Episode 3 Cash Britain

Unemployment is at a 17-year high.

Wages are frozen and businesses are suffering.

I found a sign stating that the liquidators were moving in, and that was it.

Everybody was unemployed then.

More and more people survive by selling their precious belongings.

I think in this climate you have to think on your feet.

Whatever you can do to raise your funds, you're going to have to do.

For six months, our cameras have followed the world of pawnbrokers, and the people who use them.

For some, pawnbrokers appear to be the only option.

I tried everything - the banks, the government. No help, no help.

That's you sorted, then.

But many then struggle to meet their high charges.

It's just all the hassle and everything you have to go through.

Welcome to Cash Britain.

After a lifetime of working for other people,

Paul has decided to go it alone

and follow his dream of opening his own barber shop.

It's something that I've been trying to do for a long time.

I've always loved barbering, and I just want to be my own boss.

But as Paul is launching in the toughest of times,

he's had to plough all his savings into the business.

Push the bulb up first...

This shop here, when it came available,

the deposit was, like, a lot of money.

Straight away, they wanted £2,000, to just get the key.

That's where, basically, all my money went.

The spending hasn't stopped there.

I must have spent in the region of about £4,000.

Just to get to where I am now.

Paul's planning to open in a week,

but the shop's half finished and he's run out of money.

-Hello, mate, you all right?

-Not too bad, not too bad.

What can you do for me today?

Yeah, no trouble. Let's have a look.

That's a nice piece, isn't it?

The bracelet cost Paul £3,000,

but a pawnbroker would never lend that much.

I'm trying to set up a business, but I've run into a bit of difficulty.

You are the last alternative.

I tried everything, man. I went to the banks, I went to the government. No help, no help.

Have you got a figure you're after?

I'm looking for about nine, to be honest.

I could probably get it up to about a grand, if you wanted it.

-Yeah, that would be...

-That would do it.

-That's his favourite piece, I know he's coming back for it.

-Yeah.

I can't explain how valuable this bracelet is to me.

It's not even the cost, it's the sentiment, you know what I'm saying?

I've been in the music business previously.

I was doing gigs with Shabba Ranks and Beanie Man. I've been in the game a long time.

Eventually, I went to America on a tour,

and I bought this in Brooklyn, New York.

It's fully, fully custom made.

I'm the only one who's got that bracelet.

I'm not intending to lose it, so whatever it takes to get it back, I'll get it back.

It'll be £1,511 over the full six months.

-85 quid a month it'll go up.

-OK.

-Well, I wish you the best of luck.

-I can't wait, man.

-See you when you're rich then.

-Thanks very much.

-Take care.

I probably could have done a little bit more if he needed it, but he only wanted £1,000.

You'd certainly know you'd got it on your wrist, wouldn't you?

Paul may have his grand, but with opening day fast approaching,

will it be enough to get the barber shop ready?

For more than 30 years, this family firm

have been helping Birmingham businesses who've drawn a blank at the bank.

What do you do on a Friday

when you need £1,000 to pay those people's wages?

You come in, you prove that it's yours,

you're out that door in ten minutes.

Gerry's sons run the pawnbroker's day-to-day.

It's a Stradivarius and if it's real, we've won the Lottery.

My name's Bond, James Bond.

But Gerry is definitely the boss.

-Dad, it's crap.

-No, they're not. All right?

Doesn't matter to you, does it? You didn't pay for them.

Pawnbrokers don't just help new businesses.

They're sometimes the last hope for those in trouble.

Five years ago, one hard-up businessman turned to the family for a six-grand loan.

This was a pawn my father did. It's the contents out of a gym.

Photographs - boxers - statues, that kind of stuff.

I think he actually knew the guy who actually wanted to raise the money on it.

Here you are, Muhammad Ali.

God bless him.

He spent a lot of money building it into a first-class gym.

And then I think he got some delayed payments.

And he needed a bit of lending short-term,

which eventually ended up being long-term.

And unfortunately for him, his business went into liquidation,

and his gymnasium was sold.

It's sad, really.

When the gym went under, the family became the unwelcome owners of the boxing memorabilia.

To lend money out, pawnbrokers need it coming in,

so now Karl and Gez hope to get their money back.

What's that?

That looks like Muhammad Ali's signature to me.

Dad knew what an avid collector he was, and he would at times buy expensive items.

So, it was a judgement call, really, and knowing my dad, he's always come off pretty good.

I suppose I have lent more on these than I normally would,

but I was pretty sure, because it was his collection, that he would have come back for them.

But he didn't. And now the boys just want to see the back of it.

Our endgame now is to see what kind of money this is worth.

Let's just hope and pray we can get above the £6,000 that we loaned.

Birmingham has some of the highest rates of unemployment in the UK.

Something this regular customer, James, is all too familiar with.

-You all right, mate?

-Hello, mate, you all right?

James survives on a tight benefits budget,

and a broken leg hasn't helped.

Right, that one's gold - about 40 quid on that one.

That one's silver, isn't it, that one?

Right, let's have a look.

That one only weighs up to about a tenner, that one, believe it or not. I'll put the two together for £50.

Yeah, that'll be fine.

There you are, my man. Fifty quid.

I thought it would probably be less than I was offered. Some of it will go towards taxis, buses.

Usually I walk everywhere, but at the moment, because I'm on crutches,

I'll have to rely on public transport and taxis.

To get my Social, I've got to get three buses.

It's £4 for a Day Saver now.

A lot of people we deal with are unemployed, unfortunately.

Where do they go? They can't go to the bank or building society.

And if they could, they certainly couldn't get it in five, ten minutes.

Then they're out of the door and away.

£12.25 - that should last well into next week.

£9.29 on the electric.

That should be all right.

Where the electric's concerned, I'm like, "If it doesn't need to be on,

"it's switched off, or unplugged."

Even at night time, if I'm sitting watching the TV,

I don't have any lights on, just the light from the telly.

You know, that does me.

James used to work in a foundry,

but the day he left is still fresh in his mind.

I walked into work on Friday morning, and found a sign stating that the liquidators were moving in.

That was it.

Everybody was unemployed then.

So... It's been about ten years since I worked last.

My trade is... It's gone.

There's no real foundries left any more.

All he has is the dole.

£135 a fortnight.

Sometimes, you know, I just can't make the money stretch.

You know, I could be sitting with 40 pence in my pocket, and the gas will go.

That's why I wound up at Uncle's.

It's one of them situations - you've got to do what you've got to do.

12 years ago, Martin and Patricia realised their ambition to buy their council house.

Since then, they've spent a fortune creating their ideal home.

Originally, the mortgage was just £21,000,

then we had the extension on the side,

the extension on the back, the windows done again.

It's gone up now to £73,000.

-But because I was working, that was no problem, was it?

-No.

But two years ago, everything changed.

While I was off on a two-week holiday, the one year,

there was some irregularity with the cash.

And because I was the depot manager, even though I wasn't there,

they said it was my responsibility.

So I've been out of work since then.

Despite a tribunal ruling that Martin was unfairly dismissed,

he's struggled to find work.

I've lost count the amount of jobs I've applied for.

It's got to be hundreds, and half of them you don't hear anything.

The trouble is, they always say, "How did you lose your last job?"

What do you put on the CV, unfair dismissal? "Why?"

Even though it wasn't my fault, it just doesn't look good.

With only Patricia's state pension to survive on,

the couple are finding it hard to keep up with the mortgage.

The payments should be... £432 a month,

and we're paying around about £100 a month.

So obviously, the difference is piling up.

You put the kettle on, then.

When you've got a mortgage, you're thinking, "They've got to have some money,"

so I said to him, "We'll have to pawn the gold."

Six months ago, to save the house, Martin and Patricia parted with something very special.

It means a lot, because...

it's all what the kids bought me.

It's all your bangles and little bracelets...

Most of them from Rachel.

Mm.

They were the only things I've got a memory of her, really.

Their daughter, Rachel, died of cancer four years ago.

You never think you'll lose your babies.

I'd rather they'd have taken me instead of her.

She had more life ahead of her, didn't she?

Only a baby.

Hello, are you all right?

How are we, are we all right, or are you still battling?

Still battling against the world?

-Yeah, you've got to, haven't you?

-These things are sent to try us.

Today, the couple's £150 loan is up, and they don't have the money to pay it.

-I don't really want to get rid of my gold - all my kids bought me them.

-Yeah.

Just to renew the loan will cost them £95.

But an increase on the value of gold has given them another option.

They can now borrow an extra fifty quid,

and use that money to pay off some of today's interest.

-You owe us £150 on there.

-Yeah.

-We'll put that up to £200.

It'll still be in here, and it means you'll have another fifty quid there. You can have fifty quid back.

Should we do that? Yeah?

But the deal comes at a price.

They're stuck with a bigger loan, and a higher rate of interest.

In the long run, you're paying more, but...

it meant in the short term, we had to pay just £45 to keep it in for another six months, instead of £95.

But obviously, in six months' time, when it's due to come out again, it'll be more.

That's you sorted. Hopefully you'll get the other stuff sorted out.

She was struggling a bit, so we've upped the loan a bit for her,

which covers the interest.

I don't really like doing it that way because it's a short-term fix, really.

In the long run, it's a bigger loan, so she's paying more interest on it.

I wouldn't recommend it for everyone to do it that way,

but sometimes, if you haven't got the money, what can you do?

If you could wave a magic wand and say, "You haven't got to pay any more," you would.

I think we'd be looking for a new job if we did that.

Their jewellery may be safe for now, but with little income, their house is still at risk.

# I need the dollar, dollar

# Dollar that's what I need Hey-hey... #

# I need the dollar, dollar... #

Paul has spent his £1,000, but he's still missing one vital element.

His barber chair.

-Hello, mate, you all right?

-So, we meet again.

How's it going, then?

I've run into a bit of a...

A bit of an impasse?

The last time I came here, they gave me, like...

£1,000, which I thought that would be enough.

But things in this day and age are so expensive, you know?

It's actually been spent off.

So, I had to come back.

Let's have a look. How much are you trying to get to?

Two. That's all I need.

Er, right, those are 14.

This was my last option, you know what I mean?

I'm losing, like, a hundred quid every day.

Most of what I'm doing - the interior and the decorating - has actually been done.

This is just to go towards my chairs. They're so expensive.

He has to dig deeper into his American treasure trove.

The rings were custom made to go with the bracelet,

so it's like a set.

A lot of diamonds, as well, so...

they're very, very sentimental to me,

so whatever it takes, I need to get my jewellery back.

There you are.

Next time you come, you'll be getting it all out again. Good luck, anyway.

-Thanks again, boss.

-See you later, mate. Bye.

This is the moment I've been waiting for for the past however many weeks.

It is so wonderful - my barber chair has landed!

Look at that! I was 95% there, but now I'm 100%.

All I need now is my first customer, so I can start making some money.

It's a lot of money, but... it's worth it.

You want to be doing a good job - your customer's really happy, you know?

He'll soon find out - it's opening day tomorrow.

We're up to our limit on what we can lend him, so hopefully he can get the shop open.

He's on his own if he needs anything after that - we can only go so far.

It's down to him to make it work.

The brothers need to clear a six-grand debt on a collection of boxing paraphernalia,

-and Gez has a plan.

-This memorabilia show that's on at the NEC,

it's got thousands of customers coming through there.

Like I say, I've got to get the best price I can for these items.

It would be a good place to try and sell some of this stuff.

They've called in boxing expert, Robert, to take a look and see if they're sitting on a fortune.

Hello.

-Are you Robert? I'm Gez, I spoke to you on the phone. How are you doing?

-Good, thanks.

Boxing memorabilia is very collectible.

People will pay crazy money for the right things.

OK, let's start - if I pass them to you...

That's a magazine picture, he's just had it framed up.

Very nice, but the integral value's next to nothing, I'm afraid.

-Two pounds, three pounds?

-Tops.

-What do you think?

-A few pounds.

-What?! A few pounds, for that?

-Yeah, it's nothing.

Oh, God, yeah. Probably £10 a piece.

It's not going too good.

The values are crap!

You can see he's thinking, "What have I come here for?"

The lads are saying, "It's there, get rid of it,"

but I've resisted the temptation to get rid of them,

hoping that he would come back for them.

But when it's put to you on a business footing,

you have to evaluate what you'll get back and what you don't get back.

Have a look at these ones, here.

Something a bit more collectible, I think.

These were cigarette cards -

Franklin Davy & Co, Bristol. Auction value, £30-£40.

-For the whole lot?

-You didn't think each, did you?

I was hoping!

Come on then, let's see some decent stuff.

It's not looking good.

What about that one?

-That's Muhammad Ali and Cassius Clay.

-Nice.

-I'd try that, first time round, at £300 - £400.

-Wow!

Henry Cooper.

Well, it makes a pleasant change,

because quite often you see boxing gloves, and it's one boxing glove.

Value for the pair, probably about £100. Nice.

-I like it.

-You like it?

-Yeah.

-I'm getting really excited now.

It's the best item I've seen so far. You should be a bit happier now,

than you were before we came in this room.

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee...

It was a very mixed bag. There was a lot of stuff that's not going to fetch them money.

There's stuff that looks good because it's in a nice frame, but it's of no value.

Then there are other items which will make a few quid.

Time to break the news to Daddy -

that he lent six grand

on a collection probably worth six hundred.

There's a lot of stuff here that's not worth a lot of money.

I mean, the likes of that, there - it's a picture, in a frame.

He says it's worth nothing.

-Dad, it's crap.

-I like it, myself, to tell you the truth.

It might seem crap to you, but it doesn't to me.

If someone wants to buy these for between £5 and £10, they've gone.

-If someone gives £3.50, they've gone.

-No they're not, all right?

It doesn't matter to you, does it? You haven't paid for them.

-How good's your expert?

-He's a memorabilia auctioneer - that's all he does.

It does upset me a bit, Karl, about selling them when the bloke wanted to keep them.

I've kept them for five years.

These lads only see it in cardboard boxes.

They don't see it as I remember it, which was a wall full of history.

It was fabulous, and that's why, besides the personal thing with the fella...

I'm not sentimental, but to me, it's got glory.

Whatever their dad thinks, Karl and Gez just want to get rid.

All I want to do is get the money back.

Listen, Dad, we won't be giving them away.

When Martin lost his job three years ago, he and wife, Patricia, hit problems.

To pay the mortgage, they had to pawn gifts from their late daughter, Rachel.

Now, they stand to lose more than their jewellery.

The bank has lost patience, and wants to repossess the house.

You get so stressed, because we just don't know what's going to happen the next day.

It's just... You know...

It's just all the hassle and everything you have to go through.

I just can't cope.

I've just had enough. Don't want to know any more.

They've tried everything to save their home,

but now they've made the tough decision to put the house up for sale.

Are we still up in there? Oh yeah.

It's got to go - we haven't got much choice in the matter, really.

We've got to go and just start again.

When you look at it through a window, and you think to yourself,

"God, all what you've put in the house,"

and you're not going to keep it.

And now, they're looking at rented property.

-Hi, guys.

-Hello, we're looking for some details

on some houses you've got to rent in the window.

If you're looking for just three bedrooms, that one's actually just reduced...

In the situation I was in again, if I was in full time work, no way would I have another mortgage.

It's stupid, because you try to buy a house to better yourself,

and then you lose your job and the mortgage puts you under pressure to sell it.

The couple's hopes rest on selling their house and clearing their debts before the bank gets it.

Hopefully, if all things work out,

the big plan is, if we sell the house...

then we'll take the hold out, and hopefully, that'll be it.

The mortgage is sorted - that's that debt, gone.

It's 8am on the morning of the memorabilia show,

and it's not the best of starts.

Just open the door so I can go to the toilet quickly.

We're 25 minutes late, the show starts in an hour,

and he wants to mess about going to the toilet. He should have held it.

Turn it off, Gez, come on.

Load them in.

The lads are cutting it fine.

The doors open at any minute.

And while Karl does the heavy work, there's no sign of Gez.

I need him to give me a hand.

He's not helping, is he?

I've been setting up the table. I've been setting up.

Right, let's have a little look. Where's he gone?

Oh, there he is.

PA: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Memorabilia 2011 is now open.

Memorabilia is now open.

To make any money, they need to be fighting fit.

But so far, they seem to be losing on points.

"Rocky Marciano, Jersey Joe Walcott..."

OK, Rocky Marciano, what's he look like?

Luckily, there are some boxing fans on hand to show what's what.

The red...

That's a Rocky, there.

That one, straight in front... No, the other one.

In front, yep.

The stall is just haphazard. They haven't got a clue where anything is.

Who's that one?

Gerald, what was the double there?

It's quite funny to see two guys who are hoping to make money

asking customers who's who - "Who's this? Who's that?"

I tell you what, Gez, some people have got some fantastic knowledge.

Paul is hoping for a bit more success.

The barber shop is finally ready for business.

Today is opening day.

Absolute opening day, and I am buzzing!

I can't wait for it.

Good morning.

Finally, finally, finally, this is the moment.

All he needs now are customers.

Come on, 300 people to get my jewellery back.

Welcome to the recession barber shop.

I'm putting people first, not finance.

Yo, P! Look at this, I need some surgery on this, man.

Thousands of pounds and months of hard work are finally paying off.

OK, son, I'm going to try and make you handsome again!

They say good things come to those who wait.

Hello, good morning. Have a seat, yeah.

I'm getting there.

You know what I'm saying?

It's really good.

Thank you for my first... That's my first customer.

You know what, the worst thing about this - he's asking for change!

-LAUGHTER

-Can you believe that?

See you later, see you.

Eventually, it's open.

I thought this morning I'd come and get an early trim,

start the day early and get off and do what I'm doing today,

so yeah, I'm really, really pleased for him.

And things are finally picking up at the memorabilia fair.

The boys may know nothing about boxing, but they do know all about selling.

-What if I did the two at £200?

-Yeah, OK.

Gerald, that and the Ali - £200 I've done it for.

-What were they, five quid a pop?

-Yeah, I'll take all three.

-How much?

-Six quid.

-There you are.

-Good man.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

£100, that's great. Thank you. Have a good day.

It's all good.

PA: The show will close in five minutes.

Trading over, it's time to cash up.

We didn't do too bad, Karl.

We've done about £750, so I think today's been a boster!

We did all right!

They might still be five grand down on the pawn,

but it could have been so much worse.

-IMITATING "ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES":

-"We're gonna be millionaires, Rodney."

And back at the barber's, Paul's in the money as well.

Really good, really good.

This is what the dream is.

Not quite 300 customers, but after a busy first day,

Paul is feeling a cut above the rest!

Without the pawn shop, this shop would have never been possible.

Hopefully in the next couple of months, I can go to the job centre, and say,

"You know, you didn't help me to set my shop up,

"but I'm gonna come here and I'm gonna get somebody off the dole to come and work in here.

"So, you didn't help me, but I'll try to help somebody else."

Next time, we find out how time really IS money...

That's instant cash, anywhere in the world.

..how silver doesn't always mean second place...

- It's worth £2,000. - That's really nice to know.

..and a pensioner who's desperate to recover her stolen jewellery.

It is the worst thing that could happen.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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