0:00:02 > 0:00:04We asked you to tell us what's left you feeling ripped off
0:00:04 > 0:00:07and you contacted us in your thousands.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10You've told us about the companies you think get it wrong
0:00:10 > 0:00:13and the customer service that simply isn't up to scratch.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17People should expect more when they're paying for something these days.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Everything you buy, I just think we're getting ripped off.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23You've asked us to track down the scammers who stole your money.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27and investigate the extra charges you'd say are unfair.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29We have to rely on them giving you a fair price for something,
0:00:29 > 0:00:31you can't always rely on that.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33You don't want more hassle,
0:00:33 > 0:00:36you want them to honour their agreement with you.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39And when you've lost out, but no-one else is to blame,
0:00:39 > 0:00:42you've come to us to stop others falling into the same trap.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44That is disgusting!
0:00:44 > 0:00:48So whether it's a blatant rip-off, or a genuine mistake,
0:00:48 > 0:00:51we're here to find out why you're out of pocket
0:00:51 > 0:00:53and what you can do about it.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Your stories, your money. This is Rip Off Britain.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Hello, and welcome to Rip Off Britain,
0:01:03 > 0:01:05the programme that helps you make the right choices
0:01:05 > 0:01:07when it comes to your cash,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10whether you're spending your money, or indeed trying to save it.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15After years of low interest rates, a simple high street savings account
0:01:15 > 0:01:18probably won't be earning anything like the interest you want.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21So if you are anxious for your money to grow,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24when you're offered an exciting new opportunity
0:01:24 > 0:01:27that promises big returns for relatively little investment,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30it can seem very hard to refuse.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33And in amongst all the sales patter, it's not always easy to understand
0:01:33 > 0:01:35what you're getting yourself into.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39As we'll see, however foolproof or glamorous it might appear,
0:01:39 > 0:01:41even the most dazzling investment opportunity
0:01:41 > 0:01:45can quickly lose its sparkle if it doesn't deliver what was promised.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Coming up, a company that promises glittering returns on diamonds
0:01:51 > 0:01:52that you may never even see.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58I didn't come into this to keep the diamonds forever,
0:01:58 > 0:02:00I'm not James Bond.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02We don't think there is a diamond that we're going to get
0:02:02 > 0:02:05and we don't think he's going to get his money back.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07And it's glamorous, exciting,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10and you might even get your 30 seconds on the red carpet,
0:02:10 > 0:02:14but just how risky is investing in the movie business?
0:02:14 > 0:02:17The actors' agents had never heard of such a film,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20they'd never been contacted regarding this film.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23So for me, at that point, it was like 100%,
0:02:23 > 0:02:25I knew, it wasn't as it had been sold.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33They're said to be forever and a girl's best friend,
0:02:33 > 0:02:36so what is there not to love about diamonds?
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Well, particularly if the ones you own are going up in value.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43And that is pretty much the sales pitch that's used by a company
0:02:43 > 0:02:48that cold-calls, offering diamonds as an investment opportunity.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52Sadly, the promises they make can quickly lose their sparkle.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56Diamonds,
0:02:56 > 0:02:58the ultimate statement in wealth and glamour
0:02:58 > 0:03:01and the epitome of romance and luxury.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03In recent years their value has increased so much
0:03:03 > 0:03:07that the global market is now worth £42 billon a year.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14It's that high-value market that Christine Ball's dad Les Goodrum
0:03:14 > 0:03:16was given the chance to invest in
0:03:16 > 0:03:19when he was cold-called in April 2013.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22But Christine and her husband Douglas are worried that
0:03:22 > 0:03:24far from investing thousands in something with
0:03:24 > 0:03:27almost-guaranteed returns, he might have been scammed.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Douglas, good to see you, hi.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38We first discovered a letter in his house which was saying,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41"This is our initial letter with the contract for your purchase of a diamond."
0:03:41 > 0:03:46So we took that away and had a look at what the company actually was.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- Solitaire Alternatives? - Yes, he gave that to us,
0:03:49 > 0:03:53and we thought, "Well, that looks very professional."
0:03:53 > 0:03:58But then we started looking into the organisation and realised
0:03:58 > 0:04:03that this was potentially not as kosher as we thought it might be.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08Solitaire Alternatives claims "extensive industry knowledge"
0:04:08 > 0:04:11and promises to help both private diamond collectors
0:04:11 > 0:04:14and first-time buyers, like Les.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17But despite the slick website and brochure,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Christine and Douglas still weren't sure Les had made the right choice.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22And as they dug deeper,
0:04:22 > 0:04:26they discovered he hadn't bought just one diamond.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30We challenged him about the second one, and said you know, "These people
0:04:30 > 0:04:34may not be what you think," and, "Why don't you let us see the diamond?"
0:04:34 > 0:04:39Les's response to that made the couple even more concerned.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43He said, "Oh, no, it's OK. They're going to store it for me safely
0:04:43 > 0:04:47"in Switzerland, you know, so that I don't have to have it in my house."
0:04:47 > 0:04:50In the contract, it stated, if you asked them to come to your house,
0:04:50 > 0:04:52they'd send them to you.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55You'd be able to look at them through a plastic covering,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57but if you opened them, they lost value.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01Well, diamonds can't lose value because they're a hard substance.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Did you say this to him at the time?
0:05:03 > 0:05:05We didn't say much at that time
0:05:05 > 0:05:08because we thought we'd investigate it first, because we didn't
0:05:08 > 0:05:10really want to challenge my dad on his own decision.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12You know, he's 95.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Although he's 95, he can still make his own decisions and he does so.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Before former coal miner Les was called up out of the blue
0:05:21 > 0:05:25by Solitaire Alternatives, he'd never thought of buying diamonds.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27And though at first he was reluctant,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29the sales rep was persistent.
0:05:31 > 0:05:36They bombarded me with telephone calls, the telephone got red hot.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40How often were they ringing you?
0:05:40 > 0:05:42Well, you think of a time of the day and that's it!
0:05:42 > 0:05:46- So, three or four times a day? - Sometimes.- Really?
0:05:46 > 0:05:49- Mm.- And always the sales pitch to buy the diamonds?
0:05:49 > 0:05:53- Yeah.- Did you ask them how they knew what your telephone number was
0:05:53 > 0:05:55and how they'd found you?
0:05:57 > 0:05:59No, I didn't do that. I didn't do that.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02So, really, you had to put your trust in them?
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Yes, I did. I was trusting them.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Les initially bought what he was told were two yellow diamonds
0:06:10 > 0:06:12at a cost of £7,300.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15The company was holding on to them to keep them safe
0:06:15 > 0:06:17and Les never got to see them.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20Because, within weeks, he had a call from George,
0:06:20 > 0:06:22his contact at Solitaire Alternatives,
0:06:22 > 0:06:26who claimed he'd found a buyer who was interested in buying them.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28And what's more, Les would make a profit,
0:06:28 > 0:06:29so he agreed to sell.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33They didn't tell the actual amount of money
0:06:33 > 0:06:37- that was the profit that was made. - Did that bother you?
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Well, of course it did, of course it did.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46Because when I first went into this, I said I wasn't going in
0:06:46 > 0:06:51because I wanted to be a diamond merchant or anything like that.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56All I wanted was to make a bit of money, that was it.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01A few weeks later, George called again and told Les
0:07:01 > 0:07:03he could invest the profit he'd made from the yellow diamonds
0:07:03 > 0:07:06in a more valuable blue diamond.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09He'd need to pay another £2,000 to make up the price,
0:07:09 > 0:07:10but it would be worth it
0:07:10 > 0:07:15because the blue diamond would soon be worth over £45,000.
0:07:15 > 0:07:16On the telephone they told you
0:07:16 > 0:07:20you own a diamond that is worth £45,000.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Now, what happens, have they explained,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26if you want to sell those diamonds and get the money?
0:07:26 > 0:07:30- Have they explained what happens? - No, they haven't.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Instead, a different sales rep from Solitaire Alternatives asked Les
0:07:33 > 0:07:38to invest even more than the £9,300 he'd already spent.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41He said, "Do you want to put another £10,000 in?"
0:07:41 > 0:07:45I said, "No, no, no, not another penny. That's it.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47"That's as far as we go.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50"I want to see some capital."
0:07:50 > 0:07:51You want to see some return.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55I want to see some return before I make any further decisions
0:07:55 > 0:07:56and that's it.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59But that call was nearly a year ago,
0:07:59 > 0:08:03and since then Les hasn't heard anything more from either that rep,
0:08:03 > 0:08:05or from George, the initial contact,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09who up until then had called him quite frequently.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13You're still convinced they're genuine, that he's a genuine guy,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15and that there is a diamond there?
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Well, not having seen it,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22you know, you start to get little bits of doubt in your mind.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26But then Les revealed the real reason he's still hoping
0:08:26 > 0:08:28his investment comes good.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31The 95-year-old fears in the future he may need care
0:08:31 > 0:08:34and doesn't want that cost falling on his family.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38You know your daughter and your son are a bit worried?
0:08:38 > 0:08:43Yeah, but then again, to me,
0:08:43 > 0:08:46to me, Angela,
0:08:46 > 0:08:52I realise I may have to go into a home later on because...
0:08:52 > 0:08:57I mean, they look after me at the moment as best that they can,
0:08:57 > 0:09:01but there might come a time when they can't.
0:09:01 > 0:09:07I mean, it'll have to be paid for,
0:09:07 > 0:09:12that was the idea of going into it in the beginning.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16So as things stand, Les has spent £9,300
0:09:16 > 0:09:18on what he believes is a blue diamond,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20held for safekeeping in a Swiss vault.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23He doesn't know for sure whether he'll see a return
0:09:23 > 0:09:27on his investment or indeed whether he owns a diamond at all.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29I don't want to drag the police into it.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34I'd rather come to agreement between them and myself.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39I didn't come into this to keep the diamonds forever -
0:09:39 > 0:09:40I'm not James Bond.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44I just want to make some cash, that was all.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Christine and Douglas have tried to contact Solitaire Alternatives
0:09:50 > 0:09:53on Les's behalf, but with no luck.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57Every time we've rung up, it's always been an answerphone.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59I've never managed to speak to them.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01I don't think you've managed to speak to them,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04you've left messages for them and said, "Stop contacting him,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07"he's an old man. You know, stop contacting him."
0:10:07 > 0:10:09And they've obviously just ignored that.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12And though Les hasn't heard from then for some time,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Christine worries that someone from Solitaire Alternatives might
0:10:15 > 0:10:18call him again and win back his trust.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23My father's 95, he's quite lonely, and he would say that himself,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26and therefore he enjoys an hour in the day having a chat
0:10:26 > 0:10:29with someone on the phone and obviously these people,
0:10:29 > 0:10:33like I said before, have established him as their friend.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37And therefore they're not going to deceive him or tell him lies,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40they're not going to take money from him for something that doesn't exist.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44He didn't accept that and we're not even sure
0:10:44 > 0:10:47if he really accepts that now, we're not even sure of that.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51Do you both believe now, along with your brother, that the £9,000,
0:10:51 > 0:10:55whatever it may be, that your father has spent is gone?
0:10:55 > 0:10:58We believe so. We don't think there's a diamond we're going to get
0:10:58 > 0:11:01and we don't think he's going to get his money back.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Later in the programme, I'm on the case of the company
0:11:06 > 0:11:10who sold Les his diamonds to find out where his money's gone.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- Maybe they're taking a long lunch. - PHONE RINGS
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Next, a financial investment that sounded a lot more exciting
0:11:21 > 0:11:24than most of the ones you'd typically come across.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28A scheme offering a lot more glamour and showbiz, with the opportunity
0:11:28 > 0:11:31to put your cash into the production of a new movie,
0:11:31 > 0:11:36not just any old movie, but one with lots of big-name stars taking part.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38So what's wrong with this picture?
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Well, an investor who wrote to us about it is starting to wonder
0:11:41 > 0:11:44if it's more than just the film's plot that's a little far fetched
0:11:44 > 0:11:47because as far as she's concerned, it's been not so much a case of
0:11:47 > 0:11:52lights, camera, action, as seemingly no action whatsoever.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59A visit to the flicks is as close as most of us get to Hollywood.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02But for property developer Sherry Bennett, the allure
0:12:02 > 0:12:05of the movies was so appealing that she wanted to be a part of it.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09She had spotted a project which would give her not a starring role,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12but certainly a supporting one in an upcoming British film
0:12:12 > 0:12:16alongside some very big names, like Sir Michael Caine, Ray Winstone
0:12:16 > 0:12:18and Vinnie Jones.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21It would have been exciting, not just to be an extra on set,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23I mean, that wasn't a selling part for me.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25It was more about the returns I was going to get.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Although Sherry was set to have a brief appearance on screen,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32she would have a much more important role to play behind the scenes
0:12:32 > 0:12:34as one of the people actually funding the film.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36It was an unusual investment, to be sure,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39but compared to other things she could have done with her savings,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41the movie business looked much more interesting.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45It sounded like a really good investment, but I actually
0:12:45 > 0:12:50enjoy films, and especially films like, you know, Braveheart,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53all those sort of films. So I knew the returns could be really good,
0:12:53 > 0:12:56and it was quite an exciting product to be a part of,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59because obviously you're there for some of the filming,
0:12:59 > 0:13:00you get to go to the premiere,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03and I suppose, yeah, that was what attracted me.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05The film was called Henry Five
0:13:05 > 0:13:09and its unusual premise transposes elements of Shakespeare's Henry V
0:13:09 > 0:13:12into a science fiction story set around the apocalypse.
0:13:12 > 0:13:17For me, it was along those lines of like a Gladiator, Braveheart film,
0:13:17 > 0:13:19two of my favourite films. I mean, yeah,
0:13:19 > 0:13:24how could it not be a hit? So that was why I was getting a bit excited.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27You know, if a film such as that did go public,
0:13:27 > 0:13:31then I'm sure it would be a box office smash, as they say.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36Sherry's foray into the movie business began in June 2013 when,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39after hearing about the opportunity to invest, she bought
0:13:39 > 0:13:43£5,000 worth of shares in the film from a company called
0:13:43 > 0:13:48Alternative Solutions, who also trade in things like wine and gold.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51She was promised a potential 25% return on her investment
0:13:51 > 0:13:54plus a share of the profits.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57I checked out Alternative Solutions and I'd also spoke to people
0:13:57 > 0:14:00that had previously invested with them, they're more bigger for wine,
0:14:00 > 0:14:05so the client that I spoke to knew of them through wine investment,
0:14:05 > 0:14:09and said, "Yep, they're a reliable company. They trade. They seem OK."
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Sherry also checked out the production company
0:14:11 > 0:14:15that would actually be making the film - Warlord Productions.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17And again, she was happy with what she found.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21Meanwhile, Warlord Productions and the film's distributor
0:14:21 > 0:14:24announced that the first tranche of funding was secured.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Pre-production would start in just a few weeks and they were set
0:14:27 > 0:14:31to officially reveal details of the film at the Cannes Film Festival.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34So, with an all-star cast, a rip-roaring plot
0:14:34 > 0:14:36and a £10 million budget,
0:14:36 > 0:14:39it was time to sit back and let the action begin...
0:14:39 > 0:14:42or not. Sherry thought the cameras would start to roll
0:14:42 > 0:14:44over the next few months.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46But instead of getting news of the walk-on-part
0:14:46 > 0:14:48all investors were promised,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51she was told that her investment was now being handled
0:14:51 > 0:14:54by a related company called Spice Factory,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56and they had some worrying news.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Spice Factory contacted me at the beginning of this year saying
0:14:59 > 0:15:04that Ray Winstone is no longer a big enough actor to perform in the film
0:15:04 > 0:15:09and that they're now seeking a guy called Robert Pattinson
0:15:09 > 0:15:11from the Twilight.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Not heard of him, don't watch the Twilight.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Sherry was also told that Vinnie Jones would no longer be starring
0:15:17 > 0:15:22in the film and there was no longer mention of Michael Caine at all.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26It's now all about Robert Pattinson which, I mean, every time you sort of
0:15:26 > 0:15:29mention the man's name, it was making me feel more sick
0:15:29 > 0:15:30than the first time he said it,
0:15:30 > 0:15:33cos a soon as I Googled this guy, I thought, you know,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36him alone is going to want about £20 million to star in this film.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40From what I'd read in the contract, there was about a £10 million budget,
0:15:40 > 0:15:44so you don't need to be great with maths to work it out.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Sherry's suspicions prompted her to do some more research online
0:15:47 > 0:15:50and she discovered a newspaper report from six months earlier
0:15:50 > 0:15:54that made some very worrying accusations.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58I read an article concerning the film from the Mirror
0:15:58 > 0:16:01and the actors' agents had never heard of such a film,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04they'd never been contacted regarding this film,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06it was nothing known to them.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09So, for me, at that point, it was 100%,
0:16:09 > 0:16:12I knew, it wasn't as it had been sold.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Worried about what was she reading and what it meant for her investment,
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Sherry called the Spice Factory straightaway.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22They assured me that it was total rubbish.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26They was 100% sure this film was going to go to production,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29reassuring me that they'd seen this article
0:16:29 > 0:16:32and at present they was trying to take the Mirror to court
0:16:32 > 0:16:34to try and have this article removed.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37And it was at that point I knew,
0:16:37 > 0:16:42you know, I knew that it was a bad move investing in this film.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Sherry asked the Spice Factory to provide details
0:16:45 > 0:16:47of when filming was due to start,
0:16:47 > 0:16:49and how much funding they'd secured so far,
0:16:49 > 0:16:51but no such information was sent.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53That's when Sherry came to us.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57But it's not been easy to pin down how much about Henry Five is fact
0:16:57 > 0:16:59and how much is complete fiction.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02But one thing we have established for sure is that
0:17:02 > 0:17:06just like Ray Winstone, Vinnie Jones and all those other big names,
0:17:06 > 0:17:10the actor Robert Pattinson was never confirmed to star in the movie.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Now, Sherry is no stranger to investment -
0:17:12 > 0:17:15she's been taking calculated gambles on property for years -
0:17:15 > 0:17:19but putting money into movies can often be extremely risky.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Even Hollywood companies make big losses.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25So how sensible is it for someone outside the industry
0:17:25 > 0:17:28to try and get a piece of the feature film action?
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Overall, the film industry is really not for beginners.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35It's not for outsiders. It's a difficult industry to understand
0:17:35 > 0:17:39and I think investors would be really wise to stay away.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42It does look attractive, it seems as if it's very glitzy,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46but the amount of things that can go wrong on film productions,
0:17:46 > 0:17:48on film projects, and the amount of things that can go wrong
0:17:48 > 0:17:51when a film is released to the public are so numerous
0:17:51 > 0:17:54that for any individual, you're at high, high risk.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58It's quite possible for a producer to have a wish list of stars,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01you know, big names that might seem attractive, when in fact
0:18:01 > 0:18:04they may have just had a casual conversation with someone's agent.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07They're not really geared into the industry and how it works.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11We contacted the various companies involved in Henry Five.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Alternative Solutions, who sold Sherry the initial investment,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19told us that after that, it had no further involvement in the film.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22We also approached Warlord Productions and Spice Factory,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24who in a joint response confirmed their
0:18:24 > 0:18:28"complete intention to produce the film",
0:18:28 > 0:18:31even giving a date when filming would apparently begin,
0:18:31 > 0:18:33although this has now passed.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38They said that Robert Pattinson was approached to star in the movie,
0:18:38 > 0:18:40"but he passed".
0:18:40 > 0:18:43And they also insisted that, despite reports to the contrary,
0:18:43 > 0:18:46actors including Michael Caine, Ray Winstone and Vinnie Jones
0:18:46 > 0:18:49were all linked to the film, although they didn't make it clear
0:18:49 > 0:18:53whether they had actually been formally approached.
0:18:53 > 0:18:54They went on to say there are
0:18:54 > 0:18:57"a number of individuals who invest in films"
0:18:57 > 0:19:00and "many people have made substantial returns."
0:19:00 > 0:19:04And while they said they have no record of Sherry contacting them
0:19:04 > 0:19:07for updates on the film's progress, they apologise
0:19:07 > 0:19:11if that was the case, but maintain that she has no reason to complain
0:19:11 > 0:19:15about anything "other than a failure to deal with an enquiry".
0:19:15 > 0:19:19But even so, they did offer to refund Sherry her investment,
0:19:19 > 0:19:20an offer she has now taken up.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26The man whose original play supposedly inspired Henry Five
0:19:26 > 0:19:28once wrote, "All the world's a stage,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31"and all the men and women merely players."
0:19:31 > 0:19:35But Sherry doesn't plan to play any more part in the movie business
0:19:35 > 0:19:36and she certainly won't be going
0:19:36 > 0:19:39"once more unto the breach, dear friends"
0:19:39 > 0:19:41with this kind of investment.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45No way. Just be wary of any nice sales people that call you up
0:19:45 > 0:19:47with a great pitch telling you you can make
0:19:47 > 0:19:50extraordinary amounts of money, I mean, just be very wary.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57Still to come on Rip Off Britain...
0:19:57 > 0:20:01why asking the right questions before you sign up to invest in property
0:20:01 > 0:20:04could save you a whole lot of hassle later on.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09It was just appalling. My eyes could not believe what I saw.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13I couldn't believe that I was sold this thing
0:20:13 > 0:20:16and I actually own this place.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26- For one weekend only...- It's a one-stop shop full of advice.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28It's Rip Off Britain's pop-up shop.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35This year, we brought our top team of experts to the West Midlands,
0:20:35 > 0:20:39ready to tackle as many of your problems as they could.
0:20:40 > 0:20:46- Hi, James.- Hiya.- I'm Julia, nice to meet you.- I'm Janet, James's mum.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50'James Nicholls called in to see us after investing a huge sum of money
0:20:50 > 0:20:53'into a Brazilian property deal that now looks like it was a scam.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56'Financial ombudsman Caroline Lusted Wells
0:20:56 > 0:21:00'and legal expert Gary Rycroft were keen to find out more.'
0:21:00 > 0:21:05When I bought the actual land, the guy, on numerous occasions,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08never answered the phone, etc, never got back to me
0:21:08 > 0:21:10and basically I've never heard nothing of him
0:21:10 > 0:21:14since the actual date of signing over the documentation.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18Tell us the sorry tale in terms of how much you paid over.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22Basically, we was told an initial £500 deposit was required.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27I followed that by £9,500, so £10,000 in total.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30What did you think you were getting for the £10,000?
0:21:30 > 0:21:35We were told we were going to get 400 square metres of land in Brazil,
0:21:35 > 0:21:37which was going to be able to be built on.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40James, can I ask you a question? How did you pay for the deposit
0:21:40 > 0:21:43- and the £9,500? - I actually paid in cash.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47- Cash?- Yeah. Which is a sort of silly thing to do,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49really, looking back on it now.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53'Unfortunately for James, having paid the full £10,000 in cash,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56'there was no way to trace or recover
0:21:56 > 0:21:58'any of his hard-earned savings.'
0:21:58 > 0:22:01It doesn't look good. If you buy land in this country,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04it gets registered at the Land Registry
0:22:04 > 0:22:07and you can establish ownership of land that way.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08Have you ever had any evidence
0:22:08 > 0:22:11that you've actually ever bought any land in Brazil?
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Only with the documents that I have with me today.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18It may be worth checking with the Brazilian Land Registry
0:22:18 > 0:22:21whether you actually do own any land...
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- Yeah.- ..where you've been told you own it. I suspect you don't,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28but it's worth just closing off that avenue of enquiry.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33- Yeah.- But I think this is probably a kind of chalk it up to experience,
0:22:33 > 0:22:37lesson learnt. Hopefully, people watching will learn from this
0:22:37 > 0:22:40and take some pointers away with them.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43- Think about going onto social networks...- Yes.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47- ..and put it out there.- Yeah.- I bet you'll find you're not the only one
0:22:47 > 0:22:49- connected to this person. - No, definitely.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- Thanks for coming. - No problem, thank you.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58Outside, we ran workshops packed with tips and advice,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01including this one, where financial expert James Daley was keen
0:23:01 > 0:23:04to tell the people of Dudley how to avoid being stuck with
0:23:04 > 0:23:08what's intriguingly called a "zombie bank account".
0:23:08 > 0:23:11You know what Zombie's are...
0:23:11 > 0:23:12walking dead.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15A lot of you might have your money in what Julia was talking about,
0:23:15 > 0:23:17these accounts are called zombie accounts.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20These are the majority of savings accounts out there
0:23:20 > 0:23:22that are earning next to nothing,
0:23:22 > 0:23:27almost zero, £1 of interest every year for £1,000.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31- Shocking.- Millions of people have money trapped in these accounts.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33The banks make their money
0:23:33 > 0:23:35from people not being savvy and moving it.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41'If you do manage to switch to a bank account that for a fixed period
0:23:41 > 0:23:44'does have a good interest rate, make a note in your diary
0:23:44 > 0:23:46'for when that rate expires.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48'That way you can switch again
0:23:48 > 0:23:52'and avoid being stuck with one of those dreaded zombie accounts.'
0:23:55 > 0:23:59You know, it's not so long ago that buy-to-let was big business.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01Property investment clubs were prolific,
0:24:01 > 0:24:04and many people were buying up homes not to live in
0:24:04 > 0:24:07but to rent out in order to make money.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10The financial crash put paid to those boom days
0:24:10 > 0:24:13and in many areas the market was all but wiped out.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17But now, buy-to-let is back, and in a big way.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21The booming housing market has made this kind of investment attractive,
0:24:21 > 0:24:24but do make sure that you've asked all the right questions
0:24:24 > 0:24:26before being tempted to sign up.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30Because here's a cautionary tale that proves how crucial it is
0:24:30 > 0:24:33to know exactly what you're getting yourself into.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Back in 2012, Jason Bernard was looking for a house to buy in London.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43But his plans changed when, with his wife Michelle, he was invited
0:24:43 > 0:24:47to a seminar to hear about a new property investment opportunity.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52The sales pitch was very convincing and...
0:24:52 > 0:24:57part of that was representation on the side of the estate agent.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01She told me that she had bought a property herself
0:25:01 > 0:25:03and it was working out really well for her.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06The presentation had been organised
0:25:06 > 0:25:08by a long-standing estate agency business
0:25:08 > 0:25:11called Choices Property Investments.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13They said the buy-to-let market was booming
0:25:13 > 0:25:16and now was the time to invest in a flat that, once it was rented,
0:25:16 > 0:25:18would produce a healthy return.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21This video from the company's website gives a flavour
0:25:21 > 0:25:24of what so enthused Jason on the day.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27We don't work for the sellers, the vendors,
0:25:27 > 0:25:28we work for you, the buyers...
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Jason was impressed by what he heard.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34And over the next few days he says he received follow-up calls
0:25:34 > 0:25:37from the sales team encouraging him to sign up,
0:25:37 > 0:25:41giving him the impression he'd need to act fast or miss out.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43It won't be here for ever.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Before anyone can buy a property through Choices,
0:25:47 > 0:25:51they have to pay to become what the company calls a "retained client".
0:25:51 > 0:25:55As Jason understood it, £1,800 up front, plus a monthly fee,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58would mean he was signing up to an arrangement
0:25:58 > 0:26:01where the company would take care of everything on his behalf.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04The company says, in fact, that wasn't the case.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08But either way, whatever he thought he was getting, Jason was convinced
0:26:08 > 0:26:12this was the start of being able to make a healthy profit.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17The cost of joining it was about £1,500 plus VAT,
0:26:17 > 0:26:21and it seemed really good cos it suggested or it stated
0:26:21 > 0:26:26that we would be getting a yield of about 12-15%.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Choices told Jason about exciting opportunities
0:26:29 > 0:26:32with properties in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35300 miles away from his home in London.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37The company said it was a "regeneration area
0:26:37 > 0:26:40"benefitting from huge ongoing investment"
0:26:40 > 0:26:42with "high demand for rental properties".
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Jason was hooked, even though he didn't actually know much
0:26:45 > 0:26:48about the property or where it was.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51It was the first time I heard of Barrow.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54The location of the property was not really an issue.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56It was just... I was more interested
0:26:56 > 0:26:58in what I could have gotten out of it.
0:26:58 > 0:27:04The couple agreed to buy a flat in a prime spot for £51,100.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07And as they'd chosen one with a tenant already living there,
0:27:07 > 0:27:11it came at £2,000 less than some of the other flats
0:27:11 > 0:27:14because it wouldn't be refurbished by the developer.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16I specifically requested for photos
0:27:16 > 0:27:18of the property that we were going to buy.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21But there were only two pictures and I asked for more,
0:27:21 > 0:27:23but we didn't get any,
0:27:23 > 0:27:28so it was not very clear as to what it is we were buying.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Choices didn't have any further pictures of the flat
0:27:31 > 0:27:32they could send on,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35but they told Jason that he and Michelle were eligible for
0:27:35 > 0:27:39a 90% mortgage, meaning all they'd need to pay up front
0:27:39 > 0:27:42was a 10% deposit of just over £5,000.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46In turn, they stood to make a 23% return on the investment
0:27:46 > 0:27:50and in the unlikely event that the flat wasn't tenanted,
0:27:50 > 0:27:52the management company who looked after the building
0:27:52 > 0:27:54would guarantee up to six months' rent.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57All in all, it seemed too good to miss.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Everything would be taken care of and we wouldn't have to
0:28:01 > 0:28:04set foot in the place or even go near it
0:28:04 > 0:28:07to manage it or do anything to do with it.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09We just had to pick up the money
0:28:09 > 0:28:12at the end of the month from the rent.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15So, worried that they might miss out, Jason and his wife
0:28:15 > 0:28:19signed on the dotted line, four days after they'd been to the seminar.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22The mortgage deal came with a solicitor already attached,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24one Jason couldn't change.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27But over the next few months, as the sale went through,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Jason felt unhappy with various aspects of the purchase
0:28:30 > 0:28:34and details and fees he says he hadn't understood or expected.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38We called up the estate agent and said, "Look, what is this?"
0:28:38 > 0:28:41And everything just seemed really confusing
0:28:41 > 0:28:44and just really frustrating.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49But in July 2012, six months after the seminar,
0:28:49 > 0:28:50the purchase went through.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54Finally, we own this property,
0:28:54 > 0:28:59and it was a good feeling that we are finally over the hurdle
0:28:59 > 0:29:02and we can actually start making money out of this property.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06Meanwhile, his solicitor said he'd report the sale to the Land Registry
0:29:06 > 0:29:09so that Jason and his wife would be named on the deeds
0:29:09 > 0:29:11as the owners of the flat.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13All seemed to be going to plan.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17By now, the tenant who'd been living in the flat had moved out.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19But when Jason told the management company
0:29:19 > 0:29:20he wanted to go and visit the property,
0:29:20 > 0:29:24he was given some news that, well, made his skin crawl!
0:29:25 > 0:29:30She said to me, "Mr Bernard, the place is infested with fleas."
0:29:31 > 0:29:34So it was with some sense of trepidation
0:29:34 > 0:29:36that Jason finally made the journey
0:29:36 > 0:29:38to Barrow-in-Furness to visit his flat.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40Having seen no pictures of the inside,
0:29:40 > 0:29:42he wasn't sure what to expect,
0:29:42 > 0:29:45but he certainly wasn't ready for what he found when he got there.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50It was just appalling. My eyes could not believe what I saw.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55The sink was broken, the bathroom was in a state,
0:29:55 > 0:29:59the water was all over the place, the carpet was ruined.
0:29:59 > 0:30:04The stove, sink, everything was broken, it was just in a mess.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07I couldn't believe that I was sold this thing
0:30:07 > 0:30:10and I actually own this place.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15Jason shopped around for a quote on making the flat habitable
0:30:15 > 0:30:18and was told it would cost almost £9,000.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22He complained to Choices, demanding that THEY should repair the property,
0:30:22 > 0:30:25but they said, unfortunately, it wasn't their responsibility.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29They reminded him he had paid £2,000 less for the flat because it was
0:30:29 > 0:30:32tenanted, and the original agreement had made clear that HE would be
0:30:32 > 0:30:36responsible for refurbishing it after the tenant moved out.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39They told Jason they would try to help, although at this stage,
0:30:39 > 0:30:41they weren't sure what they could do.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45And having seen the state the flat was in now,
0:30:45 > 0:30:48Jason's dreams of a healthy rental income suddenly seemed a lot
0:30:48 > 0:30:51further away than he'd hoped.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56We cannot rent it since, because it's just...it's uninhabitable.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00Thankfully, the flat had come with a six-month rental guarantee,
0:31:00 > 0:31:03so Jason was paid rent by the management agency while
0:31:03 > 0:31:05he tried to sort things out.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09The fleas alone cost him almost £200 to get rid of
0:31:09 > 0:31:12and the cost of all the repairs was entirely down to him.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15Of course, if Jason had actually seen the property before
0:31:15 > 0:31:18he bought it, he'd have known what state it was in,
0:31:18 > 0:31:20but he believed he was getting a much greater service than
0:31:20 > 0:31:23the estate agents say he had signed up to.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25There was not really anything for me
0:31:25 > 0:31:27to believe that it was in a bad condition.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31We were never told that the place was in a bad condition.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35We were thinking that it would be a place where we could buy.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37And since then, there's been a further blow.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41The solicitor who'd handled the sale went out of business before
0:31:41 > 0:31:43registering the property in Jason's name.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46So not only is Jason paying the mortgage on a flat that isn't
0:31:46 > 0:31:50what he thought it would be, he can't even prove he owns it.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53And while he'd like to blame the estate agent who first told him
0:31:53 > 0:31:56about the flat, he accepts that, in all the excitement, there were things
0:31:56 > 0:32:00he should have done differently and considered more carefully.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04We didn't really take the time to dig into the terms
0:32:04 > 0:32:07and conditions and see what clauses were there,
0:32:07 > 0:32:10and what it really was that we were getting into.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15When we spoke to Choices Acquisitions about Jason's case,
0:32:15 > 0:32:17they thanked us for bringing it to their attention
0:32:17 > 0:32:20and apologised unreservedly to Jason.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22They say that they "take great pride" in their
0:32:22 > 0:32:27"high standards of customer service", having won industry awards for it.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30But they admit that "no matter how good the service,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33"or the market, things can and do go wrong."
0:32:33 > 0:32:36They said they don't believe they're responsible for what happened
0:32:36 > 0:32:39to Jason and couldn't have prevented it, but if he had followed
0:32:39 > 0:32:44their complaints procedure they "would have offered assistance".
0:32:44 > 0:32:46Since hearing from us about the extent of what went wrong,
0:32:46 > 0:32:50the company says it's improved a number of processes...
0:32:56 > 0:32:59And they've told us they've "approached Jason with
0:32:59 > 0:33:02"an offer of help" to help him make the flat "a successful buy-to-let".
0:33:05 > 0:33:08We also contacted the solicitor who handled the sale.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11The firm he worked for is no longer operating, and he wouldn't comment
0:33:11 > 0:33:16on the specifics of the sale, but he did assure us that if it is the case
0:33:16 > 0:33:19that the flat wasn't registered in Jason's name, he would resolve it.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Roger Southam is an expert on buy-to-let.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29He says, before being seduced into buying ANY property like this,
0:33:29 > 0:33:32it's crucial you understand exactly what you're getting into
0:33:32 > 0:33:35and take time to get the right advice rather than base
0:33:35 > 0:33:37the decision on what you're being promised.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40You have to make sure that you do all the checks and all
0:33:40 > 0:33:43the investigations that make you comfortable with what you're buying.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46It is no good relying on someone
0:33:46 > 0:33:49who happens to ask you to go into a seminar.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52Meanwhile, Jason is paying for repairs to his flat
0:33:52 > 0:33:55as and when he can afford them.
0:33:55 > 0:34:00It was definitely naivety that caused us to jump into it and just
0:34:00 > 0:34:04the excitement of having something that we can call our own home.
0:34:09 > 0:34:13Earlier in the programme, we met Les and his family,
0:34:13 > 0:34:16who are starting to wonder about an investment opportunity.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20Diamonds are the commodity that he's supposedly making his money on,
0:34:20 > 0:34:25and yet 95-year-old Les has never actually seen the stones that
0:34:25 > 0:34:28he's been persuaded to buy, and, frankly, no-one else can
0:34:28 > 0:34:32say for sure that that is what his money has actually bought him.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35Well, I wanted to see what an expert would make of this
0:34:35 > 0:34:38kind of investment and, importantly,
0:34:38 > 0:34:42hear what the company behind this diamond buying opportunity
0:34:42 > 0:34:46could say to convince me that it is all above board.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50Diamonds - for many of us,
0:34:50 > 0:34:53they remain the most desirable stone you can own.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57And with sales of diamond jewellery generating over £40 billion a year,
0:34:57 > 0:35:01these rocks attract the attention of any would-be investors.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04So when 95-year-old Les decided to buy some
0:35:04 > 0:35:07diamonds from a friendly telephone salesman who called him out of
0:35:07 > 0:35:12the blue, he believed he had a great opportunity to make some money.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16But, 12 months on, he's come to suspect something is not right,
0:35:16 > 0:35:19a view shared by his daughter Christine.
0:35:19 > 0:35:20Unlike most other investments,
0:35:20 > 0:35:23the diamond market in the UK is not regulated,
0:35:23 > 0:35:26so investors are not protected if something goes wrong,
0:35:26 > 0:35:28and traders aren't held to account
0:35:28 > 0:35:30if they fail to meet the right standards.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Some diamond investments can make money,
0:35:33 > 0:35:35but it's only recommended for experienced,
0:35:35 > 0:35:37informed diamond collectors.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41If I could get my capital back, and a profit, I'd be happy.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46But it's becoming increasingly common for people like Les to
0:35:46 > 0:35:50be targeted by companies offering this kind of so-called opportunity.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54Fellows Auctioneers in Birmingham's jewellery quarter deals with
0:35:54 > 0:35:57legitimate diamond trades every day,
0:35:57 > 0:36:00but recently the firm's specialist gemologists were asked to
0:36:00 > 0:36:03give a second opinion on some diamonds that didn't seem to
0:36:03 > 0:36:05have been traded so legitimately.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08Like Les's stones, these had also been bought
0:36:08 > 0:36:11from a company that cold call potential customers.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15So what sort of quality does this kind of investment typically buy?
0:36:15 > 0:36:19This was a stone which is accompanied by a genuine
0:36:19 > 0:36:23Gemological Institute of America report.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27It's exactly what it says on the tin.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31However, they have paid £12,000 for this stone.
0:36:31 > 0:36:36But is the buyer's stone actually worth the £12,000 they paid for it?
0:36:36 > 0:36:39Geoff has a very similar diamond as a comparison
0:36:39 > 0:36:43and the real value of something like this appears to be a lot less.
0:36:44 > 0:36:49This stone reads a virtually identical colour grade, very similar
0:36:49 > 0:36:55carat weight, same clarity grade, could be purchased for £2,900.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59So, the stone bought over the phone by the client appears to be
0:36:59 > 0:37:02worth a fraction of the £12,000 handed over.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04In fact, for that sort of investment,
0:37:04 > 0:37:07this expert would expect someone to become the owner of a diamond
0:37:07 > 0:37:10which is much more impressive.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13With that £12,000 spending power, what they could have actually bought
0:37:13 > 0:37:17from a reputable source is this stone here,
0:37:17 > 0:37:21which is immediately significantly bigger.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25The bad news for this investor is that Geoff believes they've paid
0:37:25 > 0:37:28well over the odds for what they've ended up with.
0:37:28 > 0:37:32This stone which they own is not terribly well cut.
0:37:32 > 0:37:37It's not cut symmetrically - one of the corners is a bit wonky -
0:37:37 > 0:37:40that has a direct knock-on effect with what it is worth.
0:37:40 > 0:37:45And this is just one of ten stones bought by this investor.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49All told, they spent £130,000 on diamonds,
0:37:49 > 0:37:54which experts estimate are actually worth just £6,000.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57Like Les, this investor had also been convinced to trade up
0:37:57 > 0:38:00from their first or second diamonds to buy bigger,
0:38:00 > 0:38:03better and higher value ones.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05It's a familiar tale to Geoff.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08They are led to believe they've already made money on their
0:38:08 > 0:38:12original purchase, but rather than have that money returned to them,
0:38:12 > 0:38:16they're given the opportunity to roll that up to another stone,
0:38:16 > 0:38:21pay a balance and own an even more valuable stone, as they see it.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24But in cases like this, the stones are rarely if ever
0:38:24 > 0:38:28worth what the buyer has paid, or what the extremely convincing
0:38:28 > 0:38:31sales staff say they might be worth in the future.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34The people who are actually selling the stones to the clients who buy
0:38:34 > 0:38:37them probably aren't gemologists, they're simply salesmen,
0:38:37 > 0:38:39and they could be selling snake oil
0:38:39 > 0:38:41for all the difference it makes to them.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44They are selling a product at a margin and they don't really care.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48They are preying on people's insecurities to make the sale.
0:38:48 > 0:38:53The danger signs in buying any investment jewel or gemstone
0:38:53 > 0:38:56is that you should buy from somebody who's got a reputation
0:38:56 > 0:39:00for dealing with these things, has got a visible high street presence
0:39:00 > 0:39:03or a company address that you can check and be certain of,
0:39:03 > 0:39:07and if the deal is too good to be true, it is too good to be true.
0:39:07 > 0:39:08Don't touch it.
0:39:09 > 0:39:14Of course, Les has never seen his diamonds or had the chance
0:39:14 > 0:39:16to take them to a jeweller for a valuation.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20So he has no proof his diamonds even exist,
0:39:20 > 0:39:22let alone how much they're worth.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25I think it's time we tried asking Solitaire Alternatives what's
0:39:25 > 0:39:29happened to Les's diamonds and, more importantly, to his money.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31PHONE DIALS
0:39:31 > 0:39:34RECORDED MESSAGE: 'Hello, you're through to Solitaire Alternatives.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37'There's nobody available to take your call at the moment.'
0:39:37 > 0:39:38PHONE DIALS
0:39:38 > 0:39:41Maybe they're taking a long lunch.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46I repeatedly called the numbers we have for them,
0:39:46 > 0:39:49but no-one at Solitaire Alternatives ever answered.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53No point hanging on for another recorded message.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56They're obviously not that keen for my business
0:39:56 > 0:39:59or for the business of anyone else who is calling them today.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02I think it leaves a very big question mark over
0:40:02 > 0:40:05a company which is supposedly in the business of selling high-end
0:40:05 > 0:40:09diamonds as an investment opportunity to people,
0:40:09 > 0:40:11a very big question mark indeed.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16For a company that was particularly keen to stay in touch with Les
0:40:16 > 0:40:18when he had money to invest,
0:40:18 > 0:40:23Solitaire Alternatives now seem surprisingly hard to get hold of.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27We've also left voicemails, e-mailed and written to them,
0:40:27 > 0:40:31but they've simply not replied to any of our attempts to talk to them.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34And since we last tried to contact them,
0:40:34 > 0:40:37it also seems their website is no longer accessible.
0:40:37 > 0:40:42Unfortunately for Les, that means we've not been able to find out
0:40:42 > 0:40:46whether he will ever see his money again, which would seem to confirm
0:40:46 > 0:40:50the suspicions of his daughter Christine and son-in-law Douglas.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54It's sad...because it would be nice for Les to find out
0:40:54 > 0:40:56that what he had invested in was worthwhile.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58And, really, he's not doing it for himself.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01He's thinking that for his family, at some point, they will get
0:41:01 > 0:41:04the value of these things, and we don't think we will.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07We don't think there's any way that's going to happen.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18Here at Rip-Off Britain, we're always ready to investigate
0:41:18 > 0:41:19more of your stories.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21You can write to us at...
0:41:29 > 0:41:31Or send us an e-mail to...
0:41:34 > 0:41:38The Rip-Off team is ready and waiting to investigate your stories.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44It's almost certain that any investment promising high returns
0:41:44 > 0:41:47is going to be a risky one and, in some cases, as we've heard,
0:41:47 > 0:41:48there could even be a question mark
0:41:48 > 0:41:52over whether your money has been invested in anything at all.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55So, whether you have a few hundred or even a few thousand pounds
0:41:55 > 0:41:59at your disposal, it pays to do your research before you invest
0:41:59 > 0:42:00in anything at all.
0:42:00 > 0:42:04And our website - bbc.co.uk/ripoffbritain -
0:42:04 > 0:42:07is a great place to start
0:42:07 > 0:42:10because that's where you'll find details of where to look for help
0:42:10 > 0:42:12with your money and, most importantly,
0:42:12 > 0:42:17advice on how to say no to those hard sales tactics.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21Absolutely, because time spent going through all of that really is
0:42:21 > 0:42:23an investment that we can recommend.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26But I'm afraid that's where we've got to leave it for today,
0:42:26 > 0:42:29so we'll be back very, very soon to investigate more of your stories.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33- Until then, thanks for watching and from all of us, bye-bye.- Bye.