It began on 30 November 2009, presented by former news journalists Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Jennie Bond.
Louise Minchin replaced Angela Rippon from series seventeen.
The presenters investigate viewers' stories of being ripped-off, expose some of the rip-offs, and seek answers and, where appropriate, refunds or compensation.
Experts include Simon Calder, David McClelland, Kate Hardcastle, Sylvia Rook, Helen Dewdney, Adam French, Gary Rycroft, Sarah Pennels, Paul Lewis and Martyn James.
On 16 January 2025, the BBC announced that they had put the series' tender up for auction as part of their "competitive tender" policy, allowing independent companies to bid on producing the program.