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Local butchers, Rogue builder, Prank phone calls

We investigate a builder who left a family's home in such a state they can no longer live in it. Plus why the number of local butchers is increasing for the first time in decades.

A You & Yours investigation reveals how an unscrupulous builder made off with tens of thousands of pounds of his customers' money, leaving jobs incomplete. One family's home was left in such a poor state, they couldn't live in it. Trading standards officers are now looking into the case, in which the builder took payments up-front, started jobs, but then left them unfinished.

For decades, the number of local butcher's shops on our high streets has been declining. Forty years ago there were more than 25,000, but by 1995 that had dropped by more than half and numbers have continued to fall. Many have struggled with competition from the supermarkets, others closed when the owners retired. But then last year was there was small increase in the number of independent high street butchers in the UK. We examine the reasons for the revival and ask how small local shops can compete.

The communications regulator Ofcom is investigating a mobile phone app which allows users to send pre-recorded ranting messages to their friends as a joke. Depending on the message chosen, the recipient is accused of theft, criminal damage or stalking. They are meant to be funny and the app's developers say that more than two hundred million of the messages have been sent. You & Yours has spoken to people who found them scary, aggressive and unpleasant.

Producer: Jonathan Hallewell
Presenter: Winifred Robinson.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Rogue Builder

    Trading standards officers investigate a builder who made off with customers' money

    Duration: 08:16

  • Government Contracts

    Are taxpayers getting value for money from government tenders to private companies?

    Duration: 05:49

  • Housing

    What could the government's housing white paper mean for tenants?

    Duration: 07:06

  • Butchers

    Why, after decades of closures, there are more local butchers on the high street

    Duration: 07:54

  • Prank Call

    Ofcom investigates an app that calls your friends with annoying complaints

    Duration: 04:53

  • Overdrafts

    Unauthorised overdraft fees charged by banks can cost up to 180% of the amount borrowed

    Duration: 04:27

Broadcast

  • Wed 8 Feb 2017 12:15

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