Rogue traders are being watched (Rogue Traders)

Member Name: blissman70

Product:	Rogue Traders
Date:	17/03/09 (106 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Entertaining, honest and informative show

Disadvantages: only if your a dodgy trader

No this is not about the Nick Leeson movie starring Ewna McGregor and Anna Friel, nor is it concerning the group who gave us 'Voodoo child', it is about a simple BBC program which brings helpful information to the general public.

Although the title may sound as though this show follows some dodgy traders around whilst they go about their business of ripping people off, maybe glorifying them in some way, well let me inform you that is not... in fact it is the complete opposite.

* What is it? I hear you ask.

It is a fact based Consumer show which began its life on the BBC channel in 2001 and has become so popular it is now in its 7th series It is presented by Matt Allwright, an investigative journalist, and Dan Penteado, a private investigator, who travel around the UK, and even Europe, on a Honda Super Blackbird motorcycle, hoping to give awareness to the general public about the many 'cowboy' builders/ plumbers/tree surgeons...well almost any conmen out there who are intent on conning the general public, usual the elderly, out of there hard earned cash.

It is a simple format which this show uses, bringing the 'rogues' to the house which Allwright and co. have rigged with camera, using an actor/actress to play the part of the bewildered 'victim', whilst the two investigators, and an expert on that particular job, hide somewhere around the house, watching the 'conmen' and their every move.
Before the crew invite the 'rogue trader' to the house, with the intention of offering them work, the shows expert gives the 'job' the once over, then gives a report of what needs 'fixing' and how much it should cost to 'fix it'... in some cases simply removing a connecter so the item seems broken, just to see how the 'rogue' reacts to that... then the call is made and the show begins.

Over the many series on air the two crusaders have tackled everyone from Door to door salesmen, double glazing 'experts', car dealers, roofers and plumbers and even tree surgeons, all with the intentions of earning easy money for doing little work.
In later series Allwright was often seen in some form of disguise, ready to pounce on the dubious workers, with some rather surprising results and some very shocked faces.


* IN CONCLUSION...

What a brilliant 'consumer' show which does an excellent job in informing the watching public about the many dishonest 'rogues' who can so easily chat hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds out of innocent people who simply need some work doing around their house.
The program is well thought out and collects enough 'evidence' surrounding the 'rogue' workmen/sales people before Allwright and co decide to step forward to announce who they are, with many brilliant outcomes.

My blood boils when I see how these conmen make their living, especially when they are happy to take thousand of pounds from the pockets of elderly people for doing nothing more than pushing a broom around. So this has to be one of the few 'useful' shows on air at the moment, trying to help those vulnerable people who find it hard to say no to those unscrupulous salesmen and so called workmen.
I know that the 'victims' in this show are only actors but there are hundreds of people out there that have actually been conned by all these salesmen/workers who appear on this show, so when Allwright springs into action I get a sense of satisfaction knowing that the faces of these 'rogues' being aired on national television, with their company names splattered around for every one to see and avoid and the future.
It is just a shame that these conmen can so easily change there business names and continue to 'con' people of their hard earned cash... I mean, I was always under the impression that deception was a criminal offence..? And at the end of the day these so called business people are basically deceiving people are they not? I say prosecute them to the full extent of the law to show that this form of 'rogue' act will not be tolerated.

Some episodes of Rogue Traders do come across as humorous, with some gags concerning the inaptitude of the so called traders, which helps keep the show from becoming too boring, or even too frightening, so the humour is well suited, although the 'comedians' are very wooden doing it, especially Penteado with his dodgy tone and way off timing.
But, if you take the humour in the way it is supposed to be then you have to laugh at their attempts, considering the show is really meant to be looking at serious issues.

In all, Rogue traders in a well thought out and very informative show indeed.
It is an all round entertaining/consumer issue show which does aid in the process of letting the many 'dodgy' businesses out there that they are being noticed. That they may be the next faces which are being shown on national television with Allwright and Co. in hot pursuit as the 'rogues' try to hide their faces with a piece of paper whilst fleeing to their cars in the hope of not being recognised.
It is nice to see these scum get their comeuppance, giving some form of justice to those that have lost out.

If you have not yet seen this then I advise tying to watch a few episode if you can, you never know, that man who came knocking on your door telling you he could re-surface you drive to a professional standard for a few hundred quid may have starred on 'Rogue Traders'

Summary: Matt and Dan help the aged... and the rest of us.