0:00:02 > 0:00:04The UK may be reeling from the credit crunch,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07but families and friends will do whatever it takes to help each other out.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11I want him to have the good education that I never had.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13For those without cash...
0:00:13 > 0:00:16It's just a nightmare, to be quite honest.
0:00:16 > 0:00:17..Giving isn't easy.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21Insurances to pay, phone bills to pay, it's very stressful.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24And that's where pawnbrokers make their money.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27You could use that as an anchor chain for the Titanic, you know.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Traditionally, the festive season is the busiest time of year.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33I'd have every counter full with people.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38But in this recession, times are lean for everyone.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41It's been the quietest Saturday I've known on record.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Pawnbroking may be a last resort,
0:00:43 > 0:00:45but their services don't come cheap.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49I made it. I didn't think I was going to, but we made it through.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Welcome to Cash Britain.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Meet Helen. She works full time in a care home.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Maggie's been her best friend
0:01:07 > 0:01:11since moving into the same street 15 years ago.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15It's been a, a good road, hasn't it? I was glad I met up with you.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18- I'd had a big operation, do you remember it?- I do.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20And Maggie made me laugh and split a stitch.
0:01:20 > 0:01:21THEY LAUGH
0:01:21 > 0:01:23I'm not saying we don't have our ups and down days.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27- We do. When she goes on a strop, she can...- Oh, OK, yeah.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Today, Helen has money in her pocket
0:01:33 > 0:01:35and she and Maggie are going shopping.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38- Good morning.- Hello!- Hello.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40What can we do for you today?
0:01:40 > 0:01:43Right, I'm after a gentleman's chain. It's a gold one.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46- Oh, you're talking about the rollerball one.- Yeah.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48- Well, do you like him a lot? - That's lovely, that.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50Cos you'll need to really like him to buy this one.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Right, it's 136.5 grams.
0:01:54 > 0:01:55And what's that in cash?
0:01:55 > 0:01:59Do you want a chair to sit down on?
0:02:00 > 0:02:02- About 2,300.- No...
0:02:03 > 0:02:06- Ah, but it's worth it, isn't it? - It looks like a handmade rollerball to me as well.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09- Oh, that's beautiful. - It's engraved in the middle.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12- I can't afford that one.- No, I know, but it's a lovely, lovely chain, though, isn't it?
0:02:12 > 0:02:14- It is beautiful, yes.- Handmade.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17'Neither of them have the cash for that kind of present.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20'Helen has a steady income,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24'but Maggie relies on benefits of £63 a week.'
0:02:26 > 0:02:29It's just a nightmare, to be quite honest.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33If I hadn't have took ill,
0:02:33 > 0:02:36I probably would have been out working,
0:02:36 > 0:02:38but I actually had a breakdown.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43Helen sort of, like, give me that push, you know, come on.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47"Don't let it beat you."
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Six months ago,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Helen helped Maggie by lending her jewellery to pawn for cash.
0:02:54 > 0:02:59She had a couple of rings and, like, her chains.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03She took her earrings off, bless her.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07And then, she said, "Just get them out when you can."
0:03:07 > 0:03:09She'd helped me in the past
0:03:09 > 0:03:12and I'd got this gold that was sitting in a box.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15I knew I wasn't going to use it for a while
0:03:15 > 0:03:18and I couldn't see her go without, so I lent it her.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Nobody's ever did that
0:03:21 > 0:03:25and I thought it was so nice of her, you know,
0:03:25 > 0:03:29to actually take her gold off and say,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32"Here, you can put this in."
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Have you got any of our tickets left?
0:03:36 > 0:03:37Good man.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42Now Helen's redeeming the jewellery and clearing Maggie's debt.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Oh, God, I forgot I had that bracelet still in there.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47- That's lovely, that is.- Oh, yeah. - That's very unusual, darling.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49That was brought from Egypt.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52Yes, I knew that was from abroad. Aye, aye.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55- How much is that to get out? - 210.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57- 210, I'll take that. - 210, there you are.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Two, four, six, seven, eight, ten, thanks a lot.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04At least you've got it back and we've kept it for you.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Right, thank you for your time.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Take care, ladies, take care.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12- She's a good sort, isn't she? - She pawns her gold for other people.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Other people say to her, "I'm a bit short,"
0:04:14 > 0:04:18so she gives them a bit of gold, they bring it in, like there.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22It really did mean a lot to me, it really did and...
0:04:22 > 0:04:26you know, I feel that's what you call a friend.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Helen has her jewellery back,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33but she won't be keeping it for long.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42This pawnbroking family have seen 30 Christmases in Birmingham.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44The new member of the family.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47And it's always been the busiest time of the year.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Christmas is, you know, when you've got lots of people coming in
0:04:51 > 0:04:53and the money's coming in and it's just nice.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56I'd have every counter full with people.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01A bit like Scrooge's Christmas spirit, you know.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Got to make a penny or two, ha-ha!
0:05:08 > 0:05:10There's just one problem.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15This year, there are no customers...
0:05:19 > 0:05:21..In any of their shops.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Traditionally, the shop was a lot busier when the gold price was lower
0:05:32 > 0:05:36because, obviously, they could afford to buy stuff.
0:05:39 > 0:05:40Yeah, because gold is just a luxury
0:05:40 > 0:05:44and it's something that you don't really need.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Very nice to look at, but it won't fill your belly.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56This year, families are struggling with the essentials.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02But Pauline has to find £150 for presents.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08There's PS3s, Xboxes...
0:06:08 > 0:06:10How expensive they are is ridiculous.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14And the kids, of course, they want to keep up with their friends,
0:06:14 > 0:06:16cos if they don't get what they want, they're disappointed,
0:06:16 > 0:06:19so that just puts a dampener on the Christmas itself.
0:06:22 > 0:06:23Hello, there.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27- Hi, can I have a loan on these, please?- Thank you.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31I suppose you need the money for shopping and things like that
0:06:31 > 0:06:33- this time of year.- Yeah, definitely.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37Buy the little ones some little Christmas stocking fillers.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41I says to them, not one of them is going to have the BlackBerry first, cos they was all complaining.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43You've got to get me one anyway, cos you promised me.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46I said, "Right, you'll all get one at Christmas
0:06:46 > 0:06:49"and that's it", no complaining that "I had mine first" and all this.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52OK, so that's your wedding ring
0:06:52 > 0:06:56and this is just a little double-linked bracelet.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58A little gold ring.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Is, is that a maple leaf in there?
0:07:01 > 0:07:04I think it might be. And a dress ring.
0:07:04 > 0:07:05- No, it's a...- No.- What is it?
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Oh, oh... I know, yeah.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12THEY CHUCKLE
0:07:14 > 0:07:16I'll just weigh them.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20So, will they get their 150 quid?
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Well, we can do 170 on those, will that be all right?
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Yeah, that's brilliant.
0:07:26 > 0:07:27OK.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30After six months of a loan,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33it's going to cost me like £262 to get out,
0:07:33 > 0:07:37but I know I can come every week and put a bit towards it.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40The only other way to be able to get money is, like, sell things
0:07:40 > 0:07:43from out of the home and that, just to get a little extra money.
0:07:43 > 0:07:4810, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70.
0:07:48 > 0:07:49There you go.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52- That's my money. - No, it's my money, give it back.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55- Give it to your mum.- Cheers. - Have a nice Christmas.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59That's all I want, just the kids to be happy with what they get and that,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01and just have a good Christmas.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06- How's it going, guv? - I'm fine, how are you?
0:08:06 > 0:08:10- Not too bad, not too bad, not too bad.- It's the ring we're getting out, isn't it? Yeah?- Yeah.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Ron is one parent who doesn't believe
0:08:13 > 0:08:15in borrowing big for Christmas.
0:08:15 > 0:08:171,770, that one to get out, my man.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19There you go, man.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22And he disagrees with the way some people indulge their kids.
0:08:22 > 0:08:23HE WHISTLES
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Come on, come on.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29Some of the parents, they seem as though they have to be always giving to the kids.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Christmas is coming and I bet you parents who ain't even got the money
0:08:32 > 0:08:34are going to be spending X amount because,
0:08:34 > 0:08:36"Oh, look at the smile on their face."
0:08:36 > 0:08:38But what about telling your kids you love 'em?
0:08:38 > 0:08:40It's all about materialistic matters, crazy.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Nowadays, right, they must have a mobile phone,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45it's got to be £200 plus.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48It don't work like that. What about love and affection?
0:08:48 > 0:08:51What about knowing that your parents love you?
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Come here.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Elaine wants the very best for her kids,
0:09:00 > 0:09:02but she's not splashing out on Christmas.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Not too bad, thank you.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Can I have a few, a little bit more today?
0:09:07 > 0:09:08Yeah, we can.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Her son is halfway through his law degree,
0:09:14 > 0:09:18but this year's money has already run out.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22I mean, the student loans now just, they don't last.
0:09:22 > 0:09:27He usually borrows from one student loan to the next student loan to the next student loan
0:09:27 > 0:09:30and it literally...continuous circle of borrowing,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32because it's, the student loans are not enough.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35With his student loan not due until the New Year,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38he needs cash now to tide him over.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- It's all the books as well, isn't it?- I know. Oh! Do you know what?
0:09:41 > 0:09:43It's £100,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45I think there was two books, £100,
0:09:45 > 0:09:46and I had to get 'em.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50You know, probably half the people, three quarters of the people that pawn
0:09:50 > 0:09:51are pawning for their kids as well.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55- Is it?- Yeah, yeah, we get loads of people.- I'm not unusual.- Yeah, yeah.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00What can I do? I'm not rich and he's so clever,
0:10:00 > 0:10:04but I want him to have a good education that I never had.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06It's such a shame that we're just short of money that...
0:10:06 > 0:10:09because he could go so far.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Elaine has a lifeline, from her own mum.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Years ago, before she died,
0:10:16 > 0:10:17she was buying and buying and I thought,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19"Why does she need any more gold?"
0:10:19 > 0:10:25She says, "One day, you'll be grateful I got this gold, one day,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28"cos it's all yours when I die."
0:10:28 > 0:10:30So I thought, "Yeah, oh, I wouldn't, I don't want it,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33"I don't want all this gold. Well, I wouldn't wear it."
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Now, I'm so grateful that she bought it.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41She left her legacy with the gold and she helped me, she's helping me
0:10:41 > 0:10:45and she's not helping me, she's helping my son and my daughter.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Funny, that is, how a little bit of gold
0:10:47 > 0:10:49has helped my son and my daughter's future.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51- How much are you looking for, you got?- 500.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55Well... We have got...
0:10:57 > 0:11:00I can just about, I can stretch it up to there.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02- Yeah, we can do that for you. - Oh, thank you.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Yeah, we can do it there for you.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- It works out a little bit under, but we can stretch it out.- Oh, cheers.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10See, if you didn't have kids, you'd be rich, wouldn't you?
0:11:10 > 0:11:12- (HE CHUCKLES)- All that money.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Thing is, in the long run, he's going to come out and get a decent job.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18When he's a solicitor, he'll look after me, hopefully.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- Well, this is it, isn't it, yeah? - Yeah, right.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- There you are, my love. - Oh, look at this.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Elaine will get her rings back
0:11:25 > 0:11:28when the next student loan is paid in the New Year.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30- Oh, thank you. - Pop that away in there.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- See you in January. - Yeah, I shall be here.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35- Ta-ra!- Ta-ra, my lovely, take care.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39Don't know if her mother ever thought she'd end up in a pawnbroker's with it.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41I don't know, but I think the nice part is
0:11:41 > 0:11:43that her mum gave it to her and said, at the time,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46"You use it, it's my gold."
0:11:46 > 0:11:51And now, she's using it to look after her, you know, her kids.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54He's passed his HND in law. He's got two more years,
0:11:54 > 0:11:55and he'll be a solicitor.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57I mean, it's worth it, isn't it?
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Nirosha is another parent
0:12:05 > 0:12:08who's making sacrifices for her kids' education.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10- How are you? - I'm fine, thank you.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12What can I do for you?
0:12:12 > 0:12:17I need to know how much I need to pay for all the things.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20She pawned her wedding jewellery
0:12:20 > 0:12:23so her son could go on a school trip to the USA.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28A lot of children go in same class and he can learn, you know,
0:12:28 > 0:12:33he can see, you know, the many, many different places he can learn.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Well, does he go to a local school round here, does he, or...?
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- Oh no, he is going grammar school. - Grammar school? He must be very bright.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43The trip cost is altogether 1,500,
0:12:43 > 0:12:49but I think I want to give him extra money for, for him.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52That's very, that's very good of you, that is, isn't it?
0:12:52 > 0:12:54And I, I'm having trouble now.
0:12:54 > 0:12:55SHE LAUGHS
0:12:55 > 0:12:59Over a year, Nirosha borrowed £1,800
0:12:59 > 0:13:02but on benefits, she's made no repayments.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07To take all the items out at the present moment,
0:13:07 > 0:13:09at today's date,
0:13:09 > 0:13:15would be a grand total of £3,235.25.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18It's a lot of money, isn't it?
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Four tickets.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25One's extremely over the date, the other one's over the date
0:13:25 > 0:13:27and the other one has just gone over the date.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28Thank you.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33That's nice, nice woven bracelet, isn't it?
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Obviously, that would be the one you should sort out first cos it's well over the date.
0:13:37 > 0:13:38What do you want me to do?
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- Tomorrow, I can pay £300.- OK. - Yeah.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45- Thank you, thanks.- I'll put them back in the safe for you.- OK, yeah.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47I bet you're pleased you're off school then, aren't you?
0:13:47 > 0:13:50- My boy can't wait to get off school. - Why?
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Cos he's looking forward to Santa Claus coming next week.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56- Bye!- OK, you take care.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Bye, bye!
0:13:58 > 0:14:00If Nirosha can't make a payment tomorrow,
0:14:00 > 0:14:02she can wave her gold goodbye.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Not many people want to lose their wedding jewellery.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11But then, when time goes on and they don't come back for them items,
0:14:11 > 0:14:13I have no alternative.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17And I don't really like to come to that tee-off point
0:14:17 > 0:14:21and have to say, "Sorry, I can do no more."
0:14:21 > 0:14:25There is only so much you can do, isn't there?
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Mark has no such worries about losing his jewellery.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36He only borrows what he can afford to pay back, and pays it back fast.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40I just try my best, really, that's all you can do, really, isn't it?
0:14:40 > 0:14:43I spend a fair bit of time looking after the school runs,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45activities and stuff.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49With four kids, even the basics quickly add up.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Fruit, nappies.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56If the oldest one's got cooking at school, I've got to get,
0:14:56 > 0:15:00we've got to get the, the ingredients so she can do her cooking in school as well.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07Money's been tight since Mark lost his job eight months ago.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Insurances to pay, phone bills to pay,
0:15:10 > 0:15:13a load of taxes and stuff, so it's very stressful.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18And, last week, Mark finally ran out of cash.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20My son never had any nappies
0:15:20 > 0:15:23so I had to actually get the nappies and get some wipes as well.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26So I needed £20 and I knew I could go to the pawnbroker's
0:15:26 > 0:15:28without no hassle, and that's what I did.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32But I've had loans, I've had credit cards in the past.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34The money is all fun when you've got it,
0:15:34 > 0:15:35but when it's time to pay it back,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37that's when it's a bit of a struggle.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41I think they're traps, basically, so the pawn shops are a good way of,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44a good source of getting money, if you find yourself being broke.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46As long as you are willing to pay back the money
0:15:46 > 0:15:48within a short period of time,
0:15:48 > 0:15:50then everything will be fine.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Mark pawned a gold ring and now he's getting it back.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- Hiya!- Hi!- Hello.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01- Hello. Are they your children? - Yeah.
0:16:01 > 0:16:02One's two, one's three.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04I can't afford 'em.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07Just come to get this back out.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09That'll be 21.80, please.
0:16:09 > 0:16:15Because he's so prompt, the interest on top is just £1.80.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16Is it your wedding ring?
0:16:16 > 0:16:17No, engagement ring.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Oh, engagement ring. I didn't think men had engagement rings.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24- Here's your ring.- Cheers.- Thank you.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26My partner bought it for me.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Obviously, if she had seen the ring missing,
0:16:28 > 0:16:30she would have asked me, "Where's the ring?"
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Every time I touched my finger there's nothing there and I was like,
0:16:33 > 0:16:37"Oh, oh, no!" So, yeah, I was glad to get it back.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41- Thanks again, like.- All right, thank you.- See you.- See you soon, bye.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43There's always a light at the end of the tunnel.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47As long as you stay focused and positive, there's a way out.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58Shops are quiet, Gerald.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- Are they?- Yeah.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06It's just so quiet today, honestly,
0:17:06 > 0:17:08I just don't know what's going on.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11- Are you normally busy this time of year?- Sales, yeah.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13Sales, no-one wants to buy,
0:17:13 > 0:17:17- who's going to want to buy gold now with the price being so high, Karl? - Exactly.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20But there's still, you're going to want to buy trinkets, haven't you?
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Doesn't have to be spending hundreds of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Went to see a friend yesterday, spoke to him, said, "How have you been doing in the retail?"
0:17:27 > 0:17:31He hadn't sold a thing since Saturday.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34What's going to happen?
0:17:34 > 0:17:36I don't know.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50The next day, Nirosha's back.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54- Hiya.- How are you?
0:17:54 > 0:17:56You're wrapped up nice and warm today.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00Yesterday, she promised to start paying off her £3,000 debt.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03- Here's for you here. - Is that for me?
0:18:03 > 0:18:06- Merry Christmas. - Oh, well, thank you.
0:18:06 > 0:18:07Another card. That's nice, isn't it?
0:18:07 > 0:18:10"Christmas and Happy New Year, Mr Karl."
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Thank you very much, that's nice.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Nice, but no money.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17However, there is a reason.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- Our problem is, my father's not well.- OK.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Two days ago, he called me
0:18:23 > 0:18:25and he had operation, heart operation in India.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27- I'm sorry to hear that.- And I...
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Have you got to go back and see him or anything?
0:18:29 > 0:18:30Yeah, 26th, I'm flying.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- Look, we'll put everything on hold for you.- OK, yeah.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35- And don't worry about that.- OK.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37You go and sort your dad out.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39- And then, we'll see you the following week.- Thank you.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43- Thank you very much for my card. - Sorry I can't, thank you. - It's very kind of you.- OK.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45- You take care, darling. - Thank you, thanks, I'll see you.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48I'll see you soon. Take care, darling.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Come January, she'll have a firm idea
0:18:52 > 0:18:59of how much money she's actually got to use towards whichever item.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01If then, when we get to that point,
0:19:01 > 0:19:07she tells me she can only do one or, or even she can't do one,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10then, we have to say, "Well, what are we going to do?"
0:19:10 > 0:19:13If Nirosha doesn't return in the New Year,
0:19:13 > 0:19:17Karl will have no alternative but to scrap the jewellery
0:19:17 > 0:19:18to get his money back.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Three days before Christmas, Maggie's returned,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31and she's back with her friend's jewellery.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Right.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Helen...
0:19:35 > 0:19:37She wants to know how much you'll give her for them.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41This time, it's Helen who's run out of cash.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Cos her wages haven't gone in yet.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48She hasn't been paid for a simple reason.
0:19:50 > 0:19:51I lost my job.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53It was a shock.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57It had got me down cos the worry and stress of it
0:19:57 > 0:20:00and I asked Margaret if she'd go up and see
0:20:00 > 0:20:03what we could get off the bit of gold that I had.
0:20:03 > 0:20:09It was a necklace, a bracelet, ring, some earrings.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11Bad enough losing my job
0:20:11 > 0:20:15without having the stress of nothing for Christmas.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20It's hard, cos they're sentimental
0:20:20 > 0:20:23in case you can never get the money to get them back.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28But when you need it, it's got to be done.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32There's 110 there.
0:20:32 > 0:20:33She was looking for two.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38Helen needs £200 to cover Christmas.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41But the gold's only worth 110.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Oh, God, she causes me trouble, that woman.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48SHE CHUCKLES
0:20:48 > 0:20:52Yeah, okey-doke. It is a bit more than we're meant to, but we'll...
0:20:52 > 0:20:53Yeah, we'll do it for her.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- Shh, don't tell anyone.- I won't.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59It's got to be done, though, innit, cos what's she going to do?
0:20:59 > 0:21:01- And this is for Christmas, then, all of it?- Yeah.
0:21:01 > 0:21:06Without that, she, you wouldn't have your turkey on Christmas Day, would you, if it wasn't for that?
0:21:06 > 0:21:07No turkey leg.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11- So when you cut your turkey leg off, you think, "Oh, good old Simon, you know."- Yeah.
0:21:11 > 0:21:12THEY CHUCKLE
0:21:12 > 0:21:14I'll, I'll say that over the table,
0:21:14 > 0:21:16"I don't know, if it wasn't for Simon."
0:21:16 > 0:21:20- Have a lovely Christmas. - Have a nice Christmas, my love, and I'll see you after.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22- And give my best to Helen as well. - We will, goodbye.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26So that little lot there is her Christmas shopping and the turkey.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28It's just like a cash flow situation.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30You know, the money's there, but you need it there.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34Obviously, I've got to get a job.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Looking for work now,
0:21:36 > 0:21:41so, as soon as I get a job, I'll be able to get my jewellery,
0:21:41 > 0:21:45not unless a little windfall comes and I can get it.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55It's Christmas Eve.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57I see very few people.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01This is very, very quiet.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Where have everyone gone?
0:22:09 > 0:22:11She only sleeps now and again.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14We've been open all day today, it's been quite quiet today.
0:22:14 > 0:22:20I think everybody's at home, you know, with their families.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25The major, major pointer for me is when I start looking at the buses
0:22:25 > 0:22:29and I see that there's hardly any people on the buses,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33going into a main route into Birmingham town centre.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Now, that tells me, how many people are on that bus now?
0:22:36 > 0:22:40One, two, three, four, five, six, seven people on a bus.
0:22:43 > 0:22:44That's not good news.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Karl decides to see how things are going at the other shop.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53RINGING TONE
0:22:53 > 0:22:57But with business having slowed to a standstill...
0:22:57 > 0:22:59- Oh!- Well, I'll see you.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03..The girls have already called time on Christmas trading.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11They must be really busy with them not being able to answer the phone.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14RINGING TONE
0:23:14 > 0:23:16So damn quiet!
0:23:16 > 0:23:18And even Karl decides the time has come
0:23:18 > 0:23:22to pack up shop and call it a day.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Let's bring in 2012 with a bang.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Come on!
0:23:46 > 0:23:49As New Year arrives in Birmingham,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52business is picking up for the pawnbrokers.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Alongside the new customers,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00they're hoping to see some regulars.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06Nirosha was given a month's grace to start paying off her £3,000 loan.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09We'll put everything on hold for you.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11But Karl is getting impatient.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13We haven't seen her.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17One of the items was due back up last May.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19So that's another six months on top
0:24:19 > 0:24:22of the six months that she's already been given.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25I think best phoning her up and just seeing what's happened
0:24:25 > 0:24:28and if she's OK, and when she might be coming in to see us.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30We need to know what the score is.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37FLAT TONE
0:24:37 > 0:24:38Unavailable.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50SUCCESSION OF BEEPS
0:24:50 > 0:24:54The call is not responding. So that one's cut off as well.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59What I need to do is, I need to send a personal letter,
0:24:59 > 0:25:00just to see that she's OK.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Because we're talking about three grand and more here
0:25:04 > 0:25:07and I think we need to get some clarity
0:25:07 > 0:25:12on what she might be doing or when she might be coming in to pay.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Cos there's only so many months I can actually hold these for.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27With her son's student loan safely in the bank,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Elaine's back for her rings.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34- Morning!- Hello, love, you all right? - You all right?
0:25:34 > 0:25:35Yeah, not too bad.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39- My son's been paid his student loan. - How's he getting on, is he getting on all right?- Yeah, yeah.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42He's got an essay today, he's finishing this big essay today.
0:25:42 > 0:25:452,600 words. Oh, he's stressing out.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47Don't even know 2,600 words.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49THEY LAUGH
0:25:51 > 0:25:55She borrowed £500 and pays it back with a month's interest.
0:25:55 > 0:25:56Two, four, six, eight...
0:25:56 > 0:25:57TELEPHONE RINGS
0:25:57 > 0:25:58Oh, it's my son!
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Hello?
0:26:00 > 0:26:02I'm coming now.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05I thought you'd got to be at uni at 12.
0:26:05 > 0:26:06OK, I'm coming back.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08No rest for the wicked, is there?
0:26:08 > 0:26:10- See you.- You take care, my love.
0:26:10 > 0:26:11Elaine's got her jewels back,
0:26:11 > 0:26:16but getting her lad through law school is another matter.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18I thought he said 12, but it was ten.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22If he's late with this essay in, though, he's going to get, he won't pass.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Oh, God, he's going to kill me.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35Time has run out for Nirosha.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37I don't want to have to do this,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40but I've tried everything I possibly can.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44I've phoned, I've written, I've phoned on numerous occasions
0:26:44 > 0:26:48and she doesn't live that far away,
0:26:48 > 0:26:52to just actually come in and tell me what, what her intentions are,
0:26:52 > 0:26:58so we're going to have to try and recover our monies, unfortunately.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00This is going to have to be melted.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03I mean, the amount of money that I loaned her on that chain there,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06there isn't the gold content in there to cover this.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10I can see there being a shortfall somewhere along the line.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13I've played ball. Unfortunately,
0:27:13 > 0:27:17some people don't come back to you.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20I wish and pray that she would come into the shop today now
0:27:20 > 0:27:25and say, "I've got the money coming and let's work to them dates."
0:27:25 > 0:27:28But there's, there's just no communication.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Nirosha's gold is now destined for the melting pot.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Next time...
0:27:45 > 0:27:48A lawyer in need of a loan has his hopes royally dashed.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50- Total is about... - Couple of grand.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Where would you want to be if you were loaning money on this?
0:27:53 > 0:27:54I reckon, £100 or £200.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Pretty harsh.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59A bizarre item leaves Sammy gobsmacked.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04That is one of the weirdest things I've ever had in. I have not had somebody come in with a gold tooth.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06And Gez is on the fiddle.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08Could be worth a fortune. If it's real,
0:28:08 > 0:28:09then, it's like we've won the lottery.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd