0:00:02 > 0:00:04We asked you to tell us what has left you feeling ripped off,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07and you contacted us in your thousands.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10You've told us about the companies you think get it wrong,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13and the customer service that simply isn't up to scratch.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16If I walk in somewhere and they treat me badly, then I walk,
0:00:16 > 0:00:18and I will never go in again.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21You've asked us to track down the scammers who stole your money,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24and investigate the extra charges that you say are unfair.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26You've paid for a service,
0:00:26 > 0:00:29and you expect it to be the service that you've paid for.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33And when you've lost out but no-one else is to blame,
0:00:33 > 0:00:36you've come to us to stop others falling into the same trap.
0:00:36 > 0:00:37As a customer, you've got to be more savvy
0:00:37 > 0:00:39in terms of what you're buying,
0:00:39 > 0:00:41and make sure it's something that you want or need
0:00:41 > 0:00:44and not something that they're trying to trick you into getting.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48So, whether it's a blatant rip-off or a genuine mistake,
0:00:48 > 0:00:51we're here to find out why you're out of pocket,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54and what you can do about it.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Your stories, your money...
0:00:56 > 0:00:58This is Rip Off Britain.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Hello, and welcome once again to Rip Off Britain,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06bringing you a taste of summer from the island of Lanzarote.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Now, we've come to look into more of the holiday and travel stories
0:01:09 > 0:01:11that you've asked us to investigate on your behalf.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Yes, because while most trips abroad do go smoothly and are hassle-free,
0:01:15 > 0:01:17there are, unfortunately, exceptions.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21So, as we hear about some of the worst case scenarios that can happen
0:01:21 > 0:01:25on holiday, whether you're somewhere like this or much closer to home,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28we're going to have what I hope is invaluable advice to make sure
0:01:28 > 0:01:30that you are armed with all the right information
0:01:30 > 0:01:34to protect yourself before you even travel.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Coming up, an extraordinary test
0:01:36 > 0:01:39to find the best way to keep mosquitoes at bay,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42after news of yet another illness that mossies can carry...
0:01:42 > 0:01:47All my joints, my fingers, my shoulders, neck was stiff.
0:01:47 > 0:01:48I couldn't move.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52..and the hen parties caught out by the same lucrative scam -
0:01:52 > 0:01:54how a devastating e-mail exposed the truth.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57It just said, "Don't travel to Marbella,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59"as there will be nowhere to stay."
0:01:59 > 0:02:01I just burst into tears.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05"Is there a doctor on board?"
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Well, those are words that you may well have heard
0:02:08 > 0:02:09in films and on television
0:02:09 > 0:02:12whenever there is a sudden medical emergency in the middle of a flight,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16but what happens in the rare cases when that kind of situation
0:02:16 > 0:02:18occurs in real life?
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Well, of course, the cabin crew do have some medical training,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24but they really don't have the expertise
0:02:24 > 0:02:26to deal with every condition,
0:02:26 > 0:02:30and that is when the call for a fellow passenger to help out
0:02:30 > 0:02:32can be the only available course of action.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36But it turns out that there is one simple, common and, indeed,
0:02:36 > 0:02:41relatively affordable piece of kit that could be a real lifeline,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44and it's one that significantly improves the chances
0:02:44 > 0:02:47of anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest in the air.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53It was three hours into a flight from Amsterdam to Abu Dhabi
0:02:53 > 0:02:54when there was a sudden announcement
0:02:54 > 0:02:58that brought the training of medical student Craig MacLean
0:02:58 > 0:03:00into the sharpest possible focus.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03We'd had our meal, we were just settling in to watch the film,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06and over the Tannoy, they interrupted and said,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08"If there are any doctors on board,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11"could you please make yourself known immediately?"
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Craig told one of the cabin crew that he was a medical student,
0:03:14 > 0:03:16but not fully qualified.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18Before he could say another thing,
0:03:18 > 0:03:21they rushed him towards the sick man just a few rows back.
0:03:22 > 0:03:27He was unresponsive, and I got down and checked for breathing and pulse,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30and at that point it became clear there were neither,
0:03:30 > 0:03:31and it was a cardiac arrest.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33The stewards were very helpful.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35They said, "Look, is there anything we can do to help?"
0:03:35 > 0:03:38So, the first thing I just thought was,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41"Can you bring the defibrillator, please?"
0:03:41 > 0:03:43And also another one of the stewards, "We've got to land
0:03:43 > 0:03:46"the plane now, we need to make an emergency landing."
0:03:46 > 0:03:49The cabin crew rushed to fetch the defibrillator,
0:03:49 > 0:03:53which is a portable device designed to deliver an electric shock
0:03:53 > 0:03:55to a heart that is not beating properly.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58They also told Craig that the emergency landing
0:03:58 > 0:04:01was going to take 45 minutes.
0:04:01 > 0:04:0445 minutes is a really long time, you know. For every minute
0:04:04 > 0:04:08that goes by, his chances are going to get slimmer and slimmer.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12A Dutch nurse on the plane came over to help.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16She took over CPR while Craig got the defibrillator ready.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18And with the very first shock from the machine,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21their patient's heart started beating regularly again.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25Craig is in no doubt about how vital that equipment was.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28The defibrillator gave this man the best shot of survival,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30and had we not had that,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33his chances would have been much slimmer than they were.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Now, although Craig is medically trained,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41the kind of defibrillator used on this KLM flight
0:04:41 > 0:04:44is designed for anyone to use.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47- DEFIBRILLATOR: - 'Apply pad to bare skin,
0:04:47 > 0:04:49'exactly as shown in the picture.'
0:04:49 > 0:04:54Tracy Gard is a hospital matron with a background in cardiology.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Anyone can use these machines - we teach young children,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58primary schoolchildren how to use them.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01The machine will talk to you, tells you exactly what to do.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04'Pull red handle to open bag.'
0:05:04 > 0:05:07These simple and, at around £1,000,
0:05:07 > 0:05:11relatively cheap defibrillators have undoubtedly saved numerous lives.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Press pad firmly.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16So, it might surprise you that it's not standard practice
0:05:16 > 0:05:19for airlines to carry them.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22The European Aviation Safety Authority does recommend
0:05:22 > 0:05:25they be on board aircraft which can take more than 30 passengers
0:05:25 > 0:05:29and which are flying more than 60 minutes away from medical assistance
0:05:29 > 0:05:33on the ground, but it is not a legal requirement.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36That is in stark contrast to America,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39where all planes must carry a defibrillator.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42But, in Europe, it is up to individual airlines to decide,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46and that's a decision which Tracy feels could be life or death.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49After four minutes of no blood getting to the brain,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52the brain's activity starts to cease.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55So, the sooner that you can get a device like this
0:05:55 > 0:05:56to a patient, the better.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Every minute that you waste,
0:05:58 > 0:06:02you've got a 10% less chance of bringing that patient back to life.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06We asked the 10 UK airlines carrying the most passengers
0:06:06 > 0:06:10whether their planes have defibrillators on board.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Only five of them, Thomson, Virgin, Monarch,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16easyJet and Thomas Cook told us that they carry defibrillators
0:06:16 > 0:06:18on all of their planes.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22British Airways says that they're standard on all
0:06:22 > 0:06:26mainline aircraft but not on its BA CityFlyer routes.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29Budget airline Jet2 only carries them on some flights,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32while the fourth biggest carrier in the UK, FlyBe,
0:06:32 > 0:06:35doesn't currently have defibrillators on any of its planes,
0:06:35 > 0:06:37because it says it predominantly focuses
0:06:37 > 0:06:40on domestic and short-haul travel.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43The same goes for the Scottish airline, Loganair.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46But, in the last year, Irish-based airline Ryanair,
0:06:46 > 0:06:49which carries more passengers than any British airline,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52has changed its policy on carrying defibrillators,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55announcing in November 2015 that it would be installing them
0:06:55 > 0:06:57across the whole fleet.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01That came a year after 47-year-old Davina Tavener collapsed
0:07:01 > 0:07:05with heart problems on a Ryanair flight to Lanzarote.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08A surgeon who happened to be on the same flight tried to help,
0:07:08 > 0:07:12but was surprised to learn that there was no defibrillator onboard.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16Sadly, she was unable to revive Davina, who died on the plane.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18And while, in this particular case,
0:07:18 > 0:07:20a defibrillator may not have been able to save her,
0:07:20 > 0:07:24the coroner who investigated her death made a point of urging
0:07:24 > 0:07:28aviation regulators to rethink the rules and make defibrillators
0:07:28 > 0:07:31compulsory on all European flights.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35He said they were as necessary on shorter flights as they are
0:07:35 > 0:07:38on long-haul ones, pointing out that a cardiac event
0:07:38 > 0:07:41can take just seconds and happen at any time.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44So, we asked the European Aviation Safety Agency
0:07:44 > 0:07:46whether it does have plans
0:07:46 > 0:07:49to force the airlines to have defibrillators on board.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53It told us that it is now looking at this issue,
0:07:53 > 0:07:57and has asked aviation authorities across Europe to give their input.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02But it's clear that, for many, the question of whether or not
0:08:02 > 0:08:05every airline should carry such a useful piece of kit
0:08:05 > 0:08:06has an obvious answer.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Life is precious and, you know,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11something so simple, a small piece of equipment like this,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14which doesn't cost a lot of money, can save a life.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16It's as simple as that.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18- DEFIBRILLATOR:- 'Preparing to shock.'
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Now, while many holidays booked in the UK are still organised
0:08:24 > 0:08:27through big tour operators, there are plenty of trips abroad
0:08:27 > 0:08:29that you're more likely to sort out yourself.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Take, for example, a hen party, which,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34because of such a big group travelling together,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37can't always be organised as a package deal.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Instead, chances are that everyone might be staying, for example,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43in a large villa, so whoever has the joy of arranging it all
0:08:43 > 0:08:46will need to either liaise directly with the owner,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49or use one of the booking sites that advertise villas to rent
0:08:49 > 0:08:50right across the world.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53But we've heard from dozens of hen party revellers who,
0:08:53 > 0:08:55despite doing both those things,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57still came a very costly cropper indeed.
0:08:59 > 0:09:00ALL: Cheers.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03With so many hen parties now taking place in the sun...
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Oh, you look lovely, Nikki.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08..organising everything is a much bigger challenge
0:09:08 > 0:09:10than simply arranging a night out for a few friends.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16So, when Mel Allen was asked to be made of honour by her best friend,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Nikki Kerr, she knew that sorting out the hen party
0:09:19 > 0:09:21was going to be a big part of her role.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23We sat down one evening and said,
0:09:23 > 0:09:26"Oh, it would be great if we went somewhere really special."
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Being a bit more mature ladies, we'd have a bit of fun,
0:09:29 > 0:09:33and so we decided we'd like to go to Marbella in Spain.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36And the first priority was finding a villa big enough
0:09:36 > 0:09:37to fit all 21 of them.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Mel searched online and soon found plenty of options
0:09:41 > 0:09:43on the villa-booking website, Owners Direct.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Owners Direct hosts ads for thousands of private villas
0:09:48 > 0:09:51all over the world. When you find one you like the look of,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54you contact the owner directly to find out more,
0:09:54 > 0:09:55and then you make your booking.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59So, when Mel came across a villa that ticked all their boxes,
0:09:59 > 0:10:00she did just that.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04I made contact with the owners, which were called Rainbow Villas,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07and it looked just what we were looking for.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09And the lady was so friendly,
0:10:09 > 0:10:13and it seemed like it was going to be the perfect weekend.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15The owner of the Marbella-based company, Rainbow Villas,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18not to be confused with other companies with similar names,
0:10:18 > 0:10:22used the name Michelle, and agreed with Mel a total fee of £4,000,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25which she said even included a fully-stocked bar.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29The whole package sounded amazing, so we all got together and said,
0:10:29 > 0:10:32"Yes, let's book this," and paid the 25% deposit.
0:10:32 > 0:10:37But the hens were also told that they needed to pay by bank transfer,
0:10:37 > 0:10:39something that made Mel a little nervous.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41I asked if I could use a credit card,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44but was told there wasn't that facility.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47So, I went back on to the Owners Direct website
0:10:47 > 0:10:50and it said clearly on there,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53"It is secure to use by bank transfer,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56"but we advise you make contact with the villa owner."
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Which I had already done,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01but I did just give Owners Direct a little ring to just check that out,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04and was told, yes, if I'd made contact with them,
0:11:04 > 0:11:06it was fine to go ahead and do that.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08So, reassured that everything would be OK,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Mel collected the money from all 20 other hens
0:11:11 > 0:11:14and paid Rainbow Villas in three instalments,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18the last one being just eight weeks before they were due to fly to Spain
0:11:18 > 0:11:20in June 2015.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24It was very exciting, it was going to be a fabulous weekend,
0:11:24 > 0:11:26and one that Nikki would remember.
0:11:28 > 0:11:29Meanwhile, in Sheffield,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Olivia Parsisson and her hens were looking forward
0:11:32 > 0:11:34to their long weekend in Marbella,
0:11:34 > 0:11:36in another of Rainbow Villas' properties.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43We had booked what was supposed to be a millionaire's mansion.
0:11:43 > 0:11:48It had a hot tub, Jacuzzi, saunas, bang in the middle of Marbella.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50It was going to be my last real girls' holiday.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Just as Mel had, Olivia contacted Rainbow Villas directly,
0:11:56 > 0:12:01and agreed to pay the cost, £5,750, by bank transfer.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Everything seemed legitimate, there was nothing
0:12:03 > 0:12:05to make me think otherwise.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08I just thought she was lovely, really.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10But, just three weeks before their departure dates,
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Mel and Olivia both received an e-mail from Rainbow Villas.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18It was just saying, "Do not travel, we have ceased trading,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20"find alternative accommodation."
0:12:20 > 0:12:22So, you can imagine, I was absolutely devastated.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25It just said, "Don't travel to Marbella,
0:12:25 > 0:12:27"as there will be nowhere to stay."
0:12:27 > 0:12:30I just burst into tears.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Mel and Olivia both e-mailed back,
0:12:32 > 0:12:34asking whether they would be refunded,
0:12:34 > 0:12:36but Rainbows Villas didn't reply,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39so Olivia looked online to see if there was anyone else
0:12:39 > 0:12:43in the same situation, and she very quickly stumbled across
0:12:43 > 0:12:46a Facebook group full of stories that sounded just like hers.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Worse still, there were other parties that had booked
0:12:49 > 0:12:52into the same villa on exactly the same dates.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55I couldn't believe it - the weekend that me and my hens were booked,
0:12:55 > 0:12:57there was another hen party and another stag do.
0:12:57 > 0:12:58That was just one weekend,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01so in one weekend, that would have been...
0:13:01 > 0:13:03close to £20,000.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Mel and Olivia both realised that, in all probability,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08they had been scammed.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11And with their travel insurance policies either not covering fraud
0:13:11 > 0:13:14or situations where companies ceased trading,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16they had little chance of getting their money back.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Both now faced having to tell their friends what had happened.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24I rang Nikki and said, "I've got some devastating news for you,
0:13:24 > 0:13:26"but this villa that we've been looking forward to
0:13:26 > 0:13:27"for weeks and weeks,
0:13:27 > 0:13:31"and planning sitting by that pool and in the hot tubs and whatever,
0:13:31 > 0:13:33"it doesn't exist."
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Both groups did ultimately have their big parties in Marbella,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40booking and shelling out for completely different accommodation.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44But, between them, they lost almost £10,000 to Rainbow Villas,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47and we've spoken to four other groups of hens who were duped
0:13:47 > 0:13:51in exactly the same way, and who also paid out thousands.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55Although investigations are ongoing, police in the UK and in Spain
0:13:55 > 0:13:58believe that Michelle at Rainbow Villas was taking
0:13:58 > 0:14:02identical bookings for up to eight villas in and around Marbella.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06Unfortunately, all the parties we've spoken to who lost money
0:14:06 > 0:14:09to Rainbow Villas paid via bank transfer and, as a result,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12I'm afraid they stand very little chance
0:14:12 > 0:14:15of ever seeing all of their money again.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Now, when we contacted Michelle at Rainbow Villas,
0:14:17 > 0:14:20we didn't get a response.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24So we also spoke to the company our hen parties had booked through,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Owners Direct. It apologised to all those affected,
0:14:27 > 0:14:29telling us this was...
0:14:34 > 0:14:37It said it immediately removed the listings from its site
0:14:37 > 0:14:41and offered financial support to holiday-makers who had lost money
0:14:41 > 0:14:43and didn't have travel insurance.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Owners Direct also told us it's now enhanced protection
0:14:46 > 0:14:50for those who book and pay through its website and, in future,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53under its new "book with confidence" guarantee,
0:14:53 > 0:14:57anyone affected by fraud will receive full reimbursement.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02But I'm afraid that's come too late for our groups of hens,
0:15:02 > 0:15:04and while they still did enjoy the replacement trips
0:15:04 > 0:15:06they were able to book, the gloss, I'm afraid,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09was very much taken off by what happened.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11It's not just about money -
0:15:11 > 0:15:13it's the cost of emotional...
0:15:13 > 0:15:16and stress that it causes to everybody.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19And there isn't a price on that, actually.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Mosquito viruses are on the rise,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27and not just the ones you've heard of.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30We can be spoiled for choice with all the products and repellents
0:15:30 > 0:15:32promising to scare them off,
0:15:32 > 0:15:36but, after an extraordinary test you won't want to try at home,
0:15:36 > 0:15:40I warn you, we can tell you exactly which kind are the most effective.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Now, which of us while abroad has not heard that telltale
0:15:46 > 0:15:51high-pitched whine that warns us that a mosquito is about?
0:15:51 > 0:15:56One time I went to Turkey, and I must have been bitten 80 times.
0:15:56 > 0:16:03I always get bitten, and the bites swell up and then go black.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06I think your blood is attracting - you have a smell, somehow.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10I don't think repellents change anything.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13For most of us, the worst consequence of getting bitten
0:16:13 > 0:16:16might be a nasty itch, but if you're bitten by a mosquito
0:16:16 > 0:16:20carrying disease, it can be a very different story.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24This year, we've all heard about the concerns over the Zika virus
0:16:24 > 0:16:27and how its rapid spread dominated the run-up to the Rio Olympics -
0:16:27 > 0:16:31but mosquitoes can carry many more diseases than you might think.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Syeda Sadiqa's family are from India,
0:16:34 > 0:16:39so she and her husband try and holiday there as often as they can.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42We decided that we would take a trip to India.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45We had some family members there,
0:16:45 > 0:16:49and they wanted us to visit for a short time.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53Syeda has not only been to India many times, she is also a doctor,
0:16:53 > 0:16:57so she is a well aware of the risk of contracting diseases like malaria
0:16:57 > 0:16:59or dengue fever from mosquitoes.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01She also knows that she is prone to getting bitten,
0:17:01 > 0:17:05so she made sure she packed plenty of mosquito repellent
0:17:05 > 0:17:07that she and her husband could use.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10I don't take it, I will definitely get bitten.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Even if you are going out on the road, walking,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16the mosquitoes bite you.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20But when Syeda's husband headed back to the UK earlier than she did,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24he accidentally took their precious mosquito spray with him.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26By the time Syeda realised, the shops were shut,
0:17:26 > 0:17:28so she had a night without repellent.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32In morning time, I felt that my feet were...
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Just scratching, I was scratching.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38But it was only several days later,
0:17:38 > 0:17:40after she too had returned to the UK,
0:17:40 > 0:17:45that Syeda realised her bites were more than just an itchy annoyance.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48I couldn't get up from the bed, it was all of a sudden.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52All my joints, my fingers, my feet, my knee,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55my shoulder, neck was stiff.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59I couldn't move. Then I saw on my leg, here, a big rash.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05It turned out Syeda had contracted a debilitating viral disease
0:18:05 > 0:18:09called chikungunya, which is passed on by infected mosquitoes.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12It took me three and a half months
0:18:12 > 0:18:16to completely feel my joints free.
0:18:16 > 0:18:17It is very, very depressing.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22You may never have heard of chikungunya,
0:18:22 > 0:18:23but cases of it are on the rise.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28But, as with all mosquito-borne diseases,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31it is preventable if you apply the correct repellent.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Trouble is, with so many different varieties on offer,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36how can you be sure you've bought the one
0:18:36 > 0:18:38that gives the best protection?
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Dr James Logan of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
0:18:43 > 0:18:48has been getting up close and personal with mosquitoes for years,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50and he's got an experiment up his sleeve
0:18:50 > 0:18:53to find out how to avoid becoming a tasty treat
0:18:53 > 0:18:55for nature's ultimate bloodsuckers.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00When you go on holiday, there's always some people who seem to never
0:19:00 > 0:19:04get bitten by mosquitoes, and it's all to do with the way we smell.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07So, we're going to test which of the products on the market
0:19:07 > 0:19:11create a smell that really does drive the mossies away.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14And the guinea pig for this experiment is none other
0:19:14 > 0:19:16than Dr Logan himself. Rather him than me.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20But, to start with, we need to make sure that the good doctor
0:19:20 > 0:19:24is a really tasty prospect for the insects, so he's offering up his arm
0:19:24 > 0:19:28to these thirsty little darlings without any repellent at all.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30You can see already, it's just been a matter of seconds,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33you can see the mosquitoes are starting to land and...
0:19:33 > 0:19:36We've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
0:19:36 > 0:19:3811, 12, 13, 14, 15.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40We've got about 15 mosquitoes already,
0:19:40 > 0:19:41just within about ten seconds,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44landing on my arm. So, we've just completed the controlled test,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46and there is actually 22 bites on my arm,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49so, clearly I am attractive to mosquitoes,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52which means I'm a good candidate to test these repellents on.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Oh, it makes me itch just watching.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57Well, before testing the more conventional repellents,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Dr Logan is going to try three of the more unorthodox ones
0:20:00 > 0:20:03that some people are convinced can work.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05This is not the one I'm looking forward to...
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Marmite, garlic and brewer's yeast.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12So, it's been about an hour and a half since I took the home remedies,
0:20:12 > 0:20:14so I'll put my arm back in the cage.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18You can see them all buzzing around there, they're really hungry, still,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21and... OK. Straight away, they are in there.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23I can see ten already landed.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26In fact, if anything, it looks like I'm slightly more attractive.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29So, it's pretty clear that these home remedies just do not work.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35OK, time to test some more common, off-the-shelf repellents,
0:20:35 > 0:20:36starting with PMD.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40PMD, or lemon eucalyptus, is a natural repellent.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Is it feast or famine for the mosquitoes this time?
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Some people just spray it in the air and walk through it, like a perfume.
0:20:48 > 0:20:49That's not going to cut it -
0:20:49 > 0:20:51you have to cover the skin entirely,
0:20:51 > 0:20:55because the mosquito will find the bit that's not been covered.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58OK, so I've seen a few mosquitoes just sort of hovering
0:20:58 > 0:21:01around the hand, but they haven't actually landed.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03One sort of touched the arm and then took off again.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08So, it certainly works - in this short period of time, it does work.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10So, it's a tick for PMD.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13The results are even more striking with repellents
0:21:13 > 0:21:16using diethyltoluamide, or DEET to you and me.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19I'm now going to try my left arm which has DEET on it,
0:21:19 > 0:21:20it has 50% DEET.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24DEET is a synthesised chemical used in many mosquito repellents
0:21:24 > 0:21:27designed for high-risk locations.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30So, not only have the mosquitoes stopped landing on my arm,
0:21:30 > 0:21:32but they are resting on the side of the cage.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36They just simply are not interested whatsoever.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40So, there are absolutely no bites on my arm, with the DEET on my arm,
0:21:40 > 0:21:42and that's because it works extremely well,
0:21:42 > 0:21:44it's the best repellent on the market.
0:21:44 > 0:21:49With DEET and PMD having such dramatic mosquito-repelling success,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52it's clear what you should pack if you're going to a place
0:21:52 > 0:21:54where you risk being bitten.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59And Syeda, already planning her next trip to see friends and family
0:21:59 > 0:22:03in India, will certainly never again let her mosquito spray
0:22:03 > 0:22:04out of her sight.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10When you go for a holiday or any trip to places
0:22:10 > 0:22:13where you get mosquitoes, take the spray.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Now, when we're in a lovely sunny spot like this in Lanzarote,
0:22:22 > 0:22:24we may be getting a little bit better at protecting our skin
0:22:24 > 0:22:27from all the rays, but...
0:22:27 > 0:22:28What about our eyes?
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Well, of course, we rely on these, our trusty sunglasses,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34but it's not always easy to work out which ones will be the most
0:22:34 > 0:22:38effective, and while you might think that when it comes to the safety
0:22:38 > 0:22:39of your eyes and it's all at stake,
0:22:39 > 0:22:43it pays to shell out a little bit more to get the best protection
0:22:43 > 0:22:45you can afford - in fact, as you will see,
0:22:45 > 0:22:47that's not necessarily the case.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56Round frames, butterfly, rimless, aviator, you name it,
0:22:56 > 0:22:57there's a pair for you.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59But, however high the fashion stakes,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02the most crucial role of whatever shade you buy
0:23:02 > 0:23:06is protecting your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09But how much do you have to pay to find a pair of specs
0:23:09 > 0:23:11that properly protect your peepers?
0:23:11 > 0:23:15Well, we've brought five pairs of differently-priced sunglasses
0:23:15 > 0:23:19to Liverpool Airport, to ask holiday-makers which shades
0:23:19 > 0:23:23they reckon will provide the best protection from the sun's UV rays.
0:23:24 > 0:23:25I want the end ones.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Are those the best? Right, we'll go that one for the best.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31£195!
0:23:34 > 0:23:35These are awesome.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39I think, for the price, £20, that's pretty good.
0:23:39 > 0:23:44- Just as good.- The darker they are, the better it is, I reckon.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48I think these are the best. £195 is quite steep for them,
0:23:48 > 0:23:51but you get what you pay for, in my opinion.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Although we heard lots of theories about which sunglasses
0:23:54 > 0:23:57would best protect our eyes from UV rays,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59there was total agreement on one pair.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03No-one thought that this £1 pair would cut the mustard but, in fact,
0:24:03 > 0:24:04they were all wrong.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Whatever the price, every pair was as good as the others.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12- Oh! Are you joking?- No way.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14I'm pleased, because I always buy cheap sunglasses,
0:24:14 > 0:24:18because they either break in my handbag, get scratched or get lost.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21MUSIC: Cheap Sunglasses by ZZ Top
0:24:21 > 0:24:25And it's not just these five pairs that will protect your eyes
0:24:25 > 0:24:26from the UV rays hitting them,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29because every pair of sunglasses on sale
0:24:29 > 0:24:33in the UK has to do that, whether they cost £1, £100, or even more.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39Of course, that's not quite the whole story,
0:24:39 > 0:24:43because, while you should be confident that you'll get great
0:24:43 > 0:24:47UV protection from any well-fitting sunglasses sold in stores in the UK,
0:24:47 > 0:24:49whatever the price, pick up a pair abroad
0:24:49 > 0:24:52and that may not always be the case.
0:24:52 > 0:24:53We asked Peter Black,
0:24:53 > 0:24:57president of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians
0:24:57 > 0:25:00to test passengers' sunnies as they head through the airport.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Most pairs passed with flying colours,
0:25:03 > 0:25:07but then he met a holiday-maker with somewhat suspect shades.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Can I ask you where you got them from?
0:25:09 > 0:25:11Some beachfront somewhere.
0:25:11 > 0:25:12And how much did you pay for them?
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Three euros at best.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19Frames manufactured and sold outside Europe don't have to comply
0:25:19 > 0:25:23with EU rules, and whilst you might think that they are doing their job,
0:25:23 > 0:25:27some can offer dangerously low levels of UV protection.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30To check these fake designer shades out properly, Peter shone
0:25:30 > 0:25:34an ultraviolet torch through the lenses and onto a UV reader, so that
0:25:34 > 0:25:38he could measure how much of the harmful light passed through.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43This meter shows we've got about 234 units of UV coming out of the torch.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46With your lenses, we've still got 150
0:25:46 > 0:25:47and we should have zero.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50If they were to British standards, they would give 100% protection.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Uh-oh. And, worse still,
0:25:54 > 0:25:57wearing ineffective sunglasses like these could be more dangerous
0:25:57 > 0:26:00than not wearing them at all.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03If you have dark glasses and they don't give you UV protection,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06what happens is your pupils dilate and it lets through more UV
0:26:06 > 0:26:09to the back of the eye, so although they may make things a little more
0:26:09 > 0:26:13comfortable cos they're dark, actually you'd be well advised
0:26:13 > 0:26:17not to wear them and to treat yourself to some others.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19I think so. As our holiday-makers depart
0:26:19 > 0:26:21with all the knowledge they need to protect their eyes,
0:26:21 > 0:26:25it's great news that a good pair needn't be an expensive pair,
0:26:25 > 0:26:30and Peter is very pleased his tests have had such positive results.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33I think the overriding message is that all of the sunglasses
0:26:33 > 0:26:36we've tested from reputable dealers have all been really good
0:26:36 > 0:26:38and have given 100% protection.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41The ones that have failed the test have all been fake,
0:26:41 > 0:26:42and I think there's a lesson there,
0:26:42 > 0:26:46that we need to buy our sunglasses from a shop that we can trust.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54If you've got a story you would like us to investigate,
0:26:54 > 0:26:59then get in touch with us via our Facebook page, BBC Rip Off Britain,
0:26:59 > 0:27:04our website, bbc.co.uk/ripoffbritain,
0:27:04 > 0:27:05or e-mail...
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Or, if you want to send us a letter,
0:27:10 > 0:27:11then our address is...
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Well, of course, the whole point of a holiday,
0:27:26 > 0:27:27right from the planning stage,
0:27:27 > 0:27:31is to make you feel good about yourself and really relax.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Clearly, though, there are some quick, basic checks and preparations
0:27:34 > 0:27:37that you can do to make sure your trip goes according to plan.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Equally important is having the confidence
0:27:39 > 0:27:41that whoever you are travelling with
0:27:41 > 0:27:43has really got your interests at heart,
0:27:43 > 0:27:46which is why I was so particularly taken with the story
0:27:46 > 0:27:49about the safety equipment that not all aircraft carry.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Surely it's a no-brainer that something so easily available
0:27:52 > 0:27:55and, for the big companies, so easily affordable
0:27:55 > 0:27:57should be on board every single flight.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00And if the fact that it isn't on every flight is something
0:28:00 > 0:28:03that's left you scratching your head and wondering why,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06I have to say, the story that really had me scratching all over today
0:28:06 > 0:28:08was that report on mosquitoes -
0:28:08 > 0:28:10and I don't envy what that doctor went through
0:28:10 > 0:28:12one bit in the name of science,
0:28:12 > 0:28:13but at least we do now all know
0:28:13 > 0:28:15which type of mossie spray is the best one to buy.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18I'm afraid that's all we have time for today, but we will be back
0:28:18 > 0:28:20investigating more of your stories very soon.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23- Until then, from all the team, bye-bye.- Bye-bye.- Bye.