0:00:02 > 0:00:04- Meet the sheriffs. - Let's go and introduce ourselves.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06I'm a High Court Enforcement Officer.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08We're here today to execute a High Court writ.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11They're the men whose job it is to get you your money back.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13It's an arrestable offence to stop me doing my job.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17They're the High Court Enforcement Officers charged by law
0:00:17 > 0:00:19to recover what a court says is rightfully yours.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21I'm not waiting any more.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23If you've been ripped off and don't know where turn...
0:00:23 > 0:00:26I'm ordered to seize goods to clear this debt.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30If you've been to court but still not been paid what you're owed...
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Why don't you just tell me who you are?
0:00:33 > 0:00:35This is an absolute crock. You need to pay this.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36I've seized your car, sir.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38..Through the door or we'll go through the window.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41..it's time to call...the sheriffs.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Just collected 42 grand.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Coming up, 86-year-old Hilda Shaw spent her life
0:00:50 > 0:00:57savings on a roofing job so bad, she had to take the builder to court.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01The guttering, it hadn't been fitted right. It's shocking.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04But when the sheriffs try to get her her money back,
0:01:04 > 0:01:07all doesn't go to plan.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10I will back that truck straight through your windscreen.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13When Dr Benedict Henry spent over £4,000 on a car,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15he hoped it would get him from A to B.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19It hasn't worked for a number of months.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23It's now brought him to the doors of the sheriffs to try
0:01:23 > 0:01:25and recoup his money.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29Switch the camera off.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32A very UNHAPPY couple took this Yorkshire jeweller to court
0:01:32 > 0:01:35after they were mis-sold an engagement ring.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39Can Enforcement Officer Pete find them wedded bliss?
0:01:39 > 0:01:42I'm going to take approximately £28,000-worth of goods today.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54It's 7:00 AM, and Enforcement Officers Marc Newton and Kev McNally
0:01:54 > 0:01:58are on the road, heading to their first job of the day.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01They're on their way to see a builder in the Midlands who
0:02:01 > 0:02:03owes thousands to someone he did a job for who was
0:02:03 > 0:02:07so unhappy with it, they were forced into legal action to get redress.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12So, coming up to seven o'clock, so hopefully he's still around
0:02:12 > 0:02:15and we'll give him a knock and see if we can either get him
0:02:15 > 0:02:19out of bed, get him to pay some money or seize some of his goods.
0:02:19 > 0:02:20We'll see how we get on.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26High Court Enforcement Officers are commonly known as sheriffs
0:02:26 > 0:02:29and they don't give any prior notice of their visits, which means
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Marc and Kev have no idea how the man they're visiting today
0:02:32 > 0:02:37will take being asked for over £6,000 out of the blue.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43In their experience, debtors rarely like being told to pay up.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52The person Marc and Kev are at the builder's house trying to help
0:02:52 > 0:02:56is 86-year-old Hilda Shaw from Northampton.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00She employed a builder to carry out some routine maintenance work on her roof.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04At the time, she didn't know it would turn her life upside down.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14The story starts two years ago,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17when Hilda spotted a builder working on the guttering of a nearby house.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21She asked him how much he was charging for the work.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24He said, £1,200.
0:03:24 > 0:03:30I thought, "Well, that don't sound too bad," and he said,
0:03:30 > 0:03:37"We don't take any money or no deposits until the work is done.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42He said, "And you'll be ever so pleased with it."
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Wanting to get her guttering smartened up,
0:03:44 > 0:03:48Hilda agreed to let the firm, run by Alan Fitzgerald, do the work.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Once they got the ladders up on the front of the bungalow,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58you could hear all the banging and the ripping and heaven knows what.
0:03:58 > 0:04:03In comes the tall, towering boss of the lot
0:04:03 > 0:04:10and he said, "It'll be £2,000," and that shook me a bit comparing with
0:04:10 > 0:04:15what he'd told me down the road for the other bungalow.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20He said, "We shall need the money for the materials."
0:04:20 > 0:04:24Despite his promise not to ask for money up front,
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Hilda had to pay the builder the £2,000.
0:04:28 > 0:04:33Then two days later, he called her outside and pointed to the roof.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37"Look," he said, "Your tiles are all breaking up and they're
0:04:37 > 0:04:41"coming down and your roof's going to be in a mess," he said.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43I said, "That's dangerous."
0:04:43 > 0:04:48He said, "It'll want putting right, cos otherwise it's all
0:04:48 > 0:04:51"going to come tumbling down."
0:04:51 > 0:04:58"That'll be another £2,000 for doing that," and I thought, "My God,
0:04:58 > 0:05:00"what am I going to do?"
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Worried her roof was dangerous, Hilda rushed to the bank
0:05:04 > 0:05:07and withdrew some of her life savings to have the work done.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13Hilda's son Terry was alerted by a neighbour about what was going on.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16He travelled down from Lincoln to take a look at the work
0:05:16 > 0:05:17the builders had done.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19What he saw shocked him.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24It's ridiculous. They told my mother the felt had gone underneath
0:05:24 > 0:05:27the roof, had rotted away, which I knew hadn't rotted away
0:05:27 > 0:05:29because I've got bits and pieces in the roof.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32It's not damp at all, no problem at all with it.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35There was the guttering - it had been folded over.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40It hadn't been fitted right. My son poured water into the guttering.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43It was running the opposite direction.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45You put a spirit level on it and it ran the opposite way.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47You can't get the guttering wrong.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49It's no good saying, "I'll come back and get the guttering right."
0:05:49 > 0:05:52You shouldn't get it wrong in the first place.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55He said, "My God, they call themselves builders."
0:05:55 > 0:05:57He said, "It's shocking!"
0:05:57 > 0:06:02With Terry's help, Hilda took the builder to court.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06He didn't contest the case, and a judgment was issued in her favour.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09But still, the builder wouldn't pay up.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13With nowhere else to turn, Hilda got a High Court writ,
0:06:13 > 0:06:18which enables her to call on the help of the sheriffs.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22It will be clearing something in my mind and my brain to think
0:06:22 > 0:06:26somebody around is there to help us, you know.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Because there's a lot of elderly who don't know where to go,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33have got no-one to stick up for them.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Oh, God.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Determined to stick up for Hilda, Marc and Kev are currently standing
0:06:41 > 0:06:45on the doorstep of the builder, Mr Fitzgerald, trying to raise him.
0:06:45 > 0:06:46KNOCKING ON DOOR
0:06:46 > 0:06:47DOGS BARK
0:06:47 > 0:06:49They're going to hear the dogs, aren't they?
0:06:53 > 0:06:57Sheriffs have the legal power to force entry into commercial
0:06:57 > 0:07:01premises, but not at residential properties like this.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Marc can, however, climb through open windows if need be -
0:07:05 > 0:07:07but this morning...
0:07:07 > 0:07:08Hello!
0:07:08 > 0:07:10DOGS BARK
0:07:12 > 0:07:14..He doesn't need to.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17INDISTINCT VOICE
0:07:17 > 0:07:19Pardon?
0:07:19 > 0:07:22- Garage door.- Garage door, right.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25- Hello.- Hello, Mr Fitzgerald?
0:07:25 > 0:07:27- Yes.- I'm from the Sheriff's Office.
0:07:27 > 0:07:32About a High Court writ that's been issued against you
0:07:32 > 0:07:35by Miss Hilda Shaw.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Hilda Shaw?
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Regarding? Do you want to come in for a minute?
0:07:41 > 0:07:44- I'll just close this garage down. - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45DOGS BARK
0:07:45 > 0:07:47They might bark.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Mr Fitzgerald's first question?
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Which particular job is this customer complaining about?
0:07:55 > 0:08:01It's regarding Hilda Shaw. It's to do, I don't know,
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- Is it a conservatory?- Could be. - I spoke to her son yesterday.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07The job's finished.
0:08:07 > 0:08:14She took you to the County Court with regards to it, back in October.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17No payment's been made and they've sent us out here today.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20October? We only finished the job two days ago.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24- You got an address?- No. - How much is it for?
0:08:24 > 0:08:26£6,636.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28£6,000?!
0:08:31 > 0:08:33You sure it's me?!
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Yeah. Alan Fitzgerald, A-Z Builders.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37I don't want it filmed.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40You don't have a warrant to come to my house,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42so turn the camera off or get out my house.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47At this point our cameraman leaves the property,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51while Marc and Kev continue their discussions inside.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Whether they're successful in getting Hilda back the money
0:08:54 > 0:08:59a court of law says is rightfully hers, we'll find out later.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10If you win a court judgment for over £600, but don't get paid,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12all is not lost.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16For a fee of £60, your judgment can be transferred up to the
0:09:16 > 0:09:18High Court for enforcement.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20The sheriffs will then go into bat on your behalf
0:09:20 > 0:09:23and enforce the writ on the debtor.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25This place could be emptied in an hour.
0:09:25 > 0:09:30Their job is to get you back what the court says is rightfully yours.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33If they are successful, there's nothing more to pay.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37If not, the only cost is a £60 fee plus VAT.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39Okey-dokey, we'll leave you in peace.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43The latest person the sheriffs have been employed
0:09:43 > 0:09:47to use their powers to help is psychologist Dr Benedict Henry.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51A car purchase he made went badly wrong.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55This is the car which I bought from Car Club London.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Hasn't worked at all for a number of months.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00They're aware of that.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09The Audi A3 cost Ben over £4,000,
0:10:09 > 0:10:13but it broke down within days of him buying it.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17An Audi garage said it needed over £2,000-worth of repairs.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Ben took it back to where he bought it from.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24I did outline the Sale of Goods Act and my consumer rights.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26He rejected all those.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28I outlined all the faults in the vehicle -
0:10:28 > 0:10:30again, he rejected all those.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33I was left with no reasonable resolution to the problem
0:10:33 > 0:10:34at that point in time.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Ben was convinced the dealer was in the wrong.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41He studied consumer law on the Internet -
0:10:41 > 0:10:44and went to the County Court to try to get his money back.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47They'd avoided accepting any responsibility for things
0:10:47 > 0:10:51and they hadn't dealt with me in a professional manner at all
0:10:51 > 0:10:55and so I just assumed things probably wouldn't go in my favour.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59But Ben's fears were misplaced as he did manage to win a judgment -
0:10:59 > 0:11:02but that wasn't the end of the story.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Even though the verdict went his way,
0:11:04 > 0:11:08the car dealers still didn't give Ben his money back.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11So he went to the High Court to get a writ.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19And now, Enforcement Officers Lawrence Grix and Kev McNally
0:11:19 > 0:11:23are on their way to the car dealers in London to execute it.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26If the dealers don't play ball, the sheriffs will remove cars,
0:11:26 > 0:11:30auction them and give the proceeds to Benedict.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34We're looking for just under £5,500.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37If the company is still there, because it is a limited company,
0:11:37 > 0:11:42that they will have sufficient stock to warrant them paying us.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46The sheriffs need to track down the owner,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49But that's easier said than done.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52The office is deserted - so they try phoning him.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57My name's Mr Grix. I'm here today to execute a High Court writ
0:11:57 > 0:12:00to seize your stock on the forecourt to clear
0:12:00 > 0:12:04a debt for £5,567.09.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Your vehicles are going to be seized
0:12:06 > 0:12:09and if necessary removed to cover the debt.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13The man says the dealership is in the process of being sold and that
0:12:13 > 0:12:17the cars on the forecourt belong to customers and not the company.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21So you're selling these vehicles on behalf of the customers?
0:12:21 > 0:12:25So you need to come down with all your paperwork to verify that, sir.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27For Lawrence, past experience tells him
0:12:27 > 0:12:31he has to move quickly in this kind of scenario.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33You can only hit once with a car dealer,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36because the stock will go, it just won't be here.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44After 20 minutes, someone finally arrives to talk to Lawrence
0:12:44 > 0:12:48and Kev - he tells them he's the owner's brother and that
0:12:48 > 0:12:52his solicitor says the sheriffs can't enforce Benedict's writ.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04I don't need to speak to the solicitor.
0:13:04 > 0:13:10I have a High Court writ which orders me to come here
0:13:10 > 0:13:13and seize goods to the value of this debt.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25We have a live writ and we are here today to seize goods to clear this debt.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Whether your solicitor is speaking to the courts, there's a High Court writ active now...
0:13:28 > 0:13:31This is live now.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34The man says his brother's on his way
0:13:34 > 0:13:38and that he has no intention of paying either.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47We have a live writ.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49You understand the writ is the end of the system.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57There's nothing more to discuss until the owner arrives.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Doesn't look like they're going to be able to pay very easily.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04They seem to be arguing the toss that it's still with
0:14:04 > 0:14:06the solicitors and stuff, which it's not.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09We'll see what happens but I don't think payment's
0:14:09 > 0:14:12going to be very forthcoming on this one, but there are assets here.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16After half an hour on site,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20the business owner arrives to tell them that he's not going to pay.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25With a view to what?
0:14:27 > 0:14:30The writ is still live and enforceable.
0:14:30 > 0:14:35We can enforce this writ today, now and just because your solicitor has
0:14:35 > 0:14:38written to the court or whatever, it doesn't stop our action today.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42The writ orders us to come here
0:14:42 > 0:14:45and seize goods to the value of this debt.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51You're adamant you're not going to pay.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56OK, I'm going to call a truck to get some of these vehicles removed.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00The owner's truculent behaviour is forcing Lawrence's hand.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03With the boss refusing to pay, he's got no choice
0:15:03 > 0:15:07but to invoke the ultimate sanction at his disposal - to seize
0:15:07 > 0:15:11and remove goods which he can then auction to pay off the debt.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14I need Cathy to order me three tow trucks
0:15:14 > 0:15:18to come and take some vehicles away from this forecourt.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20The brother threatens to call 999.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24But Lawrence and Kev won't be frightened out of collecting
0:15:24 > 0:15:25Benedict Henry's money.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29We like the police.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Quite surprised they've gone for that option.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Yeah, I think they're foolish.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36But the brother's a proper barrack room lawyer.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38"I know this, I know that."
0:15:38 > 0:15:41And he actually knows...not a lot.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45The owner has spoken to his solicitor again
0:15:45 > 0:15:47and thinks he knows his rights.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49With the tow trucks and the police on their way,
0:15:49 > 0:15:53he decides it's time to lay down the law.
0:16:02 > 0:16:03No.
0:16:07 > 0:16:08Because we have a live writ.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12No, we don't.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Yes, we can.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Everything you've said is correct, other than the fact, you don't
0:16:39 > 0:16:42get seven days, you don't get any time.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44We're here with a live writ.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47As I've said to you, the only way to prevent further action today
0:16:47 > 0:16:49is to pay.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53Well, your stuff's going to go, then.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57As they continue to argue about whether Lawrence can seize
0:16:57 > 0:17:01cars on the forecourt, tensions mount.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03We're here to enforce the writ for our client.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07The cars are going to go.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14You need to understand they are.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Don't put your hands on him.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22You'll get arrested as soon as you touch him.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27With things getting heated,
0:17:27 > 0:17:31it's not long before the local constabulary enters the fray.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34At this point, we leave the premises.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37It doesn't take long for the police to realise
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Lawrence is well within his rights and that
0:17:39 > 0:17:43if the owner doesn't pay up, the sheriffs can take his cars.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47The reason being, we're ordered here to seize goods to the
0:17:47 > 0:17:50value of what's on the paperwork.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54The boss goes off for another chat with his solicitor
0:17:54 > 0:17:57and re-emerges with some good news.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00He's prepared to make a down-payment now with more to come.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05But as far as Lawrence is concerned, they need all the money now
0:18:05 > 0:18:09and they have strict rules too about the form of payment they'll accept.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11We don't take cheques.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13Cards...
0:18:13 > 0:18:15- Don't take cheques.- No cheques.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19Bank transfer, credit card, debit card...
0:18:19 > 0:18:23At last, three hours after they've arrived, Lawrence and Kev
0:18:23 > 0:18:29achieve their objective - the car dealer pays up by debit card.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31OK, I will now issue you a receipt.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34All that remains is the paperwork,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36and Lawrence doesn't want to hang about.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40You get a copy of that, which is the additional expenses form,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42you get that, which is the first part of a Notice of Seizure.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45You get that, which is the second part of a Notice of Seizure.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48You get that, which is the inventory that goes with a Notice of Seizure.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51It's job done.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Lovely, thank you very much indeed.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58It's a great result for the sheriffs,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01but more importantly, it means Benedict Henry getting
0:19:01 > 0:19:05a letter through the post with some good news.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09'They received payment of £6,061.69,
0:19:09 > 0:19:12paid by debit card. End of report.'
0:19:12 > 0:19:15That looks like I've got my money back.
0:19:15 > 0:19:21Very happy that I went with the sheriffs. 'Debtor attitude, uncooperative.'
0:19:21 > 0:19:23HE LAUGHS
0:19:23 > 0:19:26'Police in attendance.' That's brilliant.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29That's a good end, great stuff.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42On a rainy morning
0:19:42 > 0:19:45in West Yorkshire, Enforcement Officers Pete Spencer
0:19:45 > 0:19:48and Dave Crabtree are heading deep into farming country, looking
0:19:48 > 0:19:53to get another member of the public back money that's rightfully theirs.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Right, first job is Todmorden.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Believe it's a farm we're going to,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02so hopefully today there'll be some farming equipment.
0:20:02 > 0:20:07The man they're on their way to help is Lancashire farmer Brian Nutter.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11Like most farmers these days, he's having to work harder
0:20:11 > 0:20:14and harder for smaller and smaller returns.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18So when a neighbouring farmer reneges on a contract to pay,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21leaving him thousands of pounds out of pocket
0:20:21 > 0:20:25and relying on the sheriffs for help, it's a serious matter.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28We have to pay our bills.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31We can't get away with not paying our bills,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34so why should he get away with not paying his bills?
0:20:40 > 0:20:42For over 20 years,
0:20:42 > 0:20:47Brian Nutter's life has been all about...sheep.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51People think sheep are stupid but they're very clever.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56His passion for these woolly beasts has seen him
0:20:56 > 0:20:59develop into one of the fastest shearers in the Northwest.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04I was 16 when I sheared my first sheep.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06Shearing is all where your feet go.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12They do say shearing 300 sheep a day is equivalent to running a marathon.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19Brian's steady hand and years of experience meant sheep owners
0:21:19 > 0:21:21"flocked" to engage his services.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24As his shearing business grew, it took him
0:21:24 > 0:21:27to farms across the country.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31But Brian's fortunes took a turn for the worse when a local farmer
0:21:31 > 0:21:36named Andrew Barker came to him with an especially tough assignment.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38I've known him for a couple of years.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43He asked us to sheer his sheep. Just short of 3,000,
0:21:43 > 0:21:47we sheered for him in total. A very big job.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52The scale of the job meant Brian needed help
0:21:52 > 0:21:56and took on two extra shearers to share the work.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00He struck a deal with Mr Barker at the going rate of £1 per sheep.
0:22:00 > 0:22:05After five exhausting days providing much-needed trims to
0:22:05 > 0:22:08each of the farmer's 2,968 sheep,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Brian was looking forward to a well-earned payday.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19But with the huge crop of wool safely in the bag, despite numerous
0:22:19 > 0:22:23promises from Mr Barker, this much-needed payment never arrived.
0:22:25 > 0:22:26You trust people.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29It's just a poor do when I go and shear a sheep for a man that
0:22:29 > 0:22:31I know and won't pay me.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34He has no loyalty to the people who work for him.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39Having been forced to pay his shearers out of his own savings,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Brian was determined not to let Mr Barker fleece him.
0:22:42 > 0:22:47After two years without payment, he decided the only way
0:22:47 > 0:22:49to get his money was to sue the errant farmer.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53When the case went to court, Mr Barker admitted liability
0:22:53 > 0:22:55and was ordered to repay the money.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57But despite this ruling,
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Brian found Mr Barker still wasn't ready to pay up what he owed.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Having no other way of enforcing the agreement to pay,
0:23:06 > 0:23:11Brian's last hope of seeing his money now rests with the sheriffs.
0:23:14 > 0:23:15It's now down to Pete
0:23:15 > 0:23:19and Dave to give this country yarn its final twist.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21And if the farmer won't pay,
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Pete has an idea for raising the money that harks back to the
0:23:23 > 0:23:28earliest days of debt collection - seizing livestock.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Potentially they've got a value and they're owned by the debtor
0:23:32 > 0:23:36so we can seize and remove to sell to cover the outstanding debt.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Reaching the farm, they're on site for just a few
0:23:40 > 0:23:45moments before debtor Andrew Barker makes an appearance.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48I've got a live High Court writ. That's the reason for our attendance today.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51In connection with Mr Brian Nutter.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Did he do some sheep shearing for you or something?
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Oh, yeah.
0:23:56 > 0:24:02There's £4038.74 outstanding which is the reason for our visit
0:24:02 > 0:24:05and we've come to collect it.
0:24:05 > 0:24:06Right.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08How would you like to pay?
0:24:09 > 0:24:11Cash, credit card, debit card?
0:24:15 > 0:24:20Right, OK, so cash or bank transfer are the two options then for you.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28While Pete and Mr Barker discuss the debt,
0:24:28 > 0:24:31we're asked to leave the premises.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Worried about finding the money to pay,
0:24:33 > 0:24:37Mr Barker asks Pete for an extra day.
0:24:37 > 0:24:38I can't.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41I've got to attend today cos it's a live writ to attend today
0:24:41 > 0:24:44which is to collect the total amount or seize goods to the value of.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47Obviously we've already got your Land Rover.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Erm, so is this yours, this Toyota?
0:24:51 > 0:24:53With Mr Barker unable to find the money today,
0:24:53 > 0:24:57Pete persuades him that his best bet, if he doesn't want to lose
0:24:57 > 0:25:01his vehicles and livestock, is to sign a Walking Possession agreement.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04It gives the court ownership of the assets on paper.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07It'll be lifted if he pays up but if he doesn't,
0:25:07 > 0:25:12the sheriffs will return, remove and sell the assets to pay off the debt.
0:25:12 > 0:25:17Happy with the result, Pete wraps things up.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19So if I give you until Monday to pay it,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22as long as we've received that by Monday, we won't be coming back.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29He seems quite confident that he can come up with the full amount,
0:25:29 > 0:25:33so hopefully by Monday we'll see it in our client's holding account.
0:25:33 > 0:25:38And, a few days later, Brian Nutter got the phone call he'd been
0:25:38 > 0:25:42waiting for since he first contacted the sheriffs - they'd received
0:25:42 > 0:25:44a payment from Mr Barker.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47They've paid the sheriff.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49That's all right, is that. It has to happen yet.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Time will tell.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54And the good news is
0:25:54 > 0:25:58the payment cleared, meaning Brian got his money in full.
0:26:05 > 0:26:12Back in the Midlands, Enforcement Officers Marc and Kev are inside the home of builder Alan Fitzgerald.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16They're trying to get him to pay up the £6,600 he owes 86-year-old
0:26:16 > 0:26:22Hilda Shaw for unsatisfactory roofing work he carried out for her.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25The builder has already asked our cameraman to leave his property
0:26:25 > 0:26:29and is far from happy about paying out any money.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Marc tells Mr Fitzgerald that if necessary,
0:26:32 > 0:26:36he'll remove his assets and auction them to pay Hilda's debt.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40The negotiations continue for over an hour.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Finally, after lengthy discussions,
0:26:43 > 0:26:48Marc and Kev leave Mr Fitzgerald's house with a result...of sorts.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50He paid £800 today.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Said he's going to go to the court this afternoon or this
0:26:53 > 0:26:55morning to get it sorted.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57He says it's nothing to do with him,
0:26:57 > 0:26:59he thinks it's some lads he had working for him.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01We'll go from there and see what happens, really.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Marc and Kev head off back to base,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08and it looks like they're leaving just in time.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10What do you reckon?
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Some of the builder's labourers have arrived.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16They clearly take a dim view of today's early morning visit
0:27:16 > 0:27:18to their boss.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22Keep taking photos, I will back that truck through your windscreen.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Just go away.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27George, let's go.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Nice people(!)
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Whatever the opinions of Mr Fitzgerald's workers,
0:27:41 > 0:27:45Marc thinks they've had a profitable morning.
0:27:47 > 0:27:48It's dealt with now.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Hopefully he'll go to the court to get it sorted one way or
0:27:51 > 0:27:53another and if he has to pay, he'll pay.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57But getting full payment for Hilda from Mr Fitzgerald
0:27:57 > 0:27:59wasn't as straightforward as Marc had hoped.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Following the sheriffs' visit,
0:28:01 > 0:28:05Mr Fitzgerald failed to make any of the further payments he'd promised.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08It meant Marc and Kev had to make a second visit to the builder's
0:28:08 > 0:28:11house, which, despite him not being at home,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14eventually provoked him into paying up in full.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18For Hilda, it was final vindication.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22I'm absolutely thrilled to bits.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27I really thank the people that have been working on this case.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32It was such a relief to see this cheque.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Oh, dear, very, very pleased.
0:28:35 > 0:28:40Mr Fitzgerald denies carrying out unnecessary work.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44He says he thought Hilda Shaw was happy with the job he was doing...
0:28:55 > 0:28:59Still to come - this man was sold a stolen beach buggy.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03Lawrence and Kev go to ask the man that sold it to him
0:29:03 > 0:29:06for nearly £5,000.
0:29:09 > 0:29:14Marc and Tony's attempts to get £11,000 from this man
0:29:14 > 0:29:15run into difficulty.
0:29:15 > 0:29:21- Are you going to pay any money?- £1.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23No, any sensible amount of money.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27And the sheriffs take on one of the world's largest companies.
0:29:27 > 0:29:33I have a judgment for £149,481.93.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35I can't let you into the building.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37Unfortunately, you can't stop me.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41Bournemouth, in Dorset.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45One of the UK's most popular seaside destinations for both holiday-makers
0:29:45 > 0:29:47and for people in their retirement.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52Someone who knows this more than most is David Hart.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56He runs a care home in the town for people with Alzheimer's and dementia.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01But two years ago, it was David that needed help.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03He had a heart attack,
0:30:03 > 0:30:06and it radically changed his approach to life.
0:30:06 > 0:30:11When I was in the hospital, that is the most scariest thing ever.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14I actually asked the nurses, "Am I going to die?"
0:30:14 > 0:30:18And that's scary. Really scary.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21What David didn't realise was that the change
0:30:21 > 0:30:24he made would see him thousands of pounds out of pocket
0:30:24 > 0:30:28and forced to go to court to try and get it back.
0:30:30 > 0:30:34After his heart attack, he decided to spend more time with his family
0:30:34 > 0:30:36and had the idea of buying a beach buggy,
0:30:36 > 0:30:41so they could make the most of the summer holidays.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45David found one advertised on eBay by a local man, Colin Humphries.
0:30:45 > 0:30:51After inspecting it, David agreed to pay £2,500 for it.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55Son Jack loved the buggy.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59But when David applied to the DVLA for the vehicle's log book,
0:30:59 > 0:31:03rather than sending it, the DVLA gave David some bad news.
0:31:03 > 0:31:09I was told that somebody else had claimed ownership of the vehicle
0:31:09 > 0:31:13and I said, "I don't see how, cos I have the vehicle in my garden."
0:31:13 > 0:31:15He said, "No, somebody else owns it."
0:31:15 > 0:31:20David called the police and told them what the DVLA had said.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23They came down, they said that it was stolen.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27Arranged for it to be picked up, which was gutting, you know,
0:31:27 > 0:31:31there's my dreams on the back of a low-loader, going up the road
0:31:31 > 0:31:33and I've done nothing wrong.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36David phoned Colin Humphries who said he'd reimburse him,
0:31:36 > 0:31:39but he never did, so David took him to court.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43Mr Humphries claimed he bought the buggy in good
0:31:43 > 0:31:46faith from a person who later reported it stolen.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50The court didn't accept this and he was ordered to repay David,
0:31:50 > 0:31:52but he failed to do so.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56Now the matter's in the hands of the sheriffs.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01Which is why Lawrence and Kev are on their way to Colin Humphries'
0:32:01 > 0:32:04house, about to try and get David's cash
0:32:04 > 0:32:07and their costs for enforcing the writ.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11The total now stands at £4,700.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14It's getting on for five o'clock in the evening now,
0:32:14 > 0:32:17so we should have a chance of making contact with them.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22Lawrence and Kev know little about the man they're visiting
0:32:22 > 0:32:25and can only guess how he'll react to the two of them
0:32:25 > 0:32:28turning up at his home to demand nearly £5,000.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39Hello there, sir, looking for Colin Humphries, would that be yourself?
0:32:39 > 0:32:43- Yes.- Enforcement Officers here to execute a High Court writ
0:32:43 > 0:32:48against you in favour of a...David Hart.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53Here today to seize goods to the tune of £4,717.63.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58Have you got any way of paying this? Some of it?
0:33:02 > 0:33:03Are you on benefits?
0:33:06 > 0:33:09- Have you got paperwork to show you're signing on?- Yeah.
0:33:09 > 0:33:10Can I have a see of that?
0:33:14 > 0:33:16And who said you can film me?
0:33:16 > 0:33:19At this point, our camera operator was asked by Mr Humphries
0:33:19 > 0:33:21to leave the property.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23Mr Humphries started to shout
0:33:23 > 0:33:26so loudly it could be heard down the street.
0:33:28 > 0:33:29Fair enough.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Sorry, can my colleague get a picture of...?
0:33:33 > 0:33:35DOOR SLAMS
0:33:37 > 0:33:38With the door firmly shut,
0:33:38 > 0:33:42all Lawrence can do is post a copy of the writ through the letterbox.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48I have to leave you some paperwork, sir.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50How am I being cocky?
0:33:53 > 0:33:56I'm just here doing a job.
0:33:58 > 0:33:59I'm just doing a job.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Can we just calm down? I just need to leave you some paperwork, sir.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Are you happy for me to just leave you some paperwork?
0:34:26 > 0:34:27I'll fill out some paperwork
0:34:27 > 0:34:32and I'll just put it through your door for you.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35From a safe distance, Lawrence lists property that could be
0:34:35 > 0:34:38removed on a second visit to pay off the debt.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40But with little of value on view,
0:34:40 > 0:34:44the chances of David Hart getting his money are not looking good.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46He's coming back out now.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48- What's he up to then? - I don't know.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50But they may not be at a safe distance after all.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53Mr Humphries has come out to the road.
0:34:55 > 0:34:56There you go, sir.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59What I've put on here is if you want to...
0:35:05 > 0:35:08No, sir. We're not County Court bailiffs.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10Do you want to just take this, sir?
0:35:11 > 0:35:13You don't have to take it, no.
0:35:15 > 0:35:20Before going back into the house, Mr Humphries threatens Kev again.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23I'm here doing a job.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32Sir, we're not sent out for aggravation.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34We're just trying to get a job done.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36What I was going to explain to you...
0:35:36 > 0:35:38You're entitled to your opinion, sir.
0:35:45 > 0:35:46You're entitled to your opinion.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48I'm here doing a job, aren't I?
0:36:01 > 0:36:03Sir, we're not here for aggravation.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26With Mr Humphries' threats becoming more extreme,
0:36:26 > 0:36:29it's clear nothing can be achieved by staying any longer.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32Lawrence and Kev make their exit.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36For them, this kind of visit is not unusual.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38You're dealing with people that don't want you to be there,
0:36:38 > 0:36:42whereas most other walks of life you're dealing with people
0:36:42 > 0:36:44that do want you to be there.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48We're never welcome. That's just a fact of life.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51This wouldn't usually be the end of matters,
0:36:51 > 0:36:56but with no assets to seize, even sheriffs can draw a blank.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00And since we filmed, Mr Humphries obtained a debt relief
0:37:00 > 0:37:03order from the Insolvency Service, which prevents any further
0:37:03 > 0:37:06enforcement action against him for this debt.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10It's now unlikely David Hart will ever get his money back.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23As the sun rises over Essex, not everyone is enjoying its peace
0:37:23 > 0:37:25and quiet.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31Marc and Tony are on the road again. This time they're on their way
0:37:31 > 0:37:35to meet one of their trickiest-ever adversaries.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38We're looking for a company called the QC Laboratory Ltd.
0:37:38 > 0:37:43The amount we're looking for on this is £11,673.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47QC Laboratory made employee Teresa Kelly redundant after she'd
0:37:47 > 0:37:50worked for them for 23 years.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54An employment tribunal ruled she was sacked without proper procedure
0:37:54 > 0:37:57and wasn't paid the redundancy money,
0:37:57 > 0:37:59wages or holiday pay she was owed.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03So today, it's Marc's job to try and get her the money owed.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10Found it anyway, I think, mate.
0:38:11 > 0:38:16They arrive and pull up. They're looking for boss Andrew Jennings.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19After knocking at the office, a man answers
0:38:19 > 0:38:22and says he's not the boss but that he does know him.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24We're after the QC Laboratory.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27- He's left.- Do you know how long ago they left?
0:38:27 > 0:38:30They went into liquidation before Christmas.
0:38:33 > 0:38:37The man says he runs a different company at the same address.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40But Marc wants proof the two are not connected
0:38:40 > 0:38:43and asks to see any letters or correspondence which might
0:38:43 > 0:38:46prove which company's based at the address.
0:38:47 > 0:38:51You haven't got something with that on postal-wise, have you?
0:38:53 > 0:38:56- Have I got something on postal-wise? You're- BLEEP- joking.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59Why should I have something postal-wise?
0:38:59 > 0:39:00I just post the invoices out.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04- You haven't got a business rate bill?- No.- Phone bill? Gas bill?
0:39:04 > 0:39:06Electric bill?
0:39:07 > 0:39:11So this whole building, you're saying to me, pays no bills?!
0:39:11 > 0:39:15The man might be shy about his post, but suddenly,
0:39:15 > 0:39:18he reveals some more crucial facts.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22He's Alan Jennings, father of company owner Andrew Jennings
0:39:22 > 0:39:26and the original founder of QC Laboratory Ltd.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28He says the company's now being wound up
0:39:28 > 0:39:32and it's his job to settle its final debts.
0:39:32 > 0:39:33The company's still...
0:39:33 > 0:39:35We're not trading any more.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38So you liquidated the company, is that what you're saying?
0:39:38 > 0:39:41Mr Jennings goes inside and Marc follows him.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43To get his client's money,
0:39:43 > 0:39:46he might need to seize any remaining company assets.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49As it trades in specialist laboratory equipment,
0:39:49 > 0:39:52he's hoping there's plenty of machinery inside.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54But to take possession of it,
0:39:54 > 0:39:58Marc needs to prove it still belongs to the company named on his writ.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02And moments later, bingo!
0:40:02 > 0:40:05Marc finds recent letters addressed to QC Laboratory
0:40:05 > 0:40:09and other evidence the company is still trading.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11Just got a calibration certificate for one of these machines
0:40:11 > 0:40:13here which was done six days ago
0:40:13 > 0:40:18so, for a company that's closing down or going into liquidation,
0:40:18 > 0:40:21I don't know why you'd bother getting your machines calibrated.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26How can this come in on 1st June, which is five days ago, for a company
0:40:26 > 0:40:28that liquidated six months ago?
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Dead easy. Because I'm selling up the assets.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35OK, there's still assets belonging to the company.
0:40:35 > 0:40:36No, there isn't any assets.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40Well, you're going to need to show me proof that none of this belongs.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42How can I show you proof?
0:40:42 > 0:40:45Well, if you can't, we're going to be removing it.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47Right, OK.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Well, I'll start listing this.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55The company assets are in line to be removed. Only problem is,
0:40:55 > 0:40:59the value of the ageing machinery is unlikely to cover
0:40:59 > 0:41:03the £12,000 debt and, with the company being wound up,
0:41:03 > 0:41:07Mr Jennings feels he's got little to lose by refusing to pay.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09I haven't asked them yet.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13Sheriffs' fees are added to the debtor's bills so, so if Marc
0:41:13 > 0:41:16and Tony are successful, there's no more for the client to pay.
0:41:16 > 0:41:21If they're unsuccessful, the only cost is a £60 fee, plus VAT.
0:41:23 > 0:41:24So, do you want to pay?
0:41:24 > 0:41:27I don't want to pay. What is it?
0:41:27 > 0:41:30The outstanding amount. £11,673.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35I would not pay a penny.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39You're not going to pay a penny? OK.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42I would not pay her one penny.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45I'll pay her a pound, that's all I think she's worth.
0:41:45 > 0:41:49Despite his machinery being in jeopardy,
0:41:49 > 0:41:53there's only one asset Mr Jennings seems determined to hold on to.
0:41:59 > 0:42:00All right, I won't take that.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06We're just in a position now where we're trying to see
0:42:06 > 0:42:08if he wants to pay something.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10He looks like he's not budging.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13We'll hang on in here for a while, we'll list all the goods
0:42:13 > 0:42:17and see where we go from here.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21Look, if you can't pay anything today...
0:42:21 > 0:42:24A pound.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27No, not a pound. Let's be sensible about this.
0:42:27 > 0:42:28I'm not paying.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31With little in the way of leverage,
0:42:31 > 0:42:34Marc's got his work cut out to get Mr Jennings to pay.
0:42:34 > 0:42:39We'll see how he gets on later.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50As another day dawns in West Yorkshire, in his van
0:42:50 > 0:42:54and on his way to work is Enforcement Officer Pete Spencer.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57Today, he's off to see if he can bring a happy ending
0:42:57 > 0:43:00to a love story gone wrong.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04This morning, we're going to a jewellers in Brighouse,
0:43:04 > 0:43:05West Yorkshire.
0:43:07 > 0:43:12Total amount we're looking for is £6,813.87.
0:43:12 > 0:43:16The people Pete's on his way to help
0:43:16 > 0:43:21bought an engagement ring for £4,100 from Fine Design Products Limited,
0:43:21 > 0:43:24trading as Kingston Diamond Merchants.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27But the ring the couple came away with was a different weight,
0:43:27 > 0:43:30colour and clarity to the one they thought they were buying.
0:43:30 > 0:43:33They went to court and the Judge agreed that the jeweller
0:43:33 > 0:43:37misrepresented the ring he sold them and awarded in their favour.
0:43:41 > 0:43:45It's now Pete's job to make love's young dream come true
0:43:45 > 0:43:48and get the unhappy couple their money back.
0:43:48 > 0:43:51if Kingston Diamond Merchants won't pay up, Pete's happy to
0:43:51 > 0:43:55show them why diamonds are a sheriff's best friend.
0:43:55 > 0:43:59Hopefully have goods in the shop which we will seize on entry
0:43:59 > 0:44:06and remove if need be to secure the outstanding debt
0:44:06 > 0:44:10or collect the payment in full, which hopefully we'll be able to do today.
0:44:12 > 0:44:14Sheriffs like early starts,
0:44:14 > 0:44:18but arriving at 9am, Pete might be a bit too early.
0:44:18 > 0:44:20The shop's yet to open.
0:44:20 > 0:44:23Pete manages to grab a quick word with the shop staff.
0:44:25 > 0:44:29What she said through the window is the owner's not here till Friday,
0:44:29 > 0:44:33and they're not willing to deal with it seemingly but I'm sure they'll
0:44:33 > 0:44:37be on the phone now to the owner to let them know somebody's outside.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40He needs to be getting himself down here, really, because we're looking
0:44:40 > 0:44:46for full payment today or to remove items from within the jewellers.
0:44:48 > 0:44:52And the moment the doors do open, Pete's the first to go through them.
0:44:52 > 0:44:53Good morning.
0:44:53 > 0:44:56While Pete explains his visit to the staff,
0:44:56 > 0:44:59we're asked to stay outside the premises.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02'I'm an Enforcement Officer. I've got a High Court writ.
0:45:02 > 0:45:06'It's £6,813.87, today as we speak,
0:45:06 > 0:45:11'so I've come to collect the total amount due today or seize goods.'
0:45:11 > 0:45:16Moments later, the shop staff get owner Mr Kingston on the phone.
0:45:16 > 0:45:18He wants to know why he's had no warning
0:45:18 > 0:45:22he was about to be visited by a High Court Enforcement Officer.
0:45:22 > 0:45:24'It's an High Court writ.
0:45:24 > 0:45:27'I definitely don't have to serve any warrant on you prior to my arrival.
0:45:27 > 0:45:30'I'll just explain, I've got a live High Court writ,
0:45:30 > 0:45:33'which means I can attend here today without prior notice
0:45:33 > 0:45:36'to collect the outstanding amount or seize goods.'
0:45:36 > 0:45:38Pete warns Mr Kingston
0:45:38 > 0:45:41that if he doesn't pay up, he can remove goods.
0:45:41 > 0:45:44Mr Kingston continues to argue with him
0:45:44 > 0:45:46and the more he does so,
0:45:46 > 0:45:48the more Pete's bill rises.
0:45:48 > 0:45:52I think you're just delaying tactics, to be fair.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55But I'm here now, that's the only problem.
0:45:55 > 0:46:01At the moment I'm into the next hour so I have to charge you.
0:46:01 > 0:46:04Mr Kingston says he's waiting for the infamous ring to be
0:46:04 > 0:46:07returned before he'll consider paying up.
0:46:07 > 0:46:10But as the judgment states that the newlyweds don't need to
0:46:10 > 0:46:13return the ring until they get their money back, this won't stop
0:46:13 > 0:46:18Pete enforcing the writ and doing his bit to stop trouble in paradise.
0:46:18 > 0:46:22The case of him returning the ring isn't anything to do with me
0:46:22 > 0:46:24collecting this money.
0:46:24 > 0:46:25It's not relevant whatsoever.
0:46:29 > 0:46:34That's up to you. End of day, best is pay it, you've got 14 days
0:46:34 > 0:46:37to put a claim in against it and then you sort it from there.
0:46:37 > 0:46:41If the shop owner won't pay, Pete will have no choice
0:46:41 > 0:46:44but to remove some products from the store.
0:46:44 > 0:46:47He lets Mr Kingston know this, but the shop owner doesn't seem
0:46:47 > 0:46:51bothered by his threat and it's not long before Pete's had enough.
0:46:51 > 0:46:55Because of your attitude, I'm not going to leave items on site now.
0:46:55 > 0:46:58I was going to ring our office and see if they'd allow me
0:46:58 > 0:47:01to seize items on paperwork and leave them on site but I'm not going
0:47:01 > 0:47:04to do that now - due to your attitude, I'm going to take the items with me.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06Your attitude towards me isn't acceptable.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09With no payment forthcoming or likely today, Pete decides to
0:47:09 > 0:47:14take decisive action and asks staff to round up some rocks.
0:47:14 > 0:47:18I'm going to take approximately £28,000-worth of goods today.
0:47:18 > 0:47:22I've got to take quadruple the amount on the levy.
0:47:22 > 0:47:25Under the orders of an officer of the High Court,
0:47:25 > 0:47:29the staff have little choice but to say, "I do."
0:47:29 > 0:47:34With the stones now in his hands, Pete's in a hurry to get away.
0:47:34 > 0:47:37He might have all the collateral he needs,
0:47:37 > 0:47:40but he's also now got himself a security situation in case
0:47:40 > 0:47:44any potential robbers have been keeping an eye on him.
0:47:44 > 0:47:46So we've moved away from the premises now.
0:47:46 > 0:47:49I'm just making sure nobody's following us or anything like that.
0:47:49 > 0:47:53Obviously, once we're in the vehicle, it's a safe vehicle,
0:47:53 > 0:47:55it locks us in the vehicle.
0:47:55 > 0:47:59I'm just going to pull into a safe place and then we can discuss
0:47:59 > 0:48:03what's happened in there and the way we're moving forward with that case.
0:48:03 > 0:48:08In a secret location, Pete talks us through what the shop have
0:48:08 > 0:48:11told him the diamonds are worth and what happens next.
0:48:11 > 0:48:16Those particular diamonds there have got a retail value of £10,000
0:48:16 > 0:48:20and the trade value on those is £3,000.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22That's a picture of the four diamonds,
0:48:22 > 0:48:24which are one-carat stones each,
0:48:24 > 0:48:29and they're retailing at 15,000, trade value of 5,000.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32In this bag are the diamonds.
0:48:32 > 0:48:34I've asked them, each individual one I've photographed has
0:48:34 > 0:48:36actually gone in there.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38I've asked the shop and I've witnessed them
0:48:38 > 0:48:40to seal that bag there and sign over the seal.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43I've no reason to go into that bag until it's returned to them
0:48:43 > 0:48:45or until it goes to auction to sell.
0:48:45 > 0:48:49£28,000 of precious stones might mean different things
0:48:49 > 0:48:51to different people.
0:48:51 > 0:48:55To Pete, however, they're just part of the job.
0:48:55 > 0:48:59Doesn't make any difference to me. It's just a bag, isn't it?
0:49:01 > 0:49:03And since we filmed,
0:49:03 > 0:49:06Kingston Diamond Merchants paid the debt owed in full.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09The diamonds seized were duly returned to them.
0:49:09 > 0:49:13It means that, thanks to Pete, the couple whose ring was mis-sold
0:49:13 > 0:49:17can finally buy the diamond they've always dreamed of.
0:49:26 > 0:49:30Back in Essex, and Marc and Tony are still on the premises
0:49:30 > 0:49:33of QC Laboratory Ltd, trying to convince former boss
0:49:33 > 0:49:39Alan Jennings to pay up £12,000 owed to former employee Teresa Kelly.
0:49:39 > 0:49:43She'd worked for the company for 23 years before she was made
0:49:43 > 0:49:47redundant without receiving the payment she was due.
0:49:47 > 0:49:49I would not pay her one penny.
0:49:49 > 0:49:53Unfortunately, Mr Jennings is proving a handful,
0:49:53 > 0:49:55unwilling to pay up and only too aware of the limited
0:49:55 > 0:49:59value of those company assets on site.
0:50:02 > 0:50:04Are you going to pay any money?
0:50:04 > 0:50:06No. I told you, £1.
0:50:06 > 0:50:09No, any sensible amount of money?
0:50:15 > 0:50:17But this is one of its debts.
0:50:17 > 0:50:20But Mr Jennings has other things on his mind.
0:50:20 > 0:50:22Will they make me a star out of this?
0:50:22 > 0:50:24I think you might be.
0:50:24 > 0:50:26I think you could be.
0:50:26 > 0:50:28You've got that Bruce Willis look about you.
0:50:32 > 0:50:36But even Bruce Willis would struggle to get money out of Mr Jennings.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39So do you want to give us some money, Alan?
0:50:39 > 0:50:41Not a pound.
0:50:41 > 0:50:43Don't go on about a pound!
0:50:47 > 0:50:49Never parting with more than a pound?
0:50:49 > 0:50:51That's right, mate.
0:50:51 > 0:50:54Marc's having little luck getting payment
0:50:54 > 0:50:57and Mr Jennings has threats of his own.
0:51:00 > 0:51:02No, you can't lock us in.
0:51:02 > 0:51:03Why not?
0:51:03 > 0:51:07- Because that would be imprisonment. - We'd have you nicked for that.
0:51:10 > 0:51:15With Mr Jennings refusing to budge, there's not much more Marc can do.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18He seizes what assets he can see on paper,
0:51:18 > 0:51:22but they're not worth much and Alan Jennings knows it.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25And with that, Marc and Tony call it a day.
0:51:26 > 0:51:28All right, we're leaving a list of goods with you.
0:51:28 > 0:51:30- We're not going to take them. - Oh, please.
0:51:30 > 0:51:34You've got seven days in which to prove that they don't
0:51:34 > 0:51:35to the company.
0:51:35 > 0:51:37We can come back at any time.
0:51:37 > 0:51:39Any time you like.
0:51:39 > 0:51:41Even if you're not here.
0:51:41 > 0:51:43And force entry to remove these goods.
0:51:45 > 0:51:48You cannot take them goods out of here now.
0:51:54 > 0:51:56Let's go cos he's doing my brain in.
0:52:02 > 0:52:06- See you later.- Seven days. - Or maybe not, if you pay.
0:52:06 > 0:52:10We've just listed the goods and we're leaving cos we're not going to get anywhere.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13It's been a tricky trip for Marc.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15He's played everything by the book,
0:52:15 > 0:52:18but when there's nothing in the way of seizable assets to use
0:52:18 > 0:52:23as leverage, even sheriffs can hit an Alan Jennings-sized brick wall.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27The goods in there were of no value.
0:52:27 > 0:52:29I actually do think if we do go to that extreme with him
0:52:29 > 0:52:32and start taking everything out of there and cleared that whole
0:52:32 > 0:52:36place out I just think he'd go, "Oh, whatever, I'll just go home."
0:52:36 > 0:52:38I don't think he's that bothered.
0:52:38 > 0:52:42Since we filmed, due to the lack of assets on site,
0:52:42 > 0:52:44the case has been closed.
0:52:44 > 0:52:48Teresa Kelly is now pursuing other means of getting her money.
0:52:58 > 0:53:02The sheriffs' work isn't only about enforcing
0:53:02 > 0:53:05writs against individuals and small firms.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07Sometimes, they're ordered by the court
0:53:07 > 0:53:10to take on some of the largest companies in the world.
0:53:10 > 0:53:15And today, Lawrence and Kev are in the middle of one such case.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17They're in the Home Counties,
0:53:17 > 0:53:20tasked with enforcing a High Court writ against one
0:53:20 > 0:53:23of the world's largest IT services companies, Fujitsu.
0:53:29 > 0:53:34The total outstanding at the moment is £149,481.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37A vast amount of money.
0:53:37 > 0:53:41Absolutely no doubt they've got the money to pay this
0:53:41 > 0:53:45and I would estimate they've got the assets to cover it as well.
0:53:45 > 0:53:48At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what excuses they come up with,
0:53:48 > 0:53:51how big their company is, they've got a debt and we're here to collect it.
0:53:51 > 0:53:55The sheriffs might be asking for a lot of cash, but Fujitsu's
0:53:55 > 0:54:00worth a lot of money, with over £30 billion in revenues.
0:54:00 > 0:54:03Time for Lawrence to get the ball rolling.
0:54:03 > 0:54:05Hello there. I'll show you my ID.
0:54:05 > 0:54:10We're here to execute a writ against Fujitsu Services.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14The security guard says Lawrence can't come in
0:54:14 > 0:54:17until they've had the OK from above.
0:54:17 > 0:54:19But Lawrence has news for him.
0:54:19 > 0:54:21You can't stop us coming in.
0:54:21 > 0:54:24I know what you're saying and I fully respect your position
0:54:24 > 0:54:26and I'm happy for you to contact someone who can deal with this,
0:54:26 > 0:54:30but when it comes to a point of law, you can't stop us coming in.
0:54:30 > 0:54:36If necessary, sheriffs can force entry to commercial premises.
0:54:36 > 0:54:40But for the time being, they decide to park round the corner and wait.
0:54:48 > 0:54:50After 15 minutes on the side of the road,
0:54:50 > 0:54:55Lawrence and Kev are finally approached by someone in authority.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58Got any details of what this is about?
0:54:58 > 0:55:01Because I can't get anybody for you unless we have some more details.
0:55:01 > 0:55:06They've got a judgment, with our costs,
0:55:06 > 0:55:09for £149,481.93.
0:55:09 > 0:55:10I can't let you into the building.
0:55:10 > 0:55:13I'm not allowed to let you into the building.
0:55:13 > 0:55:15Unfortunately, you can't actually stop me.
0:55:15 > 0:55:18- I can stop you.- You can't. - At the moment, I can stop you coming into the building.
0:55:18 > 0:55:22You can't. I'm not trying to be awkward.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25We've been very co-operative at the moment.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27Your security staff have asked us to wait here.
0:55:27 > 0:55:30I can understand the sensitivity of your business.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33My policy is that I don't let you into the building.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36I'm in control of this building and I'm not allowed to let you in.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39Unfortunately, as an Enforcement Officer executing a High
0:55:39 > 0:55:44Court writ, I can force entry into a commercial premises if necessary.
0:55:44 > 0:55:45We don't need permission.
0:55:45 > 0:55:48We do not need permission to enter your building.
0:55:48 > 0:55:52What do you need to enter the building for? Because we don't know...
0:55:52 > 0:55:53To seize goods. To seize goods.
0:55:53 > 0:55:56We're here to seize goods.
0:55:58 > 0:56:03The shaken Fujitsu employees head off to talk to their superiors,
0:56:03 > 0:56:07leaving Lawrence and Kev to continue waiting outside.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10But after half an hour of sitting by the side of the road,
0:56:10 > 0:56:15with no sign of any progress, Lawrence has had enough.
0:56:17 > 0:56:19You want to come in, do you?
0:56:19 > 0:56:24To be honest, I don't think we've been treated particularly
0:56:24 > 0:56:27professionally or courteously so far.
0:56:27 > 0:56:29We've done the utmost to be professional
0:56:29 > 0:56:31and respectful to your situation here.
0:56:31 > 0:56:35We're not looking to come storming round the place,
0:56:35 > 0:56:37see all your latest technology.
0:56:38 > 0:56:40We're here to execute a High Court writ
0:56:40 > 0:56:43and what we're asking is to be treated in a courteous manner.
0:56:43 > 0:56:45We have the right to enter.
0:56:45 > 0:56:48If you're not going to allow me to enter, I'm just going to park
0:56:48 > 0:56:51my vehicle here and go in on foot and if anybody tries to stop me
0:56:51 > 0:56:54I will call the police because it's an arrestable offence to obstruct
0:56:54 > 0:56:57an Enforcement Officer in the execution of a writ.
0:56:57 > 0:56:59Now, we don't want to go down that road,
0:56:59 > 0:57:01we just want to be treated with some courtesy...
0:57:01 > 0:57:04Some of us have just got here.
0:57:04 > 0:57:07- We didn't know you was coming. - I can appreciate that.
0:57:07 > 0:57:09Give me a couple of minutes.
0:57:09 > 0:57:12Finally, things seem to be happening.
0:57:12 > 0:57:17Lawrence is invited inside to discuss matters with someone in authority.
0:57:17 > 0:57:20It's progress, but does it mean a payment's on its way?
0:57:21 > 0:57:25Lawrence is inside for nearly an hour before he emerges.
0:57:25 > 0:57:29and in the chess game that is Lawrence Grix versus Fujitsu,
0:57:29 > 0:57:32Lawrence has captured some major pieces.
0:57:32 > 0:57:35He was quite insistent they weren't going to pay today,
0:57:35 > 0:57:37so I've basically seized the entire
0:57:37 > 0:57:41contents of the building or as much as needs be to cover the debt.
0:57:41 > 0:57:46If it doesn't get paid or resolved in a satisfactory manner,
0:57:46 > 0:57:49then we will be back and if necessary we will remove goods.
0:57:49 > 0:57:53Lawrence has carried out a Walking Possession, which means he's
0:57:53 > 0:57:58listed property he can remove at a later date if the debt isn't paid.
0:57:58 > 0:57:59Thanks to Lawrence,
0:57:59 > 0:58:04the High Court now owns just about everything in Fujitsu's head office.
0:58:04 > 0:58:07And Lawrence's forceful move clearly did the trick.
0:58:07 > 0:58:11Soon after his visit, the firm owed the money by Fujitsu
0:58:11 > 0:58:14was finally paid, in full.
0:58:14 > 0:58:19All £149,481 of it.
0:58:21 > 0:58:23Fujitsu told us:
0:58:53 > 0:58:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd