Rip Off Britain: Series 17
The seventeenth season of the consumer advocacy television series Rip Off Britain continues its mission on BBC One to investigate and tackle the issues that viewers feel affect them the most. The team behind the program focuses on exposing various rip-offs and providing practical help to consumers across Britain. Since its inception, the show has been driven by its commitment to addressing unfair consumer practices a
Season 17 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Rip Off Britain is a BBC One daytime series that began on 30 November 2009.
- The program exposes Britain's rip-offs and helps consumers.
- The series is presented by former news journalists Angela Rippon and Gloria Hunniford, alongside Jennie Bond initially.
- Newsreader Julia Somerville replaced Jennie Bond starting from the third series.
Season overview
The seventeenth season of the consumer advocacy television series Rip Off Britain continues its mission on BBC One to investigate and tackle the issues that viewers feel affect them the most. The team behind the program focuses on exposing various rip-offs and providing practical help to consumers across Britain. Since its inception, the show has been driven by its commitment to addressing unfair consumer practices and helping the public navigate everyday financial and marketplace challenges. The series maintains its established format of consumer protection journalism, drawing on the expertise of its investigative team to highlight wrongdoings and support affected individuals.
Episode Guide
Season 17 Progress Shield
Tenants turned my family home into a cannabis farm
Apr 14, 2025 · 44 min
The team investigate fake tenants who turned a home into a cannabis farm. And the pet microchipping database that could make it harder to track down your missing furry friend.
Water bills are going up, but what’s it all being spent on?
Apr 15, 2025 · 44 min
The team meet residents furious at water bills increasing by 47 per cent. And the energy company that incorrectly charged an 82-year-old nearly £3,000 on her winter bills.
My conservatory roof shattered, but no-one’s taking responsibility
Apr 16, 2025 · 44 min
The team help one family who narrowly escaped when their conservatory roof shattered and ask who should foot the bill.
I paid for a smartphone but received a lump of clay
Apr 17, 2025 · 44 min
The team help people stuck with paying a monthly contract for smartphones that were never delivered. And the SUV drivers left fearing for their safety when the cars developed a fau
Timeshare nightmare
Apr 18, 2025 · 44 min
The team help a couple who paid thousands to terminate their timeshare membership. As another suspicious operator offers to help, the team are there to challenge his claims.
I cancelled my card, but scammers kept spending
Apr 21, 2025 · 44 min
The team investigate the mysterious transactions made via mobile phone payments – even after the customer had cancelled their bank card.
Brazen car scam caught on camera
Apr 22, 2025 · 44 min
The team expose a shocking trick caught on camera during a private car sale that’s left some drivers thousands of pounds out of pocket.
Nail glue took my daughter’s skin off
Apr 23, 2025 · 44 min
The team investigate the case of a girl who suffered severe burns after using a nail glue she bought online and expose the other products that pose a risk.
Super-scam cost me nearly £500,000
Apr 24, 2025 · 44 min
How a grandmother was groomed into cashing in her entire pension. Even her own family and the police couldn’t break the spell.
Dream holiday left me with gastric infection
Apr 25, 2025 · 44 min
The team investigate the cases of holidaymakers left suffering from debilitating gastric illnesses after a luxury five-star trip to Cape Verde.
Addicted to shopping app
Apr 28, 2025 · 44 min
The team investigate the shopping app that one woman found so addictive, she asked her bank to cancel her cards in order to stop her spending.
Fire safety upgrades – who should foot the bill?
Apr 29, 2025 · 44 min
The team take on the case of residents who were billed by their managing agent for fire safety upgrades to their front doors.
Gift experience voucher left me £200 out of pocket
Apr 30, 2025 · 44 min
The team reveal the gift voucher blunders that left one customer with only two theme park tickets for her family of six.
Scammer posed as my mum – while she sat next to me
May 1, 2025 · 44 min
How a scammer took over one woman’s WhatsApp account in a bid to defraud her friends and family.
Luxury resort turned out to be a building site
May 2, 2025 · 44 min
The team investigate the cases of holidaymakers who say their relaxing breaks were ruined by noisy building work.
New home knotweed no-one told us about
Nov 10, 2025 · 43 min
The team investigate who is responsible for the costly surprise of knotweed facing one couple when they bought their dream home.
£1,000 to send a parcel
Nov 11, 2025 · 43 min
How sending a parcel cost one man more than £1,000 because the courier said he got the measurements wrong.
I had to do the maths to prove my energy company wrong
Nov 12, 2025 · 43 min
The team investigate who is responsible for the mystery cracks in laptop screens that left a trail of angry customers.
I took out a family trust to protect my kids, but now I regret it
Nov 13, 2025 · 43 min
The families unravelling the family trusts set up decades ago to protect an inheritance, but which are now proving complex and costly.
My holiday was cancelled at hotel check-in
Nov 14, 2025 · 44 min
The team investigate the cases of holidaymakers left stranded when their travel company went bust, even though it appeared to be ATOL-protected.
Insurer says I’m wrong about having cancer
Nov 17, 2025 · 44 min
The team investigate the life insurance policies that have left some customers in the lurch, including the woman whose insurer doesn’t accept she has cancer.
Broadband firm has trapped my car with a telegraph pole
Nov 18, 2025 · 44 min
The team take on the case of the homeowner who claims a broadband company installed a new telegraph pole without warning, which left their car stuck in the lane behind their home.
The Scottish lodge I invested in didn’t exist
Nov 19, 2025 · 44 min
The investment scheme that went wrong, after nearly 200 victims believed they were buying a holiday lodge connected to a well-known brand.
Excluded from cheap energy tariffs because of where I live
Nov 20, 2025 · 44 min
The team take on the case of electric vehicle drivers who say their energy provider couldn’t connect them to the best tariffs because of where they live.
Our holiday was not as advertised
Nov 21, 2025 · 44 min
The team investigate the cases of holidaymakers who say the reality of their trips was far from what was advertised by the travel company.
Scammers used our street to open fake accounts
Nov 24, 2025 · 44 min
In the first of five special episodes for BBC Scam Safe week, the team investigate the fake bank accounts all registered in one Cheshire street.
AI romance scammer broke my heart
Nov 25, 2025 · 44 min
In another special episode for BBC Scam Safe week, the team hear the incredible story of one Edinburgh woman left devastated when an online romance turned out to be a scam.
Help! Is my online job a scam?
Nov 26, 2025 · 44 min
A viewer contacts the team after suspecting the online task work he’s been completing could be a scam.
I was part of the world’s largest scam
Nov 27, 2025 · 44 min
A victim of a huge international investment scam network meets one of the investigative journalists who uncovered it.
Fake Michael Jackson brought bailiffs to my door
Nov 28, 2025 · 44 min
A man whose home address is hijacked by a fraudster using the name Michael Jackson receives traffic fines and a visit from a bailiff but says the authorities won’t help.
Banned from 500 shops by facial recognition
Jan 5, 2026 · 43 min
The team investigate the use of facial recognition software on Britain's high streets after a woman from Salford is falsely identified as a toilet roll thief.
The banned online pet store still taking your money
Jan 6, 2026 · 44 min
The team sniffs out the truth about the glossy online pet store selling treats for dogs, which despite been banned from trading is still taking pet owners’ money
I’m blind - but my bank sends letters I can’t read
Jan 7, 2026 · 43 min
The team reveal shocking failings at a high street bank after it sent crucial communications to a blind customer by letter.
Roof repair rogues took aim at our homes
Jan 8, 2026 · 43 min
The team visit a Portsmouth suburb that has been repeatedly targeted by doorstep cold callers trying to charge thousands of pounds for roof repair jobs that simply weren’t needed.
Slimed by sludge pipe leak during our dream cruise
Jan 9, 2026 · 44 min
A couple from the Wirral say their dream cruise holiday was ruined when a leaky pipe above their cabin covered them in foul-smelling liquidised food waste.
Elvis event left me all shook up
Jan 12, 2026 · 43 min
The team takes on the case of an Elvis superfan who says an immersive experience with the 'King' was far from what was advertised.
Owed thousands by my energy company
Jan 13, 2026 · 44 min
The team investigate the case of the energy company that still refused to pay back £3,000 to its customer despite two ombudsman rulings in his favour.
I won in court – but I’m still out of pocket
Jan 14, 2026 · 44 min
The team investigates why court rulings aren’t being enforced against the businesses that owe their customers money – and what can be done about it.
Next door up in flames - but I had to pay
Jan 15, 2026 · 44 min
The team investigate why an insurance company declined a no-fault claim after a fire spread from the house next door.
Four-day delay, but my airline won’t pay
Jan 16, 2026 · 44 min
A couple who planned a holiday to Honolulu say their four-day stop-off in Las Vegas was wiped out by a series of flight cancellations and delays.
Careless courier driver destroyed my garden wall
Jan 19, 2026 · 44 min
When a woman’s garden wall is flattened and a couple’s camper van is wrecked by careless delivery drivers, the team find out why the courier companies involved might not help put t
Van seized after fake debt ruling
Jan 20, 2026 · 44 min
The team in Salford investigate how it was possible for a company to invent fake debts against other businesses, take their directors to court and have legal judgements rubber-stam
Blaze repair delays ruined our home
Jan 21, 2026 · 43 min
A couple from Dorset say their beloved home has been wrecked by water damage after a series of delays to their insurance claim and building work.
The five-year wait to return to my home
Jan 22, 2026 · 44 min
Residents of an apartment block in Oldham who were forced to leave their flats following the issue of a fire safety notice are desperate to go home after being barred from returnin
Holiday hotel blaze left me fearing for my life
Jan 23, 2026 · 44 min
The team hear from holidaymakers caught up in a major hotel fire in Turkey, who say their travel company hasn’t done enough – and won’t accept responsibility.