West Midlands family are threatened by a tradesman who's damaged their uncle's roof.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05It was totally unnecessary, my uncle
0:19:05 > 0:19:08didn't give them permission to do so,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11they just went up there and then demanded payment.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13And in our quest to show how not to be ripped off,
0:19:13 > 0:19:18Roger's tricks get the better of a family man from Derby.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Eugh, they give you the creeps, don't they?
0:19:21 > 0:19:25First, time to find out whether Joanna from Hertfordshire
0:19:25 > 0:19:27falls for our cowboy's dirty tricks.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Roger's turned up to repair a genuine problem
0:19:30 > 0:19:32with the wiring on her mother's shower.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36Joanna's house-sitting while her mum supposedly has a hospital appointment.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40She hasn't checked Roger's ID or asked for a quote upfront.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44His plan was to sell her unnecessary gadgets at inflated prices
0:19:44 > 0:19:47and because she left him unsupervised,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50he's saying he's already fitted one without her knowledge.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Just put in a new RCD in there.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55That would normally cost only £20-30.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57But adding on labour costs he's planning to hike up
0:19:57 > 0:20:01the charge to more than £200. He's also baffling her with science
0:20:01 > 0:20:06about the shower needing a solar panel to give it a power boost.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10Still, no mention of money, so when is he planning to drop that bombshell?
0:20:10 > 0:20:13I can do it now or you can do it later. It'd be better if I do it now.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15Probably better to speak to Mum
0:20:15 > 0:20:18cos I don't want to agree without her say so.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20No, no.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Right, I've fixed the shower, it was just a loose wire
0:20:23 > 0:20:26so that only took a few minutes to fix.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29I've also put the neon light back in for them so they'll know
0:20:29 > 0:20:31when it's on and off, which is all good.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34There's a bit more work to do there, but I just told them
0:20:34 > 0:20:36I'd put a new RCD in and I'm going to charge them
0:20:36 > 0:20:40about £200 for that, hopefully come back and do some more work.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Now, I want to introduce the solar panel option to them.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Right.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52That solar panel is normally £100.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56But, if I fit it today while I'm here,
0:20:56 > 0:21:00I'll waive the call out charge so, basically,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03the call out charge is 65 quid.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05So, it would only end up costing her 35 quid
0:21:05 > 0:21:09if she wants the solar panel. Yeah? If I do it today.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11It's up to you, I don't mind either way.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13I don't want to make any...
0:21:13 > 0:21:16No, no. Do you want to give her a ring or what?
0:21:16 > 0:21:18- I can't, she's actually in the hospital.- Is she?
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- Is she all right?- I don't know what she's gone up there for,
0:21:21 > 0:21:24- but she'll have her phone off. - OK, fair enough.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Otherwise I'd say to you I'll ring her.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28- But I'll tell her.- Yeah, yeah.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31If I come back, I'll have to charge call out, but anyway, that's OK.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33- Just a bit of a bargain.- I know.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Just to up the game for me, that's all.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38OK, well, in that case, just the RCD
0:21:38 > 0:21:40and the, um...
0:21:40 > 0:21:43I'll just go and work it out. All right?
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Talk about stringing her along, Roger.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48You know the cost perfectly well.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52In fact, I know you know the cost of absolutely everything.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54Good old Joanna, she's been astute enough
0:21:54 > 0:21:55to dodge your solar panel trick.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59I bet there's a big bill though coming her way from the RCD.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01If you can't contact your mum...
0:22:01 > 0:22:03I'll tell her about it.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06- I'll just leave you with this. So... - This is for today?
0:22:06 > 0:22:09This is for today. The whole thing.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12226, it is. That's for cash.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18226 quid! Not bad for just over an hour's work.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Remember, the cash-hungry Cowboys
0:22:20 > 0:22:24shouldn't be charging more than £75 for this job.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27And the RCD, that normally costs around £30.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30As they pack and restore the house to the way they found it,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33it's time for Joanna to pay up or fight back.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Do you want me to write that out in full,
0:22:37 > 0:22:39residual current device, or not?
0:22:39 > 0:22:42No, that's fine.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Today, Joanna let a rogue plumber into her mum's house
0:22:45 > 0:22:48without asking for a quote or checking his ID.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50She dismissed Roger's solar panel scam,
0:22:50 > 0:22:55but he's saying he installed another unnecessary gadget without telling her.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Now he plans to charge her over the odds for it.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00She seems pretty trusting, will she pay up?
0:23:00 > 0:23:04- 240 there.- That's brilliant. You need some change.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08- I do, please.- How much? There's 226 on the paper.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11226. That's not bad going.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15I did want to sell that solar panel, but I was starting to discount it,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18I was being a fool to myself really. We live to fight another day.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20We'll take that solar panel somewhere else.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25Yes, and no doubt try your dirty tricks on some other consumers.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27But what about Joanna's £14 change, Roger?
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Or don't you carry that sort of money?
0:23:29 > 0:23:33I haven't got change, what are we going to do?
0:23:33 > 0:23:35I'll have to give you discount, sorry.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39- I do apologise for doing that. Nice to meet you.- And you.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42You are the nicest person we've met all day. Lovely, nice to see you.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Roger, you creep.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47And he still got £220 for a job
0:23:47 > 0:23:51that's really only worth about £75, the little rascal!
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Quick, let's go.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58She didn't like that bill, she was looking at it going, "What exactly have you done."
0:23:58 > 0:24:00With our Cowboys parked out of sight,
0:24:00 > 0:24:04our producer breaks the bad news that Joanna has been ripped off.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Hello there, hi, we're from the BBC.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12We're looking into people who've had experiences with plumbers,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16painters, whether they've had any strange experiences
0:24:16 > 0:24:18in the past couple of weeks.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21They've just left here, doing my mum's shower.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23They did a switch and an RC something.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Quite expensive, I did question them
0:24:26 > 0:24:29and they explained to me what it was for.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32I did find it a bit strange when he asked for a towel.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36It's time for mum Geraldine to come and confess her part
0:24:36 > 0:24:39in bringing our dirty trickster onto the premises.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43LAUGHTER
0:24:43 > 0:24:45It's you!
0:24:47 > 0:24:49I looked at Roger's invoice and questioned it
0:24:49 > 0:24:54because I believed that the prices for the switches were quite high.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57And the charging for an assistant and the mileage,
0:24:57 > 0:24:59I didn't think it was right.
0:24:59 > 0:25:00I let her off 16 quid.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02- Did you?- I hadn't got change. - No-one had change.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Oh well, there you go.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07- You win some, you lose some. - That's it.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Thank you very much indeed.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12- Thank you.- It's a pleasure to do business with you.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14I'm so going to get you back.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17'I think next time I have tradesmen in my house
0:25:17 > 0:25:19'I would probably ask for ID
0:25:19 > 0:25:25'and make more of a point of seeing what they are actually doing.'
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Well, Joanna, thank you so much for being so good-humoured,
0:25:28 > 0:25:33but how should YOU avoid being the victim of a con like that?
0:25:33 > 0:25:38First, always get at least three quotes for trade work.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42Second, ensure you take a reference for any tradesman you employ.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44And finally, never leave them alone.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46If Joanna had kept her eyes peeled,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49Roger wouldn't have got away with so much.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56One of the frequent complaints made about rogue tradesmen
0:25:56 > 0:25:58is their tendency to take a small job
0:25:58 > 0:26:01and turn it into something much bigger than it needs to be,
0:26:01 > 0:26:05often by telling whopping lies and planting props to support them.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08Now, Roger's about to try that on a family man in Derbyshire.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Lottie Carey, here on the left,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13lives with her mum Amanda in Derbyshire.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Today she wants to set up her stepfather, Graham,
0:26:16 > 0:26:18for his own good, of course.
0:26:18 > 0:26:19He's so gullible.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22He's just going to let people walk all over him.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25My little brother and sister, who are nine and ten,
0:26:25 > 0:26:29I'm sure they've got more upstairs than him
0:26:29 > 0:26:31and today I am going to prove it to him.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35The family have a range cooker that's been causing them nothing but grief.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Mum Amanda has had enough so she is helping Lottie spring this trick.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44My mum has told my dad that she's met someone who is going to give
0:26:44 > 0:26:46a price to get it removed.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Unfortunately for Graham, that someone is Roger,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53and he's not just looking for a cooker removal.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56We are going to find something else.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Lurking behind that cooker are cockroaches.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01How did they get there?
0:27:01 > 0:27:04I think it's got something to do with my assistant Luke.
0:27:04 > 0:27:05Catch.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08What we are going to do with these is plant them behind the cooker
0:27:08 > 0:27:12and then discover them, surprise surprise.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Got to remove them with our magic spray
0:27:14 > 0:27:16which is really nothing more than water
0:27:16 > 0:27:18so we can charge about £100 to do that.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22So £100 for now. A few thousand pounds later on.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24That's the aim.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27So, Roger will waltz into Graham's house
0:27:27 > 0:27:30and quote an extortionate price for the cooker removal.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Now, to be sure of walking out with a few quid today,
0:27:33 > 0:27:37he'll plant dead cockroaches behind the cooker
0:27:37 > 0:27:40and charge over the odds for a pest control job.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42It's his cockroach cooker con.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47It's a good idea to get a qualified specialist
0:27:47 > 0:27:50to provide a quote for cooker removals.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52They should cost around £300-£400.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54But when Roger arrives at 3:30pm,
0:27:54 > 0:27:56he plans to take away a hefty deposit
0:27:56 > 0:27:58and a contract for future work.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Hello, good afternoon.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05- You're a bit late, aren't you? 3:30pm.- Sorry, mate.
0:28:05 > 0:28:06- Come in.- I do apologise.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11Hmm, not a great start in gaining his trust, Roger.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14But fortunately, Graham's keen to get his cooker sorted.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16He hasn't checked Roger's ID, though.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19This has not been used for God knows how long.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23Quite honestly, what do you want to do with it? There's quite a lot of options you can go for.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26Get it to work, basically.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28The thing is, the thing is...
0:28:28 > 0:28:31What are you running all the rads off at the moment?
0:28:31 > 0:28:32- Nothing.- Nothing.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36You're never going to heat the central heating with it.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39We've had that many people around saying, "I can fix that for you."
0:28:39 > 0:28:42When they come round to have a look at it...
0:28:42 > 0:28:45The guy, when he fitted the lining, he knocked my chimney pot off.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48- Right.- As you drive past the house, you can probably see the chimney.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52I'll tell you what, if we take the Aga out,
0:28:52 > 0:28:54- we'll do the chimney as well.- Yeah?
0:28:54 > 0:28:56Put the chimney back on for you.
0:28:56 > 0:28:57Roger's been called round
0:28:57 > 0:29:02to give a quote but already he is setting himself up for a potentially costly chimney repair,
0:29:02 > 0:29:04so how much will he charge for removing the cooker?
0:29:04 > 0:29:10If we take this out, we want about 1,500 quid to take that out.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12Unbelievable.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15£1,500 is more than three times the usual price
0:29:15 > 0:29:17for removing a range cooker.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21Throw in the chimney repair, and Roger's looking to make a small fortune.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24Oh, that's awful, isn't it?
0:29:24 > 0:29:25Who did that?
0:29:25 > 0:29:28The builder panicked and the whole thing came through.
0:29:28 > 0:29:32Oh, no. OK. All right.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34I'm just going to get a torch.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42OK, he's got a chimney which definitely needs doing and a roof that definitely needs doing.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44So what I really need to do now
0:29:44 > 0:29:47is to give him a nice package deal, really for the whole thing.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54Really, I need to get a deposit from him now today to go ahead with it.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58And, to top it off, it's time for him to unleash his dirtiest trick
0:29:58 > 0:30:01and bring out his creepy-crawlies.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04- This is a beautiful computer. - Yeah, it's all right.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07With Luke distracting Graham in the living room,
0:30:07 > 0:30:12Roger plants his responsibly sourced and very dead cockroaches in the nooks and crannies
0:30:12 > 0:30:13around the cooker.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21Right, mate, OK, so are we going to remove this one? Is this what we're going for?
0:30:21 > 0:30:27Yeah. Yeah, just give us a quote and we'll get back to you when we see what the damage is.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31Dismantling the pipe-work. Just let me have a look at this.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35It's a bit ugly down there. What do you want to do about that bit?
0:30:35 > 0:30:37All this horrible bit of...
0:30:37 > 0:30:41- Yes, we can always re-tile it. - What, same ones?- Same ones, yeah.
0:30:41 > 0:30:46- There's three massive beetles here. - Where?- See them?- They're not beetles, they're cockroaches.
0:30:46 > 0:30:52- Have you got a stick from a kebab... - Urgh! They are cockroaches? - Yes, I think they are.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55I'll see. Have you got a polythene bag there?
0:30:55 > 0:30:56Blimey, look!
0:30:56 > 0:30:59Eugh! It's enough to put you off your tea, isn't it?
0:30:59 > 0:31:02Oh, look at them! Look at them!
0:31:02 > 0:31:03Eugh!
0:31:03 > 0:31:04Eugh! That was...
0:31:04 > 0:31:06THEY LAUGH
0:31:09 > 0:31:13So Roger's roach trick is sprung. Will Graham fall for it?
0:31:13 > 0:31:19- I'll get some spray and spray around it.- I'll get some stuff tomorrow.- You sure?- Yeah.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22And if he does, how will he react to Roger's filthy con?
0:31:22 > 0:31:24Just kind of hate being ripped off.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30Don't we all, Graham?
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Now, Roger's always mind-mannered when he deals with his customers,
0:31:33 > 0:31:38but the bad news is even rogue traders can be polite when they're committing crimes.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40The good news is crime doesn't pay.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44Susan, from the West Midlands,
0:31:44 > 0:31:50has had the painful experience of seeing her beloved uncle fall victim to a rotten roofer.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52She's agreed to step out and talk to us
0:31:52 > 0:31:59only if we disguise their identities because what happened to Uncle Barry has shocked their family.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03He is an independent man and wanted to take care of his own affairs,
0:32:03 > 0:32:10so I was not keen to interfere too much, but, on the other hand, I did feel very protective towards him.
0:32:10 > 0:32:16Rightly so, because the story Susan uncovered when she came for her regular weekly visit
0:32:16 > 0:32:19gave her a nasty shock.
0:32:19 > 0:32:20He wasn't in.
0:32:20 > 0:32:25I waited till 11.30, getting really, really anxious and when he arrived he arrived in a taxi
0:32:25 > 0:32:27and said that he'd been to the bank
0:32:27 > 0:32:32and wouldn't tell me what it was about but that he'd sorted it all out.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35Later, he rang me and said his head was upside-down,
0:32:35 > 0:32:38people were trying to take money out of his account
0:32:38 > 0:32:40and could I come over and help him?
0:32:40 > 0:32:43And that's when it all started to emerge -
0:32:43 > 0:32:47I found a chequebook with several cheques all crossed out
0:32:47 > 0:32:50addressed to Davia Gibbons and Tradeside for varying amounts,
0:32:50 > 0:32:52from £500-£550.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56Davia Gibbons was unknown to Trading Standards at this point
0:32:56 > 0:32:59as was his company Tradeside Home Improvements,
0:32:59 > 0:33:03not to be confused with legitimate companies of the same name.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06It was this case which brought him onto their radar.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09The gentleman had cancelled a couple of cheques.
0:33:09 > 0:33:10His niece was concerned
0:33:10 > 0:33:13about the number of cheques he seemed to be writing.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16She got involved with Gibbons and then complained to us,
0:33:16 > 0:33:19saying she believed her uncle had been ripped off.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22Barry's health has declined since Gibbons tackled his roof
0:33:22 > 0:33:24and his memories of what happened
0:33:24 > 0:33:26have been difficult for Susan to unpick,
0:33:26 > 0:33:31but she believes that he cold-called her uncle with a leaflet for his company, Tradeside,
0:33:31 > 0:33:34and that he started work without Barry's consent -
0:33:34 > 0:33:36a classic crooked tradesman's trick.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42He came to the front window and found a ladder across his window.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Went outside and two men were on his roof,
0:33:44 > 0:33:48and they'd slopped mortar right across the ridge tiles.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51It is totally unnecessary.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55My uncle didn't give them permission to do so, they just went up there,
0:33:55 > 0:33:58and then demanded payment.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01£500 was the asking price, Susan thinks her uncle
0:34:01 > 0:34:04wanted to get rid of Gibbons and felt under duress.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08She found evidence of several attempts at writing cheques.
0:34:08 > 0:34:13On the dining room table was a cheque to Gibbons
0:34:13 > 0:34:16for £500 plus VAT.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19It was very badly written and the signature was all strange.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22Gibbons made him write out the cheques.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25In fact, Barry had written two cheques, one of which he cancelled,
0:34:25 > 0:34:27the other was cancelled with Susan's help.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31Aware of her uncle's distress Susan contacted Gibbons
0:34:31 > 0:34:33to find out what had been going on.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36That's when the threats started.
0:34:36 > 0:34:42He told me husband that unless he got paid in seven days
0:34:42 > 0:34:45he would go and he would take everything off the roof.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47My husband said, "Is that a threat?"
0:34:47 > 0:34:49And he said, "No, that's a promise."
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Trading Standards advised Susan to demand an invoice from Gibbons,
0:34:55 > 0:34:58with an invoice there would be a paper trail to follow.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02But when it turned up she was surprised to see a bill for £550,
0:35:02 > 0:35:06when Gibbons had previously demanded cheques for £500.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10It looked like another dirty trick.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14I asked him what if was for, this £50, and he said it was for scaffolding.
0:35:14 > 0:35:19I went to my uncle's neighbours and they said there hadn't been any scaffolding at all.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24So already he was trying to escalate what he was trying to get out of my uncle.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28He wanted cash, but Susan wasn't paying,
0:35:28 > 0:35:30because she's raised the alarm quickly
0:35:30 > 0:35:33she'd stopped her uncle from being ripped off.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35And it made me angry because
0:35:35 > 0:35:38he felt vulnerable from that moment on.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43With help from Trading Standards a case was built against Davia Gibbons.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46As Peter Calvert and his team travelled the county
0:35:46 > 0:35:49investigating him they discovered two more victims.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54We had great difficulty contacting him cos he was quite evasive.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59Eventually we charged him based on the evidence we've got.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02We had the documents examined by a handwriting expert
0:36:02 > 0:36:04and all the handwriting was the same.
0:36:04 > 0:36:06What a slippery customer.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Gibbons got no cash from Susan's uncle
0:36:09 > 0:36:14but he was paid £630 by another of his victims.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16And Peter Calvert threw the book at him.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20Gibbons was given a fair sentence with an opportunity to make amends.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24The result with Davia Gibbons was a 12-month prison sentence
0:36:24 > 0:36:26suspended for 18 months.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29And a requirement to have probation supervision
0:36:29 > 0:36:32and also 100 hours community service.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36We hope that this may force him to be more honest in future.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40And he's going to pay my uncle for a day's work
0:36:40 > 0:36:43for someone to come and put the roof right,
0:36:43 > 0:36:44which is absolutely great.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48Susan's tip for other families with elderly relatives
0:36:48 > 0:36:50is to encourage them to call for help
0:36:50 > 0:36:53the moment any suspicious tradesmen show up.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56She found that it's possible to stop vulnerable relatives
0:36:56 > 0:37:00from being ripped off if you act fast.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03I went into the bank with my uncle
0:37:03 > 0:37:09and they said, "I'm very sorry but the cheque has gone into his account."
0:37:09 > 0:37:12And then she said, "No, wait a minute, let me see
0:37:12 > 0:37:17"if I can work a bit of magic," and she managed to retrieve the cheque
0:37:17 > 0:37:21and so, in fact, the money never got into his account.
0:37:21 > 0:37:26A very good point, and what's more, if you suspect that your friends or family being ripped off,
0:37:26 > 0:37:30it does no harm to check with your local Trading Standards for advice.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32Now what about our family in Derbyshire?
0:37:32 > 0:37:35Hello, good afternoon, You all right?
0:37:35 > 0:37:37Now, remember, Roger's been called out for a quote
0:37:37 > 0:37:40to remove a country-style cooker.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43He's already angling to charge a piping-hot price.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47What about 1,500 quid to take that out?
0:37:47 > 0:37:49And he's moved the goalposts too,
0:37:49 > 0:37:53suggesting he could also fix Graham's wonky chimney.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57Now things are getting dirty. Roger's placed dead cockroaches around the cooker
0:37:57 > 0:38:03and is hoping Graham will think he has a roach infestation on his hands.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07- They give you the creeps, don't they? - Horrible things.
0:38:07 > 0:38:12Can you smell them, they stink? It's amazing.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15I tell you what, I'll just get you some spray
0:38:15 > 0:38:17and spray around there if you want.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21- I'll get some stuff tomorrow, don't worry about that.- You sure?- Yeah.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24Oh, dear! Graham doesn't think he needs your cockroach-killing chemicals.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28Is this trick about to be squashed underfoot?
0:38:28 > 0:38:31We've got a bit of woodworm fluid, if you want that, but that's all.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35- Oh, yeah?- Yeah. That kills everything, doesn't it?
0:38:35 > 0:38:37That kills dry rot, woodworm, all sorts,
0:38:37 > 0:38:40so it's bound to kill those things. I'll get that woodworm fluid.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42That'll do it.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45That's it, Roger, don't take no for an answer.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47You go get your squirty bottle of water,
0:38:47 > 0:38:50I mean, woodworm killing stuff.
0:38:53 > 0:38:54Oh, that's lovely.
0:38:54 > 0:38:59So Roger gives the cooker a liberal dousing of tap water.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03Now Graham may not have rumbled him, but their dog definitely has.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05Look at that expression.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10Right, we've given the non-existent cockroaches a spray,
0:39:10 > 0:39:14I've told him it's a special spray we've used for woodworm and so on
0:39:14 > 0:39:17but actually it's just water in there, nothing harmful at all.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19So we just sprayed that round the back.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21At least it'll dampen the dust down a bit,
0:39:21 > 0:39:26and let's see how we get on when I try and get some money from him.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29I hope I've got this all totted up all right.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32I've got £3,200, including all that. Here you are.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36£3,200 for the work on the chimney and the oven.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40How much does he want for the removal of the cockroaches?
0:39:40 > 0:39:44If you can give us... Can you give us £175 for today? Is that all right?
0:39:44 > 0:39:47I'll have to e-mail all the bank details.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49Have you got internet banking?
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Oh, I like cash, I love cash.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54I haven't got cash on me, I'm afraid.
0:39:54 > 0:39:55But I can sort something out for you.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57Hmm, Graham's not playing ball.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00He may not be as gullible as his daughter said.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04If he's got money on him, he's not giving any of it to Roger.
0:40:04 > 0:40:08He contacts his partner to reassure himself that Roger is bona fide.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10He wants a call-out for £175.
0:40:12 > 0:40:13Cheap?
0:40:15 > 0:40:18Today, Graham Griffiths was expecting to receive a quote
0:40:18 > 0:40:20to take away the family's cooker.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23Instead, Roger's angled for additional work,
0:40:23 > 0:40:27planted dead cockroaches in the kitchen
0:40:27 > 0:40:29and has sprayed the infected area with...water.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33He's quoted a staggering £3,200 for future work
0:40:33 > 0:40:38and has asked £175 for today's visit.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40But will Graham pay up?
0:40:40 > 0:40:43OK, see you in a bit. Bye.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51Erm, £100, Rog, is that going to be OK, mate?
0:40:51 > 0:40:56- 100?- Yeah.- Yeah, if that's all you've got. You're a hard taskmaster.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59100 quid, that's £75 less than Roger wanted,
0:40:59 > 0:41:02but it's still £100 for nothing.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06- Here you are, Rog.- Cheers. - You're bankrupting me there, mate.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08Bankrupting?
0:41:11 > 0:41:13All right, see you later. Nice to meet you.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15With Roger safely packed out of sight,
0:41:15 > 0:41:20it's time for our producer to reveal the truth about his dirty tricks.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24Hello there. Hi, I wonder if you can help us.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27- We're working with the BBC.- Right. - For a consumer affairs show.
0:41:27 > 0:41:32I just had a conman round five minutes earlier.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34He was here for about an hour and he said,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37"Oh, it'll be £175 for the call-out."
0:41:37 > 0:41:41I'm furious at the moment. I just kind of hate being ripped off.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44It's time to put Graham out of his misery.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48I'm afraid to tell you you've been the victim of a set-up.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50Have we?
0:41:52 > 0:41:56It wouldn't be the first time. Can I get my money back, then?
0:41:56 > 0:41:57You want the money back?!
0:41:57 > 0:42:02You didn't give me any money. You only gave me half!
0:42:02 > 0:42:05Oh, my God. I am fuming.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08I tell you what, you were a hard nut to crack.
0:42:08 > 0:42:13Yeah, they were quite convincing to a certain degree. Obviously, I fell for it.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16There's a bit of a distance between us, wasn't there?
0:42:16 > 0:42:19Do you think it was the cockroaches that did it or what?
0:42:19 > 0:42:21- Were they set up as well?- No!
0:42:21 > 0:42:25'Very convincing, and I'm still now, half an hour later,'
0:42:25 > 0:42:28I still can't believe I gave any money to him.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31I can't believe it. I swear.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34'I would have said to him, "Well,'
0:42:34 > 0:42:38"you know, give us your call-out charges before you come to see me."
0:42:38 > 0:42:41I should have asked him that, really, from the outset.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43You can get to your room now.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50Well, thanks for taking it so well, Graham.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54Now, you can rely on the majority of tradesmen being honest and hard-working.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58It's only a very few who let the side down and play dirty tricks.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00If there's one thing to remember,
0:43:00 > 0:43:03if in doubt, keep them out. Thanks for watching and I'll see you next time.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd.