0:00:08 > 0:00:18And? In every corner of Wales.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22And? In every corner of Wales. Reinvestigate. Scams and rip-offs.
0:00:22 > 0:00:28Bad service and dodgy deals. If you have been conned out of your hard
0:00:28 > 0:00:36earned cash. We are here. On your side. Fighting for your rights.
0:00:36 > 0:00:45Fighting for you. This is X-Ray.
0:00:48 > 0:00:55On the programme tonight: Joel is fighting his parking charge, but why
0:00:55 > 0:01:03are more of us ending up in a legal battle?I am prepared to go and sit
0:01:03 > 0:01:08in court all day to argue my case. Could those old toys and games
0:01:08 > 0:01:20stashed in your attic be worth a fortune?This is a rear Lego set
0:01:20 > 0:01:25worth £1500.And staying safe on the roads. I am finding out how not to
0:01:25 > 0:01:31drive on the roads this winter. Hello and welcome to the programme.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35With changes to the driving test coming into force at the start of
0:01:35 > 0:01:39December, I'm here at Anglesey circuit to find out what that means
0:01:39 > 0:01:44for learners. First, we get lots of complaints about parking charges.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48And we've tackled a few of them in the past. And now it seems parking
0:01:48 > 0:02:00companies are going to greater lengths than
0:02:01 > 0:02:04ever to make sure you pay. Rachel has been investigating.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05Parking tickets. Always annoying and expensive. And sometimes difficult
0:02:05 > 0:02:12to appeal against. But more and more of us could have our financial
0:02:12 > 0:02:16future is ruined just because we decide to fight the parking
0:02:16 > 0:02:26companies and end up in court. Joel is preparing for just such a battle.
0:02:26 > 0:02:33Last Christmas, he was ill for several weeks.We had to call the
0:02:33 > 0:02:37doctor out. He told me to go and get an x-ray because he thought I had
0:02:37 > 0:02:45bronchitis.In early January, Joe went for his x-ray. And Barry
0:02:45 > 0:02:53Hospital, parking for patient is free. Joe followed the instructions
0:02:53 > 0:02:58on the parking signs. When he registered at reception, things were
0:02:58 > 0:03:05not straightforward.A man came past and said it was playing up, so I did
0:03:05 > 0:03:12it twice.Believed he had registered for the free parking, Joe had his
0:03:12 > 0:03:17x-ray and went home. At just over a week later, he was shocked to
0:03:17 > 0:03:24receive a letter demanding £70. Joe knew he had not stayed too long, so
0:03:24 > 0:03:29began to suspect that something went wrong when he tried to register his
0:03:29 > 0:03:34car.Malfunction if you like, a mishap. Faulty equipment, I don't
0:03:34 > 0:03:41know what it was. There was no receipt, I cannot prove that part,
0:03:41 > 0:03:47although I know I did it.Joe appealed against the charge, but
0:03:47 > 0:03:55parking I turned down the appeal. Confused by the system, he replied
0:03:55 > 0:04:00to them. The cast the case on a debt collection company who began sending
0:04:00 > 0:04:06letters.To me, it was threatening. Pay up or else. And the else being I
0:04:06 > 0:04:11could finish up in court, it could damage my credit rating, I would
0:04:11 > 0:04:17have to pay their fees, costs and still pay the fine. Which has now
0:04:17 > 0:04:23gone up and retired, I'm prepared to go and sit in court all day if
0:04:23 > 0:04:28necessary to go and argue my case. It seems more and more people are
0:04:28 > 0:04:34now ending up in court. When they refused to pay parking charges or
0:04:34 > 0:04:37try to argue their case. With the risk of damaging their credit
0:04:37 > 0:04:51rating. That is because two years ago, Parking Eye won a legal battle
0:04:51 > 0:04:57in the court against a chip shop owner. She argued the charges run in
0:04:57 > 0:05:02fear after he overstayed in one of the car parks. Until that point,
0:05:02 > 0:05:08some drivers thought it might have been safe to ignore warnings from
0:05:08 > 0:05:11private parking firms. But since then, there has been a big increase
0:05:11 > 0:05:18in the number of people ending up in court. Two years ago, there were
0:05:18 > 0:05:26just 127 cases across Wales' County Courts. So far this year, there has
0:05:26 > 0:05:33been 593 cases. In Cardiff, 40 cases in 2015 has gone up to 145 this
0:05:33 > 0:05:40year. And in Swansea, numbers have soared from three to 204 so far this
0:05:40 > 0:05:48year. It seems almost certain, with all parking cases going to court,
0:05:48 > 0:05:53more drivers will find themselves on the wrong end of a court judgment.
0:05:53 > 0:06:01Which is expensive to appeal and can severely damage your credit rating.
0:06:01 > 0:06:07Emma fears for her financial future. Because when she went to a new dance
0:06:07 > 0:06:13class last March, she accidentally parked in the wrong place.I noticed
0:06:13 > 0:06:20there was a sign on the front of the shops saying parking and rear. It
0:06:20 > 0:06:33was very dark. So I just pulled my car, reversed it into a space and as
0:06:33 > 0:06:37we walked out, we still didn't see any signs. I went to the dance
0:06:37 > 0:06:47class. I came back, got in my car and drove off.The first Emma heard
0:06:47 > 0:06:52of the parking company was three months later. She received a letter
0:06:52 > 0:06:59from their solicitors, threatening court action unless she paid £160. I
0:06:59 > 0:07:07phoned them. I said, I didn't receive a ticket and I've had no
0:07:07 > 0:07:12correspondence about this ticket. I was shocked. Earlier this month,
0:07:12 > 0:07:17Emma went to court. At the case was adjourned. She is now planning to
0:07:17 > 0:07:22fight her parking charge all the way at the next hearing. I thought no,
0:07:22 > 0:07:27I'm not paying out. It's not fear. And not paying that amount of money
0:07:27 > 0:07:34when I haven't done anything wrong. As for Joe, he's waiting to hear
0:07:34 > 0:07:40what will happen next. But he won't give in without a fight.
0:07:40 > 0:07:46Well, we've spoken to the parking firms involved. Parking Eye told us
0:07:46 > 0:07:50Joe did not enter his registration number correctly and did not provide
0:07:50 > 0:07:54any relevant information within the time available. But they've just
0:07:54 > 0:08:00reviewed his case again and say they have cancelled Joe's charge as a
0:08:00 > 0:08:04gesture of goodwill. As for Emma, Link parking Sadie cannot comment
0:08:04 > 0:08:08was the case is ongoing but the correct notices were sent to at the
0:08:08 > 0:08:13time. And the British parking Association which represents many of
0:08:13 > 0:08:18these private parking companies say the best way to avoid court action
0:08:18 > 0:08:22is to use and appeals process. Still to come, a bed with storage that is
0:08:22 > 0:08:36meant to be easy to close. I can't do it! Before that, last autumn and
0:08:36 > 0:08:42winter, more than 2300 people were killed or injured on the roads
0:08:42 > 0:08:46across Wales. It's a shocking figure. So, with the weather turning
0:08:46 > 0:08:51a little bit colder over the past few weeks, what can we all do to
0:08:51 > 0:08:57stay safe on the roads this winter? Malcolm Hamilton is a former race
0:08:57 > 0:09:00driver and teaches students at Anglesey circuit. What are your top
0:09:00 > 0:09:08tips for winter driving? Preparation, good tyres were good
0:09:08 > 0:09:18tread, working windscreen wipers and lights, and snow chains for people
0:09:18 > 0:09:23in rural areas.This car looks high-tech. What does it do?Creates
0:09:23 > 0:09:30conditions which develop skid. 95 of -- 95% of all accidents involve a
0:09:30 > 0:09:35skid, so this training is useful. Can you teach anyone to handle a car
0:09:35 > 0:09:44in a skid situation?I believe I can.Brace yourself, Malcolm. We are
0:09:44 > 0:09:50in for a bumpy ride. At first, it all seems straightforward. I know at
0:09:50 > 0:10:05any minute the car could go into a skid. And going backwards! I was not
0:10:05 > 0:10:09expecting that at all. You were just chatting to me. You didn't do
0:10:09 > 0:10:20anything. You didn't react in any way other than screen. Next time,
0:10:20 > 0:10:27you will start to assess the warning signals and start to react before it
0:10:27 > 0:10:32happens. I am shaking. My legs are like jelly.What you should have
0:10:32 > 0:10:37done is looked ahead, planned ahead and avoid the whole thing. Find the
0:10:37 > 0:10:42right speed for the corner and don't get in the mess. Having got in the
0:10:42 > 0:10:45mess, we should have tried to rectify the situation by coming off
0:10:45 > 0:10:50the accelerator, pressing the clutch and looking and steering you want
0:10:50 > 0:11:02the car to go.Practice makes perfect. That have another go.Go at
0:11:02 > 0:11:08the speed that you think is OK. Red I hit the brake! By the third goal I
0:11:08 > 0:11:13remembered to come off the brake but my clutch control still needs some
0:11:13 > 0:11:23work. Fourth attempt and the steering is getting better.And by
0:11:23 > 0:11:33the last attempt, success. I remembered all three rules.Perfect.
0:11:33 > 0:11:38Perfect demonstration of skid control.That was amazing. I feel so
0:11:38 > 0:11:42much more confident. But we can avoid getting into that situation,
0:11:42 > 0:11:46can't we?That's right. The way to do that is to plan ahead. Look at
0:11:46 > 0:11:51the shape of the corner, the road surface, adjust be before the corner
0:11:51 > 0:11:56and not in the middle of it. Get the speed down the correct level, get in
0:11:56 > 0:12:02the car right gear and the highest gear possible is the best way to
0:12:02 > 0:12:05handle a slippery surface. Drives smoothly through the corner and
0:12:05 > 0:12:11hopefully you should stay safe.And knowing what to do really can save
0:12:11 > 0:12:15lives.You demonstrated the difference between the first and
0:12:15 > 0:12:19last skid. That could be the difference between life and death.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24Thank you. Let's find out what Omar has been up to.
0:12:24 > 0:12:32More and more people are discovering they have hidden gems gathering dust
0:12:32 > 0:12:34in their very home. And with Christmas approaching, you could
0:12:34 > 0:12:40well be sitting on a lot of spare cash. To me, this is a comic book
0:12:40 > 0:12:45shop, but to some people this is an investment house because all comic
0:12:45 > 0:12:49books like this, retro video games and even Lego sets can sometimes
0:12:49 > 0:12:54turn out to be a better investment than gold or even some shares. And
0:12:54 > 0:13:01I'm not joking. Do you remember this portly Italian gentleman? Or even
0:13:01 > 0:13:08this speedy hedgehog? Well, retro gaming is back in a big way. And if
0:13:08 > 0:13:13you held onto those consoles and even the rear games, your bank
0:13:13 > 0:13:20balance could soon be a lot healthier. I've come to this event
0:13:20 > 0:13:23in Cardiff, were passionate gamers meet up a few times a month to play
0:13:23 > 0:13:28classic games that were around even before I was born. And this is how
0:13:28 > 0:13:36it all started! A clunky keyboard with a tape recorder connected to
0:13:36 > 0:13:44stick figures on a television. But it is all collectable. And the rear
0:13:44 > 0:13:51game stadium events recently sold for over $40,000. Chris runs arcade
0:13:51 > 0:13:57vault and is a passionate gamer, as I'm currently finding out full --
0:13:57 > 0:14:04out.
0:14:04 > 0:14:10In the UK the older computers were good so if you have a spectrum for a
0:14:10 > 0:14:20BBC Micro...The BBC used to make computers?The condition of the box
0:14:20 > 0:14:24is sometimes more important to collectors than the condition of the
0:14:24 > 0:14:28hard work because a lot of people, visually that's what they want to
0:14:28 > 0:14:35do. A lot of people don't keep the boxes. We have the Atari behind us,
0:14:35 > 0:14:39that could be worth quite a bit of money if it's boxed and the games
0:14:39 > 0:14:45are boxed.Now there's just one thing to do before I leave. Come on,
0:14:45 > 0:14:56Geoffrey!Sorry I knock you off. I wasn't ready.I was born ready! We
0:14:56 > 0:15:01all know Lego is popular with kids and some adults and some of these
0:15:01 > 0:15:07sets have shot up in value, which is shocking for me because about a
0:15:07 > 0:15:12decade ago, the Danish company that owns Lego was almost bankrupt, but
0:15:12 > 0:15:17today experts say the price of Lego has increased more quickly than the
0:15:17 > 0:15:23price of gold. You can sell Lego pieces by the kilo and there are
0:15:23 > 0:15:28even people online selling specific body parts of the mini figures. Andy
0:15:28 > 0:15:34Morris from Cardiff is a Lego fanatic and artist. For me Lego is
0:15:34 > 0:15:38one of the toys I've played with the air seems like a whole other
0:15:38 > 0:15:45universe.The creativity within Lego is unrivalled. The playful nature of
0:15:45 > 0:15:55it.For a lot of people this is not just a toy but a serious investment.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00There are people who seriously invest in Lego, people buy multiple
0:16:00 > 0:16:05sets of Lego, one they keep to play with and want as an investment and
0:16:05 > 0:16:09once it's gone it is out of production and the value skyrockets.
0:16:09 > 0:16:14Have you ever set sold something and then realise you could have got more
0:16:14 > 0:16:22for it?I sold all my childhood Lego when I went to university, I thought
0:16:22 > 0:16:28I wouldn't use it any more, but one of my sets, and airport monorail, I
0:16:28 > 0:16:35sold it for £100 and now it is one of the most valuable sets, around
0:16:35 > 0:16:41£1500 was the last value I saw.And with the huge number of superhero
0:16:41 > 0:16:47movies released in recent years, super fan Chris Marvel says comic
0:16:47 > 0:16:51books are now increasing in value. Tell me about the most expensive
0:16:51 > 0:17:02comic in the world.That is probably Action Comics Number One. That is a
0:17:02 > 0:17:05combination of good condition, rarity and the first appearance of
0:17:05 > 0:17:12Superman.I imagine a lot of people at home thing, I have comics in the
0:17:12 > 0:17:18attic, what should they do?Check online, there will be price guides
0:17:18 > 0:17:21and greeting guides and that should give you an estimate of what they
0:17:21 > 0:17:27are worth. Local comic shops might help great it is so it's worth
0:17:27 > 0:17:32getting in touch to see if they can help.So there is definitely serious
0:17:32 > 0:17:37money to be made, and there could be a small fortune hidden in those
0:17:37 > 0:17:46dusty boxes in your attic. Worth a look in the lot. Next, I've
0:17:46 > 0:17:50been to meet a customer whose face-saving purchase wasn't as
0:17:50 > 0:17:57relaxing as she thought. We spent one third of our lives
0:17:57 > 0:18:02asleep and if you are anything like me, you want your bed to be warm,
0:18:02 > 0:18:11cosy and horizontal. Because nothing ruins a good night's sleep more than
0:18:11 > 0:18:18a bed that vertically challenged. Susan Thomas has lived in Cardiff
0:18:18 > 0:18:26for 40 years. In 2016, with children having left home, Susan wanted to
0:18:26 > 0:18:30downside and get a house that required less upkeep but downsizing
0:18:30 > 0:18:35had its challenges and to fit all her possessions into smaller space,
0:18:35 > 0:18:41they had to come up with some creative storage solutions. Susan
0:18:41 > 0:18:47went to her local bed shop, Cardiff bed and furniture Centre, and saw a
0:18:47 > 0:18:54half Ottoman bed with lots of storage.After we looked at the half
0:18:54 > 0:19:00Ottoman, I then suggested a full Ottoman and he said yes, good idea,
0:19:00 > 0:19:07and Ottoman has a cavernous amount of storage. It is perfect.She
0:19:07 > 0:19:11ordered the bed even though it wasn't in stock, which meant she
0:19:11 > 0:19:18didn't get to try before buying. Buying and Ottoman, you think the
0:19:18 > 0:19:24end to our problems, cavernous storage, wonderful.But the bed
0:19:24 > 0:19:29turned out to be a bit of a nightmare, so I'm off to find out
0:19:29 > 0:19:39why it's been giving her sleepless nights.Welcome come on in! Here we
0:19:39 > 0:19:47are, welcome to my bedroom. And to my Ottoman.So this is the bed, and
0:19:47 > 0:19:55it looks lovely. Show me what the problem is.Stand to the side.So
0:19:55 > 0:20:00its brings up with quite a bit of force.It does, that can't be
0:20:00 > 0:20:06normal. I will demonstrate the shutting of it, so you put your
0:20:06 > 0:20:13elbows on and then just push it. I cannot do that. Have I go and you
0:20:13 > 0:20:22will see what you think.Oh, gosh. It really is. Give it some pressure.
0:20:22 > 0:20:29I thought I was strong but I cannot move it. I am literally using... Let
0:20:29 > 0:20:37me try it from here.I cannot do it. Shall we try together? One, two,
0:20:37 > 0:20:47three.I still cannot do it. This is ridiculous!Keep pushing hard in the
0:20:47 > 0:20:56middle, there we go. And that's it. That is ridiculous. You need a lie
0:20:56 > 0:21:03down after that.I recall a few weeks ago I suddenly thought I need
0:21:03 > 0:21:10to have lights were out of there, elevated the bed, thought, what am I
0:21:10 > 0:21:18going to do now? No one here. I actually then decided I would either
0:21:18 > 0:21:24stay up until my husband returned, after an hour, or I sleep on the
0:21:24 > 0:21:29sofa bed, and I opted for the latter.But it is the bed so
0:21:29 > 0:21:35unusual, or do Susan and I just need to build up our muscles? We have
0:21:35 > 0:21:41come to a different furniture store to test a whole range of beds. And
0:21:41 > 0:21:46surprise surprise, she has no problem opening or closing any of
0:21:46 > 0:21:58them.It was very doable.Susan raised the issue with Silent Night
0:21:58 > 0:22:04the day the bed was delivered in August. The company tried to fix the
0:22:04 > 0:22:08problem but now Susan says they have hit the snooze button and aren't
0:22:08 > 0:22:13getting back to her. In the last three months, the shop and company
0:22:13 > 0:22:20have tried to put things right but nothing has worked. Silent Night
0:22:20 > 0:22:26have recommended that Susan take the matter to the public service
0:22:26 > 0:22:33ombudsman but that will set her back more money regardless of the
0:22:33 > 0:22:42problem.Having spent £900 on a new bed, I'm reclining on a sofa bed.
0:22:42 > 0:22:48Silent Night Say They Think The Bed Was Not Faulty, They Say Susan Was
0:22:48 > 0:22:55Sold A Mattress That Was Too Light For Her Bed And They Have Now Issued
0:22:55 > 0:23:02guidelines to make sure that does not happen again. They are now
0:23:02 > 0:23:06offering an alternative bed without storage. It's a few years since I
0:23:06 > 0:23:11took my driving test but from the 4th of December, the practical test
0:23:11 > 0:23:16will change for all new drivers. Tim Shawcross is here, so why the
0:23:16 > 0:23:24changes?When I took my driving test you still had to do hand signals.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Instructors trained to the contents of the test, so they make the test
0:23:28 > 0:23:34more reflective of think you do when driving, so it is rare to do a three
0:23:34 > 0:23:39turn, so that is now taken out of the test, and they expect the
0:23:39 > 0:23:44driving instructor to teach that in training, so they have put some more
0:23:44 > 0:23:50relevant bits in.One learner driver is being put through his paces. What
0:23:50 > 0:24:00new things will they learn?One is reversing into a supermarket be,
0:24:00 > 0:24:05that is simulated, and people will be trained how to do with. Also
0:24:05 > 0:24:09following directions from our sat-nav, that can be quite
0:24:09 > 0:24:14distracting, do they mean this road for that road on the left, so they
0:24:14 > 0:24:19will be trained to do it, the examiner will programme the sat-nav
0:24:19 > 0:24:23and the person will be expected to follow those instructors while
0:24:23 > 0:24:28checking the mirrors and keeping a safe position and so on. One
0:24:28 > 0:24:32controversial manoeuvre that people have questioned is where you have to
0:24:32 > 0:24:37pull off on the right-hand side of the road pointing against the
0:24:37 > 0:24:43traffic, reverse and then drive out, but it is something that a lot of us
0:24:43 > 0:24:47do, so it's getting realistic training into the programme and
0:24:47 > 0:24:53realistic assessment into the test. And you feel it is a good move?
0:24:53 > 0:24:57Excellent move, it's time we made the testing and training more
0:24:57 > 0:25:03related to everyday driving.Now an update on a story that X-Ray was the
0:25:03 > 0:25:09first to break three years ago. When Margaret and I were offered solar
0:25:09 > 0:25:16panels by a salesman from a Scottish company called Helms limited, also
0:25:16 > 0:25:24known as the Green Deal Pegged, they thought that they were free.It went
0:25:24 > 0:25:28along the lines that everything with solar panels, everything that was
0:25:28 > 0:25:35generated would pay for it all.But somehow they agreed to pay half of
0:25:35 > 0:25:40the £7,000 cost. They had inadvertently signed up for a 20
0:25:40 > 0:25:45year alone under the UK Government's green deal. The repayments went on
0:25:45 > 0:25:51their electricity bill, which went up.I was devastated that I had
0:25:51 > 0:25:57taken out a loan without realising for such a large amount.Brian
0:25:57 > 0:26:03Godwin lives around the corner and he also fell for the hard sell.They
0:26:03 > 0:26:07assured me it wouldn't cost me a penny, they were right in this
0:26:07 > 0:26:16respect because it cost me £30 a month extra on my electricity bill.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20Brian's loan, which he says wasn't properly explained to him, will run
0:26:20 > 0:26:28until he is 98. Since X-ray first reported the story, Helms has been
0:26:28 > 0:26:34in a lot more trouble. It was fined £200,000 for making 6 million
0:26:34 > 0:26:39nuisance calls and then went into liquidation without paying most of
0:26:39 > 0:26:47it. The financial ombudsman service has investigated 200 complaints. Now
0:26:47 > 0:26:52some of those people are starting to hear that their loans will be cut or
0:26:52 > 0:26:56even cancelled outright. Margaret has been told that her loan will be
0:26:56 > 0:27:02cut by two thirds. It's a step in the right direction but she believes
0:27:02 > 0:27:09everyone should get a full refund. I've been offered a reduction in the
0:27:09 > 0:27:13loan with no mention of interest so I don't know if that will be added
0:27:13 > 0:27:18on. I will be responsible for maintaining the panels for the next
0:27:18 > 0:27:2323 years, but they were mis-sold in the beginning so they should be
0:27:23 > 0:27:28removed and the credit agreement cancelled.Brian is still waiting to
0:27:28 > 0:27:33hear if he will get a similar offer. The administrator says they are
0:27:33 > 0:27:38currently reviewing Helms cases as quickly as they can.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42That's a step in the right direction. That's it for this week.
0:27:42 > 0:27:48It's been quite an experience here at Anglesey circuit. Next week,
0:27:48 > 0:27:52Brian's dad thought he was helping his children by taking out in
0:27:52 > 0:27:56teacher to pay for his funeral, but nine weeks and there has been no
0:27:56 > 0:28:01pay-out.It wouldn't have been a nice thing for my parents because
0:28:01 > 0:28:04they thought they were sorting everything out but they have been
0:28:04 > 0:28:12let down.And if you need our help, please get in touch. The lines for
0:28:12 > 0:28:19open, or you can e-mail us. We will see you next week.