Episode 7 X-Ray

Why are you walking away? In every

corner of Wales we investigate scams

and rip-offs, bad service and dodgy

deals.

If you have been conned out

of your hard earned cash...

We are

here...

On your side.

Fighting for

your rights.

Fighting for you.

This

is X Ray.

On tonight's programme, we put taxi

firms to the test. Can I order a

wheelchair accessible cab, please.

To see how tricky it is for people

with disabilities to get a cab.

That

is really shocking.

The home owners

who paid for extensions but their

builders' promises were not the only

things left looking shaky.

The whole

roof could have collapsed into the

bedroom, bringing everything down.

And who has been telling porkies? We

meet the micro pigs that do not stay

small for long.

They grow up to be

about 15 kilo animal. Would you

really want one of those running

around your house?

Welcome to the

programme. I am here at Folly farm

in Pembrokeshire where they have all

kinds of animals from the everyday

to the exotic. When it comes to

choosing a pet for yourself, it

really does pay to do your homework.

More on that later. First,

travelling by taxi is something most

of us take for granted, but how easy

is it if you are in a wheelchair? We

sent Omar to investigate.

Ayesha Khan lives in Newport South

Wales and on the campus full time.

I

enjoyed it, it is a good college and

it is an interesting course. I have

a group of friends and I sit with

them in class and I go out with them

on break.

Although born with spina

bifida, Ayesha is keen to live as

independently as possible.

I am 21

now and at that age everyone wants

to go out and talk to people. I am

just exactly the same.

Ayesha lives

in Newport with her mother and also

campaigns for wheelchair users'

writes. But for her to be

independent she needs one thing,

access to taxis. For me and you that

might be something we take for

granted, but for disabled people it

can be a real issue.

It is hard

getting a black cab because you have

got to book in advance and at other

times there are problems fitting me

into the actual cab and others say

no.

Some drivers will say I cannot

help you?

Some will just drive off.

And on top of this everyday

discrimination, Ayesha suffered a

painful injury when a hackney cab

driver braked hard on the M4 whilst

failing to secure her wheelchair.

I

hurt my back and my neck. Halfway

through the course I had to leave

and take a year off.

It was because

of that. I met up with some of her

friends to see what they think of

her treatment at the hands of some

taxi drivers. Is it unfair that it

is hard for her to socialise with

you and see you?

Yes, it is bad for

a leash.

She has not had the same

opportunities?

It is hard for her to

socialise with us, but we encourage

her to come out.

We decided to do an

experiment to test whether

passengers with disabilities are at

a disadvantage when it comes to

getting a cab. Can you give me the

number for a taxi, please?

Can I

order a wheelchair accessible cab,

please?

We picked several firms,

large and small. I ordered a regular

taxi and Ayesha asked for a

wheelchair accessible cab. Let's see

how weak got on.

Thank you for your

help.

They all said they had

something for me straightaway.

Was

it different for you? A lot said

there were no cameras around to take

me and one even suggested I ring

someone else.

A lot of the companies

said no one was available and one

company said you should go to a

competitor rather than take your

business?

Yes.

That is really

shocking. If this was a real

situation where you needed a taxi,

we do not know if you would be able

to get one. I am really shocked to

hear that. Up until now there has

been very little people like Ayesha

can do if they feel they have been

discriminated against by a taxi

driver. But earlier this year a

change to the Equality Act 2010 made

this kind of discrimination illegal.

Drivers who refuse to transport

wheelchair users or try to charge

them extra, now face a fine of up to

£1000 and can even lose their

licence. The main problem is this

legislation only applies to register

drivers of accessible vehicles on a

list. The legislation does not force

councils to maintain such a list. It

just recommends that they do. We

contacted all 22 local authorities

in Wales and discovered eight

councils had published their section

167 list by the October deadline.

It's councils intend to publish

their list by the end of 2017. Eight

councils do not plan to publish

their lists until after the New

Year. It is a situation that has

left leading disability rights

activists like Doug Paulley angry.

He feels the new law only goes

partway to solving the problem. This

is what I do not understand, why

doesn't the government make it

mandatory, a cast iron law?

There is

the disability discrimination act in

1995, but it has never started, so

it has been 22 years and now it is

in place it is fundamentally flawed.

You might almost get the impression

that they are not really bothered

about enforcing disabled people's

writes.

Ayesha Homs city of Newport

is one of the areas that has a list

of accessible taxis. It means if she

suffers discrimination in future

there is at least a means of seeking

justice. She is hoping it will help

change attitudes on the ground.

Taxis are really important to me

because that is the only way I can

get around to college, socialise

with people. Without that I would be

stuck. I do not want to go out and

have this headache, I just want to

be helped.

If this is something you

have experience, or if there is

anything else you think we should be

investigating, give us a call. Or

drop us an e-mail to the usual

address. Still to come: The building

firm that left customers with

unfinished business.

That is what I

am left with, it makes me really

angry.

Do you know the real cost of

keeping a pet.

What about a dog?

Lots and lots.

6000. That is an

expensive rabbit.

We are a nation of

animal lovers and many of us share

our home with a furry animal two,

but how would you feel about a pet

pig? Pigs are intelligent and social

animals. Although you are more

likely to find one in a farmyard

than in your front room. But in

recent years breeders claim to have

come up with something that could

change all that, the microbe paid.

They are miniature versions and

billed as being no bigger than a

small dog, ideally suited to live in

your garden or even in your house.

Dashed microbe paid. Also known as

teacup pigs or pint-size pigs, a

spate of celebrity owner is added to

their appeal. Pretty soon they were

hogging the limelight. But there was

a problem. These petite piglets were

not staying chipper latter sized for

long. This little piggy is Hammy, a

microbe paid who outgrew all

expectations. When he was rescued

four years ago, he was small enough

to be kept in a small pen in their

garden.

I rescued him from a couple

that did no research whatsoever.

Lived in rented accommodation and

did not get the landlord's

permission.

But Hammy soon grew too

big for the couple's garden and was

making a right pig's year of things.

Pig is a lot stronger I thought or

that anyone would think.

Hammy was

soon destroying fencing and breaking

loose. But things got more serious

when he attacked a neighbour who

needed hospital treatment.

I

personally felt like I had let him

down. I rescued him from a bad place

and he looks like he is in another

bad players, but not through my

fault or his fault. He was just in

unfortunate circumstances.

He had

outgrown their small garden and they

urgently needed Hammy re-homed, but

who would take him in? We spoke to a

number of sanctuaries and community

farms across Wales. All of them told

us they are at capacity and

inundated with calls from people

trying to re-home they're not so

small pigs. Some said they were

contacted almost weekly by people

with pigs they could no longer look

after. One of these sanctuaries is

All Creatures Great And Small. They

rescue a variety of animals from

cats and dogs to sheep and, of

course, pigs. Annette Hale looks

after animal welfare at the

sanctuary and has first-hand

experience of dealing with so-called

tiny pigs. Who is this?

This is

Percy. He has been with us just

three years in December. He came to

us as a small paid.

How big did the

owners think he was going to be?

They are classed as big as a

Chihuahua or something like that.

They thought he was going to be

Chihuahua size? Oh, my word. He

stays in this area and I can see

what has happened to the ground.

Would this happen to a garden?

In a

garden it would be worse because at

least here they have access to a

larger field 24 hours a day. So you

can see that even though they have

got access to that, this one is

still being churned up and it is

still really muddy.

A quick Internet

search shows these pics for sale all

over Wales on multiple websites from

official breeders to even Facebook.

But it turns out there is confusion

over what one actually is. The net,

is a microbe pig and actual breed?

No, it is not. They are usually

potbellied pigs and it is usually

from smaller parents, but you still

cannot guarantee it, because the

parents could have been larger. You

cannot guarantee they will remain as

a small pig. Generally they grow up

to be about the 50 kilo animal.

Would you really want one of those

running round your house?

But

whether because they are being

wrongly sold as small pigs or simply

because their owners did not realise

they would grow beyond teacup sized,

it seems pigs who have outgrown

their pet status are now being given

up across Wales and beyond.

Fortunately for Nick and duly there

was good news. Hammy was re-homed at

this animal sanctuary in Ludlow

where he is much happier. Nick and

Julie visit him as much as they can

and by the looks of it, Hammy is as

excited about this reunion as they

are.

I could cry at any rate. Where

he is now is a million times better.

You are beautiful, yes.

Is that

good? And so Hammy is one of the

lucky ones, but his story is a

cautionary tale to anyone thinking

of buying one of these peaks. Happy

ending. With me now is Tim. It is

alarming that people are buying

these animals as pets.

It is

shocking. We bought tiny little

piglets a few years ago and named

them Arnie and Sylvester and they

were a fantastic addition to the

family and we could put them on a

lead and let them eat the public.

Two years later, here they are, they

are monsters.

Wow, definitely not

small, tiny pigs any more. How much

do they wait?

In excess of 60 kilos,

they are proper farm animals. They

are farm animals and you cannot

imagine them running around your

living room.

You get calls from

people wanting to bring in all kinds

of different animals?

There is not a

week that goes by where we do not

get offered horses, large lizards,

snakes, reptiles, parrots and all

sorts of other things.

Who are the

people looking to re-home these

animals?

They are mostly looking

because they cannot live with them,

they have outgrown the environment.

For example Kim, one of our giant

rabbits, they need a lot of

specialist space and attention and

care and people buy them as tiny

rabbits, not knowing what they were

turned into. What is your advice?

Research before you take on any pet,

it is a lifelong commitment, they

cost a lot of money and they need

space and attention.

It is a

responsibility. Thank you so much.

Next, Rachel has been on the trail

of a building firm which left some

of its customers with unfinished

business.

The Welsh valleys had long

celebrated the Italian connection.

From the late 19th century, the

opened ice cream parlours and cafes

to brighten up many a town and

village. Now, a new business is on

the doorstep. Bueti Development.

Like a good espresso, its name

suggests the best of Italy. Classic,

stylish, strong. Indeed, in southern

Italy, the name means little Ops. --

Little box. But it seems there is

another Italian treat their

customers are not so fond of,

laid-back. Some have been left

wondering if their work will ever be

finished. Merthyr Tydfil pensioners

Hilary and ten Parsons both suffer

from lung disease. For them, even

claiming the steers is a struggle.

We got everything on one level,

which will make life a lot easier

for the years in front of us as well

as now. So, I went online looking

for a reputable builder. One of the

builders she found was Bueti

Development.

The man behind the

stylish sounding Bueti Development

was no Italian but a regular valleys

boy, Kristian Powell. His sales

pitch, however, was perfetto.

A

perfect gentleman, he told me

everything I wanted easier. Promised

it would be finished in five weeks

max and I thought he knew what he

was talking about. He will get it

done and finished.

But, instead of

five weeks, three months later this

was what Hillary's extension looked

like. No roofs and no windows. Bueti

Development left of this place in a

right state. A disaster. Hilary paid

Kristian Powell £6,000 of the £9,000

he said the work would cost. But in

the dead of a finished extension,

she was left accessing her garden by

a dodgy set of breeze blocks. --

instead of a finished extension. She

has had to be another builder £4000

to get the building field. So, this

is the bathroom extension. What is

stated he leave it in?

Well, it was

all open.

We had just the trust is

up. So it was not what to?

No, it's

been horrendous. Horrendous. We have

both been on our inhalers more now

than we should be because of the

ongoing dust, the mess...

And the

stress as well.

Yes, definitely. I

explained all of this to him but to

no avail. He does not seem to take

notice. He will not answer text,

phone calls, e-mails, nothing.

And,

it seems others have been strung

along by Bueti Development. They

have 4000 £4000 worth of County

Court judgments against them, even

though they have already been

If I move the level to the back of

the war, it looks like it gets

worse. Spent a lot of money to get

something that should be the hub of

the house for edge to be finished

about this.

And it is hard not to comment on the

state of your garden, which I assume

was left by him?

Yes, it was all

agree that it should be disposed of.

That is what I am left with. The

stripped back, Bueti Development's

work, this man has also been told

that little bearing steel beam is

not adequately supported. What was

it like actually seen that?

Absolutely devastating, which we

thought was a finished job. Here we

are looking at back to square one.

And, down the road in Ebbw Vale,

Gareth Hopkins has also been left

alone on a build by Bueti

Development.

The bills was split

into two, and extension and a dormer

extension.

But nearly a year after a

completion date, the £18,000 project

has been abandoned. During the

build, the roof was left unfinished

and exposed to the elements for

weeks on end.

There was a lot of

water ingress through the roof had

not been completed inside and this

is where the water came through and

I had false pans and both catching

the water. There is an electric

socket on the wall here. The water

had come down from the wall around

the socket and saturated it. It is

pretty obvious that windows to get

together, it is a danger.

As work

dragged on in fits and starts, there

were also problems in the master

bedroom next door.

At the time,

there was just a polythene sheet up

here and that had been left for

months, for progress to be made, so

that I could actually get the doors

and windows fitted. I could not go

out, could not socialise without

worry on my mind all that is my home

safe. If anyone trying to get in,

which was a constant worry and

affected me greatly.

Although Gareth

had agreed to put any windows and

doors himself, he could not do this

until Bueti Development's work. But

there were worrying issues with the

roof.

This had been held there with

just these two pieces of wood but it

was not until I noticed that it was

blowing from the outset that it

could actually be a danger to life.

The whole race could have just

collapsed in to the bedroom,

bringing everything down.

Bueti

Development eventually made the roof

sound, but there was one final

insult to come. Gareth had paid

Christian Powell to get building

approval, but has since found this

was never done. He has had to apply

for retrospective permission and pay

for it a second time, leaving him

still waiting for his extension to

be done.

I am really frustrated and

angry that almost one year later, a

job that was to take a matter of

weeks is still ongoing and I am left

with the mess to pick up now.

With

none of these customers now able to

get hold of Kristian Powell, it

seems they have hit a brick wall

with the firm with the Italian

sounding name.

My anxiety levels

have been through the roof. It has

affected me greatly on a day-to-day

basis. Spend a lot of money, and

unfortunately it is two steps

forward and one step back.

I have

lost all faith in him.

Well, Bueti Development got back to

us to see all of the customers in

our film got the rate of mind off

work for the money be paid. Kristian

Powell admits making a mistake when

pricing Upper Gareth's extension,

but says he used his own funds to do

as much extra work as possible and

denies the roof was unsafe. He says

the specification on Hillary and

Kim's job kept changing, making it

impossible to continue, but it was

them who ended the contract and not

him. And he claimed the building

officer did inspect Mr James's

extension and the beams were strong

enough for the Lord.

Earlier, we find out how important

it was to do your research before

finding a pet. I have been to nearby

Tembi to find out how many of us

know the real cost of looking after

our animal friends.

First up, what do people think it

would cost to keep a pet rabbit

across its lifetime?

They are quite

cheap, surely. A bit of hay and

feet. £100.

£1000.

Nine... Files. --

9000.

They do not last very long,

maybe 1000.

£6,000.

That is an

expensive rabbit.

So, what about a

cat?

Probably nearly as much as a

dog, really.

How much?

Ten, 12.

Seven grand.

For a cat?

Yes.

About

1400.

3000.

And finally, how much

will man's best friend set you back?

I don't know, 4000.

Lets say

£15,000. That's a lot, isn't it?!

Nod over a lifetime... It's not

worth working out, because she is

part of the family. She completes

us.

Ten, 15,000. Probably more.

Depends on what you spoil it.

I

think a lot.

8000.

I think more.

Were not getting a dog then!

Trickier than you might think. Well,

this lady has all the answers. Joe,

it sounds like a cliche but

Christmas is coming and now is the

peak time for people to buy pets.

Definitely, they look for a new pet

for their children, the cute puppy

rabbit and to not think about what

will that cost later on,

necessarily. Then January comes and

they have got an animal that takes a

lot of time and money and they maybe

think about giving them a new woman

that is quite tricky.

We had a huge

variety of answers on how much it

costs over the lifetime of an animal

keep one. Let's go for the big

reveal. First of all, rabbits.

£3500!

It's a whopping amount, and I

think people forget they need to be

kept in pairs so you can nearly

double that. By the time you have

before housing, food, vaccinations,

health care, it is a lot of money.

Right, a cat. They look after

themselves, don't they?

Sometimes,

but no, they are similarly

expensive. A bit more so.

OK, so,

for a cat over the course of its

lifetime... Now, that if you a lot

of money. Speaker made a huge amount

of money. People need to really

think hard about that before they go

out and get on. There is a lot of

time and money goes into it.

And finally, the cost of a dog over

its lifetime. You can imagine the

children 's of lighting up, but will

be parents be so happy with this

kind of bill? Shock-mac.

Yes, it is

a huge commitment and really, we do

not want to see them being turned

out on the street or sent to

re-homing centres in January.

Whinged to think about it.

Bdefinitely. That we've got time

for. Next weekend, I find the woman

is vertically challenged bed is

getting her sleepless nights. Two,

three, one.

I can't do it!

This is

ridiculous. Oh! You need a lie down

after that.

And if you have got the hump, pick

up the phone and give us a call. You

can drop us an e-mail, we will see

you next week. Goodbye.