The Rip Off Britain team are ready to tackle the issues you feel affect you the most, from utility bills and bank charges to parking fines.

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Series 4 (Evening) Episode 6

6/8 Investigating the companies taking advantage of an easy way to make payments.

Mon 13 May 2013 19:30 BBC One except Wales, Wales HD

See all previous episodes from Rip Off Britain

  • Send us your Story

    If you feel you've been ripped off and would like Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville to investigate, then let us know.

    Contact Rip Off Britain

  • Claims Management Company Complaints

    The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) announced in August last year that the Legal Ombudsman will handle complaints about claims management companies (CMCs) from 2013. However, a date for commencement of this arrangement has yet to be agreed by the MOJ and Treasury.

    If consumers have an issue with a CMC in the meantime, they should visit the Claims Management Regulator’s web page for instructions on how to make a complaint. The Legal Ombudsman will make an announcement once a formal commencement date is known.

  • Unnecessary Administration Fees

    Rip Off Britain has been inundated with emails from viewers who believe that they have been misled into paying more than they need to when they book online for services such as driving tests, the London congestion charge, European Health Cards (EHIC), visas and even passports.

     

    People who have contacted the programme say they only realised they had paid unnecessary administration fees when they visited the official websites and found that there were no extra charges on these sites.  

     

    Whilst these “unofficial” websites would say that they are providing a perfectly legitimate service and are not doing anything illegal, many consumers are unaware that by using the official government sites they won’t have to pay a penny.

     

    The Office for Fair Trading has offered following guidance to consumers:

     

    • Always read the small print before you enter any information online, in particular payment card details.
    • If you use an internet search engine, make sure you understand which links are advertisements and how to find the official website you are looking for.
    • Before you enter any details online, make sure you check and fully understand what you are paying for and always consider the small print.  
    • You can find information and links to all official government websites via https://www.gov.uk/.

  • Rip Off Britain secures almost £500,000 for viewers

    Following our investigations this year on Rip Off Britain, viewers who contacted the programme with their stories have, between them, been paid out a total of just under HALF A MILLION POUNDS.

  • BBC News: House fire couple's insurance battle over 'occupancy'

    Not living full-time at home can invalidate insurance, as one couple told Rip Off Britain.

    Find out about one viewer's dispute with his insurer

  • BBC News: 'Efficient' heating system left families with big bills

    Families in new government-funded affordable housing say they're having to choose between keeping warm and eating.

    Read about their concerns, on the BBC News site

     

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