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Banned director runs loan firm
In a joint investigation with BBC Radio 4’s Money Box, we have discovered that the UK's largest sub-prime loan broker is run by a man previously banned from being a company director for "serious misconduct".
An exemption was granted for Keith Chorlton to run Yes Loans - a decision a leading business charity says shows regulators are putting the public at risk.
The BBC has received over a thousand complaints about the Wales-based company, Yes Loans, since 2004.
The company claims it is providing customers with a good service.
Read more about this story on the BBC News website.
If you have a tip-off about something you want investigated get in touch with donal@bbc.co.uk or by using the form below. All information treated in complete confidence.
7/7 bombing revelations
There have been renewed calls for an inquiry into the 7 July 2005 London bombings after the men accused of helping the suicide bombers were cleared of the crime. On the programme, we revealed previously unbroadcast revelations about the bombers, charting one man’s journey to radicalisation and the situation in the community he came from.
How reliable are sniffer dogs?
It was reported that Eddie, a ‘dog detective’, smelt ‘the scent of death’ in the McCanns’ holiday apartment in Portugal after their daughter Madeleine disappeared. He also sniffed out what was thought to be a human skull at a former children’s home in Jersey. It turned out to be a coconut shell. Critics argue that too much weight is put on evidence from police dogs. We investigated.
Your local councillor’s expenses
We revealed that some councils’ allowance bills have almost doubled over the past four years.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
Teachers "script" GCSE oral exams
We secretly recorded an ex-exam board official advising language teachers to "script" pupils' GCSE oral exams. Our undercover reporter witnessed Terry Murray telling a seminar that if pupils learned a few key phrases, the teacher examining them could "flannel" to fill in gaps. He said the "consensus" was that this happened in 95% of oral exams that are taped and sent away to be marked. Mr Murray has told us this is not cheating. Exams regulator Ofqual said action should be taken if this was happening.
You can watch the secret recording on the BBC News website.
You can read more about this story on the BBC News website.
Courses for the unemployed "demoralising"
Are New Deal courses a bad deal for both the taxpayer and the unemployed? A listener complained that private training companies are letting down unemployed people. We investigated.
You can read more about this story on the BBC News website.
Corruption in football
Ahead of the England v. Ukraine World Cup qualifier match, journalist Margot Dunne reported back from a trip to Kiev where she had been investigating allegations of corruption surrounding the sport there. Is, she asked, the country fit to host the European Football Championships in 2012?
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
Social housing fraud
There is a massive shortage of social housing and the government is just about to embark on a huge building scheme. But the truth is that many council homes are unlawfully let to private tenants. And we have discovered that some councils are evicting fewer than one of these residents a year.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
Gold among the ashes
We heard claims that some crematorium staff are selling gold from people’s ashes. A metals dealer said he buys the remnants of fillings and hip replacements, left behind after cremation. We investigated how widespread this practice is, and whether there are proper controls in place to stop it.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
Secret Society?
We shone a spotlight on a nationwide networking organisation with influence in high places. “Common Purpose” has been described as a politically correct version of freemasonry. Prominent supporters include the Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Cressida Dick, BBC Business Editor Robert Peston and numerous top public sector officials. We investigated whether there is any substance to the rumours about its hidden influence and agenda.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
Dads in debt
We discovered that parents of grown-up children are being chased by the Child Support Agency for thousands of pounds of debt they never knew existed.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
Women who pay for sex
Male escorts and a former female client revealed how the sex industry is tapping into the female market. A woman who used to visit a male escort, and the escort himself, spoke frankly about what sort of women visit prostitutes, why they choose to, and what the experience is like. And we went behind the scenes at a cottage in the West Midlands used by escorts as a place to see their female clients.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
Kidnapping on Britain's streets
Hundreds of people are the victims of kidnapping each year in Britain – but you are unlikely to hear about their cases in the news. The vast majority are so-called "bad on bad" kidnappings – criminals capturing and torturing others involved in organised crime. On the programme, we investigated this alternative "law and order" system operating below the radar.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
Web pirates and the Premier League
The Premier League admitted tio us that illegal streaming of live football on the internet could have a dramatic impact on the professional game's finances.
You can read more about this story on the BBC sport website.
Football and the taxman
We revealed the millions of pounds owed by football clubs which had been written off by the tax man.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
Carousel fraud
This complex tax dodge is costing the European taxpayer an estimated £170bn a year, and funding criminal lives of luxury.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
Bogus degrees
We discovered that close to 150 British people have bought academic qualifications from a network of fake online universities in America.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
Criminal checks 'forced' on staff
We investigated why a growing number of employers demand their staff undergo a criminal record check even though they do not regularly work with children or vulnerable adults.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
High bills 'boost energy theft'
We heard how more and more "meter cheaters" are putting their families' lives at risk to save money.
You can read more about this story on the BBC news website.
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