0:00:02 > 0:00:06What do you do if you're ripped off and don't know where to turn?
0:00:06 > 0:00:09I outlined the faults in the vehicle. He rejected all those.
0:00:09 > 0:00:14A court of law backs you, but you still don't get your money.
0:00:14 > 0:00:19You can't do that. It's illegal. I didn't think they'd do it to me.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22It's time to call the sheriffs.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27We have every right to enter the premises by force, if necessary.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29We will be entering that building.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Sheriffs are High Court enforcement officers,
0:00:33 > 0:00:35who recover what a court judgement says is owed.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40The writ orders us to come here
0:00:40 > 0:00:43and seize goods to the value of this debt.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47They're the experts in getting cash that's rightfully yours.
0:00:47 > 0:00:48?1,323.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54But fighting for the underdog is not a job for the faint-hearted.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I will back that truck through your windscreen!
0:00:57 > 0:01:00Debtors aren't pleased to see them.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Because they hate paying up.
0:01:02 > 0:01:07Are you happy for me to leave you some paperwork? No, I'm not, go away!
0:01:10 > 0:01:12In today's programme,
0:01:12 > 0:01:1726-year-old Helen Sargent suffered a traumatic experience at work.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19I managed to break free
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and just ran out of the office as soon as I could.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Helen won her sexual-harassment case,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29but her ex-boss never gave her the money she was awarded.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Can the sheriffs put that right?
0:01:32 > 0:01:33Crunch day is today.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35You need to sort out what you can sort out.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Sheriff Pete tries to track down the manager
0:01:38 > 0:01:43of a construction company which owes a former employee ?8,000.
0:01:43 > 0:01:44KNOCKING
0:01:44 > 0:01:48I can't see the guy's car that we spoke to earlier.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53And Dr Benedict Henry bought a car which was a disaster from day one.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56The dealers refused to fix it or give him his money back.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58He did inform you that he knew the law
0:01:58 > 0:02:01and he just rejected my return of the vehicle.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05The sheriffs pay them a visit and, when things get heated,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08the police race to the scene.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Helen Sargent lives in Epsom, Surrey.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Helen needs the help of the sheriffs after a distressing experience
0:02:19 > 0:02:22at an office where she used to work.
0:02:22 > 0:02:29In 2005, Helen started a job as a PA to a mortgage adviser.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Initially, she got on well with her boss and everything was fine.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37He seemed quite friendly, chatty, confident.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41He seemed able to offer me a lot.
0:02:41 > 0:02:42He talked about the job prospects
0:02:42 > 0:02:45and the things that I could learn and things like that.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51But after a few weeks, Helen, who was just 20 at the time,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54sensed a change of atmosphere in the office.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58I started noticing sexual remarks and jokes and innuendos
0:02:58 > 0:03:03and they seem to be happening more frequently than when I first started.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06And it began to get uncomfortable.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08And it wasn't just talk.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Soon after starting,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Helen was told about a rather disturbing daily ritual.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18I was informed that the routine when we arrived
0:03:18 > 0:03:21and when we left was a kiss on the cheek.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25And so we'd have to go up to him and he's kiss us on the cheek
0:03:25 > 0:03:29when we first arrived in the morning and then when we left.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32And I remember if we tried to get away with not doing this
0:03:32 > 0:03:34and go straight to our desks,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37he would ask where his kiss this morning was.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Two months after Helen started,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42the inappropriate behaviour reached a whole new level.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45I think I was working to about seven o'clock.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47He'd stayed in the office, as well,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50and as I got up to say goodbye and kiss him on the cheek,
0:03:50 > 0:03:55um, his hand wandered down and started groping my bottom.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00And he was holding me in an embrace I couldn't get out of,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03because he was quite a big man.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05And then I managed to break free
0:04:05 > 0:04:08and just ran out of the office as soon as I could.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14The situation began to impact on Helen's health
0:04:14 > 0:04:17to the point where she started having panic attacks
0:04:17 > 0:04:19and suffering from depression.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22I wasn't sleeping, eating, wasn't really going out at the weekends
0:04:22 > 0:04:24and I turned into a nervous wreck.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30After six miserable months, Helen handed in her notice.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32Finally, she found strength to tell her partner Chris,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35and her parents, what had been going on.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38As soon as I told my family,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42I felt cushioned, like a huge relief that everyone knew
0:04:42 > 0:04:44and that they were there for me.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47They looked after me for the next couple of months.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49They got me better again.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53My mum and Chris, my husband, are responsible, um...
0:04:55 > 0:04:56Sorry.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03SHE SOBS
0:05:04 > 0:05:09I just, um, don't know what I would have done without them.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15After weeks of soul searching,
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Helen decided to take her former boss to an employment tribunal.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23I wanted to get justice for what had happened
0:05:23 > 0:05:26and make him realise that it wasn't acceptable.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Just stop him from doing it in the future to anyone else.
0:05:33 > 0:05:38Helen won her employment tribunal case and was awarded compensation.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41The amount I was awarded was ?38,000
0:05:41 > 0:05:46and that was a combination of injury to feelings,
0:05:46 > 0:05:50which is to do with how it affected me and the stress it caused
0:05:50 > 0:05:56and the panic attacks and ongoing depression that had come from it.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59And, also, loss of earnings for the fact I couldn't go back
0:05:59 > 0:06:03to full-time employment and I'd also lost a fairly good job
0:06:03 > 0:06:06and been forced out of working there,
0:06:06 > 0:06:08and they took that into account, as well.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15But the tribunal just makes the award, it doesn't enforce it.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18And Helen's ex-boss refused to pay up.
0:06:18 > 0:06:24After four years of trying to get her money, Helen had little option.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27She transferred her award to the High Court, got a writ
0:06:27 > 0:06:30and asked the sheriffs to execute it.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38It's 6.30am and High Court enforcement officers Lawrence Grix
0:06:38 > 0:06:43and Kevin McNally are on their way to the home of Helen's former boss.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Enforcement officers, who are also known as sheriffs,
0:06:46 > 0:06:49do a job that dates back to Saxon times.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Because of interest and court costs,
0:06:51 > 0:06:56the figure owed by Helen's ex-boss is now ?44,000.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59It's a large sum but Lawrence and Kev have discovered
0:06:59 > 0:07:01he owns a valuable Harley-Davidson motorbike.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06We've done a check on it. It is still registered to him.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08It is clear of finance
0:07:08 > 0:07:10and we're hoping to find that there when we arrive.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14If we do, we'll immobilise it straight away.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17With something like that, a motorbike, a car,
0:07:17 > 0:07:19they can easily be driven away
0:07:19 > 0:07:22if you don't secure them as soon as you see it.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26And then we'll give him a knock and see what he's got to say for himself
0:07:26 > 0:07:29and see what sort of payment he's going to make.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Lawrence and Kev have arrived.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37They can't see the Harley out front, so they get out and search on foot.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Lawrence has spotted an alley down the side of the house.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Kev doubts it's wide enough for a Harley.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47It's hardly wide enough for a Lawrence.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52He's never going to get a motorbike down there, dipstick.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Get a mountain bike down there.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58With no sign of the Harley, there's nothing else for it,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00it's time to wake up Helen's former boss.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08If he isn't in, Helen won't be getting her money today.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Unlike with commercial properties,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13the sheriffs can't break in to debtors' houses.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17KNOCKS ON DOOR
0:08:19 > 0:08:21That's a bailiff knock.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Definitely not a postman.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Yeah, light's on.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Morning. I'm looking for a Mr Alan Finch. Would that be yourself, sir?
0:08:32 > 0:08:34MAN INSIDE: No, sorry.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37No, it's me. Mr Finch? Hello there, sir.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40If you put a light on, I'll show you my identification.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48My name is Mr Grix. I'm an enforcement officer.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51I'm here today to reinforce the High Court writ
0:08:51 > 0:08:55against you on behalf of a Miss Helen Sargent.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58You were found liable at an employment tribunal, I believe.
0:08:58 > 0:09:04Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah? I am here today for ?44,022.12.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12How would you like to pay, sir? Yeah! Erm, I don't know. What's...?
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Well, we need a significant payment.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17We're here effectively for the full amount,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20but I can understand you're not going to have ?44,000
0:09:20 > 0:09:21sitting in your back pocket,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25but I need to know what sort of payment you can make today
0:09:25 > 0:09:28to at least get the ball rolling.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32It's got to be something significant with this size of debt.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36You'll be lucky to get that, it's as simple as that. Significant in what?
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Well, what, you know, I'm not going to give you a figure.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41You need to tell me what you can pay.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43A couple of hundred pounds I could do.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46That's not even going to scratch the surface.
0:09:46 > 0:09:5044,000. I haven't got 44,000. I can appreciate that.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53A couple of hundred is getting absolutely nowhere.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57You need to raise at least the value of your goods within
0:09:57 > 0:09:59the property, or we will remove them instead.
0:09:59 > 0:10:04I rent a room here. You rent a room here? Yes. You can see, look.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Come in here and have a look.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Yeah, locks on everybody's doors, yeah.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15So you're upstairs, are you? Yes.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16It's bad news.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Rather than living in a house full of removable goods,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Helen's former boss lives in a rented upstairs flat.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Is there not somewhere you can borrow the money from?
0:10:25 > 0:10:29We can take someone else's card or something? 44,000, I can't...
0:10:29 > 0:10:31No, but, for a significant amount. No.
0:10:33 > 0:10:34Can I have today to sort the...?
0:10:34 > 0:10:37No, sir, we're here now. We will seize goods now.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40You know where I am. With respect, sir, this goes back a couple of years
0:10:40 > 0:10:41and you've not paid any of it.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47So, when judgment was made against you at the tribunal,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50you just thought, "Unless somebody chases me, I can forget it, then."
0:10:50 > 0:10:53No, but... You know. Since I walked away on that day, I've had no...
0:10:53 > 0:10:58It has been two years, Sir, you've not attempted to pay anything,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01so we are certainly not going to go away and come back.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03You know, crunch day is today,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06so you need to go and sort out what you can sort out.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10If the sheriffs do fail to get Helen any money,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12she will only have to pay the initial ?60 court fee.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21At this point, our camera operator was asked not to enter the building.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Negotiations continue behind closed doors.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34After an hour, Kev emerges
0:11:34 > 0:11:37and gets the chip-and-pin machine out of the car.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Perhaps things are looking up for Helen.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Half an hour later, Kev and Lawrence re-emerge.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54But what is the result?
0:11:54 > 0:11:58It turns out the property is just rented out as rooms
0:11:58 > 0:12:02and all he's got is a room on the first floor, no real assets,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04he had a flat screen TV.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09An Apple laptop and an iPhone were about the major assets.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12He had some model railway carriages,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15which potentially have some value in them to somebody,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18but really there was nothing there to seize.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20No sign of the Harley-Davidson,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22although he has got Harley memorabilia all over the place,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25so we believe he's still got the Harley.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28So, in the end, we've settled for ?1,000,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30which is all he could come up with today.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33He didn't even want to part with that, and,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36to be fair, when you've got no leverage of any goods,
0:12:36 > 0:12:38?1,000 was pretty good, really,
0:12:38 > 0:12:43because the stuff in there would have raised probably 150 quid at auction.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45So we've achieved more than we would have done
0:12:45 > 0:12:47by seizing what few assets he had got.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49But we still need to find the Harley-Davidson.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Personally, what I would do in this situation, because I drive
0:12:53 > 0:12:56through this way on a regular basis to and from work,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59is make a slight detour to come down this road
0:12:59 > 0:13:02and see if the thing's ever outside his house. I'll carry my lock,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05I carry a copy of the writ with me and, if I see it here,
0:13:05 > 0:13:08I'll immobilise it and give him a knock
0:13:08 > 0:13:11and, if necessary, take it away.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Lawrence also got Helen's boss to sign paperwork
0:13:15 > 0:13:18which gives him access all areas if he does need to come back.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24We can re-enter the premises at any time
0:13:24 > 0:13:27to make sure the things we've seized are still there,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30because they are supposed to remain on the premises.
0:13:30 > 0:13:31If we need to, we can break in,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34that's what the agreement empowers us to do,
0:13:34 > 0:13:38because the goods we seized are no longer his property, technically.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41They now belong to the court. So if we need to do that, we will do that.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45But, for now, Lawrence and Kev will have to settle for ?1,000.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50Just another 43,000 to go before Helen gets what she is owed.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00Kev and Lawrence travelling to the next early-morning job
0:14:00 > 0:14:03at a builder's home in Norfolk.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06They've tried visiting him three times before,
0:14:06 > 0:14:08but he's never been in.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13The amount he owes one of his suppliers now totals ?8,500.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Everybody deserves to be paid for the services
0:14:16 > 0:14:19they provided or the materials they provided.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21If they're a small business,
0:14:21 > 0:14:25a debt like this could have them on the edge.
0:14:25 > 0:14:30So it's not for us to judge. Somebody owes the money we collect it.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34They've arrived at the builder's house.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38I'm sure I haven't seen that Jeep before. Wasn't there, was it?
0:14:41 > 0:14:44The sheriffs usually go for a stealthy approach.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46But Kev's got different ideas.
0:14:46 > 0:14:47CAR HORN TOOTS
0:14:47 > 0:14:50KEV SNIGGERS What are you beeping at me for?
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Seeing a different car on the drive has raised Lawrence's hopes
0:14:53 > 0:14:55he'll finally meet the builder in person.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01And there's another clue that the builder is back from holiday.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Post been collected from last time. KNOCKS ON DOOR
0:15:05 > 0:15:10Even if the builder is home, he may take some rousing at 7am.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12There's a newspaper in there. Unless it's a local rag,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14if you have a newspaper delivered,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17you're normally in to read it, aren't you?
0:15:17 > 0:15:19If necessary, Lawrence could get a tow truck
0:15:19 > 0:15:21to remove the builder's car,
0:15:21 > 0:15:24but first he needs to prove it belongs to the business.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29Oh, look, it must be his vehicle.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Federation of Master Builders thing in the window.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41This wasn't here last time, this Jeep. No.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Kev's just seen signs of life inside.
0:15:50 > 0:15:51There you go.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Somebody here, is there?
0:15:56 > 0:15:57Hello, sir. Hello.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00I'm looking for a Clive Brown, would that be yourself?
0:16:00 > 0:16:02I'll show you some ID, sir.
0:16:02 > 0:16:03Mr Grix, I'm an enforcement officer.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06We're here to execute a High Court writ.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10You owe the sum in total of ?8,563.41.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12If you can't pay that in full today,
0:16:12 > 0:16:14we're here to remove goods to clear the debt.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16We've left paperwork before and had no response from you.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19I haven't seen any paperwork, because I haven't been here.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23I've been abroad. And when did you get back, sir?
0:16:23 > 0:16:25On 7th October. Right.
0:16:25 > 0:16:267th October? Yes.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29We were here not that long ago.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32We left mail in your box there,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35which can't be opened by anybody who hasn't got a key,
0:16:35 > 0:16:37so you have the letter, sir.
0:16:37 > 0:16:38If I have, I've had it.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Right. I've put in for a winding-up order, anyhow.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44We've been at the courts... Yeah. ..to go bankrupt.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Have you got paperwork, sir? They're still sorting it out.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49Have you paid your ?500 to make yourself bankrupt?
0:16:49 > 0:16:51My accountant paid it, should have done.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55Right, have you got proof of that? Not here, no.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Right, has your accountant got proof of it? I should hope so. Yes.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Have you got a fax machine here?
0:17:01 > 0:17:06Yes. Is he able to fax it over to you? I can speak to him at 10.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09He gets in at 10, does he? That's going to be a bit too late.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12If we've got no proof of that then, basically,
0:17:12 > 0:17:16we're looking to remove that vehicle today to clear the debt. Yeah?
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Yeah. Or, can I give you a cheque? Don't take cheques, sir.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Cleared funds. But we don't take cheques.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Cards, we do credit cards, debit cards, we do cash.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29You can do a bank transfer online.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31I can pay you some on a card,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34but I haven't got a card that would take it all.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37I can pay you some on the card and...
0:17:37 > 0:17:39How much can you pay on the card, sir?
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Um, ?3,000.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44Right, have you got another card you can pay the rest on, or anything?
0:17:44 > 0:17:47How much...? When you say you're going to give us a cheque
0:17:47 > 0:17:51you were going to give us a cheque for the full amount? Well...
0:17:51 > 0:17:53The builder asks for the camera to stay outside
0:17:53 > 0:17:56while he negotiates with the sheriffs.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00His offer goes up to 5, then ?7,000.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05And, finally, the full amount, 8,500.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09But he says he needs two hours to source the funds.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Kev gets the debit-card machine
0:18:12 > 0:18:15and Lawrence breaks some bad news about overtime charges.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19Unfortunately, we charge ?181.50 an hour waiting time.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21You get the first hour.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25We were here at dead on seven so you get to 8 o'clock free.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28If it goes to quarter past, I'll cut you some slack,
0:18:28 > 0:18:30if we get near the next hour, nine o'clock,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33then I will be charging the hour's waiting time.
0:18:33 > 0:18:34We'll try and do our best for you.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41The builder rapidly finds the funds.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43That's it. OK.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45It's mission accomplished.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47Here is your one, Mr Brown.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50OK, Mr Brown, thank you.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Lawrence and Kev's persistence
0:18:52 > 0:18:55paid dividends for the builder's supplier owed the money.
0:18:55 > 0:18:56Take care.
0:18:56 > 0:19:01Initially, he offered 3,500. We pushed and then he offered five,
0:19:01 > 0:19:02we pushed some more.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05I asked him to show me what he had in the account.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08He had 7,000 in basically a brand-new account, so we took that
0:19:08 > 0:19:13and he offered the a card for his old account for the balance.
0:19:13 > 0:19:14So it's paid in full.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Without any drama at all.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18But he didn't want his vehicle to go.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22That was our leverage, the vehicle sitting on the drive.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Successful job, fourth time lucky. We don't give up.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31If we know somebody's there, we'll come back and back and back and back
0:19:31 > 0:19:33until we get what we want.
0:19:41 > 0:19:448am and sheriff Pete Spencer is on his way
0:19:44 > 0:19:47to Southern UK Road Services in Manchester.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51The company owes ?8,000 to Lesley McGowan-Stonier,
0:19:51 > 0:19:56a former employee unfairly dismissed after being signed off sick.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59She took the company to a tribunal and they settled out of court.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03But the company still hasn't paid Lesley,
0:20:03 > 0:20:05so she got a High Court writ for the cash.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09For Pete and his colleagues, business is booming.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11There seems to been that much debt around,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14or people trying not to pay things,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17and it's generally the innocent people, really,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20that haven't done anything wrong that are owed the money
0:20:20 > 0:20:22and a lot of companies out there
0:20:22 > 0:20:26are trying to get away from not paying what's owed.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Pete's arrived, but the business is all closed up.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Sheriffs are allowed to scale fences
0:20:36 > 0:20:39and climb walls to get into commercial properties if necessary.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42But, understandably, Pete doesn't fancy that here.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47On the plus side, there are vans in the car park.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51If they belong to the business, he could remove them
0:20:51 > 0:20:52to help clear the debt.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56This potentially could be one of theirs,
0:20:56 > 0:21:00so I'll see if I can get a reg number off this.
0:21:00 > 0:21:01There's nobody about.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04We'll hang around for 15 or 20 minutes, just in case
0:21:04 > 0:21:06they do start at nine o'clock,
0:21:06 > 0:21:10we've got a couple of reg numbers of vehicles on the compounds,
0:21:10 > 0:21:11so we'll levy them
0:21:11 > 0:21:12and leave a levy sheet
0:21:12 > 0:21:15and we'll get the office to HPR and DVLA-check them
0:21:15 > 0:21:20as well, to see if they come back to them and they're finance free.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Things are looking up. Someone's arrived.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Hi, good morning. Hello.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Southern UK Road Services Ltd?
0:21:28 > 0:21:32I'm an enforcement officer enforcing a High Court writ today. Right.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34That's my identification. Yeah.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37It's regarding the claim of Lesley McGowan-Stonier
0:21:37 > 0:21:41against, obviously, this company that we're visiting.
0:21:41 > 0:21:47?7,873.75. Right. We're looking for payment today.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Or we potentially could be removing vehicles.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53There is a colleague of mine who is supposed to be dealing with this.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56He's not in at the moment. What time will he be in, do you know?
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Probably a bit after 10, but what I'll do is, um...
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Do you want to try getting him on the phone
0:22:00 > 0:22:03and see if you can give you information regarding it?
0:22:03 > 0:22:07It might be another option. Can you give me five minutes? Fine, yes.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10A quick question. I've taken the vehicles as staff vehicles
0:22:10 > 0:22:12and I've listed them,
0:22:12 > 0:22:14but there's no point with them being staff vehicles.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17We've got the other vehicles up here, anyway.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20I just thought then I'd chat to him to get myself in the yard,
0:22:20 > 0:22:25so now we can list some more vehicles.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30The guy you need to talk to, I've just spoken to him,
0:22:30 > 0:22:32he's on his way in but he won't be in until later.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34OK, do you know what time?
0:22:34 > 0:22:37I think it's going to be something like between 10 and 10.30.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41If you come back a bit later, I'll talk to him. 10 o'clock? Right, OK.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44That's fine. Somebody will be here about ten-ish. OK.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Cheers, thank you. Sorry about that.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48I'm not trying to be evasive.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50No, that's fine. No problem, we'll pop back about ten-ish.
0:22:50 > 0:22:5510am is an hour away. Pete will have to bide his time.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Dr Benedict Henry is a psychologist in London,
0:23:05 > 0:23:08who needs the help of the High Court enforcement officers
0:23:08 > 0:23:11after a car purchase went wrong.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15This is the car, which I bought from Car Club London.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20It hasn't worked at all for a number of months. They are aware of that.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24The Audi A3 cost Ben over ?4,000,
0:23:24 > 0:23:28but it broke down within days of him buying it.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32An Audi garage said it needed over ?2,000 of repairs.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36Ben took it back to where he bought it from.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39I outlined the Sales of Goods Act and my consumer rights,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41but he rejected all those.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45I outlined the faults in the vehicle. Again, he rejected those.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49I was left with no reasonable resolution to the problem
0:23:49 > 0:23:50at that point.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52He did inform me he knew the law, and that's a quote.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55He said, "I know the law with regards to car dealing."
0:23:55 > 0:23:58He'd been doing it for three or four years, he said.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02And he just rejected my return of the vehicle to his premises.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Ben was convinced the dealer was in the wrong.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08He studied consumer law on the internet
0:24:08 > 0:24:12and went to the County Court to try to get his money back.
0:24:12 > 0:24:17To be honest, I wasn't that hopeful, because I assumed they wouldn't pay.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20Because they'd stopped any correspondence with me.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24They avoided accepting any responsibility for things
0:24:24 > 0:24:28and they hadn't dealt with me in a professional manner at all.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31I assumed that things probably wouldn't go in my favour.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34But Ben did get judgment in his favour in the court case.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37However, that wasn't the end of the story.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Even though the verdict went Ben's way,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45the car dealer still didn't give him his money back.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48So Ben went to the High Court to get a writ.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Now, sheriffs Kev and Lawrence
0:24:51 > 0:24:55are on their way to the car dealership in London to execute it.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59If the dealers don't play ball, the officers will remove cars,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02auction them, and give the proceeds to Ben.
0:25:02 > 0:25:07We're looking for just under ?5,500.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11If the company is still there, it is a limited company,
0:25:11 > 0:25:15that they will have sufficient stock to warrant them paying us.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18But you never know.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21It could have changed to another company.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24It could be different people there altogether.
0:25:24 > 0:25:25We won't know until we get there.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29But I'm hoping that the actual defendant company
0:25:29 > 0:25:31will still be there and I have plenty of stock on the forecourt.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37The sheriffs need to track down the owner of the dealership.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39That's easier said than done.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41The office is deserted.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44So they try phoning him.
0:25:44 > 0:25:45My name is Mr Grix.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47I'm an enforcement...
0:25:47 > 0:25:48Grix. G-R-I-X.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52I'm an enforcement officer
0:25:52 > 0:25:55and I'm here today to execute a High Court writ.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00I'm here... Execute a High Court writ.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03I'm here today to seize your stock on the forecourt
0:26:03 > 0:26:07to clear a debt of ?5,567.09.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10Your vehicles are going to be seized
0:26:10 > 0:26:12and, if necessary, removed to cover the debt.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Any vehicles on the forecourt that will cover the debt.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22You've sold the business to someone else. They've opened a new company.
0:26:22 > 0:26:23Right.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26They're in the process of opening it?
0:26:26 > 0:26:28They're in the process of opening it?
0:26:28 > 0:26:31Right, so they're not trading yet?
0:26:32 > 0:26:36Right, so all these vehicles here are your responsibility, sir.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39All these vehicles here are your responsibility, aren't they?
0:26:39 > 0:26:45You are alleging that these are customers vehicles, OK?
0:26:45 > 0:26:48So, presumably, if the new company is not trading yet,
0:26:48 > 0:26:49you're still trading.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53So you're selling these vehicles on behalf of the customers?
0:26:53 > 0:26:56So you need to come down with your paperwork to verify that, sir.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Yes, we're going to wait here, yes.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02You need to do that as soon as possible, sir.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04OK. Bye-bye.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07For Lawrence, past experience proves
0:27:07 > 0:27:10he has to move quick in this kind of scenario.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15You can only hit once with a car dealer. Because the stock will go.
0:27:15 > 0:27:16It just won't be here.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Someone has arrived to talk to the High Court enforcement officers.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23He says he is the owner's brother.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25My name is Mr Grix.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27I'm an enforcement officer.
0:27:27 > 0:27:32I'm here to execute a High Court writ on behalf of Dr Benedict Henry
0:27:32 > 0:27:34against Car Club London Ltd
0:27:34 > 0:27:39and I'm here today to seize goods to the value of ?5,567.09.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42The only way to prevent that happening is to pay in full, sir.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45OK. We have been speaking to the solicitor. Yeah?
0:27:45 > 0:27:47I can give you the solicitor's phone number.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49I don't wish to speak to the solicitor.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Speak to the court about it. Right.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54I just called her, she is out for lunch. Right.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58I don't need to speak to the solicitor, sir.
0:27:58 > 0:27:59I have a High Court writ.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03Which orders me, it orders me to come here
0:28:03 > 0:28:06and seize goods to the value of this debt. I've got a right.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Yeah. I've got a right, like, to stop this.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13Yeah, legally, our solicitor is going to speak to the court.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17We have a live writ and we are here today to seize goods
0:28:17 > 0:28:20to clear the debt. Whatever your solicitor is doing,
0:28:20 > 0:28:22speaking to the courts, there is a High Court writ active.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25This is live now. Which is why we're here.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29Your brother just told me none of the vehicles here belong to the company.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31They belong to third parties.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33You're selling them on behalf of private individuals,
0:28:33 > 0:28:35which I find very hard to believe.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38He also told me the business is no longer running,
0:28:38 > 0:28:41it's been sold to another company.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44It's not sold yet. We are actually selling it.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47That's not what your brother told me. It might be misunderstood.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50Maybe you misheard it.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53But he said we haven't sold it yet.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55It's not been sold yet.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58We are the owners. Yeah, he's here, he's on his way.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00That's cool if he's here, but there is a writ.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02These vehicles belong to Car Club London?
0:29:02 > 0:29:04You're selling them yourselves?
0:29:04 > 0:29:07You're not selling them on behalf of the parties are you? I don't know.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11You don't know? You work together, but you don't know. He's the owner.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15The man may not be the owner, but he's sure he knows
0:29:15 > 0:29:18what the owner's going to say when he arrives.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21He's not giving no money. You can't even seize the cars, you can't.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25Why's that? It's his premises.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27We have a live writ.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30You understand the writ is the end of the system?
0:29:30 > 0:29:32Yeah, but, we didn't know that.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34This case is proving far from straightforward.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38It doesn't look like they are going to be willing to pay very easily.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41They seem to be arguing the toss, that it's still with solicitors,
0:29:41 > 0:29:44which it's not, so we'll see what happens.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47But I don't think payment's going to be forthcoming on this one,
0:29:47 > 0:29:49but there are assets here.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54Half an hour later, the owner arrives.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58My solicitor has already contacted the court. With a view to what?
0:29:58 > 0:30:02With, obviously, whatever the situation, he's dealing with it.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04The writ is still live and enforceable.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07We can enforce this writ today, now.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11Just because your solicitor has written to the court, or whatever,
0:30:11 > 0:30:13it doesn't stop our action today.
0:30:13 > 0:30:14The writ is live.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18The writ orders us to come here and seize goods
0:30:18 > 0:30:19to the value of this debt.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21The case is under process, anyway.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24So you're adamant you're not going to pay?
0:30:24 > 0:30:25Sorry? No. We're not. Right.
0:30:25 > 0:30:30OK, I'm going to call the trucks to get some of these vehicles removed.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32Hello, it's Lawrence, who's that?
0:30:32 > 0:30:36I need Cathy to order me, I would say, three tow trucks
0:30:36 > 0:30:38to take vehicles away from this forecourt.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40Yeah.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43The tow trucks should arrive within the hour.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45The brother threatens to call 999.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48If it makes you happier, call the police. OK?
0:30:48 > 0:30:50We like the police.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54I'm surprised they've gone for that option.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56I am. I think they're foolish, but there you go.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59The brother's a proper barrack-room lawyer.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03I know this, I know that, and he actually knows...
0:31:03 > 0:31:04not a lot.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08So with the tow trucks and the local police on their way,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10the stand-off in Southall continues.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21Back in Manchester, Pete returns to the construction company
0:31:21 > 0:31:23for his 10 o'clock appointment
0:31:23 > 0:31:26with the consultant who's dealing with the debt.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29I've got some more vans coming back in.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33I'll quickly get that reg number.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35Another one to add to the list.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40I'll pop back in here and see what's happening.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42HE KNOCKS AT DOOR
0:31:47 > 0:31:50HE KNOCKS AT DOOR
0:31:50 > 0:31:54I can't see the guy's car that we spoke to earlier.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59He's probably done one. I'll give him a quick call.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03There's no answer from the mobile.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08Just when Pete was starting to think he'd been duped,
0:32:08 > 0:32:09the manager returns.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11And he has news.
0:32:11 > 0:32:16Hiya. You OK? Yeah. I'm going to deal with it. OK?
0:32:16 > 0:32:20Um, now I've been speaking to Steve
0:32:20 > 0:32:22and he's dealing with it with lawyers.
0:32:22 > 0:32:27Right. He said serve the papers. Yeah. Whilst we are trying to deal
0:32:27 > 0:32:29with the lawyers right now and to get this sorted,
0:32:29 > 0:32:33and we are going to get it sorted one way or another.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36So if you serve the papers on me we will resolve this.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40What is he trying to resolve as such? A payment. A payment? Yeah.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Now, he's trying to do a deal based on the fact that the company
0:32:43 > 0:32:46doesn't have any money at the moment. We have limited funds.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50So he's trying to arrange either a payment plan, or a lump sum,
0:32:50 > 0:32:51but that is in his hands.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54That can be done through me. We take an initial payment.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56We can sort a payment plan out.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58He's not here, he's dealing with the lawyers.
0:32:58 > 0:32:59If you give me your contact details.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02It's all on the paperwork. Fantastic.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05What I've done is list the vehicles in the yard, that I explained before.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09We're not removing them, but we have levied them to protect the debt.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12As you'll find out, they do not belong to our company.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14The traffic-light trailers and generators,
0:33:14 > 0:33:17have you got evidence of who owns those?
0:33:17 > 0:33:20There'll be something somewhere but I don't have that right now,
0:33:20 > 0:33:22but we can forward any information to you.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Have you got anything on site you can show us
0:33:25 > 0:33:28to prove who owns what, that I've levied?
0:33:28 > 0:33:30I wouldn't know where to start to look for it.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33We can get some information to you in the next few days,
0:33:33 > 0:33:35if that's acceptable.
0:33:35 > 0:33:36That's fine. OK.
0:33:38 > 0:33:39By listing the trucks,
0:33:39 > 0:33:43Pete has increased the pressure on the business to pay the debt soon.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Can you read that, it's a walking possession agreement,
0:33:48 > 0:33:51which means we will not move any goods today. All right.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55The businessman has just five days to find the paperwork Pete is after.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59If he can't establish his business doesn't own the vehicles,
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Pete can remove them to settle the debt.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04He said he can't put his hands on paperwork at the moment
0:34:04 > 0:34:07to prove what belongs to them and what doesn't belong to them.
0:34:07 > 0:34:12But there are enough goods there that could possibly be in their name,
0:34:12 > 0:34:16so we would look to remove those if they don't make a payment.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19And if they don't make a payment, Pete will be back,
0:34:19 > 0:34:22and, next time, he'll have his tow trucks with him.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28We asked Southern UK Road Services to comment.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31They say they are a caring and nurturing business.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35We will return to this story later in the series.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44At his home in London, Dr Ben wakes to find out how the sheriffs
0:34:44 > 0:34:49are faring at the car dealership that sold him a faulty car.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54The owner of the dealership has spoken to his solicitor again
0:34:54 > 0:34:55and is trying to buy more time.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59We need seven days,
0:34:59 > 0:35:03yeah, for, obviously, a solicitor to get the letters back from the court.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08And, obviously, we'll take it from there. No.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13Why is that, because, obviously...? Because we have a live writ.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15Let me just... You have to give notice. No, we don't.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18You can't just come straight in. No, we don't.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22You can't take the cars. Yes, we can. No, my friend. Yes, we can.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24What I'm saying is we need seven days' notice so the solicitor
0:35:24 > 0:35:26gets a letter back from the court, as well.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29Obviously, they're going to set aside, anyway,
0:35:29 > 0:35:32because we weren't present at the judgment
0:35:32 > 0:35:33plus we didn't get the post.
0:35:33 > 0:35:37So the court has to, obviously, consider all the circumstances
0:35:37 > 0:35:41and then... Right. ..take it from there.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43Everything you've said is correct,
0:35:43 > 0:35:45other than the fact that you don't get seven days,
0:35:45 > 0:35:46you don't get any time.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50We're here with a live writ, as I've said to you.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53The only way to prevent further action today is to pay.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56I can't make the payment today. If I could, I would have.
0:35:56 > 0:35:57The stuff's going to go, then.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02With the dispute going nowhere, the local constabulary enters the fray
0:36:02 > 0:36:05and Lawrence uses the opportunity
0:36:05 > 0:36:09to tell the car dealer his overtime is building up.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11We got here at 1:15
0:36:11 > 0:36:16and we charge ?181.50 plus VAT per hour waiting time.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19So you're now on two hours' waiting time,
0:36:19 > 0:36:23so you've got another ?363 plus VAT. What time?
0:36:23 > 0:36:241:15.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27I just spoke to my solicitor.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30BROTHER: What we are doing is we can pay you some sort of money now.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33It needs to be all of it. Sorry? It needs to be all of it.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36It needs to be all of it? The full amount.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39The reason being we are ordered here to remove, to seize goods
0:36:39 > 0:36:42to the value of what's on the paperwork.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45As far as the sheriffs are concerned, it's all or nothing
0:36:45 > 0:36:49and they have strict rules about the form of payment, too.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52OK, we'll give you the money. I'll get my cheque book.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54We don't take cheques.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57A company cheque? Don't take cheques.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59So? Cleared funds. KEV: Debit card, credit card.
0:36:59 > 0:37:04Bank transfer, credit card, debit card. Any amount of cards.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07BROTHER: You expect someone to keep 5,000 in their pocket?
0:37:07 > 0:37:10It's a company cheque. We don't take checks.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13Where does it say that that you can't accept cheques?
0:37:17 > 0:37:20"Payment must be made to this office only..." Blah, blah, blah.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22"Cash, banker's draft,
0:37:22 > 0:37:24"building society cheque..." which isn't a cheque,
0:37:24 > 0:37:26it's equal to a banker's draft from a building society,
0:37:26 > 0:37:29"or credit or debit cards."
0:37:29 > 0:37:31We do not take cheques.
0:37:31 > 0:37:36If you can write a cheque, you can pay by debit card.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39We've got a chip-and-pin machine.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41And we can put it through.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:37:46 > 0:37:49I'll just work out exactly how much it is for you.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53If my calculator's got enough digits!
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Because a cheque will go ba-doing, doing, doing.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01That will be the end of that.
0:38:01 > 0:38:02How are you paying? Card.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04Card?
0:38:04 > 0:38:07Debit or credit? Debit.
0:38:07 > 0:38:12I've got the key, I'll get it. Right. The amount is now ?6,056.69.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16Do you want to make a receipt first? No. A receipt first?!
0:38:16 > 0:38:19I'm going to pay you.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21You'll get a receipt after it's been paid.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26Do you mind if we stand in here, out of the rain?
0:38:26 > 0:38:28Cheers. Otherwise the paperwork will get wet
0:38:28 > 0:38:30and I won't be able to write on it.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32At last, three hours after they arrived,
0:38:32 > 0:38:35Lawrence and Kev achieve their objective.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38OK. I will now issue you a receipt.
0:38:38 > 0:38:39Just take that.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41Dr Ben will get his money.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47All that remains is the paperwork
0:38:47 > 0:38:49and Lawrence doesn't want to hang about.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52You get a copy of that, which is the additional expenses form.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56You get that, which is the first part of a notice of seizure.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58You get that, which is the second part of the notice.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01You get that, which is the inventory that goes with the notice.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03It's job done.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06Lovely. Thank you very much indeed. Thanks, guys.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08OK. We're going. Thank you very much.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11Lawrence's ten-year experience as a sheriff helped him
0:39:11 > 0:39:14stay one step ahead of the car dealers.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18They all know this and know that. That's the problem you have.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22If people just listened to you and you could tell them actually
0:39:22 > 0:39:26how it is, and they took it in and understood it, you'd be all right.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29But when they've got half a dozen people advising them different things
0:39:29 > 0:39:32and none of them really know what's going on,
0:39:32 > 0:39:36it just makes it very awkward and the water gets very muddied.
0:39:36 > 0:39:42With their mission accomplished, Lawrence and Kev return to base.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46Dr Ben is about to find out what happened
0:39:46 > 0:39:49when the sheriffs visited the car dealers.
0:39:50 > 0:39:56They received payment of ?6,061.69 paid by debit card.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59End of report.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03So that looks like I've got my money back. Very happy.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05Very happy that I went with the sheriffs.
0:40:05 > 0:40:07Just very happy it's been resolved, actually and, yeah,
0:40:07 > 0:40:09hopefully, I've learned a lesson
0:40:09 > 0:40:12and, hopefully, these guys have, as well.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16"Debtor attitude - uncooperative.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18"Police in attendance."
0:40:18 > 0:40:22That's brilliant. That's a good end. Great stuff.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33It's now a month since Pete went to Southern UK Road services.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35After his visit, they made a repayment proposal
0:40:35 > 0:40:40to the former employee owed money, but it was rejected.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44Soon, Pete will be back and, this time, he won't leave empty-handed.
0:40:45 > 0:40:50In addition to the cash retrieved by Lawrence and Kev,
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Dr Ben also managed to reclaim over ?600
0:40:52 > 0:40:54in insurance and servicing costs,
0:40:54 > 0:40:57which he forgot to put through the courts.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00He hasn't bought a new car yet, but, next time,
0:41:00 > 0:41:03he's going to be more careful where he buys it.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09And it's now two months since Helen Sargent's former boss
0:41:09 > 0:41:13was visited by the High Court enforcement officers.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16Lawrence and Kev are trying to negotiate a monthly payment plan
0:41:16 > 0:41:18that Helen is happy with.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22At the moment, he is offering to pay the debt over a 15-year period.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Helen is determined to wait as long as it takes.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31I'm not going to stop until the debt's been paid.
0:41:31 > 0:41:32It was ordered for a reason
0:41:32 > 0:41:35and he shouldn't be able to get away with it.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38It's not over until he's paid up in full.
0:41:58 > 0:42:03Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd