Rip Off Britain

Gloria Hunniford, Julia Somerville and Angela Rippon reveal some of the newest - and nastiest - scams doing the rounds, including the extraordinary wave of car cannibalism in which parts are stolen from people’s cars by masked thieves in broad daylight. Plus how scammers lurking in the wings of social media are tricking people into handing over thousands of pounds, and the devastating toll that fraud takes on its victims. Having lost thousands in a sophisticated scam, one viewer tells us about the support that helped him get back on his feet.

As their brand new series of investigations continues, Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville look at the cutting edge technology designed to make our lives easier, but which, some viewers are telling us, has ended up making things harder. Angela gets behind the wheel of an electric car, but while it’s a thumbs up for the vehicles themselves, can the same be said for the network of charging points meant to support them? And, as an increasing number of digital-only banks spring up in the place of the traditional High Street branches, one man tells us the extraordinary story of how, when things went wrong, the faceless nature of banking online left him in dire straits. Plus plenty of tips and advice from our experts at the Pop-Up Shop.

Julia Somerville, Angela Rippon and Gloria Hunniford investigate some of the big name businesses that viewers say are leaving them feeling stuck with a raw deal. Today, it’s all about your water bill. Angela hears from one viewer who is fed up at having been forced to switch to a water meter, only to find her bills shoot up. And, in the wake of devastating street flooding, are the water companies doing enough to cut down on the leaks? Plus the cutting edge heating system supposed to be friendly to the planet, but that’s left some homeowners saying it hasn’t been so kind to their wallets.

Gloria Hunniford, Julia Somerville and Angela Rippon investigate the bold tactics some companies are accused of using to stop disgruntled customers complaining. After a devastating house fire, how one woman refused to be silenced by the business responsible. And, in the wake of the Grenfell fire, why is the government stumping up cash to help some residents replace their dangerous cladding but leaving other people to foot the sky-high bills themselves? Julia meets some of those affected. And the people who are trying to make themselves heard though social media, but have been left battling strong opposition from the companies they’re criticising.

In the last of this week’s brand new series of investigations, Julia Somerville, Angela Rippon and Gloria Hunniford investigate how some companies will seemingly stop at nothing to get your business. With competition for your custom fierce, one viewer tells us how he believes his phone account was switched to another company without his permission. And there’s a bumper crop of cases for our presenters and experts to solve at our Pop-Up Shop. From unfair charges to poor customer service – could their advice be useful to you?

Gloria Hunniford, Julia Somerville and Angela Rippon investigate one of the most shocking stories ever featured on the programme – how one woman discovered a man she barely knew had married her seriously ill mum, giving him the right to inherit her estate. Plus how an increasingly popular solution to later life care costs has seen some people lose their life savings. And when it comes to your most precious possessions, how safe is a safety deposit box? How a bank managed to lose one man’s box and everything in it.

Julia Somerville, Angela Rippon and Gloria Hunniford investigate the financial products meant to make money, but which have instead seen some people lose it all. How investors were scammed out of thousands after a mistake by the financial regulator opened the door to fraudsters. And the credit cards supposed to help you if you’ve got trouble with your credit rating – so why does one man say they’ve made his problems worse. And why isn’t the new banking code of conduct getting everyone back the money they say they’re owed due to online fraud?

Julia Somerville, Angela Rippon and Gloria Hunniford investigate how some of the biggest names in business are leaving viewers feeling stuck with a raw deal. Today, how scammers used the image of one of Britain’s most trusted TV stars to steal thousands of pounds from unsuspecting members of the public. The dangers of unregulated investment opportunities – how one man plunged his pension into a storage unit scheme, only to lose it all. And how fraudsters used the name of a popular TV comedian to rip off pubs and clubs across the country.

Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville look at the terrible predicaments some people have found themselves in through no fault of their own. Today, the case of mistaken identity that left one woman fighting to prove she was telling the truth, and the man who reported a burglary at his home but ended up on trial himself. Plus how having your identity stolen can leave your credit rating at rock bottom, and what to do if the same happens to you.

In the last of the current series of investigations, Gloria Hunniford, Julia Somerville and Angela Rippon try to solve your consumer problems. Today, they look at people who have lost out while trying to do the best for their families, including a man who was made homeless when his insurance company wouldn’t pay out for flood damage because, it claimed, he had underinsured his home. How you can make sure the same doesn’t happen to you. And how duff information on your credit score can leave lives ruined. Plus, it was meant to make you safer, but are some companies using new data protection rules as an excuse to keep vital information from you?