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Energy thieves could be living in the house next door to you, or running the business at the end of your street.

They don鈥檛 want to pay for their gas or electricity, so they go to extreme lengths to steal it. They hack meters or rewire fuse boxes so they can use as much energy as they like without charge.

But their antics do come at a price. Across the UK over 拢500 million worth of gas and electricity is stolen from energy companies every year and to make up for it 拢30 is added annually to the bills of honest customers.

Energy thieves are constantly coming up with new ways to steal their gas and electricity, but one company is determined to fight back.

British Gas has a specialist team of investigators which travels the UK in search of those who are meddling with their meters - and X-Ray joined them on the road in the Welsh capital.

They targeted three businesses whose energy consumption had set off alarm bells. Speaking to X-Ray reporter Rachel before their first raid, a member of the team said: "...their听usage is down by 90%."

During the day the team found that their suspicions were justified.

They discovered a gas meter that had been altered to give false readings and enabled the business to avoid 拢18,000 worth of gas bills over 18 months.

The team told Rachel it was 鈥渙ne of the worst gas tampers they鈥檇 ever seen鈥� and handed out a bill on the spot.

Next up was a corner shop where an illegal electricity cable was running energy-hungry fridges and freezers. The cable was removed and the team hand delivered a 拢7000 bill.

During their final visit of the day the team presented a 拢50,000 bill to a family business where illegal cables were running "90% of the shop鈥�" It was one of the biggest bills handed out to a single property.

Not only is tampering with your gas and energy supply illegal and costs honest consumers more money, it could also put you in danger as the alterations can increase the risk of electrical fires and gas explosions.

So if you suspect that energy theft is going on in your area you can call 0800 587 3737 for help and advice.

What happens to our waste is not something most of us give much thought to, but you would definitely think about it, if raw sewage was leaking into your home. That鈥檚 the dirty problem facing two couples living on a housing estate in Gorseinon, Swansea.

Siobhan and Richard Hall bought their first home together in April 2012, paying 拢95,000.

Their flat was built by Persimmon - one of Britain鈥檚 biggest property developers.

The couple say it was their dream home and as well as moving in together, they were also planning their wedding.

But in February this year their dreams went down the drain when a sewage leak caused dirty water, and faeces to flood their home.

The couple had lived there for less than two years and it was still under warranty. They complained about the sewage leak to Persimmon and to the maintenance company OM Property Management, who they were paying 拢90 a month.

Siobhan and Richard weren鈥檛 the only ones having problems. Their neighbours Charlotte Hill and her partner Lewis Rowden had issues with damp and mould in their flat.

Lewis bought the property from Persimmon in December 2011 paying 拢90,000.

Charlotte suffers from asthma and says there was black and green mould growing in the flat. Charlotte also repeatedly complained to the developers and the property management company.

Following the sewage leak an inspection was arranged, sending a remote controlled camera down the drains. It revealed that the soil pipe under Charlotte鈥檚 flat, which served both properties, had been crushed.

Both couples hoped that knowing the cause of the problem would mean it would get fixed.

But in May, the day Siobhan and Richard were travelling back from their honeymoon, a water pipe in a flat above theirs burst, flooding the whole block.

All the residents had to move out. Siobhan and Richard and Charlotte and Lewis stayed in hotels for more than a fortnight before being moved to rented accommodation.

Six months on, they鈥檙e still there and their homes are uninhabitable.

Charlotte鈥檚 now has a sewage pipe running right through the middle of her flat which she says she only agreed to in the hope that it would speed up the repairs. They don鈥檛 know when they will be able to return to their flats.

Persimmon told us that they meet "a rigorous set of building regulation standards" and they have now handed over the property to OM Property Management, and it's now their sole responsibility.听听听

We contacted OM Property Management.听They said the damaged sewage pipe was caused by the original building work and that a claim is being made on the warranty issued by Persimmon. They have, though, apologised for the inconvenience.

We also spoke to Tim Davies, a chartered surveyor. He believes the responsibility falls to Persimmon and says that good developers would carry out a final drain survey and checks before handing a property over to a management company.

He says the repairs to fix the problem shouldn鈥檛 be taking so long.

Some of us don鈥檛 like complaining 鈥� even if we鈥檙e entitled to.

But if you buy goods and they鈥檙e not 鈥渁s described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose鈥� then the Sale of Goods Act (1979) is on your side.

Often the most effective way of getting a replacement or a refund is to put pen to paper, so why not use our handy template for your complaint letter.

Just fill in the gaps and post it recorded delivery. This means you鈥檒l have proof of delivery - and the peace of mind that someone is actually reading your letter.

Good luck!

听

Dear听Sir/Madam [or named individual],

Reference: Complaint about faulty goods

I bought a [name of product] from you on [date of purchase]. I paid 拢 [price of product].

I now find the item has the following faults:

[List faults here 鈥� be specific]

Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended), goods you supply must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. As there was a problem with the goods when I bought them I request that you repair the goods at no cost to me or refund the full sum I paid to you.

I have enclosed a copy of the receipt in support of my claim.

Please respond within 14 days of receiving this letter.

Yours faithfully,

Your name