0:00:02 > 0:00:07These days, our money must work even harder for us and one of our biggest expenditures is on our property.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12Last year, we spent a staggering £15 billion on repairs to our homes,
0:00:12 > 0:00:16but how can any of us be certain we've not been taken for a ride?
0:00:16 > 0:00:20- How much will it cost? - It's hard to say, but I reckon 325.
0:00:20 > 0:00:25- 300 quid just for doing that. - Probably about seven and a half grand.
0:00:25 > 0:00:32With audacious, secret filming, we'll reveal just how easy it could be for you to be duped.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37- I'm afraid you've been ripped off. He's not a bona fide tradesman. - He's not?
0:00:37 > 0:00:39I knew something was suspicious.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41BLEEP-BLEEP
0:00:41 > 0:00:46We lift the lid on some of the UK's most shocking tradesmen rip-offs.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50An awful leak came right through the bedroom. I was absolutely livid.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54- The house was a death trap.- We didn't know if he would get violent.
0:00:54 > 0:01:00On today's show, our very own rogue Roger fools a Cheshire mum into thinking
0:01:00 > 0:01:03her electricity supply is draining into the ground.
0:01:03 > 0:01:09It's losing a bit of electricity. You can hear that fizzing as it's just losing a bit of power.
0:01:09 > 0:01:16The 33-grand rip-off by a ruthless con man who hit a Lancashire couple not once, not twice,
0:01:16 > 0:01:18but four times.
0:01:18 > 0:01:25I cannot believe that anybody would treat a fellow human being in such a despicable manner.
0:01:25 > 0:01:31Plus, Roger's devious con with a woman in Hampshire, tricked into paying hundreds of pounds
0:01:31 > 0:01:35for central heating repairs she doesn't need. Will he get away with it?
0:01:35 > 0:01:39- What are we saying? - It'll cost 650 quid to do it.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43Stand by for Dirty Tricks Of The Tradesmen.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51Hello. Now, I'm not a tradesman.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55I couldn't rewire a house, fit new tiles on a roof or service a boiler.
0:01:55 > 0:02:01These are specialist jobs which is why we put our trust in electricians, plumbers and roofers.
0:02:01 > 0:02:07The vast majority of them do a terrific job, but there is a minority who turn rogue
0:02:07 > 0:02:10and they can make lives for people a misery.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15Today, we're meeting people who have been ripped off by the cowboys.
0:02:15 > 0:02:21What's more, we'll show you how easy it is to fall for some of the oldest tricks in the tradesmen's books.
0:02:21 > 0:02:27People have been setting up friends and relatives for a visit from our very own tradesmen. Why?
0:02:27 > 0:02:31To show you how to avoid being taken to the cleaners.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36This is Roger Bisby. He has over 40 years' experience under his builder's belt.
0:02:40 > 0:02:46There's nothing he hates more than a dirty trickster out there to make a fast buck.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51But we're asking Roger to become a rogue just for today. Why?
0:02:51 > 0:02:55Well, because if he shows us what the tricky tradesmen do,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58he can show us how not to get conned.
0:03:00 > 0:03:07We'll create household problems and send in Roger to show us all how easy it is to be ripped off.
0:03:07 > 0:03:13It's all being filmed in secret and Roger will work with our cameraman Luke, posing as his apprentice.
0:03:13 > 0:03:19We'll find out in just a moment where they're springing their first scam.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Recent figures show that 21 million households in the UK use gas
0:03:23 > 0:03:26for heating, hot water and cooking each year.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31It's essential then that all gas appliances need a regular service
0:03:31 > 0:03:35which means we depend on Gas Safe engineers to take good care of us,
0:03:35 > 0:03:40but a minority of rogues will always find ways of tricking the unwary.
0:03:40 > 0:03:46Roger is about to demonstrate some of their methods on a very smart lady to see if she'll be taken in.
0:03:46 > 0:03:53This is Hampshire businessman Dave Harris and he's been married to Tina for 23 years.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57She's a health worker and it's her 50th birthday soon.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Dave wants to set her up as a birthday present.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03My wife is a very gregarious person.
0:04:03 > 0:04:08She's quite outgoing, fun, she likes a bit of a wind-up herself,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11so it would be nice to turn the tables for once.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16Hmm. They have a history of issues with their fireplace,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19so Dave is arranging for a routine service check.
0:04:19 > 0:04:25Tina wouldn't really understand too much in depth about tradespeople
0:04:25 > 0:04:27and electrics and plumbing and gas,
0:04:27 > 0:04:31so I think she'll probably fall for the line that Roger will spin her.
0:04:31 > 0:04:38Here's hoping, Dave, because Roger has some devious money-making tricks to play using that fireplace.
0:04:38 > 0:04:44Really what I want to do is tell them that they're losing pressure in their central heating system.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49This would indicate a hidden leak, so to help me with this I've got my assistant Luke.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- You've been shopping. - Yeah, we've got some props.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56I've got smoke pellets, I've got a carbon monoxide detector
0:04:56 > 0:05:00and in my back pocket here I have got leak sealer.
0:05:00 > 0:05:06So I don't waste real leak sealer, I've put in a bit of milk which is roughly the same colour.
0:05:06 > 0:05:12To make that internal leak, I've got to slip into the loo and bleed one of her radiators.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17The pressure will drop on the boiler, I can show her that and tell her it's a leak.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22So after his routine gas fire service, Roger will make Tina think
0:05:22 > 0:05:27that the central heating system has a leak which he'll fake by lowering the pressure.
0:05:27 > 0:05:33His second trick will be to charge a fortune to fix the leak by pumping in a sealant.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36He's calling it his "under pressure" scam.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41A call-out charge for a routine gas fire service costs around £100,
0:05:41 > 0:05:46so if he can make a few hundred pounds on top, he'll be laughing.
0:05:46 > 0:05:52Tina thinks she's going out with a friend and expects an engineer to do a quick service of their gas fire.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55She's waiting for Roger and Luke at half past nine.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59I just suddenly saw that house round the corner
0:05:59 > 0:06:03- and I didn't want to cause a ruck with...- Keep your shoes on.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07- It's just a wood floor. - You'll need those to walk all over poor old Tina.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12- OK, right, so we'll get cracking. That's lovely. - Is there anything else you need?
0:06:12 > 0:06:18The gas fire check comes first. That'll gain Tina's trust, which is crucial.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Now, I'm going to run this smoke test, OK?
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- Go out in the garden. - I'm going out there?- Yeah.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30When I set this going, you should see smoke coming out your chimney.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Roger is being thorough here.
0:06:32 > 0:06:39He's checking that the chimney isn't blocked and there's enough draught to draw any fumes out.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43It will all help to convince Tina that he's genuine and trustworthy.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45It looks like a good draw to me.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Yes, we have lift-off.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Job done, and with Tina thinking he's bona fide,
0:06:52 > 0:06:57Roger can now lay the groundwork for his first dirty trick.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59WC...
0:06:59 > 0:07:03While he's in the bathroom, he bleeds the radiator.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06This will show up on the boiler gauge as low pressure.
0:07:06 > 0:07:12If he tells Tina he needs to do a routine check of the boiler, he can then discover the problem.
0:07:16 > 0:07:21So what I've just done is I've bled a radiator in the bathroom, the towel rail,
0:07:21 > 0:07:26just to ease a bit of water out of the system, so there's a drop in pressure,
0:07:26 > 0:07:31then I can point to that pressure gauge and say, "Your boiler's a bit low,"
0:07:31 > 0:07:33and start talking about the leak.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36And here goes.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40Does this... Does it lose a bit of pressure, this thing, or not?
0:07:40 > 0:07:46- I don't know.- You never worry about the pressure? We look at the boiler as part of the gas check.- Sure.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50I'm just concerned that this is losing a bit of pressure.
0:07:51 > 0:07:52Yeah.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59Tina is trying hard to understand this problem.
0:07:59 > 0:08:06The trouble is, she seems to be falling into his trap because, remember, there is no leak.
0:08:06 > 0:08:12- What are you thinking, Roge? - There might be a little bit of a leak on the system.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16If you get a leak on the system and it's what they call a micro-leak,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20what that's doing is rusting the radiators.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23- Where's the leak? - I don't know. That's the point.
0:08:23 > 0:08:29If you leave it, it means that your radiators, your boiler in the end you have to replace.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34The worst is that the pipes under the floor get filled up with the rust and all the old crud,
0:08:34 > 0:08:39then they don't work properly and you get cold radiators in the room.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41So if we can get rid of it now...
0:08:41 > 0:08:44He's going for it. I sense a dirty trick coming on.
0:08:44 > 0:08:49What I can do for you is dig up the floor and replace the pipes
0:08:49 > 0:08:51in the lounge.
0:08:51 > 0:08:58Cunning plan, Roger. Make Tina think the solution will cost big money and cause lots of disruption,
0:08:58 > 0:09:02then she'll accept your cheaper, hassle-free alternative. Am I right?
0:09:02 > 0:09:06I can put some internal leak sealant into the system.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09We've got a pump and we just pressure it in there.
0:09:09 > 0:09:15It finds the leak. It's the sort of stuff they used to put in car radiators years ago.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20If we put that in there, that'll seal the leak off and you won't have any more problems.
0:09:20 > 0:09:25- So what are we saying?- It's going to cost 650 quid to do it, all right?
0:09:26 > 0:09:28650 quid?!
0:09:28 > 0:09:30You little liar!
0:09:31 > 0:09:35So will Tina agree to Roger starting his dirty work?
0:09:35 > 0:09:39We don't have to do it now, but we could do it while we're here.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Or will she call in reinforcements?
0:09:42 > 0:09:46- I'll just give you my husband's number.- Is he fierce?
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Fierce? Dave? We'll find out in just a moment.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57But first, an extraordinary story of rogue tradesmen at work.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Fortunately, the police caught them bang to rights.
0:10:00 > 0:10:06Who would have thought beautiful scenery like this would play host to a heartless repeat fraud?
0:10:06 > 0:10:12But Whalley in Lancashire is exactly where Sean Boswell committed just such a crime.
0:10:12 > 0:10:18He hit the same vulnerable couple not once, not twice, but four times.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23This is a situation where a strong, intelligent woman was exploited
0:10:23 > 0:10:25when she was in a vulnerable position
0:10:25 > 0:10:28by an unscrupulous and uncaring trader.
0:10:28 > 0:10:34The heartless Boswell took thousands of pounds each time he scammed the couple.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37It all started back in January 2008.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42He was working across the road and I needed a little work done,
0:10:42 > 0:10:44so I asked him to come over.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47He said all the right things.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51He talked as though he was a competent builder.
0:10:51 > 0:10:57Boswell agreed to replace the rotten cedar board cladding with plastic cladding and do some other jobs.
0:10:57 > 0:11:04He didn't provide any ID, but he did talk the talk and was about to overcharge Diane.
0:11:04 > 0:11:11He did some cladding at the front and he did a small amount of work on the roof.
0:11:11 > 0:11:17He also did all of the dry verges all round because we'd established they were no good.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21For all that, he charged 7,300.
0:11:21 > 0:11:28I just thought that this is what roofing work cost. I had no experience.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32If only Diane had asked for quotes from different tradesmen,
0:11:32 > 0:11:36she would have found out that £7,300 was way over the mark.
0:11:36 > 0:11:42I was really struck by how bad it was, particularly the cladding to the front of the house.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46It was all wavy and really a very poor example of work.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50And in addition, the work to the roof was pretty bad too.
0:11:50 > 0:11:57All in all, I was quite scandalised by how much she'd been charged for it. It was really, really overpriced.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02It is all the more stomach-churning when you learn Diane has multiple sclerosis
0:12:02 > 0:12:07while husband John was in the early stages of Alzheimer's.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Unfortunately, they would see more of Boswell. Much more.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14They realise that you might have some money
0:12:14 > 0:12:18and you might be vulnerable, so they exploit that and they'll be back.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21That's what happened in this case
0:12:21 > 0:12:27when Boswell appeared six months later uninvited and smiling at her door in May 2008.
0:12:27 > 0:12:33He said that I would need a complete re-roof and it would cost 23,000,
0:12:33 > 0:12:37which frightened me, it's an enormous sum.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39But Boswell was back to his dirty tricks.
0:12:39 > 0:12:46He said rather than replace the roof for £23,000, he could re-seal it for around £9,000.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49This second piece of work was vastly overpriced
0:12:49 > 0:12:55and it's questionable whether she actually needed it done and how effective it was.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00A simple waterproof sealant for a roof like this should cost £1,200.
0:13:01 > 0:13:06Diane was charged a whopping £9,800.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12As if all this wasn't bad enough, in 2008,
0:13:12 > 0:13:18John was diagnosed with terminal cancer, but Sean Boswell didn't care.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21In January 2009, he called for a third time
0:13:21 > 0:13:25and offered to knock down Diane's chimney and re-roof her garage.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27John was very poorly
0:13:27 > 0:13:31and I just could not think of anything else.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35I just let things carry on as they'd started.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39When I saw the quality of the work, I was shocked
0:13:39 > 0:13:43because he hadn't taken the chimney down properly
0:13:43 > 0:13:47and it actually led to a leak into the shower room.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52For this wretched work, Diane was charged £8,750.
0:13:52 > 0:13:58Unbelievably, Boswell still wasn't finished with the poor Boothmans.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01He came back in July 2009
0:14:01 > 0:14:06and produced a rotten piece of wood which he said had come off my roof.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11Of course, it hadn't come off the roof. Boswell was back to his dirty tricks.
0:14:11 > 0:14:17The wood was just a prop to help him persuade Diane her roof needed new tiles and wooden battens.
0:14:17 > 0:14:23He said all the battens would need to be replaced. I was so anxious that nothing should transpire
0:14:23 > 0:14:27to interfere with John's comfort that I felt I had no choice.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33At first, he asked me for £9,000. I was horrified.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37And I said, "Not another 9,000!"
0:14:37 > 0:14:41So he reduced it to 6,850.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43I didn't want to pay,
0:14:43 > 0:14:49but I was scared there would be nastiness and John couldn't have coped with that.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53So after four visits and a catalogue of shoddy work,
0:14:53 > 0:14:58Boswell had scammed Diane out of £32,700.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03Sadly, in September 2009, John died.
0:15:03 > 0:15:09When Diane gathered her thoughts about all that had happened, she contacted Boswell.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13I was beginning to realise that this was a con man I was dealing with.
0:15:13 > 0:15:19When the address Boswell had given turned out to be bogus, Diane called Lancashire Trading Standards.
0:15:19 > 0:15:24Good old Diane. She may have been down, but she certainly wasn't out.
0:15:24 > 0:15:29If he was willing to rip off a disabled woman with a dying husband,
0:15:29 > 0:15:32he would con anybody.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35We called in a surveyor to have a look at this work.
0:15:35 > 0:15:40He said that when the trader had said he'd replaced 150 tiles,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43at maximum, about 24 had been replaced.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48The trader also said that he had replaced a whole load of battens on the roof.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50None of these had been replaced.
0:15:50 > 0:15:56In addition to that, Diane had to pay a further £16,000 to have this work put right.
0:15:56 > 0:16:03The evidence the surveyor collected and Diane's testimony was enough to bring charges against Sean Boswell.
0:16:03 > 0:16:09He pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and in March 2011, he was sentenced to eight months in prison.
0:16:09 > 0:16:14The main message to remember is don't do business on the doorstep.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Take your time.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Get some quotes.
0:16:18 > 0:16:25Deal with a trader who has an actual, proper address and contact details.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29For Diane, the whole experience is one she'd like to put behind her.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34I feel like I was a bit stupid.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39But in reality, I was in a bad situation.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43My husband was dying and I'm not well myself.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Looking back,
0:16:46 > 0:16:54I cannot believe that anybody would treat a fellow human being in such a despicable manner.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02Staggering. And later, we have another extraordinary case study
0:17:02 > 0:17:07as this woman's mother is fleeced of her life savings.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11Two rogues hit her with the same repair bill over and over again.
0:17:11 > 0:17:17- I can't believe anybody would target such a vulnerable person. - Her bank accounts had been emptied.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Plus, to show you how not to be ripped off,
0:17:20 > 0:17:25Roger plays more devious tricks on a consumer in Cheshire.
0:17:25 > 0:17:30- It does what a new fuse box would do without rewiring it.- If it needs done, that's what we'll do.
0:17:30 > 0:17:35But first, time to find out what Tina Harris from Hampshire makes of our cowboy.
0:17:35 > 0:17:42Roger checked her gas fire, a proper job, to gain her confidence. Now he's playing tricks.
0:17:42 > 0:17:49He's faked a drop in water pressure and tries to persuade her she has a leak in her central heating system.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52I'm concerned that this is losing a bit of pressure.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54- What would that mean? A leak?- Yeah.
0:17:54 > 0:18:00Now Roger is pressuring Tina to let him fix it today by pumping some of this special fluid into her pipes.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05In fact, it's just milk. All for a hefty fee, of course.
0:18:05 > 0:18:10- So what are we saying?- It's going to cost 650 quid to do it, all right?
0:18:10 > 0:18:14- Will Tina fall for this huge quote? - I'll give you my husband's number.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19Good for you, Tina. Such a big outlay of cash needs to be checked.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23Of course, it was husband Dave who set Tina up in the first place.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27He does all he can to persuade her that Roger is bona fide.
0:18:27 > 0:18:32What do you want to do? Just say, "Yeah, when can we fit it in"?
0:18:32 > 0:18:36- Yeah, we'll just have to get it done.- Yeah, OK. I'll speak to you later.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- Bye.- Bye.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Right, yeah, do it. If it's got to be done, it's got to be done.
0:18:45 > 0:18:51- All right, OK. Are you going out? - Yeah, but I'm prepared for you to... - Get on with it.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55- He'll have to sort out the money with you.- He's the money man, is he?
0:18:55 > 0:19:01Tina is determined to go out and leave Roger to it. This is not advisable with unknown tradesmen.
0:19:01 > 0:19:07It looks like he's got the promise of £650, but he still needs the cash in hand.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Could things be getting tricky for our trickster?
0:19:10 > 0:19:17- We were going to do it for cash, weren't we?- Yeah.- Because you don't want to pay the 20% VAT, do you?
0:19:17 > 0:19:21Roger tries pressuring her into getting him the money now.
0:19:21 > 0:19:28I'll have to phone up and postpone the other job we've got, just tell them we're going to be late on that.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32Do you want to sort the money out or not? Can I leave that to you?
0:19:32 > 0:19:38- I won't tell your husband. - Hold on just for a minute. Let me ring him and see.- OK.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- I'll just go and find my fella, all right?- Yeah.
0:19:41 > 0:19:47Tina doesn't keep that cash in the house. Roger must think fast before this job slips through his fingers.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50It's not going as well as I thought it would.
0:19:50 > 0:19:55She's a bit suspicious, she's calling her husband and I don't know where I stand now.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59I'll go back in there, put a bit of milk in the system,
0:19:59 > 0:20:05tell her that's her leak sealant and then if I just pump that in, I can tell her we'll come back.
0:20:05 > 0:20:11But if I can get another 100 quid out of her for doing that, I think I'll be satisfied with that.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19Roger will pretend they're pushed for time and in a hurry to leave.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24First things first. We're in a bit of a rush now cos we've got to go to that other job.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29I'll put this leak sealer in there now, so it'll run round the system.
0:20:29 > 0:20:35There goes Roger's milk. Using milk is one of the oldest tricks in the book and not just in builders' tea!
0:20:35 > 0:20:40As a cheap substitute for potions and treatments, cowboys still charge big bucks for it.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46That's in the pressure vessel. I'll come back to run the big pump on it.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51So he'll come back to finish it later, which means Tina can go out.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55She pays him the money she owes for the gas fire service - £125.
0:20:56 > 0:21:0020, 40, 60, 80, 100...
0:21:00 > 0:21:03- 20, 25.- Lovely. Thank you very much indeed.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07But that's not the end of it as far as Roger is concerned.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11He wants some money for the repair he supposedly started.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15If you just give us a oner for that, another 100 for that, yeah?
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Then we'll re-book it, all right?
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Mm-hm, Roger's really turning the heat up.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Today, Tina Harris let a tricky tradesman into her house.
0:21:25 > 0:21:31Roger bled a radiator to fake a drop in boiler pressure and he pushed her into getting it fixed today.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35With the job started, he's demanding a £100 deposit.
0:21:35 > 0:21:41Tina's proved to be a strong customer and Roger hasn't found her an easy target.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43But will she pay up?
0:21:43 > 0:21:48Can you give me a deposit for that and another 100 for that, yeah?
0:21:48 > 0:21:51- I'd be delighted... - Check I've done it right.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53And there it goes.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58- MOBILE PHONE RINGS - Sorry about that. I must go. - Don't worry.- Thanks for that.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01We'll see you again.
0:22:01 > 0:22:06That last-minute extra oner brings his total to £225. Incredible!
0:22:06 > 0:22:12He's picked up a 60% increase on his takings and all for a few drops of milk.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Come on, Lukey. Let's go, baby.
0:22:18 > 0:22:25Once Roger has cleared the scene, our producer calls on Tina and reveals the truth of today's con.
0:22:26 > 0:22:33Hello there. We're looking into things like dodgy tradesmen, dodgy engineers.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36- That's funny cos a gas man's just left.- A gas man?
0:22:36 > 0:22:42A gas man's been to do the fire this morning and he's just left, then he wanted to do something else.
0:22:42 > 0:22:48I was a bit iffy about it. They're doing one job, then all of a sudden, they're doing another.
0:22:48 > 0:22:53Then he said, "I need £100." That made me suspicious that he wanted the money quick.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56So yeah, I've been done maybe.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01She doesn't seem too upset about it. Time for husband Dave to reveal his part in the con.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03I'm going to kill you!
0:23:03 > 0:23:08Before I do anything, give me my £225 back! I'm going shopping.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12He was very convincing and the only time I got a bit suspicious
0:23:12 > 0:23:17was when something else needed doing and I started to think, "Hmm..."
0:23:17 > 0:23:21Then he said it would be £650 and I thought, "Yeah, right(!)"
0:23:21 > 0:23:25One, two, three, four, five... It's all there.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30'I gave Roger £225.'
0:23:30 > 0:23:35£225 for blowing some smoke up a chimney and two cups of tea.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Yeah, a good day's work.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41- Happy birthday. - BLEEP
0:23:41 > 0:23:44- You absolute...- BLEEP
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Next time, ask a lot of questions.
0:23:46 > 0:23:52If you've got any doubt whatsoever and you're suspicious about it,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54don't hand over a penny.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59If they're that genuine and they want the business, they'll come back.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Tina was such a good sport there,
0:24:02 > 0:24:08but what should you do in that situation to avoid being the victim of a con?
0:24:09 > 0:24:13First, always get at least three written quotes.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17Second, do your best to check tradesmen's credentials.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Finally, never leave them alone.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24If Tina had stuck at Roger's side, he wouldn't have got away with so much.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Did you know that in the home each year,
0:24:30 > 0:24:35there are around 330 accidents with electricity meters and fuse boxes?
0:24:35 > 0:24:40Quite a few of them can be the result of out-of-date equipment.
0:24:40 > 0:24:45The couple in our next story live in a lovely house, only around 40 years old.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49But it still has the original fuse box. It's working fine.
0:24:49 > 0:24:54But Roger's going to see if he can trick them into thinking that they need a brand-new one.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Let's meet the family.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04Taxi driver Alan Dunkley lives in Stockport with his girlfriend Tamsin Hill.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08She's very trusting when it comes to tradesmen
0:25:08 > 0:25:14and I think it will be beneficial for her to find out what some tradesmen can be like.
0:25:14 > 0:25:20She's more interested in making the tradesmen brews than actually watching what it is they're doing.
0:25:20 > 0:25:27Thinking his beloved is a little too trusting, Alan told her the fuse box is making a strange fizzing sound.
0:25:27 > 0:25:33He's arranged an electrician to pay her a call, but it's Roger and his apprentice Luke.
0:25:33 > 0:25:40I'll tell them their electricity is leaking away into the ground and that's costing them a fortune.
0:25:40 > 0:25:46It's making their bills go sky-high, so then we've got a little device that will put that right.
0:25:46 > 0:25:52I've got a plastic box for you today, literally completely empty with a dodgy end there.
0:25:52 > 0:25:57- I'll not wire it up, but I'll try and charge 250 quid for that.- 250?
0:25:57 > 0:26:03- Yeah.- And I've got this device here. It reads how much electricity every appliance in your house consumes.
0:26:03 > 0:26:09These are smart meters. You can pick them up for about £35, but we'll try and get a bit more money for that.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13So Roger's first trick will be to blind Tamsin with science
0:26:13 > 0:26:18about why her fuse box is fizzing, the power is leaking away.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23So she needs to conserve it using a special gadget, in truth, an empty box.
0:26:23 > 0:26:28His third trick will be to sell her a massively overpriced smart meter.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32He's about to have a fuse box frenzy.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38Tamsin may find the smart meter useful in reducing her energy bills.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42As for Roger, he's going to make 325 quid.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45A big profit. The rotter!
0:26:45 > 0:26:49- Wish us luck.- Tamsin is waiting in for the tricky twosome
0:26:49 > 0:26:51when they turn up at lunchtime.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55- Good morning.- Morning. - I've pulled off your drive
0:26:55 > 0:27:00cos I've got a slight oil leak in my van. You could blame me and get a new drive out of it!
0:27:00 > 0:27:04- I'd never have thought of that. - You've got to be tricky these days.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06We're not all like you, Roger.
0:27:06 > 0:27:12You should be trying to win Tamsin's trust, not to give her reasons to be wary of you from the start.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16Alan said there's a fizzing sound from the fuse box or something.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Bit of Alka-Seltzer in it probably!
0:27:19 > 0:27:22- All right, lovely. - Would you like a drink?- Oh, yeah.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Tamsin's not asked the guys for any ID.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29In fact, as Alan predicted, she seems more concerned
0:27:29 > 0:27:34with her hospitality skills than checking credentials.
0:27:36 > 0:27:42The fuse box is a bit old, so I think I might have to tell her that it needs renewing.
0:27:42 > 0:27:48That's one thing I can do. The other thing I'm going to do is to investigate this fizzing sound,
0:27:48 > 0:27:54put a few meters in and tell her there's electricity leaking away, costing her money on the bills.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00- OK, mate, you know what to do here, don't you?- Yeah.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Have you got a socket in here that I can plug this into?
0:28:03 > 0:28:07First up, Roger and Luke pretend to test the electricity in the house.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11Right, I'm just going to kill your power.
0:28:13 > 0:28:19All it takes is a couple of machines that make bleeping sounds and poor Tamsin is none the wiser.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21BEEPING
0:28:21 > 0:28:25Yeah, I reckon we're losing a little bit here.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Just draining away somewhere.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31Here comes a waffly mixture of science and deceit.
0:28:31 > 0:28:36It can only mean one thing - a dirty trick approaches.
0:28:37 > 0:28:42Right, what's happening here, it's just losing a bit of electricity.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46You can probably hear that fizzing as it's losing a bit of power.
0:28:46 > 0:28:51It's just a constant, slow trickle of electricity that's coming out of there,
0:28:51 > 0:28:55so I would like to just replace that fuse box with another one.
0:28:55 > 0:29:00Blimey, Roger! Even Tamsin's toddler is stunned by your latest trick.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04But will they go for a costly new fuse box?
0:29:05 > 0:29:08There's an awful lot of flannel coming her way.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12It will save you money because all your electricity is going nowhere.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16Will Roger's non-stop patter persuade Tamsin in the end?
0:29:16 > 0:29:19- Just do the... - The bit that needs to be done, OK.
0:29:22 > 0:29:27You don't meet rogues often, thankfully, but if they do show up on your doorstep,
0:29:27 > 0:29:33it usually leads to mess and mayhem and the emotional consequences can be shocking for the families
0:29:33 > 0:29:38who are left to pick up the pieces, and that's certainly true of our next story.
0:29:38 > 0:29:43In 2008, two callous con men, Neil Butler and Gary Lancaster,
0:29:43 > 0:29:49targeted a vulnerable 80-year-old in order to rob her of her life savings,
0:29:49 > 0:29:51as her daughter Heather explains.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53We looked at my mum's bank account
0:29:53 > 0:29:59and we just couldn't believe that all this money was going out within a matter of days.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02Her bank accounts were systematically emptied.
0:30:02 > 0:30:08The family have asked us to keep their mum's identity hidden which is why we're calling her Grace.
0:30:08 > 0:30:13Heather wants to share their story to save others from a similar fate.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17Grace lives alone and was targeted by the con men in October 2008.
0:30:17 > 0:30:23Heather only discovered the dirty tricks they played on her when she paid one of her regular visits.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27My mum let me know she was having some work done on the exterior
0:30:27 > 0:30:30and two men had come round to the house
0:30:30 > 0:30:36and they'd told her that they'd been doing work locally, in fact, just down the road.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41She seemed quite competent and happy with the situation, so I let her get on with it.
0:30:41 > 0:30:46At the time, Heather had no reason to suspect there was anything wrong,
0:30:46 > 0:30:49as Grace had handled her own affairs for years.
0:30:49 > 0:30:55But little did she know her mum was about to fall for some of the oldest tricks in the book.
0:30:55 > 0:31:00First, to quote for work on the fascias and not allow Grace any cooling-off time.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05When I went round to investigate, the work wasn't completed.
0:31:05 > 0:31:11I didn't think it was to a very good standard, but when I mentioned this to my mum, she seemed happy with it.
0:31:11 > 0:31:17Over the next few weeks, the men replaced the fascias and soffits and jet-washed the drive,
0:31:17 > 0:31:22but Heather was about to find out the shocking truth of their activities.
0:31:22 > 0:31:28I had a phone call from my brother, telling me to come round to his house. My mum was there.
0:31:28 > 0:31:33She told him that she had no money left in her bank account.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37When I got there, she was sitting very quietly.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39When we enquired what was going on,
0:31:39 > 0:31:43she informed us that she'd been paying the builders.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46They'd been asking for money
0:31:46 > 0:31:50till the point where she had no money left in her account.
0:31:50 > 0:31:56Mindful of the fact that their mother had always been fiercely independent, they felt
0:31:56 > 0:32:00that they had to step in and were staggered by what they discovered.
0:32:00 > 0:32:07When we looked over the accounts, we were shocked at the amount of money that had been withdrawn in cash
0:32:07 > 0:32:12in such a short period, just under two months.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15All her life savings had gone.
0:32:15 > 0:32:21She was very upset that they put her in their car and frog-marched her off to the cash points.
0:32:23 > 0:32:28They'd park round the corner and make my mum go and get money.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30We were just so angry.
0:32:30 > 0:32:35We realised that there was something very wrong with my mum's memory.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38It just wasn't like her.
0:32:38 > 0:32:44Heather and her brother decided to call Trading Standards to see if anything could be done
0:32:44 > 0:32:47to track down these rogues who had ridden roughshod
0:32:47 > 0:32:51over their mum's good nature. Andrew Rees took the case on.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53The quality of work was appalling.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57We had an expert surveyor look at the work that had been done
0:32:57 > 0:33:03and he put a value of approximately £1,000, if the work had been done properly,
0:33:03 > 0:33:08but went on to comment that it was worth about half of this because the standard was so poor.
0:33:09 > 0:33:15£500-worth of work, but they walked away with £6,300.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18That's a 1,200% rip-off!
0:33:20 > 0:33:25It became apparent during the course of the investigation and when the offenders were interviewed
0:33:25 > 0:33:32that they realised the victim had memory problems, so almost to them there was an open chequebook.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37Grace was presented with ten invoices in total, four so-called final bills.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40It's unbelievable that anyone could be so heartless.
0:33:40 > 0:33:45We have a number for £800, £700, another for £800.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49These were all presented in a very short period of time.
0:33:49 > 0:33:54It's clear that the defendants were taking advantage of the victim's memory loss.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57Rogue traders are notoriously difficult to trace.
0:33:57 > 0:34:03We usually get to hear about the case after the traders have done the work, had their money and are long gone,
0:34:03 > 0:34:09so the most difficult part of any investigation is trying to identify who those offenders are.
0:34:09 > 0:34:15But the crucial moment in this case was when a kind-hearted neighbour came to Grace's rescue
0:34:15 > 0:34:18when the men returned to collect some tools they'd left.
0:34:18 > 0:34:23He confronted them, asking them what they were doing,
0:34:23 > 0:34:28and also that he didn't think that they were a proper trading company.
0:34:28 > 0:34:33When they said they were, he said, "You wouldn't mind me taking your photograph then?"
0:34:35 > 0:34:38And that's when they got in the car and reversed off.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43He took the details of it, including its registration mark,
0:34:43 > 0:34:47and that enabled us to progress the investigation rapidly.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51We identified an offender as a result of his actions.
0:34:51 > 0:34:56It's entirely thanks to the quick thinking of this neighbour, who wishes to remain anonymous,
0:34:56 > 0:35:00that they finally managed to catch these crooks.
0:35:00 > 0:35:06In August 2009, Neil Butler and Gary Lancaster were sentenced to a total of 16 months for fraud.
0:35:06 > 0:35:11Never enter into business with somebody who knocks on your door requesting that they carry out work.
0:35:11 > 0:35:18They'll sometimes say it'll cost more if you don't have it done right away. Always say "no" in that situation.
0:35:18 > 0:35:24And use local businesses whose reputation you are aware of and are recommended by family and friends.
0:35:25 > 0:35:32Heather is keen to point out that no matter how distressing it may be to step into the affairs of relatives,
0:35:32 > 0:35:38it is possible to stop them from being ripped off if you act fast and call for help.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42Just oversee everything. Make sure they get quotes.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45Keep an eye on what work is being done,
0:35:45 > 0:35:51just so that these con men don't walk away with their money like unfortunately happened to my mum.
0:35:53 > 0:35:58Absolutely shocking and our thanks to Heather for sharing their story.
0:35:58 > 0:36:04Remember, once you've been given a quote, by law you're entitled to a seven-day cooling-off period
0:36:04 > 0:36:10and no reputable tradesman will ever bully you into taking on work starting immediately.
0:36:10 > 0:36:15What about Tamsin in Stockport? Our tradesman is pushing her with some real tricks.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17- Good morning.- Morning.
0:36:17 > 0:36:24Her boyfriend Alan pretended that their fuse box was fizzing as an excuse to call Roger in.
0:36:24 > 0:36:31There's nothing wrong with it, but our cowboy is trying to make Tamsin think her power is leaking away.
0:36:31 > 0:36:36He's trying to sell her two gadgets she doesn't need and aims to make a 900% profit out of her.
0:36:36 > 0:36:41What I would like to do is replace that fuse box with another one.
0:36:43 > 0:36:48What I can do for the time being is just attach an energy conserver box to it,
0:36:48 > 0:36:52which will be cheaper, it'll take that fizzing away.
0:36:52 > 0:36:59- It does what a new fuse box would do without rewiring it.- If that's what needs to be done...- OK, lovely.
0:36:59 > 0:37:05By offering Tamsin this fake energy conserver, he's tricked her into what seems like a cheaper option,
0:37:05 > 0:37:10but it's still £250 for a useless plastic box.
0:37:10 > 0:37:16Roger is on a roll with his dirty tricks and it can't be long before he tries to sell her another gadget.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20The energy conserver is, fitted, about 250 quid.
0:37:20 > 0:37:26It will save you money because all your electricity at the moment is going nowhere.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29Also, I've got some smart meters.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32I can put one round the power cable,
0:37:32 > 0:37:35then it shows you how much electricity you're using.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37I buy those smart meters wholesale.
0:37:37 > 0:37:44They're usually about 110 quid, but I'd do it for 75 quid for the smart meter.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49Oh, you rotter! You and I know that they only cost around £35,
0:37:49 > 0:37:55so you're charging over twice the price, one of the oldest tricks in the book.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59- Just do the...- The bit that needs to be done. All right, OK.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03For you, it's just an option. You can always get one later on anyway.
0:38:03 > 0:38:10Phew! That was a close one for Tamsin. At least she saved herself £75 on the smart meter.
0:38:10 > 0:38:15But it looks like she's still in line for one of Roger's other rip-offs.
0:38:15 > 0:38:22So I'm going to put the energy conserver box on. That's a good start. That's going to be 250 quid.
0:38:22 > 0:38:27I didn't manage to get her to take the smart meter, but I'll push that a bit further.
0:38:27 > 0:38:33I'll let her have a look at it, try and convince her and I might even give her a bit more discount on it,
0:38:33 > 0:38:36just to see if I can close the sale.
0:38:36 > 0:38:41First things first, Roger. You'd better install that energy conserving device,
0:38:41 > 0:38:45even though it's an empty box that'll do nothing at all.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47Right, we'll just stick these in.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57Unbelievable! He's just pushing that wire into a hole in the wall.
0:38:58 > 0:39:03I've put it upside down, but it won't matter. It works either way.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07I don't know how you can do this with a straight face, Roger.
0:39:10 > 0:39:16That's great. I've fitted the unit, or I've poked the wires through to make it look like it's fitted.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20She'll think that's been done, so I'll get some money from her now.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23- All right?- There you go. - That's it, yeah.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26- That bit just clamps round... - The meter thing.
0:39:26 > 0:39:30He's still determined to make some money out of that smart meter.
0:39:30 > 0:39:36When you're watching TV, you can have it up there and you can find out how much it costs to watch TV!
0:39:36 > 0:39:39Tamsin looks like she just wants Roger out of the house.
0:39:39 > 0:39:45Some tradesmen can intimidate their victims so much, they pay them just to leave,
0:39:45 > 0:39:47so will she fall for this old trick?
0:39:47 > 0:39:52- So, no smart box for you then? - Not this time.- OK, that's all right.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54Good for you, Tamsin.
0:39:54 > 0:39:59So that's just 250 for the unit and 50 quid for the testing and call-out.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03Hang on, Roger. You didn't mention the extra £50 earlier.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06That's a really dirty trick.
0:40:07 > 0:40:13Today, Tamsin Hill let an unknown electrician into her home without checking his ID.
0:40:13 > 0:40:20Roger duped her with waffle and fancy tools and has installed an empty plastic box.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25She's agreed to a £250 job that didn't need doing
0:40:25 > 0:40:29and now our cowboy has upped his quote by £50.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31Will Tamsin pay up?
0:40:32 > 0:40:34All right.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38Lovely. Thanks very much indeed.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42Yes, she does - £300 for fitting a useless gadget!
0:40:42 > 0:40:47- Hopefully, I'll see you again. - I'm sure the feeling isn't mutual.
0:40:47 > 0:40:53Our cowboy is off to his next job, no doubt to try and take another customer for a ride.
0:40:54 > 0:41:00Now he's out of sight, it's time for our producer to step in and reveal the truth to Tamsin.
0:41:01 > 0:41:07- Hello.- Hi. We're asking people if they've had any odd experiences.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11We're looking into plumbers, electricians.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14I've just had my electricity looked at.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16What did they do exactly?
0:41:16 > 0:41:20They've added some kind of box underneath my fuse box
0:41:20 > 0:41:25because there's some electricity currents escaping. I don't know exactly what that does.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Did they fix the problem? Were you happy with the work?
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Yeah, they've put the box on.
0:41:31 > 0:41:36I think you may have just paid £300 for not much work at all, really.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38LAUGHS ANXIOUSLY
0:41:38 > 0:41:40Right, OK.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45OK... Mummy's going to be in trouble!
0:41:45 > 0:41:51Time for boyfriend Alan to step forward and put Tamsin out of her misery.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56Hello. Why aren't you at work?
0:41:56 > 0:42:00I thought I'd take the opportunity to play a little prank.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03Roger was very convincing.
0:42:03 > 0:42:09I never for one moment thought that he was doing anything other than exactly what he said he was doing.
0:42:09 > 0:42:14- It's all counted.- Thank you very much.- Can I have a receipt, please(?)
0:42:14 > 0:42:18Before I let any more workmen in, make sure that you're prepared,
0:42:18 > 0:42:22that you ask lots of questions and you're happy with the answers you get
0:42:22 > 0:42:27because it's so easy to accept what people say without a second glance
0:42:27 > 0:42:31because you feel silly or you just don't have a clue.
0:42:31 > 0:42:37But just try and make sure you know what's going on because otherwise you can just be scammed.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Thanks for taking it so well, Tamsin.
0:42:42 > 0:42:47You can rely on the majority of tradesmen being honest and hard-working.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51It's only a very few who let the side down and play dirty tricks.
0:42:51 > 0:42:56But remember, if in doubt, keep them out. Thanks for watching. I'll see you next time.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2011
0:43:16 > 0:43:19Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk