大象传媒

Lisa John and Neal Bartlett, from Aberkenfig, hired Bridgend-based TMW Roofline to extend their home, but were left with unsatisfactory work.

The business is run by builder Neil Taylor, who markets his firm with pictures of rugby legend Shane Williams. He says that nine years ago he built a conservatory for Shane and has since used his picture on both his van and his website, and even his paperwork.

We spoke to Shane to find out what his involvement was.

He told us, 鈥淭he agreement was to do the work, and I would give him a testimonial, and a photograph鈥�and that鈥檚 about as far as it goes. I don鈥檛 work with the company, not involved with the company and I certainly haven鈥檛 received a penny.鈥�

Lisa and Neal hired Neil Taylor to build a new room in the garden and a small extension on the side of their house at a cost of 拢30,000. Work began last November.

They say that at first the TMW workers arrived early and worked non-stop on the job, but say that stopped once Neil Taylor received the first big payment off them. In the run up to Christmas, Neil Taylor began asking for the rest of his money

Lisa said, 鈥淕ive us his word that the work would be finished, but that he needed to pay his wages. We actually took pity on the boys that were working with him. He told us that they had Christmas presents to buy and they didn鈥檛 have any money.鈥�

She transferred the last of the 拢30,000, but days later faults began to show.

鈥淲e had water coming through the ceiling and we were constantly on the phone to him. He did come down and his solution鈥�was to put a big block of silicone back over the hole and tell us it was fixed.鈥�

The problems got worse 鈥� the patio tiles were loose and there were serious plumbing problems.

Then at the start of March, South Wales was hit by the Beast from the East. The couple had snow coming in to their home and had to cover the roof lantern with bin bags to keep out the freezing wind.

Neil Taylor admitted by text that he had put the wrong fittings on the side of the roof, which is why there was water coming in. By this point, the couple had lost faith in him.

We brought in independent surveyor Tim Davies to give us a proper assessment of the work.

He said, 鈥淚 really can鈥檛 find anything that is right with this roof. It鈥檚 been so badly done. It鈥檚 quite appalling to be honest...It is plain for all to see that this is an incredibly substandard work. This is lower than DIY standard.鈥�

Tim also told us that the only remedy for Lisa and Neal is for the whole roof covering to come off, and to start again with a competent experienced roofing contractor that works with membrane roofs.

The programme got in touch with Neil Taylor. He told us he didn鈥檛 receive any money until after work had started and a written payment plan was agreed by the couple. He blames bad weather for the work over-running. He鈥檚 also taken Shane Williams鈥� name off his paperwork.

In relation to Lisa and Neal鈥檚 work, he says the parties have settled their differences, and he鈥檚 now been back on site and has fixed the patio, but the couple are still waiting for their roof to be fixed.

Online scammers have been targeting people who have turned to social media to organise their summer holidays by selling fake caravan lets.

Andrew Worton chose Trecco Bay Caravan Park in Porthcawl as the perfect destination for a summer holiday for him and his family last year.

Andrew and his partner Amy, from Blaina near Ebbw Vale, booked the caravan let through an advert on Facebook posted by someone whose profile claimed to be Leah Davies.

They transferred 拢400 for the caravan stay and were packed and ready to go when Amy got an email claiming the caravan had been vandalised so was no longer available.

Andrew said: 鈥淪he was almost in tears just by reading the email. I had to explain to the children then, we weren鈥檛 going anywhere.鈥�

Andrew tried to get a refund but was met with excuses, and he wasn鈥檛 the only one trying to get their money back.

Hannah Webb, from Ebbw Vale, had also booked to stay in Trecco Bay via Facebook after seeing a post belonging to someone using the same name, Leah Davies.

But her holiday was also cancelled following another claim the caravan had been trashed.

Hannah paid 拢299 for her stay and then struggled to get any money back

Hannah said: 鈥淭he emails back and forth were about a week and then just nothing after that.鈥�

Both Andrew and Hannah reported their case to their banks and to Action Fraud, but neither has been able to get their money back.

X-Ray checked the origins of the advert that Andrew saw and it turned out the pictures were lifted from a real caravan listing from a genuine owner in Trecco Bay. Those owners had nothing to do with the scam.

Despite losing their money, both Andrew and Hannah did eventually manage to book another holiday last year.

Trecco Bay Holiday Park say they recommend booking directly with them or through a proper travel agent. The Association of British Travel Agents say they always recommend that people check reviews online first before handing over any money and they say to never make any direct payments to an individual's private bank account.