BBC Watchdog: United Motors UK Ltd of Southall

Crabman

First they gave these nice honest people (ahem) over £3,000 of licence fee payers' cash for a car that an expert valued at around £1,500.

Then when they turned up with a camera crew (and the car, which they'd since painted & were therefore unable to reject), the nice honest salespeople locked themselves in their office and dialled 999.

The police subsequently turned up and asked the BBC to leave the premises.

So to summarise, the BBC found a small car showroom in Southall that is not of much interest to those outside the immediate area, supported their honest enterprise by giving them more than £3,000 (in cash) for a car that was worth half that sum and then as far as I'm aware didn't bother to get the money back afterwards.

It's ok though, because Matt gave them a red card and blew a whistle whilst standing on the pavement outside their premises. That really showed them.

Good work Watchdog! :doh:

fivetide

Portly_Pig wrote: »

Same with all the other rogue traders they pay.

Why not just confront them when they try and over charge them?

Always thought the same. Confront them when they ask for the cash. Mind, I suppose it proves they have actually intended to defraud.

diesel_dog

I can understand the point there trying to put across to people who are candidates for been scammed, ripped off, overpaying but agree that it is a waste of our money - unless they do get it back?

It's about time the BBC got rid of some of the deadwood there, whoops, we're paying.

Sharon87

3 grand in a television budget isn't much at all in the grand scheme of things. That could be a few flights to America for crew (with excess baggage) or a crew's wage for 1 day. Or even prize money on a game show.

I get why they hand over the money to the rogue traders - it's the whole point of the show, showing them con them, which in turn exposes the business. So the con artists may be 3 grand up, but the damage being on Watchdog will cost them is a lot more than 3 grand, so maybe it's worth it.

tonyh66

They were fair enough complaining about the oil leak and front brakes, but the bodywork was all cosmetic and could be seen by who ever bought the car, so no room for complaint there in my opinion.

tonyh66

Im guessing they must have ripped off a BBC employee or friend of, to be brought to the attention of Watchdog. There is a car trader or 2 like this in every town.

Tilt

tonyh66 wrote: »

Im guessing they must have ripped off a BBC employee or friend of, to be brought to the attention of Watchdog. There is a car trader or 2 like this in every town.

if it sends out a shock wave to the rouge car trade, then i'm all for it. What particularly interested me in this instance was the fact that the 2 guys (who are obviously partners in crime) pretended not to be who they were while dealing with complaints on the phone. Typical fob off method!

Watchdog clearly proved that the car was in an unsaleable condition before it was sold from the doc they found in the glove box. This of course goes completely against the SOGA and as such, you wonder what other potential death traps these guys have sold which are driving around out there.

I also noted that the old bill were at one point talking to the customer whose car it was so it would of been interesting to know what the police view was.

redux

I used to say it was my favourite comedy programme

But the effect has worn off and I've hardly watched it for quite a while

citykid5

Tilt wrote: »

if it sends out a shock wave to the rouge car trade, then i'm all for it. What particularly interested me in this instance was the fact that the 2 guys (who are obviously partners in crime) pretended not to be who they were while dealing with complaints on the phone. Typical fob off method!

Watchdog clearly proved that the car was in an unsaleable condition before it was sold from the doc they found in the glove box. This of course goes completely against the SOGA and as such, you wonder what other potential death traps these guys have sold which are driving around out there.

I also noted that the old bill were at one point talking to the customer whose car it was so it would of been interesting to know what the police view was.

the police wouldn't be interested at all as it,s a cival matter

colino

I'm surprised this type of programme is still on telly. The format of. "I've bought something and now I think I should have researched it beforehand" has been done to death. Funny how the poor down-trodden punters are always too lame to actually do anything with the trader themselves but can put on their Primark best and show their stupidity to the nation. Just more tired TV to fit in between the soaps and US imports.

albionrovers

Crap TV.
When anyone goes in front of camera to defend themselves and start to talk an iota of sense, they get cut off swiftly. I want my license fee back.