Don't get screwed BBC3

bronzie

If this is in the wrong place or has been posted somewhere else. I wanted to tell everyone about a new-ish show that's been playing on BBC3, it's called Don't get screwed. I have found it to have some very useful information on various what if scenarios - definately worth a watch.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nnqwp

Tozer

Seen a couple of episodes and have to say I find the "advice" extremely misleading and, at times, legally incorrect.

bronzie

really? I wouldnt know, dont come from a legal background, can you give me an example?

Optimist

I have seen one episode where they were setting people up and they really didnt give much in the way of helpful advice on how to get out of the situations they created.

4743hudsonj

Yes, they seem to create extremely rare situations, and use remedies beffiting to those situations but not similar ones of a more common nature.

For instance, last night with the restaurant, bad service and compulsory tip. Now everybody watching the show will be refusing to pay in a huff for simple errors on the advice given in this show.

Tozer

Saw when a valet parked car came back covered in junk. They said that it was the responsibility of the hotel to take reasonable care and therefore they are liable.

This is not correct. If they can demonstrate that they have taken reasonable care then they can rely upon exclusions of liability. This was not explained at all.

And most fundamentally - they said that there was a cooling off period of 28 days under the Distance Selling Regs. It's 7 working days.

4743hudsonj

Tozer wrote: »

Saw when a valet parked car came back covered in junk. They said that it was the responsibility of the hotel to take reasonable care and therefore they are liable.

This is not correct. If they can demonstrate that they have taken reasonable care then they can rely upon exclusions of liability. This was not explained at all.

And most fundamentally - they said that there was a cooling off period of 28 days under the Distance Selling Regs. It's 7 working days.

a case of "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!"

Finch

I find that programme very unhelpful. It is a good idea... I just don't think the examples so far raised mean much 'in the real world.'

For example, last night's episode. The restaurant bit- despite what the legal standing is, those girls really had no choice to pay up. The manager was threatening them with the police, and it was all very intimidating and embarrassing for them (I think all the girls behaved very well! I'm not so sure many people would have been as reasonable and polite as they were). If the police were called, things could get so much worse (worst case scenario is a criminal record, which could ruin some careers- not something I would have risked as a student).

The car situation. So a garage charges you extra, and refuses to give your car back until you pay up. Really, what choice do you have? You need your car to collect kids from school. go to work etc- you have to pay and fight later. Good luck with that- the onus is on you to begin the fight and hope for the best 9and if you do drive off with the tyres, have you accepted them?).

Same with the taxi example. How can you force a taxi driver to take you somewhere if they don't want to?

To be perfectly honest, I think the best advice this prog could have offered (which it didn't) is to remain polite and calm, and do what you can to get yourself out of a potentially dangerous situation (e.g. the taxi), and how to claim damages after the event.

It isn't a helpful consumer programme such as Watchdog; it is a voyeristic, humiliation type show, along the lines of Beagle's About.

olly300

Finch wrote: »

I find that programme very unhelpful. It is a good idea... I just don't think the examples so far raised mean much 'in the real world.'

For example, last night's episode. The restaurant bit- despite what the legal standing is, those girls really had no choice to pay up. The manager was threatening them with the police, and it was all very intimidating and embarrassing for them (I think all the girls behaved very well! I'm not so sure many people would have been as reasonable and polite as they were). If the police were called, things could get so much worse (worst case scenario is a criminal record, which could ruin some careers- not something I would have risked as a student).

If the manager called the police the police wouldn't come out.

If they did came out due to the manager lying about what happened:
a. they wouldn't come out for hours as it's not an emergency
b. they would be annoyed with the restaurant owners as it's a civil matter

It's common for organisations to threaten people with the police when it's a civil matter and the police either don't come out or are annoyed when they do come out. The trick is to to tell the other party to call the police and if you want to make your point , offer them your phone to use in your presence on loudspeaker.

Finch wrote: »

The car situation. So a garage charges you extra, and refuses to give your car back until you pay up. Really, what choice do you have? You need your car to collect kids from school. go to work etc- you have to pay and fight later. Good luck with that- the onus is on you to begin the fight and hope for the best 9and if you do drive off with the tyres, have you accepted them?).

If you are stupid enough to choose cowboy for a garage then you have to put up with it. And taking them to court won't achieve anything as many businesses ignore small claims proceedings.

Finch wrote: »

Same with the taxi example. How can you force a taxi driver to take you somewhere if they don't want to?

You can't.

Most taxi drivers are clever enough to say "No" to your address before letting you enter so you don't get their number or registration. This is the typical not going to South London trick West End taxi drivers use.

The program is aimed at teenagers.

Anihilator

Agree entirely with Tozer. The majority of the advice is misleading or lacking any substance

Anihilator

I would also add their advice could be construed as breach of the peace based on their examples. i.e shouting and swearing in open markets about civil matters.