Rip Off Britain

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. This series of the consumer investigations series begins with Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville exposing the latest scams designed to trick you out of your cash, starting with a particularly nasty case that saw one woman cheated out of ú90,000 after fraudsters posing as police convinced her that staff at her local bank were in on the con too. Also in this episode, the phoney landlords renting out properties they don't even own, and as e-mail scams become ever more convincing and difficult to spot, a woman reveals how criminals were able to convince her to hand over ú25,000. Plus plenty of scam-busting tips to avoid being caught out, and the Rip Off Britain pop-up shop opens up in Manchester.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. The team investigates one of the most genuinely shocking cases ever featured on the programme, meeting a couple whose builders were booked to convert the basement - but instead caused the entire house to collapse to the ground. With the blame so clear, why has the situation proved so difficult to resolve? Also in this episode, the brand new homes with a catalogue of fundamental errors - including a roof that has already had to be replaced three times. And why choosing a trader from websites apparently listing the best in the business doesn't guarantee you will get the right result. Presented by Julia Somerville, Angela Rippon and Gloria Hunniford.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julia Somerville reveal easy ways to get better value for money, sharing advice you can't afford to miss - including one viewer's tip on how to cut the costs of keeping a pet healthy. Plus how many of the miraculous claims made for top-selling shampoos are really true - might you better off sticking with a cheaper brand? And with more than half of British adults not having a will, find out how to get one drawn up professionally without spending a penny.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. As a devastated autograph collector discovers the treasured signatures he had bought are fake, Star Wars actor Mark Hamill reveals how he is taking on the fraudsters making big money from conning fans. Also in this episode, the false promises made for a new heating system it is claimed will slash your bills. But could it also suddenly go up in smoke? Plus, the experts at the Rip Off Britain pop-up shop have advice for pet owners - and anyone who needs to change their email address. Presented by Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford, and Julia Somerville.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. With millions of the tumble dryers in UK homes potentially at risk of catching fire, Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julia Somerville investigate why owners are having to wait as long as 11 months for the manufacturers to check if their appliance is safe. Also in this episode, a test to see if staff in Britain's best-known stores give the correct advice on when you are entitled to a refund throws up some worrying results. And the big-name furniture store accused of charging customers to return faulty goods.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julia Somerville investigate new threats to your personal details and identity, including a test to see if contactless payment cards are quite as safe as we've been told - with unmissable advice on how to make sure it's not you that loses out. Also in this episode is the story of how one woman lost access to her own bank accounts, and an experiment reveals how quickly anyone's details can be pieced together from information freely available online. And a couple who diligently shred every last piece of paper with any personal data discover if new technology could be the key to beating identity theft once and for all.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julia Somerville investigate complaints about charities, discovering what is being done to tackle aggressive or pushy fundraising tactics. They also meet a pensioner who is angry that a name he trusted was charging him five times as much for his home insurance as he could pay elsewhere. There is also advice for anyone unhappy with a packaged bank account, and the team explores whether loyalty ever pays, after finding that sticking with the same old names could leave you hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julia Somerville discover why so many of Britain's diesel owners are likely to have bought completely the wrong car and could end up out of pocket as a result. Meanwhile, with all types of car - petrol and diesel - sold with figures for the running costs that don't always stack up, why aren't dealers always giving buyers the right information? There is also a look at how hundreds of families that urgently needed a properly trained assistance dog have been let down by a company exploiting the demand for help.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. A test into what safeguards Britain's biggest online stores have in place to stop children buying products aimed at over 18s has some shocking and potentially dangerous results, with some alarming goods simply dropping through the letterbox. Plus a look at an energy-saving solution often put in your home for free, but that could end up costing thousands if it needs to come out. And there is advice on how to beat the frustrations of not being able to speak to an actual person when you need a problem resolved. Presented by Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford, and Julia Somerville.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. Julia Somerville, Angela Rippon and Gloria Hunniford investigate why so many people have had delays and problems trying to get faster broadband in their homes. Are the plans to get everyone better connected as on track as is claimed? Also in this episode, as shocking differences in what the same venue will charge for a birthday party and a wedding are revealed, why does the price go up as soon as anyone mentions a wedding? And a test tackles the long-held belief that women are likely to be charged more for car repairs than men.

Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julia Somerville uncover audacious new scams you won't see coming, including a threat to your computer that could see your files held to ransom and made inaccessible unless you pay up.

The team also examine how fraudsters hijacked one woman's mobile phone account in order to steal money from her bank, and they go behind the scenes at one of the country's best-known banks to see what it's doing to stop crooks getting hold of your cash.

Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville meet people who have all found ways to reduce what they had previously paid - including a man so shocked by how much he's been able to knock off his water bills that he's determined to help his neighbours do the same.

The team also look at the serial switchers whose latest supplier's credit checks had unexpected consequences and one family's battle to claim back the care costs that they may never have needed to pay.

Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julia Somerville investigate the various ways companies try to give what they're selling the edge, and they expose the secret sales techniques used to pressure more vulnerable customers into buying products they simply can't afford.

The team also go behind the scenes at the testing centre that determines which goods should receive one of the country's best-known endorsements. But is it being exploited by companies that don't deserve it?

Plus tips on protecting your mobile phone, and why the competition to win impressive-sounding awards may not always have been quite as fierce as you might have assumed.

Julia Somerville, Gloria Hunniford and Angela Rippon meet viewers whose purchases have had an unwelcome sting, including homeowners desperate to know why their homes have flooded. Is it simply bad weather to blame - or could the new developments nearby be a factor too?

The team also speak to customers who all say a company that fixes broken phone screens isn't all it's cracked up to be and examine why collecting commemorative coins isn't necessarily the investment you might think.

Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville investigate if the price-match promises from some of the country's biggest retailers could come with a catch, and they test out why tens of thousands of potential customers will find the country's best-known shopping websites impossible to use. Plus a look at the vets and pet-owners up in arms over an extra insurance cost if an animal falls sick.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. Julia Somerville, Gloria Hunniford and Angela Rippon unravel particularly murky situations where all is not what it seems, getting to the bottom of an extraordinary new scam in which a temporary postbox might be attached to the outside of your house. What exactly are the people responsible after? Also, with fake job scams on the rise, the team unpicks how the fraudsters make their ads so plausible - thanks to actors posing as employers or other successful applicants. Plus, what's behind the mysterious calls to premium rate numbers that mobile phone owners swear they didn't make?

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julia Somerville investigate situations where viewers feel they're being treated unfairly, including the case of an ex-squaddie whose terminal illness isn't quite terminal enough for his insurance to pay out. Plus, why residents desperate to get the condition of their roads up to scratch will only be able to do it by forking out thousands of pounds themselves. And why a new scheme to make flood protection affordable for all still won't help some of those worst affected by devastating floods.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville investigate how the actions of others can have an impact on your money, uncovering how the billing mistakes of one mobile phone giant have caused customers months of misery. Also, as complaints about an increasingly popular form of bank payment soar, a woman reveals how allowing one business access to her account had a particularly unwelcome consequence, when it took her money for posting a negative review. Plus, why a generation of women is unhappy about changes to when they can draw their pension, and tips on how to stop your credit rating creating a problem.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julia Somerville investigate cases where viewers haven't had what they paid for, including a big name music concert that went wrong from the start. Also, the wedding photographer who's left couples without the precious memories of their big day, and a driving school taking money for lessons that never took place. Plus, more problems solved at the Rip Off Britain Pop-Up Shop, with advice on how to beat spam emails.

Documentary exposing some of the rip-offs that are costing British consumers. Julia Somerville, Gloria Hunniford and Angela Rippon explore stories where viewers feel let down by companies claiming to be the experts - discovering how a business supposed to help people manage their debts left them owing more than they had in the first place. Also today, why one woman ended up thinking her removal company was holding her possessions hostage, and the claims of a company promising to help people get rid of their timeshare are caught on camera. Does what it says stack up?