0:00:02 > 0:00:04I've had an interesting life.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07Coal miner, forklift truck driver,
0:00:07 > 0:00:11bricklayer, factory production line worker, fireman.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16I've lived rough on the streets of London and Paris.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21But now I've got a new job.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23'As a Queen's Counsel barrister,
0:00:23 > 0:00:25'I know the law inside out.
0:00:27 > 0:00:32'I've prosecuted and defended some of the UK's most serious criminals,
0:00:32 > 0:00:37'but the life I've led means I know that the world can be a tough place.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43'At some point, we've all felt ripped off, cheated or conned.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48'It's frustrating, costly and stressful.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51'But I know consumers can fight back and get justice.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56'I'm not here to represent anyone.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58'What I want is to empower you'
0:00:58 > 0:01:01to use the law to get what you're owed.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Today, I'm in Monmouthshire, with a family who have been driven
0:01:08 > 0:01:10to despair by a camper van.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12The mattress was wet with no electric,
0:01:12 > 0:01:14the oven hadn't been bolted in.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17That slid across the floor whilst we were driving.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18But first, I'm in Huddersfield,
0:01:18 > 0:01:21on the trail of a runaway mobility scooter dealer.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28'I'm going to help both of these women work out how much they're owed
0:01:28 > 0:01:32'and show them how they can use the law to get their money back.'
0:01:38 > 0:01:40This is the Altaf family.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43Dad Mohammed, mum Zahida, and the boys -
0:01:43 > 0:01:48Muhzamal, Awais and the little one, Mundasar.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53Dad is blind and mum Zahida has cerebral palsy.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56She's our mother first... and she is disabled.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59She likes to be very independent.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02Likes to go out and stuff like that.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04Zahida is very self-sufficient
0:02:04 > 0:02:08and for years had a mobility scooter to get around on.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Always going around everywhere. She could get everywhere within minutes
0:02:25 > 0:02:30and it was, like, probably the easiest transport she's ever had.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34When Zahida's old scooter needed fixing, the family
0:02:34 > 0:02:39called in local dealer Peter Brown from a shop called Drivability.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Once he was introduced to the family,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45he tried to sell Zahida a bigger, faster scooter.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48After several visits, she agreed.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Peter Brown took her old scooter, some extra cash
0:02:51 > 0:02:54and agreed for the rest to be paid in instalments.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58But on only the second day out,
0:02:58 > 0:03:02the new scooter broke down in the middle of the road.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04TYRES SQUEAL HORN BLARES
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Her husband and youngest son came to the rescue.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23And then we got a call from her and we heard that the scooter broke down.
0:03:27 > 0:03:32I was so worried, I was actually shivering.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Peter Brown took the scooter away for repair
0:03:37 > 0:03:40and then returned it again...
0:03:40 > 0:03:42with exactly the same problems.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50He now denied the second scooter was faulty, and when Zahida protested
0:03:50 > 0:03:54he took the scooter away, leaving her with nothing.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59- He took the scooter anyway. - Yeah, he just took the scooter...
0:03:59 > 0:04:03- No word from him.- No word from him. Just took the scooter and just went.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Peter Brown refused to return Zahida's scooter,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09demanding she pay him the remaining £500.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14The family tried everything to get Mum's scooter back.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27Peter Brown wouldn't listen to the family, leaving Zahida
0:04:27 > 0:04:32without a scooter for two years. And now the Drivability shop has closed.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38I've been there twice, three times, four times.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40I've been there, he's not there.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Peter Brown has now taken Zahida's original scooter,
0:04:53 > 0:04:57her new scooter, and the £1,460 it cost her.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11I just wish that my mum got her scooter back
0:05:11 > 0:05:14and then she'd have an easier life.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31This is, frankly, an appalling case.
0:05:31 > 0:05:32Zahida went to a trader
0:05:32 > 0:05:35who specialised in helping disabled people.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39He took her scooter and then closed his shop down without returning it.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42I'll be seeing Zahida later to try and track down who it is
0:05:42 > 0:05:46that has her scooter and her money, and help her get them back.
0:05:52 > 0:05:53Monmouthshire, Wales.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56Home to a family that's got a problem with a camper van.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Meet Joanne Chappell.
0:06:00 > 0:06:01We have two boys.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04They're nine and seven. The oldest is called James,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06the youngest is called Nate.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08There is never enough hours in the day.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11It's nonstop. We don't get to sit down in our lounge, really.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13We are constantly doing something.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17As well as running three businesses and raising the kids...
0:06:18 > 0:06:20..Joanne has a hobby.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23MUSIC: "Back In Black" by AC/DC
0:06:30 > 0:06:34In their spare time, Joanne and her partner Dave like
0:06:34 > 0:06:36to take their motorbikes away for the weekend.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42You do end up spending the whole day on the bike,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45getting covered in mud and having no washing facilities.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Travelling away with the bikes in the back of an old van
0:06:50 > 0:06:53was beginning to lose its appeal for Joanne
0:06:53 > 0:06:57until she came up with the idea of a multipurpose camper van,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00with room for the bikes and a luxury living space up front.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08The dream that we could have a shower, we could cook our tea,
0:07:08 > 0:07:12we'd sleep in comfort with heating and lighting,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15and make a nice weekend of it.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20Joanne bought a second-hand panel van to convert into the luxury
0:07:20 > 0:07:21camper van she'd dreamed of.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26She then found a company called Race Passion, who told her they
0:07:26 > 0:07:31could carry out the conversion, and quoted her £11,000 to do the job.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Which they did.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37Except, when the van finally came back from the workshop...
0:07:39 > 0:07:41..it was anything but luxury.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44We went to North Wales.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47We woke up the following morning with no electric.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50The oven hadn't been bolted in - that slid across the floor
0:07:50 > 0:07:53whilst we were driving. There was water coming through the roof lights.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56The seating arrangement broke.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59The mattress was wet from where the roof lights had leaked.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04The van went straight back to Race Passion
0:08:04 > 0:08:06so that the faults would be fixed.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09In the end, after waiting for months and months,
0:08:09 > 0:08:13we thought we'd just have to collect it and sort it ourselves.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16When she got it home she discovered that none of the work had been done,
0:08:16 > 0:08:18and some parts were even missing.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23The van was in such a poor state that Joanne felt
0:08:23 > 0:08:27she needed to take it to another company for basic repairs,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29costing a further £3,000.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35And even after this work, it's still far from perfect.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38The dream was to go camping with the children,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41to go and take our motorbikes to places,
0:08:41 > 0:08:45just to take the kids' pedal bikes to a park would have been nice.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53We're over it now, it's gone.
0:08:53 > 0:08:58I think we will just go back to a van and a barbecue and forget the dream.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Joanne's clearly not a happy camper.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12The original company that carried out the work should have done it
0:09:12 > 0:09:15to the agreed standard, and they didn't.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17It looks like a simple breach of contract to me,
0:09:17 > 0:09:19but if Joanne's going to get her money back,
0:09:19 > 0:09:21she's going to have to prove that breach.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25And I'll be seeing her later to help her go about doing just that.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30Back now to Zahida Altaf.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32She suffers from cerebral palsy
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and relied on a mobility scooter to get about.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39She bought one from a local disability specialist, Peter Brown.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41When it broke down he took it for repairs
0:09:41 > 0:09:43and then refused to return it.
0:09:43 > 0:09:48He's now closed his shop, and Zahida hasn't had a scooter for two years.
0:09:48 > 0:09:49I need to go to Huddersfield
0:09:49 > 0:09:52to find out more about this missing scooter salesman.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57The shop may have closed, but hopefully with my help
0:09:57 > 0:10:01and assistance, Zahida can track down whoever's got her scooter
0:10:01 > 0:10:03and try to get it or her money back.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08- Hello.- Hi, Gary Bell. Thank you very much.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15I've read all about this case and can I say that I think it's
0:10:15 > 0:10:18disgraceful what's happened to you.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20And I came here, up the hill,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- and that's a pretty difficult hill to walk up, isn't it?- True.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33So this scooter, we're not talking about the scooters that the
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Mods used to drive down to Brighton, are we? It was a mobility scooter.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42You could get one of those.
0:10:42 > 0:10:43I'm good on those.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49So when you got this scooter, you paid £500 for your old scooter,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52- the comfy scooter that served you well.- Yeah.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56And they offered to pay you £1,000 in part exchange for it.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58- Yes.- That's very kind of them.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Bargain Hunter of the Year - well, I don't think you would win that now,
0:11:07 > 0:11:09would you, the Bargain Hunter of the Year?
0:11:11 > 0:11:15So you had a scooter that worked, you bought a new scooter,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- they took away your scooter.- Yeah.
0:11:18 > 0:11:25You paid £800 and then £300 for the canopy, then £360 for the repair.
0:11:25 > 0:11:31So £1,460, and as a result of that now you don't have a scooter.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- And you're trapped inside your own house.- Oh, my goodness.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37And you want her to get out a bit, do you, Mohammed,
0:11:37 > 0:11:39- give you a bit of peace and quiet? - Yeah.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42How has it affected your life, not having a scooter?
0:11:50 > 0:11:53It's disgraceful what's happened to you as a family.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56And this man needs to pay.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Zahida's claim is a simple one.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02From Peter Brown she wants either the original scooter
0:12:02 > 0:12:07she bought, in good working order, or the money she gave him, back.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31But before I leave Huddersfield, I want to check out for myself
0:12:31 > 0:12:33the premises that he operated from.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39"Drivability Mobility Specialists.
0:12:39 > 0:12:40"To Let."
0:12:42 > 0:12:44"Drivability Centre.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47"Now open." I don't think so.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Letter box crammed full of mail.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53This place seems to have shut down in a hurry.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55All the signs still in the windows.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57It looks like it should be open.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02Some businesses do close,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04particularly in these troubled times.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10But all they had to do was to give Zahida her scooter back.
0:13:10 > 0:13:11And they haven't done that.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14They've kept her scooter and they've kept her money.
0:13:14 > 0:13:15And now they've shut up shop.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Meanwhile, Joanne Chappell bought a van
0:13:21 > 0:13:24and paid to have it converted into a dream camper van.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26When it finally came back - months late -
0:13:26 > 0:13:29almost none of the work was satisfactory,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32and she had to pay another company to repair the faults.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39On the face of it, this looks like a straightforward breach of contract.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Joanne's paid for something and she hasn't got what she paid for.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46With my help and advice,
0:13:46 > 0:13:50Joanne should be able to get this problem solved for herself.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52- Hi, Gary Bell.- Nice to meet you.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Well, I've read all about your case but we need to see the van
0:13:55 > 0:13:57- if we can. Is it around? - Yes, it's just over there.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Goodness me, that's a bit of a beast.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Right, let's go and have a look at it.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09So you bought this van just as a basic van, is that right?
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Yeah, we bought it about two years ago.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14And you wanted to partition it the way it's partitioned now,
0:14:14 > 0:14:15- effectively.- Yes.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18So somewhere for the bikes, somewhere for you to sit.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20And then a bedroom up there and
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- there's a fold-out bed that would become a bedroom for the children. - Yes.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26So tell me a bit about some of the problems you had.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28'Brace yourselves, Joanne has a list of problems
0:14:28 > 0:14:31'as long as a Russian novel.'
0:14:31 > 0:14:36The water tank was leaking water, so we had water round by the wires.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41The toilet leaked, so water would come into the living area.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46The cooker slid out and actually hit the side of the wall.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48- It is meant to be full of insulation. - Oh, right.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53It's just being cheap and using offcuts rather than one whole piece.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55The tabletop leg doesn't go to the tabletop.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58All the leaking around all the windows where they'd used
0:14:58 > 0:15:00cheap-grade silicone.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02At least the cushions look nice. Did they make these themselves?
0:15:02 > 0:15:05No, they actually send these off to some other company to do
0:15:05 > 0:15:07so that is the best part of the van.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09I'm not a builder but I've seen them do that.
0:15:09 > 0:15:10HOLLOW TAPPING
0:15:10 > 0:15:13'Joanne tells me that several items were missing -
0:15:13 > 0:15:16'even the plug from the telly had been taken.'
0:15:16 > 0:15:19It's absolutely disgraceful that people can behave like that.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21How do you feel about the van?
0:15:22 > 0:15:24We can't keep it.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27It's just made us so unhappy and caused so much stress, that
0:15:27 > 0:15:31we will be selling the van and forgetting our dream of travelling.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- And that's all gone now? - That's all gone. The dream has gone.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Right, Jo, let's go and have a look at the paperwork.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42- You're not a caravaner then, are you? - No, no, I can't be done with it.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45I can't be done with it. My idea of a weekend is The Ritz.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49'OK, so I might not be much of a camper,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52'but even I can tell that that van was a shambles.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57'Some of the faults have been fixed by a reputable company.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58'But even after spending £3,000
0:15:58 > 0:16:01'Joanne's still not happy with the van.'
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Let's sit down and have a look at that paperwork then, shall we?
0:16:07 > 0:16:11- It's nice to have a table, isn't it? - Yes.- Not like in the van.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13- You thought about putting this one in the van?- If only it would fit.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16What we need to do is verify exactly what your case is, and see
0:16:16 > 0:16:19if we've got evidence in this file to support it.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22'Whenever you spend a lot of money it's always important to keep
0:16:22 > 0:16:26'all of your paperwork, receipts, quotes and correspondence.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28'Joanne has been very diligent.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31'She's even got photographs showing the problems before the faults
0:16:31 > 0:16:33'were fixed.'
0:16:33 > 0:16:36So how long is it since you first dropped it off with him
0:16:36 > 0:16:38to when you got it back finally after it was fixed?
0:16:38 > 0:16:43It's been getting into the second year of just a nightmare,
0:16:43 > 0:16:47living nightmare. There's been tears and arguments, frustration,
0:16:47 > 0:16:49trying to get the van fixed.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51And now trying to get our money back.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55So from Paul Lloyd of Race Passion, Joanne's claim is...
0:17:08 > 0:17:10The tax expired while the van couldn't be used.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- How many phone calls do you think you've made to him?- Hundreds.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21He never answers his calls, ever.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24We will take him to court if we need to.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26- But that should be a last resort. - Right.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29Why don't we just call him up and ask whether he'll pay on the phone?
0:17:29 > 0:17:32'I want Joanne to know how to do this for herself.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35'It's important that she makes this call.'
0:17:35 > 0:17:39PHONE RINGS
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Hi, Paul, it's Joanne with the camper.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45'First tip, always state your case calmly and clearly.'
0:17:46 > 0:17:50We've had all the work done on the camper to make it safe to use
0:17:50 > 0:17:53and to fix all the faulty items.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56'Well done, Joanne. Keep control of the situation.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00'Now let him know what you think he's done wrong.'
0:18:00 > 0:18:01You hadn't done any of the work...
0:18:01 > 0:18:03PHONE DISCONNECTS Paul, are you still there?
0:18:03 > 0:18:06'Well, that didn't go quite as well as I'd hoped.'
0:18:06 > 0:18:07Let's write him a letter.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12Tell him exactly what he did wrong and exactly what we want from him.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14Joanne needs to let him know that she wants all the costs and
0:18:14 > 0:18:18expenses that relate to the van to be repaid within a 14-day deadline.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21If not, she'll take the case to court.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25Let's hope this letter will get Joanne's problem solved.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29This case isn't just about shoddy workmanship to a van.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31It's about much more than that.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35It's about the lost dreams of an entire family.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Joanne wants it over, and so do I.
0:18:37 > 0:18:42And finally, after a 16-month nightmare, the end is in sight.
0:18:44 > 0:18:49My name is Gary Bell, and as a QC I've spent most of my working life
0:18:49 > 0:18:51dealing with major court cases.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53But I haven't always been a barrister.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55I've known some tough times,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59and now I want to use my knowledge of the law to help others.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03I want to show you how you can use the courts to recover your money.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Zahida Altaf was sold a mobility scooter
0:19:10 > 0:19:12by Peter Brown of Drivability.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15When the scooter went wrong, Zahida complained -
0:19:15 > 0:19:19and he took it away and refused to give it back.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21The shop he operated from has now closed,
0:19:21 > 0:19:25and for over two years Zahida has been without a scooter or her money.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Peter Brown tried to get away with this,
0:19:32 > 0:19:36without any concern for the effect it would have on Zahida or her life.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37And she must now write to him,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40asking for the return of the scooter or the money.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42But she'll need somewhere to send the letter.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44He may have closed the shop
0:19:44 > 0:19:46but I bet he's left a trail on the internet.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51The website has lots of pictures of scooters.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53I wonder if one is Zahida's.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57But there are no contacts other than the closed-down premises.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00The shop was called Drivability.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03That may be a registered trademark that we can check online.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10And yes, sure enough, there it is - owned by Peter Brown.
0:20:10 > 0:20:11And here's his address.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Zahida can now send him a letter before action
0:20:14 > 0:20:16asking for her scooter back.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18And it won't be the first letter before action
0:20:18 > 0:20:20that Peter Brown's ever received.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32This is Robert Batty, owner of a Drivability scooter.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35It looks quite a good motor.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38You know, the amount of people that have commented,
0:20:38 > 0:20:40"Oh, that looks a nice machine."
0:20:41 > 0:20:44For what they are, they're a good...
0:20:44 > 0:20:46They are good.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50But if they're not working right, they're neither use nor ornament.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Robert paid a total of £3,500
0:20:55 > 0:20:58to Drivability for a six-month-old scooter.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00From day one, it had problems.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Its battery was so faulty, Robert couldn't even get to town
0:21:06 > 0:21:07and back on one charge.
0:21:11 > 0:21:17I was lucky to go down to Morrisons and back and...that were it.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19That's roughly about a mile.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21When Robert complained to Drivability,
0:21:21 > 0:21:24he was surprised by Peter Brown's novel customer service style.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Roughly how he speaks, it's "Ah!
0:21:27 > 0:21:30"They're new batteries, I've told you, I've put new ones in,
0:21:30 > 0:21:31"nothing wrong with them!"
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Then when he gets going, he speeds up.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40He's "Ah, ah, ah!" He's like...a whippet at your leg.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47But Robert's having none of it, and he's taken Peter Brown
0:21:47 > 0:21:49and Drivability to court.
0:21:51 > 0:21:57Taking him to court. If I don't get anything, unfortunately, that's it.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00If I do, which I think I've a good chance,
0:22:00 > 0:22:06then that's £299 in my pocket as a bonus now.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16'Robert lost £299 to Peter Brown, no small amount.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19'But on the other side of the many hills of Huddersfield,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23'85-year-old Thomas Somerville is owed an awful lot more.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29'Thomas lost his legs through diabetes
0:22:29 > 0:22:31'and relies on his scooters.'
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Well, it is a lifeline for me,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36because I wouldn't manage to go out if I didn't have the scooter.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39'Thomas needs his scooter so much, he's got an indoor
0:22:39 > 0:22:41'and an outdoor one.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43'Well, now, because of Peter Brown,
0:22:43 > 0:22:47'he's actually got two outdoor scooters.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52'Thomas bought a brand-new scooter from Drivability for £5,000.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55'But no sooner had it been delivered than it started stopping.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01'But when Thomas complained, Peter Brown refused to fix it
0:23:01 > 0:23:04'and just made excuses for why it wasn't working.'
0:23:05 > 0:23:08He says, "I'll tell you what's the matter."
0:23:08 > 0:23:12I said, "Go on, then, tell me what's the matter."
0:23:12 > 0:23:15He says, "Where you go down that road,"
0:23:15 > 0:23:21he says, "there's people has electric doors on their garages,"
0:23:21 > 0:23:23and he says, "that's what's causing it."
0:23:26 > 0:23:27I just gave up.
0:23:27 > 0:23:33Anyway, I says, "There's nobody with electric garages down that road."
0:23:33 > 0:23:35I says, "I know that for definite."
0:23:37 > 0:23:40'As an engineer, Thomas couldn't believe the excuses
0:23:40 > 0:23:44'Peter Brown was making, and he knew the scooter was to blame.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45'He also couldn't understand why
0:23:45 > 0:23:48'Peter Brown wouldn't fix his scooter.'
0:23:48 > 0:23:51When it was a new vehicle, and he'd got the guarantee
0:23:51 > 0:23:54and everything there, so why is he carrying on like that?
0:23:54 > 0:23:56That's the only thing I could think on.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59'After months of trying to get Peter Brown to fix his brand-new
0:23:59 > 0:24:01'scooter, Thomas got nowhere.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05'As he needs a scooter to get about,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08'he was forced to spend £5,000 to buy himself another one.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12'He then set about using the courts to
0:24:12 > 0:24:15'recover his money from Peter Brown.'
0:24:15 > 0:24:19I took him to court and I won the case. And that's when he closed.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22'The courts found in Thomas' favour,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25'and he is now owed £5,000.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28'But so far, Peter Brown has paid him nothing.'
0:24:30 > 0:24:33I don't have a lot of finances or nothing, no.
0:24:33 > 0:24:39No, no, I'm completely skint now. Yeah, yeah.
0:24:43 > 0:24:44Like Robert and Thomas,
0:24:44 > 0:24:48the only person Zahida ever dealt with was Peter Brown,
0:24:48 > 0:24:49but if the case goes to court,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53he may well claim it was nothing to do with him and blame a company.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55But like Robert, Thomas and Zahida said,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57everything leads to Peter Brown.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59I'll be back to see Zahida
0:24:59 > 0:25:02when the deadline on her letter before action is up.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04'Back now to the case of Joanne Chappell,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06'who dreamed of owning a camper van.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11'After waiting months for her van to be converted, she discovered that it
0:25:11 > 0:25:15'had been done so poorly she needed to pay another company to fix it.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19'She's now sent a letter to the owner of Race Passion, Paul Lloyd,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22'asking him to cover the cost of those repairs.'
0:25:25 > 0:25:29When Joanne was on the phone to Paul Lloyd, he told her he had a whole
0:25:29 > 0:25:33host of satisfied customers and that she could find them on his website.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36As a lawyer, I don't take anybody's word for it.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39I'm going to look at that website and check it out for myself.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44I always think it's a good idea to go online and search the name of the
0:25:44 > 0:25:47company you're dealing with before you spend a lot of money with them.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Try a search on the company name, and look in forums
0:25:50 > 0:25:53and review sites to see what other customers think.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57A quick look at the Race Passion website and, yes, it looks great.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59Lots of nice photos of vans.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04He even claims here that his vans feature only the best
0:26:04 > 0:26:06craftsmanship and materials.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09But I wonder, are all of his customers satisfied?
0:26:09 > 0:26:12This one is for a bike racer called Simon Low.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22My name's Simon, I race motorcycles in the British Championship.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24MOTORBIKE REVS
0:26:25 > 0:26:27The bike I run is a 125 Honda.
0:26:29 > 0:26:34This is my Iveco van. We use it as a race van and also as a camper.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38'Yes, this is "satisfied customer" Simon Low.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42'Paul Lloyd had his van proudly displayed on the website.'
0:26:42 > 0:26:46We saw Paul advertising Race Passion on the internet.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48The website looked really good
0:26:48 > 0:26:51and Paul said he would do a conversion for 15,000 for us,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54which we thought was pretty good considering other companies
0:26:54 > 0:26:56were offering about 30,000.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58The first thing that happened was the bed collapsed.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02Where the dado rail would be in a house, type thing, erm, that fell down.
0:27:02 > 0:27:03The sink actually leaked,
0:27:03 > 0:27:10then the strip of lighting that lit up the kitchen area, that fell down.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13The gas heater started playing up. That eventually stopped working.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18Whenever you turn the hot water on, it just leaks out, like, cold water.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Just from all the insides.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24To be honest, our 50 quid caravan felt more homely.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27No, he's not going to have his hands on this van again.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33'And Simon's not alone.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36'This van here on the company's website belongs to another
0:27:36 > 0:27:38'so-called satisfied customer.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40'Only she clearly isn't.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44'In fact, she's so unhappy with her Race Passion van
0:27:44 > 0:27:47'she's started her own blog detailing the problems.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53'But up in Leicester, it's not a shoddy van that's the problem,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55'it's the lack of one.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59'Oh, and a missing £10,000.'
0:28:03 > 0:28:06My name's John Bowman, I'm self-employed,
0:28:06 > 0:28:10I have a business where I use a van, and basically the idea was to
0:28:10 > 0:28:14have one van to use for pleasure and also for business.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17The camper van was going to help us to do what we wanted to do,
0:28:17 > 0:28:19which was basically, if we wanted to go out for a day
0:28:19 > 0:28:22and stop overnight somewhere we could do, because we'd have the camper van.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25So we found one on a site on the internet.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28The site looked absolutely fantastic, and some of the vans
0:28:28 > 0:28:31in the pictures were brilliant, it really did look good.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34'John instructed Paul Lloyd at Race Passion to buy him
0:28:34 > 0:28:38'a second-hand van and carry out his camper conversion.'
0:28:38 > 0:28:42He said that he'd got me a van, sourced a van, told me all about it,
0:28:42 > 0:28:43said he was happy with what it was.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46I said, "OK, fine, what d'you want me to do?"
0:28:46 > 0:28:49So he said, "Can you send me £10,000?"
0:28:49 > 0:28:51Which I did do, erm, I sent him a cheque for £10,000,
0:28:51 > 0:28:55and the biggest problem I had then was that he just wouldn't
0:28:55 > 0:28:57answer any telephone calls, e-mails.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59I just couldn't get in touch with the guy.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01He was going to build it in December, he didn't.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03He then said he was going to build it in January, he didn't.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05He then said he would build us a race van
0:29:05 > 0:29:07because he wouldn't give us our money back.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11He would build a race van, sell it and then give us a full refund.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13He didn't do that.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16He kept on saying that he wanted to sort the problem out, but never did.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19You just can't believe a word this man says.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21I just want to stop this guy.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23He needs stopping.
0:29:23 > 0:29:28'Now, almost two years later, John still doesn't have his camper van
0:29:28 > 0:29:30'or the £10,000 he sent to Paul Lloyd.'
0:29:32 > 0:29:36It's completely destroyed us because we were so, so wanting to have a van.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45'Alongside John, Joanne now seems very lucky.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48'At least she got her van back.'
0:29:48 > 0:29:50In all of my Crown Court cases,
0:29:50 > 0:29:54supporting evidence is crucial to substantiating your claim.
0:29:54 > 0:29:55It's the same in Joanne's case.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59She's done very well, she's kept all of the paperwork,
0:29:59 > 0:30:02she took photographs of the van before it was sent off for repairs.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05But what we really need is an expert's opinion.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11'Even though Joanne spent an extra £3,000 putting Paul Lloyd's
0:30:11 > 0:30:15'shoddy work right, I'm still worried about that van.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17'So I've contacted "Diamond Dave" Newell.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21'He's the technical expert from Practical Motorhome magazine,
0:30:21 > 0:30:23'and I've asked him to take a look.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26'He might spot something everyone else has missed.'
0:30:26 > 0:30:28Well, it's a big van.
0:30:30 > 0:30:31Chequer plate floor.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34That's the flue outlet for the fridge, which is
0:30:34 > 0:30:37obviously obscured by the sliding door once the door is open.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41There's also no heat vents for the fridge.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Got a Trumatic gas-fired space heater.
0:30:46 > 0:30:50Vented out through the driver's side wall
0:30:50 > 0:30:52immediately below an openable window.
0:30:53 > 0:30:58If that was burning poorly, it could be producing carbon monoxide,
0:30:58 > 0:30:59which is lethal.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02The standard of finishing here is really quite poor.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04It's completely un-insulated.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06You're very quickly going to ruin this door
0:31:06 > 0:31:09and this wall that isn't made of waterproof material.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11Roof lights haven't been sealed properly.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13That could do with some more support.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15The ceiling panel isn't straight.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18That finishing trim isn't adhered to the back panel at all.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22I would certainly expect better than that. It's distinctly amateur.
0:31:22 > 0:31:26The battery hasn't been vented down through the floor.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28Lead acid batteries, when they're being charged,
0:31:28 > 0:31:32give off hydrogen, which obviously is highly explosive.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37This void here under the seat could very easily fill up with
0:31:37 > 0:31:39a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.
0:31:39 > 0:31:40When the battery was charging,
0:31:40 > 0:31:43it could blow this compartment clean out.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49Any fool could see that Paul Lloyd had done a bodge job
0:31:49 > 0:31:50on this camper van.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53But it needed an expert to tell us that it was also dangerous.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02'The 14 days Joanne gave Paul Lloyd to pay up have now passed,
0:32:02 > 0:32:04'and she's heard absolutely nothing.'
0:32:08 > 0:32:11Joanne has given him every chance to pay up.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13She's phoned him, written to him.
0:32:13 > 0:32:17We now know that Paul Lloyd's got previous for this sort of thing,
0:32:17 > 0:32:20so the only option left for Joanne is to take him to court.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26'To start an action in the small claim court,
0:32:26 > 0:32:28'all you need to do is fill in the form online.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30'You can download and print one, you can
0:32:30 > 0:32:34'get a copy from your local court, or from the Citizens Advice Bureau.'
0:32:36 > 0:32:39Right, so this is the claim form where we set out our claim.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42Just put in a few personal details and the addresses.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46'You'll need to enter the claimant's details, that's Joanne,
0:32:46 > 0:32:49'and the defendant's, that's Paul Lloyd.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51'Next, it's the brief details of your claim.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53'Keep this as short as possible.'
0:32:53 > 0:32:56It's a very small box so they only want brief details.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59But it's there that we set out what it is that happened
0:32:59 > 0:33:01and what it is we're asking for.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05So firstly, how much did it cost you to have the work done
0:33:05 > 0:33:07- to make the van safe? - It cost us £3,000.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09Well, that's the first thing
0:33:09 > 0:33:11and that'll be the biggest sum of money on the value form.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16'By adding up the basic repairs, missing items and MOT and tax,
0:33:16 > 0:33:18'Joanne's claim is £4,407.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25'Remember, you must tell the truth. This is a legal document.'
0:33:26 > 0:33:30Well done, Joanne. This is the first step in getting your money back.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32Yes, it'll be nice for it all to be over.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36'Once this letter is posted, Paul Lloyd at Race Passion
0:33:36 > 0:33:40'will need to answer to the British justice system.'
0:33:40 > 0:33:43Right, well, there's the van.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46And hopefully this is going to be the letter that sorts it all out
0:33:46 > 0:33:49and gets your money back.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51- Are you sure you want to do this? - Yes.- Sure you want to go to court?
0:33:51 > 0:33:55Yes. It's been a nightmare. The man has been the bane of our life.
0:33:55 > 0:33:56- Well done.- Thank you.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00'Let's hope for Joanne's sake a court summons will bring Paul Lloyd
0:34:00 > 0:34:03'to his senses, and get him to pay up.'
0:34:03 > 0:34:06From all we know about Paul Lloyd, we don't expect him to respond
0:34:06 > 0:34:08to this court summons, but if he won't talk to us now,
0:34:08 > 0:34:11he will talk to us in court.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17'In Huddersfield, Zahida Altaf has sent a letter before action
0:34:17 > 0:34:20'to Peter Brown, who sold her a mobility scooter
0:34:20 > 0:34:24'and then took it away for repair and failed to give it back,
0:34:24 > 0:34:28'leaving Zahida without a way to get about for over two years.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32'She wants her scooter, or the money she paid for it, back.'
0:34:34 > 0:34:36Zahida's had a reply from Peter Brown.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39He said he's got nothing to do with her scooter
0:34:39 > 0:34:41and she should contact the company she bought it from.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44The problem is, she didn't buy it from a company,
0:34:44 > 0:34:46she bought it from Peter Brown.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49But if he won't pay up, she has no choice but to take him to court.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54'Starting Zahida's claim is simple.'
0:34:54 > 0:34:56I've got the small claims form here.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00We can fill that in together now.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02'Zahida is the claimant.'
0:35:02 > 0:35:04For the defendant, you dealt with Peter Brown.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07So we'll put Peter Brown down there as the defendant.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10'Next, in the brief details of the claim box,
0:35:10 > 0:35:12'I think it's important the judge understands
0:35:12 > 0:35:15'exactly the situation Zahida is in.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18'We can show how the scooter came to be taken by Peter Brown,
0:35:18 > 0:35:22'and that since then he's ignored Zahida's requests.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24'Now, the value.'
0:35:24 > 0:35:28Now, the entire price you paid for this scooter
0:35:28 > 0:35:29was £1,300, is that right?
0:35:29 > 0:35:33No, it must be more. You had to pay an extra £1,300.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41So, that's...
0:35:51 > 0:35:53Let alone the trouble it's caused her family.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58And what about the compensation for poor Mohammed?
0:35:58 > 0:36:00He used to get a break from you when you went out,
0:36:00 > 0:36:02now you're here all the time.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09That's what my wife always says to me as well, Zahida.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12- The rule in our house is that it's always my fault.- Yes.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14ZAHIDA LAUGHS
0:36:14 > 0:36:16That's true.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19'I've filled out this form for Zahida,
0:36:19 > 0:36:22'and if you need help, you can always ask someone to fill in yours.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25'The one thing you should check is that everything that's
0:36:25 > 0:36:28'written on the form is true.'
0:36:28 > 0:36:31You just have to sign it there, Zahida.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33Sign it there and we'll deliver a new scooter for you
0:36:33 > 0:36:36on Monday morning. Just give us all the money in your purse.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42No! And try not to break it this time.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46That's the first step to getting your scooter and your money back.
0:36:48 > 0:36:49You're very brave doing this.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56We want the scooter back, the money back, and we want to see this
0:36:56 > 0:36:59fellow pay for his quite frankly disgraceful behaviour.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05Taking away a scooter and not returning it
0:37:05 > 0:37:08clearly meant little to Peter Brown,
0:37:08 > 0:37:10but for Zahida, it means that she's been a prisoner
0:37:10 > 0:37:13in her own home now for over two years.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16She wants her money back, she wants her scooter back.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21Let's hope that when Peter Brown receives this court application,
0:37:21 > 0:37:23he realises what he's done.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34In Monmouthshire, Joanne Chappell has been trying to recover
0:37:34 > 0:37:37the cost of making good the camper van conversion that she had
0:37:37 > 0:37:40carried out by Paul Lloyd of Race Passion.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07Paul Lloyd failed to defend her claim,
0:38:07 > 0:38:10and she's been given judgement in default,
0:38:10 > 0:38:13meaning that he is now required to pay back all of the money
0:38:13 > 0:38:17he owes, and Joanne's additional court costs.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21The court awarded her a total of £4,627.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27I've since heard from Joanne, and on the day she appointed bailiffs,
0:38:27 > 0:38:31Paul Lloyd agreed to pay the money back in £500 instalments,
0:38:31 > 0:38:33which he did.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36Finally, after almost three years,
0:38:36 > 0:38:39Joanne has recovered all of the money Paul Lloyd owed her.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42And John Bowman also took Paul Lloyd to court,
0:38:42 > 0:38:45won, and he's now been paid back in full.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48We contacted Paul Lloyd to ask him about the cases,
0:38:48 > 0:38:50but he didn't respond.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58Zahida Altaf is waiting to hear back from the court in her
0:38:58 > 0:39:02case against local mobility scooter salesman Peter Brown.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05He sold her a faulty scooter, took it in for repair,
0:39:05 > 0:39:07and then refused to give it back.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10Zahida has been without a scooter now for two years.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14From Peter Brown, Zahida is claiming...
0:39:31 > 0:39:35Zahida's heard back from the court. Peter Brown has filed the defence.
0:39:35 > 0:39:39He claims that Zahida bought her scooter from a totally
0:39:39 > 0:39:42different company, and it has nothing to do with him.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45He goes on to say that, as a sole trader,
0:39:45 > 0:39:50he used the name Drivability, but stopped in 2007.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53Zahida no longer has any paperwork with either Peter Brown
0:39:53 > 0:39:56or Drivability's name on it.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58But when Robert Batty bought a scooter,
0:39:58 > 0:40:01around the same time that Zahida bought hers,
0:40:01 > 0:40:05Peter Brown gave him a receipt clearly marked Drivability,
0:40:05 > 0:40:10and that's the registered trademark that Peter Brown owns.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14Zahida will now need to prove to the judge that it was Peter Brown
0:40:14 > 0:40:18personally who sold her the scooter and then took it away,
0:40:18 > 0:40:21and to do that, she'll need to take her evidence to court.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28On the day of the hearing in Huddersfield, Peter Brown contacted
0:40:28 > 0:40:32the court to say he couldn't make it in due to the bad weather.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35But Zahida and Mohammed managed to make it,
0:40:35 > 0:40:38and the case was heard in Peter Brown's absence.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42'After the hearing, I met up with Zahida and Mohammed
0:40:42 > 0:40:44'to find out the result.'
0:40:44 > 0:40:47Right, so, how did it go?
0:40:47 > 0:40:50- It's OK!- We won.- You won?- Yes. - Brilliant.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54You got everything you asked for.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57He said that he couldn't get here because of the snow,
0:40:57 > 0:40:59but you managed to get here fine.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12Being unable to attend a hearing is sometimes an acceptable
0:41:12 > 0:41:15reason for postponement, but in this case
0:41:15 > 0:41:18the judge felt it wasn't, and found in Zahida's favour.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25However, Peter Brown can still apply for a rehearing.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30I've heard from Zahida, and Peter Brown has applied to the court
0:41:30 > 0:41:34to set aside the first judgement and allow him another hearing.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37Zahida has had to go back to the court,
0:41:37 > 0:41:40but this time, Peter Brown did turn up.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43The judge was still not impressed and found in Zahida's favour,
0:41:43 > 0:41:46which means Peter Brown must pay back the money
0:41:46 > 0:41:49he took from her two years ago.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51We wrote to Peter Brown to ask him for his comment
0:41:51 > 0:41:53and he hasn't responded.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56I'm going back to Huddersfield to see Zahida.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00Well, it's been a long, hard road, Zahida.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03But you've finally won your case.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17'Zahida took a piece of evidence to court
0:42:17 > 0:42:20'which proved a crucial factor in her case -
0:42:20 > 0:42:23'her spare key to the scooter that Peter Brown sold her,
0:42:23 > 0:42:26'advertising his trading name Drivability.'
0:42:26 > 0:42:28Can I have a look at that?
0:42:31 > 0:42:35So this has got his company name on it, and his telephone number,
0:42:35 > 0:42:39and he said that you bought the scooter from a different company.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54Well, absolutely. You've won all the damages you've asked for.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56And how long has he got to pay them?
0:42:58 > 0:43:01So in 14 days' time, you should be able to buy a new scooter.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08So, Zahida, are you glad that you stood up to him?
0:43:16 > 0:43:19Zahida is absolutely right.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22Not getting away with it is why we should use the courts to
0:43:22 > 0:43:26stand up to people who try and take advantage of us.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29Peter Brown didn't listen to Zahida, but the judge did.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33Now she's won her case and must be paid back in full.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37Joanne won her case, and got back all the money she was owed.
0:43:38 > 0:43:42Taking your case to court can be very hard work, stressful,
0:43:42 > 0:43:45and of course there are no guarantees of success,
0:43:45 > 0:43:48but the law is there for everyone, and, when all else fails,
0:43:48 > 0:43:51we can use it to claim back what is rightfully ours.
0:43:51 > 0:43:53Zahida and Joanne certainly did.
0:43:55 > 0:43:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd