0:00:02 > 0:00:05Most of us live with debt. It's part of everyday life.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08But more and more people are being pushed over the edge.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11The thing I'm going without at the moment is food.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15It is hand to mouth and most days, nothing is getting to my mouth.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20The Citizens Advice Bureau in a south-east Wales debt black spot
0:00:20 > 0:00:22can see up to 20 clients a day,
0:00:22 > 0:00:26with 20 different reasons for being in the red.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29- It could be losing a job because of sickness...- I was a social worker.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32My job ended due to long-term ill health.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37Certain things slowly went and you live day by day.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39..a sudden death in the family...
0:00:39 > 0:00:43My mother's funeral, I basically had to scrimp and save and borrow.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45I still owe about £600.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49..a hero back from war struggling to adjust.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52He did try to work, but he found it very difficult coming out into civvy street.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56He's got the debtors phoning in. Then you've got your home bills.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59You can't get rid of them. Then he tried to take an overdose.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03During the winter of 2014, we followed three people
0:01:03 > 0:01:07trapped in debt through circumstances beyond their control.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11As you see, if you look in the fridge, my fridge is pretty bare at the moment.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14This fall from grace could happen to anyone.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18In the past decade alone, household debt has almost doubled
0:01:18 > 0:01:21and the Citizens Advice Bureau often has to pick up the pieces
0:01:21 > 0:01:23when things go wrong.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27People have used the term "the perfect storm"
0:01:27 > 0:01:30and I think they're probably right.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35- Shitting myself now.- You may even have to borrow money to go bankrupt.
0:01:35 > 0:01:41It is ironic that you have to find £525 in order to go bankrupt.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45So is there ever an escape from living on the never never?
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Mid-winter, Blaenau Gwent,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57and Catherine Black has a consultation with a debt adviser.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Until she lost a well-paid job as a social worker,
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Cath was used to helping others.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08Today, with over £150,000 of mortgage and home improvement loans
0:02:08 > 0:02:12weighing her down, she receives advice that would surprise many.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16She can escape her debts through bankruptcy, but it'll cost.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19- You could go bankrupt, yourself. - Haven't got the money.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21- You haven't got the 700?- No.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26Bankruptcy is £525 and then there's court fees of £175.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31But the 175, because you're on benefits, may be waived.
0:02:31 > 0:02:32OK.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36You could go for bankruptcy and that would deal with all of your debts
0:02:36 > 0:02:40and the property and everything all in one.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44Cath's tried every other option with her debts.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Now she has to find over £500 to go bankrupt.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50But life hasn't always been such a struggle.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53I was a social worker.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Problems with my job started over two-and-a-half years ago.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59I eventually became ill with stress.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04By September last year, my job had ended due to long-term ill health.
0:03:04 > 0:03:11So my income went from £32,000 a year to £940 a month.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16A drop in income of almost two-thirds has pushed Cath to
0:03:16 > 0:03:18her financial limits.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22I coped when I was a student. I hope I can cope now.
0:03:22 > 0:03:28But knowing until next Monday that I haven't got anything for gas,
0:03:28 > 0:03:35electric, food...is scary.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39- I got bread rolls.- That's all you ever say, Mam!- I've got bread rolls.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43- Is that literally all we have? - Scrambled egg and bread rolls.- Yeah.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45There's certain things slowly went.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Insurance for the boiler, personal insurance,
0:03:48 > 0:03:53the food became more processed, and you live day by day.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56As well as mortgage and loan debts,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Cath is also behind with her everyday bills
0:03:59 > 0:04:03and has been forced onto a pre-payment electricity meter.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07And each time she puts money in, costs are deducted for arrears
0:04:07 > 0:04:09and the cost for the meter itself.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14I've got to put £16 in and that will put me on zero.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18And then, whatever I put in after that will be my electricity.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22The Citizens Advice Bureau has contacted Cath's creditors to
0:04:22 > 0:04:25negotiate short-term lower payments,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29but that hasn't stopped the stressful phone calls.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33I'm responding to a letter from you guys to ring you
0:04:33 > 0:04:35because my account's in arrears.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37OK, thanks, Abbey.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Cheers, bye.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Shitting myself now.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Cath has also been encouraged to consider any other areas
0:04:50 > 0:04:52where spending could be cut back.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55This would include her son's weekly drama club,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57but it's a step too far for Cath.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00He's been with the Young Stars now for five years.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01He absolutely loves it.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04It's helped him maintain his confidence,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07it's helped develop his personality.
0:05:07 > 0:05:14It's £16 a month, but because I'm...minus over £100 per
0:05:14 > 0:05:20month just for the basic outgoings, it isn't available, really.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24But we cut down on the food and the gas and the electric,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26the stuff we can do.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Even tonight, Cath has had to rush out for some cash to pay
0:05:30 > 0:05:32the drama club arrears.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35After I dropped Ben off, I popped out to a cashpoint,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37so I could get the money for him to stay tonight.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41They told me how much I owed, so I whipped it out.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44I wouldn't let this activity go for Ben.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47My circumstances are not his problem.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49And he needs this support that's here,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52and the friendships and the activities.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03With little room for cutting back and creditors still calling,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06the next few weeks will be crucial for Cath,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09as she tries to find the money to go bankrupt.
0:06:16 > 0:06:2012 miles south, on the outskirts of Blackwood,
0:06:20 > 0:06:24another client of the CAB is trying to hold things together.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28A few years ago, Helen Cotterill was a happily married army wife,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31but today, she's home alone with daughter Arianwen
0:06:31 > 0:06:34and ignoring calls from creditors.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37He's come to see why you're crying. Hm?
0:06:37 > 0:06:42Following several tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, her husband Richard
0:06:42 > 0:06:46left the army and has struggled to adapt to life back on civvy street.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48He did try to work,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51but he found it very difficult coming out into civvy street, couldn't
0:06:51 > 0:06:54get a job, he started having these episodes where his rages
0:06:54 > 0:06:57and his mood changes and everything like that,
0:06:57 > 0:07:01and then what happened was he tried to take an overdose.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03He ended up in hospital.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07That's when he then got put into... with the Vets Association.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10They then diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13They take it back to 2007, when he did Iraq tour.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16That was a bad tour. He lost quite a few friends
0:07:16 > 0:07:19and he nearly lost his own life on a couple of occasions.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21After several tours of duty,
0:07:21 > 0:07:25husband Richard found some work in the security industry,
0:07:25 > 0:07:27but struggling with the emotional traumas of war,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30managing his finances became a problem.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34The family's debts have grown to around £17,000.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Over the years, my husband has, where he's been ill
0:07:37 > 0:07:40and he hasn't really addressed his illness,
0:07:40 > 0:07:45he's basically accumulated debt where he's buried his head in the sand
0:07:45 > 0:07:50- and he's not been able to deal with it.- Daddy.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53How's it going up there today?
0:07:53 > 0:07:55- 'Not very good.'- Not very good?
0:07:55 > 0:07:57- 'I've had enough.' - You've had enough?
0:07:57 > 0:08:01Richard is now away on a six-week therapy course to
0:08:01 > 0:08:06treat his post-traumatic stress disorder, and he's finding it hard.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08It's not going to be easy, love.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11It will be difficult, at times.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14You will get bad days, as well as good days, OK?
0:08:14 > 0:08:19Part of the PTSD is they feel guilty that they shouldn't be here,
0:08:19 > 0:08:21that their colleagues have died,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23and sometimes when they're in debt or when they've got
0:08:23 > 0:08:26themselves into a pickle, they feel they've let their family down.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29And it just made him worse, made his illness worse.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Then it put the pressure on me and my daughter.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- Ooh!- Daddy's made a cake.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39- Yeah!- He made cakes when he was up there, where Daddy is.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Helen has had to reduce her part-time hours in her job to
0:08:42 > 0:08:46care for her husband, and a delay in his sickness benefits claim
0:08:46 > 0:08:48left them with little money for essentials.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51The only solution seemed to be small
0:08:51 > 0:08:53short-term, high-interest payday loans.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57I needed to do those, in order to keep us afloat,
0:08:57 > 0:09:01but what was happening was the one month I did it, I took the
0:09:01 > 0:09:05payday loans out, every month then, you're paying the payday loans back.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Then you're struggling to live again,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11so you're having to take the payday loans out again.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14You can't get rid of them.
0:09:14 > 0:09:19Helen has come to meet debt adviser Nicola at the CAB in Bargoed.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Once Helen's essential costs are paid,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25there's not enough money for her creditors.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Nicola plans to make token repayment offers of as little as a pound
0:09:29 > 0:09:34a month to the payday lenders and other non-priority creditors.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38I'll revise all this, now then. And...yeah.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41We can get a letter out to them.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45If these token offers are accepted, a big pressure on husband
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Richard will be lifted when he returns home in a few weeks' time.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51But it's a waiting game for Helen,
0:09:51 > 0:09:55as payday lenders are not always quick to respond.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02On the outskirts of Caerphilly, Ricky Ryan is another debt
0:10:02 > 0:10:05client, waiting for his appointment. Over a decade ago,
0:10:05 > 0:10:10he gave up his job as a plasterer to care for his mother full-time.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15Although emotionally demanding, he was still just financially secure.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Ten years ago, my mother lost the use of her legs,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20so she couldn't walk.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23And then, because of the lack of walking, her legs wasted away.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26And then she basically laid in a hospital bed here in the room,
0:10:26 > 0:10:31right here, and I had to basically do the washing, the cooking, the
0:10:31 > 0:10:34cleaning, and I would have breathed for her, if could,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37because she really did look after me really well.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40It come to an end because she had a heart attack and died.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44That was 18 months ago. My head went. I didn't...
0:10:44 > 0:10:48I was depressed and I couldn't see any way out of the situation
0:10:48 > 0:10:51I was in. My head was in the trenches, really.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53God, just make sure you look after her.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Ricky's troubles started when facing the costs of his mother's funeral
0:10:57 > 0:11:00and burial plot at the same time that he lost his carer's allowance.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03I had to pay for my mother to have a grave.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06I thought that was really important. I basically had to scrimp and save
0:11:06 > 0:11:10and borrow over the last year to pay some of that in.
0:11:10 > 0:11:15I still owe Caerphilly Funeral Services about £600.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19After his mother's death, Ricky lost his income as a carer
0:11:19 > 0:11:22and some of his costs also went up dramatically.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26A change in status from carer to unemployed caused his car
0:11:26 > 0:11:27insurance to more than double.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30I contacted the Automobile Association,
0:11:30 > 0:11:32which I was getting my car insurance from.
0:11:32 > 0:11:37They changed my policy then from being on £500 a year
0:11:37 > 0:11:41to £1,000 plus a year. I cancelled my policy with them.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Then they told me I have to pay £288 for the cancellation fee.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49And then, without asking, took it out of my bank account.
0:11:49 > 0:11:54A few hundred pounds pushed Ricky into a £50 overdraft he's
0:11:54 > 0:11:56since struggled to clear.
0:11:59 > 0:12:04The regular overdraft fees eat into his £72-a-week job-seekers'
0:12:04 > 0:12:07allowance. He can't afford to put his car on the road
0:12:07 > 0:12:10and he's also struggling to feed himself properly.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15I really have been running a very tight ship for the last eight
0:12:15 > 0:12:19months now, really, trying to get out of this overdraft situation.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22I buy bread, beans and potatoes, and that pretty much gets me through each
0:12:22 > 0:12:26day of the week, and there's a couple of days I don't really eat very well.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28- How are you, all right?- Yeah, good.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33I went down to look at my account this morning
0:12:33 > 0:12:38and I was heartbroken to see all that was left was £9.37,
0:12:38 > 0:12:42so I'm now going to be £11 overdrawn again.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45As you can see, if you look in the fridge,
0:12:45 > 0:12:47my fridge is pretty bare at the moment.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51At the moment, it is hand to mouth, and most days,
0:12:51 > 0:12:52nothing is getting to my mouth.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00Today, Ricky's come to meet Angela at the Bargoed Bureau Office
0:13:00 > 0:13:04to see if anything can be done about his debt of over £1,000.
0:13:04 > 0:13:11- So, you have a very large shortfall. - Yeah.- £258, you're short of.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Obviously, a month.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16The main solution would be to find some way of increasing
0:13:16 > 0:13:20his income, but Ricky's not ready for Angela's first suggestion.
0:13:20 > 0:13:21What about getting a lodger?
0:13:21 > 0:13:25I could think about that, yeah, but I don't really want a lodger, to tell you the truth.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29No, I know, but even if you did it short-term, it would give you money towards living costs.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32I don't want a stranger living in my house.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36Or a friend living in my house. I've had a lodger before and it's no fun. Have you ever had a lodger?
0:13:36 > 0:13:39- I've had four kids, but it's not the same, I know.- It's not the same, no.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43I've had a lodger and believe you me, they do take the piss, like.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46'If he can improve his income,
0:13:46 > 0:13:49'then he should be able to afford his commitments going forward.'
0:13:49 > 0:13:53He did ask me for some advice with regards to becoming a self-employed
0:13:53 > 0:13:58plasterer and I printed off some information for some ideas of places
0:13:58 > 0:14:02he could go for funding and advice to set himself up as self-employed.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08Ricky's decision is to return to his old trade as a plasterer.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12And he's planning on going self-employed. But this brings him
0:14:12 > 0:14:15back to his old problem of getting his car back on the road.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21Over 100,000 debt problems were dealt with
0:14:21 > 0:14:25by the Citizens Advice Bureau in Wales in the past year.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27But as household debts go up,
0:14:27 > 0:14:31the Bureau's funding is coming under increased pressure.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34There are Bureau that have lost significant
0:14:34 > 0:14:36levels of funding in Wales.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39There are Bureau that have been forced to close or very
0:14:39 > 0:14:40nearly close.
0:14:40 > 0:14:46At a time when the demand for advice is going through the roof.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51People have used the term "the perfect storm"
0:14:51 > 0:14:53and I think they're probably right.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57We're going to see a lot more coming in the next few years.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59It is very, very worrying.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02The problems that people are bringing to us
0:15:02 > 0:15:07are getting more complex. The solutions are not so easy to find.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09We don't have a magic bullet.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12We can't magically change their situation.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16What we try to do, what the purpose of it is, is to try
0:15:16 > 0:15:20and put them back in control of their lives.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Two weeks later and Cath Black is trying to regain
0:15:25 > 0:15:29control of her life by hitting the phone.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33Although it could mean eventually losing her home,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Cath wants to go bankrupt to clear over £150,000 worth of debt.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41I've been to the Citizens Advice Bureau
0:15:41 > 0:15:46and I've had a full financial statement done with them.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50And one of the decisions from that was to look at bankruptcy.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55Cath has to find more than £500 to pay for bankruptcy and she's phoning
0:15:55 > 0:15:59her old trade union and other charities to ask for the money.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03It is ironic that you have to find £525
0:16:03 > 0:16:07when you're over £152,000 in debt,
0:16:07 > 0:16:09in order to go bankrupt.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Yeah.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Despite the frustrations,
0:16:16 > 0:16:20Cath's been getting to grips with the cost of feeding the family.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25With fresh veg proving expensive, she's decided to grow her own.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28This is the allotments for the ward of Beaufort.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31I put my name down a year ago and had a phone call to say -
0:16:31 > 0:16:33did I still want one?
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I said, "Yes, please." Came out and had a look.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40Found the £5.25 for a whole 12 months. Yes!
0:16:40 > 0:16:44And came up here for the first time on Saturday
0:16:44 > 0:16:46and planted my early potatoes.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49Cos potatoes are so expensive now, I'm going
0:16:49 > 0:16:52to do a whole square of potatoes.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55When I was a teenager, fruit and veg was so cheap,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58my parents stopped gardening.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01But now, with prices as they are, I think it's quite essential
0:17:01 > 0:17:04and it's nice now to get back into it as well.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Since losing her job due to ill health,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Cath has been receiving sickness benefits.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13With the recent changes to the benefit system, she's had to
0:17:13 > 0:17:17face a health review, which has stated she's now fit to work.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22I was told on the phone yesterday I scored nil out of the 15
0:17:22 > 0:17:26points necessary in order to be eligible for sickness benefit.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29From their point of view, I'm available for work.
0:17:29 > 0:17:35And in terms of mental ill health and anxiety,
0:17:35 > 0:17:39the style of the questionnaire just surprised me.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42To receive job-seekers' allowance,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46Cath has to prove she's looking for work.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Today, she has her first appointment at the job centre,
0:17:49 > 0:17:54but she's not sure she's mentally prepared to return to the workplace.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56I think I cried all the way through.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58Quietly.
0:17:58 > 0:18:04The woman was brilliant. She was lovely. But I just hope I can do it.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06I really hope I can do it.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08I don't know.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10I don't know.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13I'm all over the place.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15For Cath, the future's uncertain
0:18:15 > 0:18:19and there's still the need to find funding to go bankrupt.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22The next few weeks could be crucial.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Back on the outskirts of Blackwood, Helen is still coping on her own.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33She's decided to take on the burden of the family's finances to
0:18:33 > 0:18:35ease the pressure on her husband,
0:18:35 > 0:18:39currently being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42He hasn't got the worry of the finances or anything like that
0:18:42 > 0:18:45because I deal with that. Things are getting sorted.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48I'm still a little bit concerned about the payday loans,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50but I don't tell him about them.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53I keep them away from him at the moment.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57The latest news from Richard is that he'll need further treatment
0:18:57 > 0:19:00and will remain away from the family home.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Where we thought the six weeks would do the trick, it's not.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07It's going to actually take a bit longer cos he's actually a bit worse than what they thought.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Going to have to go back for more treatment.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Helen's waiting to hear
0:19:12 > 0:19:16if the token £1 offers to the payday loan companies have been accepted.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20She's still receiving calls and letters asking for money.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23I've got to be honest, I haven't answered the calls
0:19:23 > 0:19:28because I'm too scared to. That's why...
0:19:30 > 0:19:34When you do answer the call, they don't listen to reason. They just...
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Their attitude is, they just won't.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41As often in these cases, some creditors are not quick to
0:19:41 > 0:19:44respond and Helen's waiting game continues.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52In Caerphilly, Ricky's under pressure to clear his water arrears.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56But with an empty bank account, repayments have to wait.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00No, sorry. I can't give you any payment today over the phone.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03It's going to be about four weeks' time, to be honest.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07The main solution to Ricky's debts is to try and get back to work.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11He's keeping his plastering skills well practised at home
0:20:11 > 0:20:15and he's ready to take the plunge by going into business.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18What I'm doing today is what I'm going to be doing in my future
0:20:18 > 0:20:23business, which is basically making good on jobs which aren't finished
0:20:23 > 0:20:28properly, or are just old and need to be maintained and brought up to spec.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Make it a nice finish, so that the people can then paint it
0:20:32 > 0:20:35and it can blend into their new decoration.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Going self-employed as a plasterer would mean putting his car
0:20:39 > 0:20:43back on the road - a move that could force Ricky further into debt.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47It's so scary, I can't put it into words.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50In fact, it's like a cloud hanging over my head, a dark cloud
0:20:50 > 0:20:54in an otherwise blue sky, because going into another situation where
0:20:54 > 0:20:57I might even incur more debt and then become bankrupt
0:20:57 > 0:20:59and then have to sell my house.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Hopefully it'll pan out.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Today, Ricky is pounding the streets near his home to post
0:21:06 > 0:21:08business cards through letter boxes.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12But he knows that he'll have to up his marketing
0:21:12 > 0:21:16and go further afield if he's to have any hope of success.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20The range of problems faced by Ricky, Helen
0:21:20 > 0:21:25and Catherine are seen all too often at the Citizens Advice Bureau.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Many, like Ricky,
0:21:27 > 0:21:31find it difficult to pay for small debts with their benefits.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32And the solutions are limited.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35There isn't enough money to go round.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38There isn't enough money to make all those essential payments.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41And if they're not entitled to any further benefits,
0:21:41 > 0:21:46for whatever reason, really there isn't a lot that we can do.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Like Helen, more and more are turning to payday loans to
0:21:50 > 0:21:53cover financial shortfalls.
0:21:53 > 0:21:54Two years ago,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57very few of our clients had even heard of a payday loan.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01Nowadays, we deal routinely with clients who have several
0:22:01 > 0:22:05payday loans and are juggling payments between them.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06And like Cath,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09an increasing number of professionals are asking for help.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Our client group is changing
0:22:12 > 0:22:15and we're seeing a lot more people who are now working.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18But again, simply can't afford to make ends meet.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Circumstances could change, their hours have been reduced.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24That can all have a knock-on effect.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Often, a change of circumstances turns lives upside down,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31bringing them to the doors of the CAB.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38It's spring 2014 and after a long winter for our three
0:22:38 > 0:22:42families in debt, does a new season bring new hope?
0:22:42 > 0:22:46On the outskirts of Blackwood, Helen Cotterill's reunited with husband Richard,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49who is back from his treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53Helen's finally got some good news regarding their creditors.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56We've agreed those minimal payments with the companies.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00They're quite happy that we're paying that because at least we're paying something.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05We're happy because that stress and strain is taken off our backs, off our shoulders now.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08And we're able to now pay our rent,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11we're not getting ourselves into hot water on that side of things.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15With many of their debts on hold for the time being, husband
0:23:15 > 0:23:20Richard can concentrate on getting better and rebuilding his life.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23It would help a lot for me to get the stress off my shoulders.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27I was thinking about it constantly, 24 hours, 7 days a week.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32Pushing myself deeper into the ground and ignoring the debts,
0:23:32 > 0:23:36which was causing more problems and more stress for me.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38And I couldn't cope with it.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43He has a lot to thank the Citizens Advice Bureau for.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46If it wasn't for that organisation, I'd probably be...
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Wouldn't be here now. I've come a long way and I can't thank them enough.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55On the outskirts of Caerphilly,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Ricky Ryan has taken a risky decision.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02I'd like to tax my car, please. For six months.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06'The money for the car tax I had to find by missing a few payments
0:24:06 > 0:24:08'on Welsh Water,
0:24:08 > 0:24:12'but I'm going to have to make that back up with them now.'
0:24:12 > 0:24:13£145.75.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15I'll pay cash then, please.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17- Yeah.- Lovely.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20'In the last four months, the car's been at the side of the house,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23'not being able to get to and from work or make any
0:24:23 > 0:24:26'kind of journeys back and fore with tools and materials.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30'Then the thoughts of starting the business, I couldn't do it.'
0:24:30 > 0:24:33So, that's your logbook back there.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36- Your receipt. And your disc.- Thank you.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39- I'm so busy with the change here. - That's lovely. Thank you very much.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43'Making the move from not doing anything to doing something is
0:24:43 > 0:24:47'always going to be tricky. I'm just relying on luck.'
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Ricky now has to find paid work as a self-employed
0:24:51 > 0:24:54plasterer as soon as possible
0:24:54 > 0:24:57or he'll be plunged deeper into debt.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02But having a taxed car means that Ricky can go further afield
0:25:02 > 0:25:07to market his business, posting pamphlets throughout the area.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11I've had at least three possible job leads since I've been out this
0:25:11 > 0:25:15morning, speaking to people, and it's great to be back in the game.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18A week later and Ricky's marketing push has turned into a request
0:25:18 > 0:25:22for a quote, but will he be able to price the job competitively?
0:25:22 > 0:25:27I think you probably will have to take a section of this out, but I think I probably could patch it.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29It won't be perfect because it's artex.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32But I could match it in as good as I can to the pattern.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37I could do this for you, with the labour and the materials
0:25:37 > 0:25:41and the VAT, for about £150.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43Does that sound OK? That's for the two, yeah.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45That sounds all right.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48If you give me a call and let me know and we'll take on from there.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51- Yeah.- All right then. Thanks, Mr Griffiths.- Cheers, thanks.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54'I'm still confident it's going to work out,
0:25:54 > 0:25:57'so now I'm going to spread word further afield.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00'Fingers crossed that everything will work out.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03'I'm going to put a lot of work and effort into marketing myself.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06'If you don't succeed at the first attempt, keep trying,
0:26:06 > 0:26:10'try again until you do succeed, and I'm going to use that approach.'
0:26:12 > 0:26:17Beaufort, April 1st, and Cath's had an unexpected phone call that
0:26:17 > 0:26:19lightens the mood immediately.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Hiya, Angie. All right?
0:26:21 > 0:26:25A charity has agreed to fund Cath's bankruptcy application
0:26:25 > 0:26:28and all she has to do after filling the forms is pick up
0:26:28 > 0:26:32a cheque from the adviser Angela at the Citizens Advice Bureau.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35Oh, fantastic!
0:26:36 > 0:26:38- We've had the cheque.- Yeah.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42OK, and they've made it payable to Her Majesty's Courts
0:26:42 > 0:26:46and Tribunal Service. That pays your bankruptcy fee. That's £525.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50There's a court fee then due of £175.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53- Because you're on benefits, you're exempt.- Right.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57- OK, so I've filled out the application form for you.- Thank you.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01So all you need to do when you take it to the court is sign it.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03'It's a real sense of satisfaction.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07'I'm very lucky with Catherine that because she's got the qualifications
0:27:07 > 0:27:11'that she's got, there are certain charities that will help with that.
0:27:11 > 0:27:16'There are many clients who we find it very difficult to get funding.'
0:27:16 > 0:27:21They're encouraged to ask family and friends to help.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24But finding the money is impossible.
0:27:24 > 0:27:25Great. Thank you very much.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29- Couldn't have done it without you. - You got there.- Yes.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33Two days later and Cath's in Blackwood for her court appointment.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37She has to submit her bankruptcy forms, hand over the cheque,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39and wait for confirmation that
0:27:39 > 0:27:43over £150,000 worth of debt has been taken care of.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47They didn't call it bankruptcy. They called it insolvency.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51And it was all over and done with within half hour.
0:27:51 > 0:27:57What I've got is one piece of paper to say I am now bankrupt.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01And it basically means that's it now. All my debts are written off.
0:28:01 > 0:28:02Um...
0:28:02 > 0:28:07And anything else that I've got now, like the property, the car,
0:28:07 > 0:28:08or sorting the bank account,
0:28:08 > 0:28:12will all be dealt with with the official receiver.
0:28:12 > 0:28:17And once my circumstances begin to change, following this,
0:28:17 > 0:28:21then I'll be able to fully appreciate that today is
0:28:21 > 0:28:24the first day of the rest of my life.
0:28:24 > 0:28:29With Cath's bankruptcy, Ricky's move into business,
0:28:29 > 0:28:31and Helen's new payment plan,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34three people are closer to lifting their burden of debt,
0:28:34 > 0:28:39but every day, another 20 turn up at the same advice bureau,
0:28:39 > 0:28:4020 different stories shared,
0:28:40 > 0:28:45and 20 new attempts to escape the burden of living on the never never.