Express & Star

TV review: Your Money, Their Tricks

In today's difficult economy, families everywhere are feeling the pinch, making every saving count.

Published

Paying over the odds for goods and services is bad enough, but falling victim to a con must be maddening.

Thankfully, in last night's BBC1 programme, the first episode of a new series, presenters Sian Williams, Nicky Campbell and Rebecca Wilcox offered helpful advice for spotting and beating the scammers.

By going undercover, the presenters and their colleagues identified the tricks to look out for at theme parks, cinemas and car parks, among other places.

It is no secret that at some travelling carnivals the games are rigged, but it was worrying to see such practices being adopted at one of the country's biggest theme parks.

Filming secretly, two reporters who had landed themselves jobs at Thorpe Park were taught the tricks of the trade.

For example, in a seemingly simple game in which the player wins by throwing a ball at three vertically-stacked blocks and knocking them all onto the floor, the table on which the blocks stand can be given extra grip with a little surfboard wax.

At least, that is what the reporters were told by one member of staff, who casually tossed the wax to one of them to give it a go.The aim of another of the games is to bounce a hollow ball off a horizontal surface and into a box. This time the reporters were told to demonstrate the ease of winning using a heavier ball than the unsuspecting customers would be given.

Fortunately, there is a simple way of beating the odds, no matter which game you play – and that is to get in early.

Staff working the games explained how they dish out prizes liberally at the beginning of the day – sometimes even when players fail to properly earn them – so excited youngsters can be seen proudly brandishing enormous stuffed animals around the park throughout the afternoon.

I have to admit, I actually found that quite clever, in a dirty, dishonest kind of way.

HB Leisure Ltd, the company that provides the games, insisted of course that rigging was strictly against its policy.

The programme also showed the different prices visitors to London's O2 Arena can expect to pay for parking, depending on the reason for their stay.

Cinema-goers receive free parking, provided they stay the duration of the film – a reasonable stipulation.

Those dining out, however, are charged £7 for four hours' parking.

And when one undercover presenter told the attendant she had tickets to see Justin Bieber, she was ordered to fork out a whopping £28 – again for four hours – proving once and for all that so-called 'Beliebers' really do have more money than sense.

So how do you beat that one?

As it turns out, it's easy. You simply tell them you're going to a restaurant when you're not. At least, that's what one of the presenters did, while driving a car plastered with cut-outs of Bieber's face and wearing an 'I heart JB' T-shirt.

The presenters did warn against following their example, in that case!

Other areas examined by the programme were not quite so illuminating.

It was no revelation to learn, for example, that cinemas charge extortionate amounts for their popcorn. Neither was it a surprise to hear that advertisements can sometimes be misleading.

Still, there were one or two useful money-saving tips to be had, but they needn't have taken an hour to explain.

Will Ackermann

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.