0:00:02 > 0:00:05What do you do if you're ripped off and don't know where to turn?
0:00:05 > 0:00:08I did outline all the faults.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13A court of law backs you, but you still don't get your money.
0:00:13 > 0:00:19Little did I know how long it would take to recover the money from him. Sorry...
0:00:19 > 0:00:22It's time to call the Sheriffs.
0:00:22 > 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 > 0:00:35Sheriffs are High Court enforcement officers who recover what a court says is owed.
0:00:35 > 0:00:41The writ orders us to come here and 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 > 0:00:49£1,323.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54But fighting for the underdog isn't a job for the faint-hearted.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I'll back through your windscreen!
0:00:57 > 0:01:02- Debtors aren't pleased to see them...- They're harassing me! - ..and hate paying up.
0:01:02 > 0:01:07- Are you happy for me to leave you some paperwork?- No. Go away!
0:01:09 > 0:01:12In today's programme...
0:01:12 > 0:01:16If you did three months' work, you'd expect to get paid for it,
0:01:16 > 0:01:22but in Yasmin Shattur's case, 12 weeks' work at a pharmacy earned her nothing.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27I'm just small fry, but I have earned this money.
0:01:27 > 0:01:32Lawrence takes on a lawyer in pursuit of Yasmin's cash.
0:01:32 > 0:01:38- I'm asking you for the third time for your boss's name.- Just phone the office.- What's his name?
0:01:38 > 0:01:44The Sheriffs get given the cold shoulder when they chase up a debt in Derbyshire.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48We're putting your phone through the cat flap.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53And the Sheriffs are back on the trail of the builder who took an 86-year-old
0:01:53 > 0:01:57for over £4,000 of shoddy and unnecessary roofing work.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Don't let him escape.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Get him by the tail or anything!
0:02:03 > 0:02:08Hopefully there won't be no trouble. If we need the police, we'll give them a call.
0:02:12 > 0:02:19A couple needing the Sheriffs' help are Yasmin Shattur and her husband Al-Nasir.
0:02:19 > 0:02:25A professional pharmacist, Yasmin was working at a local chemist in north-west London
0:02:25 > 0:02:30when she decided she wanted to leave and become self-employed.
0:02:31 > 0:02:37The company owner, Bijal Patel, convinced her to stay on an extra month
0:02:37 > 0:02:39as he was winding up the business.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43Mother of two Yasmin agreed as a favour.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46In the end, she stayed on for three extra months,
0:02:46 > 0:02:52but when she invoiced for payment, she got nothing, no matter how hard she chased.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56He would never answer the phone. Whenever I used to phone the office,
0:02:56 > 0:03:00the manager would always give me an excuse -
0:03:00 > 0:03:06either he's out of town or he will pass on the message or he's not in the office.
0:03:06 > 0:03:12With her phone calls getting nowhere, Yasmin tried writing to Mr Patel,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14but her letters were also ignored.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19Yasmin wasn't prepared to give up on the money she was owed.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23'I felt very strongly because I have provided services
0:03:23 > 0:03:27'and I have worked for it. That is how I felt about it.'
0:03:27 > 0:03:32An individual should not be able to get away with something like this.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36I'm just, to put it very simply, small fry,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40but I have earned this money. I have worked for it.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45'So I genuinely felt that this was not fair.'
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Yasmin took Green Oaks Pharmacy to the Small Claims Court.
0:03:49 > 0:03:56It took two years to come to court, but when it finally did, Green Oaks didn't attend.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02The court awarded Yasmin £5,874, which she feels goes some way to vindicating the strain involved
0:04:02 > 0:04:05in pursuing her case.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07'If you count the effort,'
0:04:07 > 0:04:11the paperwork, the stress, the interest...
0:04:11 > 0:04:16- Over two years. - ..including everything, it wouldn't justify that amount,
0:04:16 > 0:04:22but I think we would feel justified in having seen it through
0:04:22 > 0:04:27and, I suppose, feeling that we did the right thing.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34But since the judgment's been made, Yasmin's still not received the money she's owed,
0:04:34 > 0:04:39so she and AlNasir have been forced to turn to the Sheriffs.
0:04:39 > 0:04:46More than the amount, I think I would be overjoyed to get the... What do you call it? Justice.
0:04:50 > 0:04:56Tasked with getting Yasmin back her money are Sheriffs Kev McNally and Lawrence Grix.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00We're on our way to Pinner.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02To Green Oaks Pharmacy Ltd.
0:05:02 > 0:05:08And we're out looking for £8,258.02.
0:05:09 > 0:05:15The Sheriffs park up near the pharmacy and head in, but there's a problem.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19I take it neither of you are the owner or a director of Pharmacare?
0:05:19 > 0:05:26- It's soon apparent the business is now run by different people. - Thanks very much for your help.
0:05:26 > 0:05:33The company we are looking for is no longer there. They don't match the description of the debtor.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36He's the director of the debtor company.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40So we'll go to the office address now that we've got.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43So it's back to the van.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47The Green Oaks Pharmacy main office is only a few miles away.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54As they arrive, Lawrence spots something that could be crucial.
0:05:54 > 0:06:01A Range Rover Sport with the same registration number as one owned by Bijal Patel.
0:06:01 > 0:06:09- That's him there, innit?- If it belongs to Green Oaks, the Sheriffs could remove and auction it.
0:06:09 > 0:06:15Lawrence notes the Range Rover's details and then heads in, writ in hand.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Hello there. We're looking for Green Oaks Pharmacy Ltd.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24You've got a Mr Bijal Patel at any of the companies?
0:06:24 > 0:06:31- I believe it's his Range Rover out the back.- A bemused secretary can't help Lawrence.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36She says no Green Oaks Pharmacy is operating from this address,
0:06:36 > 0:06:42but Lawrence doesn't give up that easily. He's convinced Bijal Patel has businesses
0:06:42 > 0:06:48and potentially assets in the building. He makes a call to the office for more information.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51What's the status of Green Oaks?
0:06:51 > 0:06:55Kev goes out to clamp the Range Rover.
0:06:55 > 0:07:01If the Sheriffs can't get payment today, Lawrence will look for a walking possession order on it.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05It means the Range Rover is seized, but not removed.
0:07:05 > 0:07:11The owner has five days to contest it. If not, the Sheriffs can tow it away to be sold at auction
0:07:11 > 0:07:13to pay back Yasmin.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18Seeing a clamp on the car might bring the owner down in a hurry.
0:07:18 > 0:07:24So we might then make contact and can ascertain one way or the other if it belongs to our debtor company.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28But Kev's got a problem.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Hello, Kev.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36- Yeah, mate, this clamp doesn't fit anywhere near.- I knew it wouldn't.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42- I did warn you.- All right, mate. I'll wait out here anyway.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47There's nothing else for it. Kev has to keep an eye on the car so it's not driven away,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50and time is ticking on.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54The judgment amount when we came here was £8,258.02.
0:07:54 > 0:08:00It's now more than that because we've done an HPI check and we've been here over an hour.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03But a £20,000 vehicle covers that.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07With two Sheriffs on site and Lawrence making Reception his own,
0:08:07 > 0:08:12it's not long before Green Oaks Pharmacy Ltd shows an interest.
0:08:12 > 0:08:19The company lawyer gives Lawrence a call. In particular, he's concerned about the Range Rover.
0:08:19 > 0:08:25I am trying at the moment to establish ownership of the vehicle. I have got it seized at the moment.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29And I'm trying to ascertain ownership.
0:08:29 > 0:08:36With the phone call going nowhere, the lawyer comes down in person for a face to face with Lawrence.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41- Looking for me?- We spoke earlier. - Who are you, sir?
0:08:41 > 0:08:45- The solicitor?- Yes. - I'll show you some identification.
0:08:45 > 0:08:52The solicitor says Green Oaks Pharmacy isn't at this address, so nor should Lawrence be.
0:08:52 > 0:08:58Now you've come here and if you look at the company accounts, this is not the registered address.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02- I haven't got the company accounts, have I?- I suggest you do.
0:09:02 > 0:09:08Your company, obviously, presumably they are amicable... they know what they are doing.
0:09:08 > 0:09:14- Yeah.- A company search will give the registered address.- What's that got to do with the company accounts?
0:09:14 > 0:09:20- You need to go to the place... - No, we can go to any address in England and Wales
0:09:20 > 0:09:24where we believe the defendant has assets.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29There are no assets here, as far as I know. This is harassment from you.
0:09:29 > 0:09:35- Not at all, sir.- It is. What you told me on the phone is that you can seize any car.
0:09:35 > 0:09:40- Isn't that what you told me?- I did. - Any car?- I can seize any vehicle
0:09:40 > 0:09:46if I believe it may belong to the debtor in order to ascertain ownership of the vehicle.
0:09:46 > 0:09:52- How do you know any car out there belongs to them?- The details of that vehicle, the registration number,
0:09:52 > 0:09:58I have been given by our claimant. She's given us that as the registration number
0:09:58 > 0:10:04of the director of the company. So I have seized the vehicle to ascertain ownership.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09- If it's owned by him personally, I can't take it.- It doesn't belong to anybody in the company.
0:10:09 > 0:10:15Well, whoever owns that vehicle... As you can appreciate, it's a vehicle, so it's in jeopardy.
0:10:15 > 0:10:22It's moveable. Within two minutes of me turning my back, it would be driven away.
0:10:22 > 0:10:28- I need whoever owns that vehicle to prove ownership.- How much time are you giving us?- Not very long.
0:10:28 > 0:10:34I've been here nearly two hours now. Nobody actually from the company has had the courtesy
0:10:34 > 0:10:39to get in touch, despite the fact I'm pretty sure they know we're here. OK?
0:10:39 > 0:10:45- All they've done is sent you round to fob me off for seven days. - All we are saying to you
0:10:45 > 0:10:49is this is a judgment on which they know nothing.
0:10:49 > 0:10:55The solicitor says the company is not aware of the court order and warns the enforcement officers
0:10:55 > 0:11:01to keep away from the Range Rover, which he says is not a company asset.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05But Lawrence wants to see proof of ownership.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09- You can't say, "I want it now!" - I can.- This is harassment.- I can.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14- No, it isn't harassment. - BBC, this is total harassment from this company.
0:11:14 > 0:11:20- You'd better take the chap's name as well. It's total harassment. - They know my name very well.
0:11:20 > 0:11:26- The solicitor asked to speak to Lawrence's boss.- You've got the numbers.- What's your boss's name?
0:11:26 > 0:11:32- You've got the numbers. - I'm asking you for the third time, what's your boss's name?
0:11:32 > 0:11:39- Just phone the office.- What's his name?- And ask for a director. - All right, I'll do that now.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44- I think I'll get more sense out of them.- While he does that, Lawrence gets busy, too.
0:11:45 > 0:11:53I'm doing an additional expenses form for the costs of the HPI check I did and the waiting time.
0:11:53 > 0:11:59He decides to call in the ultimate sanction to see if it will speed things along.
0:11:59 > 0:12:05Can you order me a truck, please? Yeah, it's got to take a Range Rover Sport,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09so it'll need a full lift. They won't be able to tow it.
0:12:09 > 0:12:15It'll need lifting onto the back of a truck. It's permanent four-wheel drive, isn't it?
0:12:15 > 0:12:22It turns out both men are on the phone to Lawrence's office, but for very different reasons.
0:12:22 > 0:12:28- All right, lovely.- Lawrence has prepared the paper seizure of the Range Rover.- There you go.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33It can't be disposed of until the ownership issue is resolved.
0:12:33 > 0:12:39If you sign that now, I'll cancel the tow truck. I've ordered a tow truck now.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42- Sign that and I'll cancel it. - Yeah, fine.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Lawrence has won his battle.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50The solicitor signs the seizure documents.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55All right, Soph, can you ask Cathy to cancel the tow truck, please?
0:12:56 > 0:13:02- It's taken three hours, but it's another mission accomplished for Lawrence.- Thank you.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Sorry to be a pain.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09The car is his - on paper, at least. And he won't leave it there.
0:13:09 > 0:13:15The Sheriffs will continue to chase Green Oaks' assets until Yasmin is paid back in full.
0:13:19 > 0:13:25David Carter is joint managing director of this High Court Enforcement Office in London.
0:13:26 > 0:13:31Recovery rates of enforcement officers are far greater than bailiffs.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36Part of the reason is we're paid on results. We're not salaried.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40And the second reason is that we have greater powers of seizure
0:13:40 > 0:13:43and forcing entry to premises.
0:13:43 > 0:13:4740 full-time enforcement officers work here.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51They aim to enforce writs within 24 hours of the case being assigned.
0:13:51 > 0:13:58- You can't stop me.- I can.- You can't. - Lawrence and his colleagues successfully retrieve
0:13:58 > 0:14:01over £2 million a month for people owed money.
0:14:01 > 0:14:07Over 70,000 High Court writs a year are executed by Britain's enforcement officers,
0:14:07 > 0:14:11who have been known as Sheriffs since Saxon times.
0:14:11 > 0:14:18I have a High Court writ, which orders me to come and seize goods to the value of this debt.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21- £6,330.- £6,300.
0:14:21 > 0:14:27A High Court writ costs £60. If the Sheriffs are successful,
0:14:27 > 0:14:33there's nothing more for the client to pay. All the costs are paid by the debtors.
0:14:33 > 0:14:39And if they don't manage to get money back for their clients, there's only an admin fee,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41also of £60.
0:14:42 > 0:14:50But will Lawrence and Kev retrieve the funds owed to the next person needing their kind of assistance,
0:14:50 > 0:14:54- Graham Millward? - Come on. Let's go. Come on.
0:14:55 > 0:15:02Graham's had to call in the help of the Sheriffs after he ran into problems buying a second-hand car.
0:15:02 > 0:15:08With a daughter and two young grandchildren, he wanted to treat them to a holiday in Devon,
0:15:08 > 0:15:13but to drive them there he needed to upgrade his wheels.
0:15:13 > 0:15:19Most grandparents would say it's the most important thing in your life when grandchildren come along.
0:15:19 > 0:15:26The idea was to get a people carrier so that we could all holiday together.
0:15:27 > 0:15:32Graham went looking for a suitable vehicle at local dealerships,
0:15:32 > 0:15:35but any that fitted the bill were just too dear.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39Somebody suggested to us to look at eBay.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43So we thought, "Yeah, we'll do that."
0:15:43 > 0:15:49It wasn't long before he found a car being sold by a private trader, Jonathan Brassington in Derbyshire.
0:15:49 > 0:15:55It may have been over two hours' drive away, but the seller had good feedback
0:15:55 > 0:16:01- and the car, a Kia Sedona, was bang within budget. - 'Exactly what we wanted.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04'It was a good car, good condition.'
0:16:04 > 0:16:10Plenty of space, a lot of features we'd been looking for and that other people carriers don't have.
0:16:10 > 0:16:17And it just seemed just a superb vehicle for what we required.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22With the car ticking every box, Graham bid for it and won.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27Delighted, Graham told his grandchildren the holiday was on.
0:16:27 > 0:16:33My eldest grandson was over the moon because he was looking forward to going on the beach
0:16:33 > 0:16:36with Nan and Granddad.
0:16:36 > 0:16:42Not long after, Graham's son drove him to the seller's house to pick up the car.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48Graham paid £2,470 in cash on the day
0:16:48 > 0:16:54and set off in his new Kia Sedona for home. But things soon started to go wrong.
0:16:55 > 0:17:02I was only approximately five miles away and I suddenly realised the temperature gauge was at the top.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07So I immediately pulled into a lay-by,
0:17:07 > 0:17:11and by this time I was panicking, and alarm bells were going
0:17:11 > 0:17:15that the car I'd been sold was a problem car.
0:17:15 > 0:17:22The first thing to come into your mind is, "I don't want this vehicle. It's a problem car.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26"I've only driven five miles and it's broken down."
0:17:26 > 0:17:30Convinced he'd been sold a wrong 'un, he left the Kia in the lay-by
0:17:30 > 0:17:36and got his son to drive him back to the seller's house. Mr Brassington wasn't there.
0:17:36 > 0:17:42- Instead, he sent a relative. - Mr Brassington's son arrived probably ten minutes later
0:17:42 > 0:17:48and then I said I just didn't want the vehicle, I just wanted my money back,
0:17:48 > 0:17:53and he could collect the vehicle from the hard shoulder.
0:17:53 > 0:17:58His words to me were, "That's not an option.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01"You bought the car. The car is yours."
0:18:01 > 0:18:07Mr Brassington's son did agree to go and look at the car in the lay-by.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12When we got to the vehicle, he had a quick look at it and said, "The water's empty,"
0:18:12 > 0:18:17which obviously didn't take a genius to work out.
0:18:17 > 0:18:23He attempted to turn the engine over and said, "You're lucky it's not seized,
0:18:23 > 0:18:30"because we have had experience before in a similar situation of the engine seizing.
0:18:30 > 0:18:36"So you're very lucky." I said, "I'm very lucky, am I? Oh, right."
0:18:36 > 0:18:41He said, "The chance of you getting your money back is nil, so don't even think about that."
0:18:41 > 0:18:46The son agreed to take the vehicle home and assess the damage.
0:18:46 > 0:18:53With night falling, Graham had to agree. The next day, Mr Brassington rang and offered to get quotes
0:18:53 > 0:18:58for fixing the car. Graham waited for them, but nothing came.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03He was left with no car and £2,470 out of pocket.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07From that day to this day, I've not had any reply from him.
0:19:07 > 0:19:13I've left several messages on his mobile phone and his home phone -
0:19:13 > 0:19:21or from my recorded letters sent to him over a period of a couple of months.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27With negotiations going nowhere, Graham had no choice but to take the matter to court.
0:19:27 > 0:19:34Mr Brassington didn't contest the claim and the court awarded in Graham's favour.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38The strain of going to court has taken its toll on Graham.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42It never leaves your mind. You lie in bed at night, thinking of it.
0:19:42 > 0:19:50How did I get drawn into this? Why are there people who won't even speak to you or compromise?
0:19:50 > 0:19:56Despite having the law on his side, Graham's still not received any payment from Mr Brassington.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01With nowhere left to turn, he's been forced to hire the Sheriffs.
0:20:04 > 0:20:12Saddling up to try to get Graham his money back are Sheriffs Lawrence and Kev.
0:20:12 > 0:20:17They're in the snowy north, on the trail of Jonathan Brassington.
0:20:17 > 0:20:23We're in Derbyshire at the moment, on the way to what looks like a residential address.
0:20:23 > 0:20:29One individual has sued another and we're looking to collect £3,696.74.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Arriving at the address, they tread carefully.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40And at the front door, there's a reception committee waiting.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47Hello there. I'm looking for a Mr Jonathan Brassington.
0:20:47 > 0:20:53The woman answering is Mr Brassington's wife. She says he won't be back until the evening.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55I'm an enforcement officer.
0:20:55 > 0:21:02I'm here today to execute a High Court writ against Mr Brassington. Can you get him on the phone?
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Then if he's happy for me to discuss it with you, we can discuss it.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11Mrs Brassington wastes no time getting her husband on the phone.
0:21:11 > 0:21:17Hello there, sir. My name's Mr Grix. I'm an enforcement officer here to execute a High Court writ
0:21:17 > 0:21:20on behalf of a Graham Millward.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25I'm here today for the sum of £3,696.74.
0:21:26 > 0:21:33We've been ordered here today to seize goods or collect payment in full.
0:21:34 > 0:21:40Mr Brassington isn't keen to pay, but admits he has seen the court papers.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44When you sent the county court papers back, what did you send back?
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Unfortunately, sir, he's got a judgment against you.
0:21:50 > 0:21:56Well, you had the paperwork from the court, didn't you, because you returned it?
0:21:56 > 0:22:02Mr Brassington still doesn't want to pay, and now claims he doesn't know about the court award,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05but Lawrence isn't going to let him get away with that.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09You've just told me you had the court papers and sent them back.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14Yes, so you do know about it then, sir.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17We're here to execute a High Court writ.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21To prevent any further action, you need to pay this in full today.
0:22:21 > 0:22:27Still unwilling to pay up, Mr Brassington asks to be passed back to his wife.
0:22:27 > 0:22:33She's shut the door. I'll have to give it another knock. I don't think she wants to come to the door again.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Mrs Brassington no longer wants to talk to Lawrence.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39All he wants to do is give her back her phone.
0:22:39 > 0:22:45Open the door, Mrs Brassington. I'll give you your phone. Your husband wants to speak to you.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48No...
0:22:49 > 0:22:53I tried calling out to her, saying, "Come and get your phone," but...
0:22:54 > 0:22:59Somebody called Don is trying to get you on the phone, Mrs Brassington.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03Unable to get any further communication from the Brassingtons,
0:23:03 > 0:23:09Lawrence takes a look around the property for other assets he could seize as a walking possession.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12However, there's not much on offer.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16I'll leave paperwork. She won't let us in.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I've got no option, other than to leave paperwork -
0:23:19 > 0:23:22I've seized the bits I can seize, like the car.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Time for one more go at returning the phone.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Post it through the cat flap, Kev.
0:23:29 > 0:23:35- Mrs Brassington, we're putting your phone through the cat flap. - It's through the cat flap.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39With no-one willing to communicate with them, there will be no payment today,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43but it's by no means the end of the story for the Sheriffs.
0:23:43 > 0:23:49There were no goods worth seizing on the outside of the house and we weren't going to get in.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55Mrs Brassington appeared to be quite panicked and shut the door and wouldn't speak through the door.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57No further communication at all.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01For the time being, Graham Millward must wait to get his money back,
0:24:01 > 0:24:07but he can be sure the Sheriffs will be doing everything in their powers to get him what he's owed.
0:24:18 > 0:24:236am, and this time Sheriff Kev is joined by Mark Newton.
0:24:23 > 0:24:29They are on their way to the East Midlands for an early-morning rendezvous with a builder
0:24:29 > 0:24:32who owes an elderly lady thousands.
0:24:32 > 0:24:39Yeah, we're in Northamptonshire. We've come to visit Mr Fitzgerald, who we've been to before.
0:24:39 > 0:24:45The Fitzgerald case is a classic example of the Sheriffs not giving up in their battle
0:24:45 > 0:24:48to get their clients the money they are owed.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53The elderly lady the Sheriffs are trying to help
0:24:53 > 0:24:56is 86-year-old Hilda Shaw.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00Previously in the series, we saw how she turned to the Sheriffs
0:25:00 > 0:25:04after paying thousands for shoddy and unnecessary building work
0:25:04 > 0:25:07by builder Alan Fitzgerald.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11I was absolutely shattered. I was crying. I couldn't leave.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16I realised the mess I was getting into and I couldn't say, "Stop!"
0:25:16 > 0:25:20He told Hilda her roof was in a state of disrepair
0:25:20 > 0:25:23and asked for £4,000 to fix it.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Luckily, Hilda's son Terry found out and stopped him,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30but not before she had handed over the money.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34I checked the guttering and it was running in the opposite direction.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38You put a spirit level on it and it ran the opposite way.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42I got on the phone and tried to get him off the property.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45"Leave what you're doing now and get off the property!"
0:25:45 > 0:25:47I went absolutely mental.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Alan Fitzgerald got an early-morning wake-up
0:25:50 > 0:25:53when the Sheriffs paid him a visit
0:25:53 > 0:25:55with a High Court writ in tow.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Hello!
0:25:57 > 0:26:00He agreed to pay Hilda back the money he owed her.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03- How much is it for?- £6,636.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06- £6,000?- Mm-hm.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10- Yeah.- Are you sure it's me?
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Yeah, Alan Fitzgerald, A-Z Builders.
0:26:15 > 0:26:20Alan Fitzgerald's men didn't give the Sheriffs a fond farewell.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24I will back that truck straight through your windscreen!
0:26:24 > 0:26:27- Just go away, yeah? - We're going now. Let's go.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29But they were in no position
0:26:29 > 0:26:32to argue with the orders of the High Court.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35Alan Fitzgerald paid an £800 down payment
0:26:35 > 0:26:39and promised £250 a week until the debt is cleared.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44I was very pleased. I could hardly believe it. I felt there was hope
0:26:44 > 0:26:46where I had felt so down,
0:26:46 > 0:26:51as if I wasn't going to see any of my money any more.
0:26:51 > 0:26:57But since the Sheriffs' visit, there's been a problem with Alan Fitzgerald's payments.
0:26:57 > 0:27:03He's stopped making them, meaning Hilda is still thousands of pounds short of the money she's owed.
0:27:03 > 0:27:08With interest and costs, the bill is now over £6,400.
0:27:09 > 0:27:16But when it comes to builders owing money to senior citizens, the Sheriffs take a special interest.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Mark and Kev's boss Peter Watts has made it his personal mission
0:27:21 > 0:27:24to see Hilda gets back every penny she is owed.
0:27:24 > 0:27:29The defendant, as you know, has already defaulted on his next payment.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32What we're going to do next is,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35regrettably, we'll have to re-attend
0:27:35 > 0:27:41and persuade the defendant that he's got to address the situation
0:27:41 > 0:27:43and refund this money.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Encouraged by Peter's resolve,
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Hilda is looking forward to seeing justice being done.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54I do hope that if he's gone back on his word
0:27:54 > 0:27:57that they really go after him again and make him,
0:27:57 > 0:28:00demand that he should pay.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Don't let him escape.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Get him by the tail or anything!
0:28:06 > 0:28:09And on their way to do just that are Mark and Kev.
0:28:09 > 0:28:14Last time, they managed to get some payment out of Mr Fitzgerald,
0:28:14 > 0:28:20but how will he react to their demands for the full outstanding amount?
0:28:20 > 0:28:26Hopefully, he'll be OK. He's been OK when he's talked to me on the phone, but he's not paid any money,
0:28:26 > 0:28:30so this time, we need to force the issue about getting him to pay.
0:28:33 > 0:28:39While they never look for trouble, Sheriffs anticipate some people can react badly to their visits.
0:28:39 > 0:28:45Mark has put the local police on notice that he might need to call them if things kick off.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Hopefully, there won't be no trouble,
0:28:48 > 0:28:53but just judging by last time when people turned up, hopefully, that won't happen,
0:28:53 > 0:28:59but if it does, we'll have to deal with that, and if we need the police, we'll give them a call.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03In Mark's job, angry debtors are an occupational hazard.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07Quite a few times, I've been hit with different things.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10I've been hit by someone with a spade once before.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15I've been punched countless times.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20It's just part of the job, unfortunately.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23The Sheriffs have arrived at the house.
0:29:23 > 0:29:28The plan, to give Alan Fitzgerald a second early-morning wake-up call.
0:29:32 > 0:29:37- Incognito. Come in stealth... - Discreet.- Stealth mode.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40But today, there's no sign of anyone being home.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44The blinds weren't down last time, were they?
0:29:45 > 0:29:49- It's strange there's no dogs... - Unless they're out with them.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52Theories abound as to where Alan Fitzgerald is.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55I think he is quite a heavy sleeper.
0:29:55 > 0:30:00The last time, it took us ten minutes to get an answer, and the dogs were barking.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04The Sheriffs park up and wait.
0:30:06 > 0:30:12We won't get anywhere quick from here, so we might as well wait. We've made the effort to come here.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16We'll wait till the sun comes up and then...
0:30:16 > 0:30:19The indications are that he's away for the night.
0:30:19 > 0:30:24Suddenly, a young man appears who seems to know Alan Fitzgerald.
0:30:24 > 0:30:30The man says the builder's gone to Hartlepool, but should be back later in the week.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33He don't half look like him, don't he?
0:30:33 > 0:30:39- That guy looks like... - I didn't notice. - He looks like he could be his son.
0:30:39 > 0:30:45With Alan Fitzgerald away, Mark uses his powers as a High Court Enforcement Officer
0:30:45 > 0:30:49to issue a paper seizure on what assets he can see.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51I'm just getting the vehicle regs.
0:30:51 > 0:30:57I'll list them on an inventory, then pop it through his door, so we seize the two vehicles.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00So we know we've got something while we're here today.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03The Sheriffs set off for home,
0:31:03 > 0:31:06but then there's another twist in this case.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12Out of the blue, a call comes through from Alan Fitzgerald.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15It is, yeah. Sorry, mate, I was just driving.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17No payment's been made.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21Alan Fitzgerald says he offered £4,000 as final settlement by e-mail,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24but never heard back from the office.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Well, I'm not there no more. When are you back?
0:31:27 > 0:31:34Right, I'll speak to my office. You offered the four grand as a final balance?
0:31:34 > 0:31:39OK, I'll let them know you've said that. I'll get them to send you an e-mail.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43I'll speak to my office when it opens and I'll give you a ring back.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46No problem. Cheers, Alan. Bye-bye.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49£4,000 is better than nothing,
0:31:49 > 0:31:56but it's still a long way short of the £6,400 that Alan Fitzgerald owes Hilda and the Sheriffs.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59Basically, he's wanting to pay four grand and that's it.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02- It's more than that now. - It's more than that.
0:32:02 > 0:32:07- He's not hiding. - No, he's not avoiding us. There was no need for him to ring us.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11He's got straight on the phone, hasn't he, and sorted it.
0:32:11 > 0:32:18- That is his son.- Yeah.- He said, "The boy's just rung me and said, 'There are people outside your house.'"
0:32:19 > 0:32:23Mark believes Alan Fitzgerald is serious about paying,
0:32:23 > 0:32:26even if he doesn't want to pay the full amount.
0:32:26 > 0:32:31He's not denying the job. He said he's found out what the job's about now.
0:32:31 > 0:32:36He said it's one of the other traveller fellas. That's the way he worded it.
0:32:36 > 0:32:42He's willing to pay £2,000 of it, the other guy, and Alan will pay the other £2,000.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44That's what they're saying.
0:32:44 > 0:32:49I don't know. I don't know the ins and outs of the job, unfortunately.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53All I know is that I've got a debt for £6,000-odd.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57£6,400. And he's only offering £4,000.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00So, um...
0:33:00 > 0:33:03He might need to at least start paying...
0:33:03 > 0:33:08If he started paying, we wouldn't be back here today, so we'll see if we can get him to pay some money.
0:33:08 > 0:33:12There's nothing more Mark and Kev can do today.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15Hilda is still waiting for her money.
0:33:15 > 0:33:21But one thing's for sure - the Sheriffs are determined she'll get the payment she's owed
0:33:21 > 0:33:24in good time and in full.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31Mr Fitzgerald denies carrying out unnecessary work.
0:33:31 > 0:33:36He thought Hilda Shaw was happy with the job he was doing and the only reason it wasn't completed
0:33:36 > 0:33:39was because Hilda's son asked him to stop.
0:33:39 > 0:33:45However, he has agreed to pay Hilda in full and has since initiated payment to her.
0:33:51 > 0:33:56Another person who had to call on the help of the Sheriffs after buying a faulty second-hand car
0:33:56 > 0:33:59is Gregory Benjamin.
0:33:59 > 0:34:04He needs a 4x4 to help transport his disabled mother-in-law.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06Are you all right there?
0:34:06 > 0:34:10The car he used to own no longer fitted the bill.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14I had a three-door Focus before,
0:34:14 > 0:34:18but that wasn't big enough to get my mother-in-law Connie in
0:34:18 > 0:34:22and her walking frame when we take her out or go shopping.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25So I wanted something a bit bigger.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29We looked around. We found what appeared to be a reputable dealer
0:34:29 > 0:34:34that specialised in the one we like, which was a Mitsubishi Pajero.
0:34:34 > 0:34:40Keen to test-drive the car, Gregory went up to the dealership to look at it.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44Externally, it seemed adequate for what we were going to do.
0:34:44 > 0:34:51It was quite old, but the price seemed reasonable for the condition he was claiming the vehicle was in.
0:34:51 > 0:34:58We took it for a test-drive. It seemed to work OK when we drove round the industrial estate.
0:34:59 > 0:35:04Loving the Pajero, Gregory gladly handed over £1,300 for it.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08Once I'd bought the car, I was quite pleased with it.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12It seemed just the job to fulfil the purposes that we required.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16It was big, it was shiny, it was a four-wheel drive.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18It was just what you want.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22But it wasn't long before things started going wrong.
0:35:22 > 0:35:29When we were driving back, the car started to smell a little bit from inside.
0:35:29 > 0:35:34The temperature gauge was starting to rise quite rapidly.
0:35:34 > 0:35:39When I pulled over, you could clearly see that there was steam coming out of it.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42Water had ingressed into the oil coolant system.
0:35:42 > 0:35:49Angry at what had happened, Gregory tried to get back in touch with the seller, Dean Rosenthal.
0:35:49 > 0:35:55I rang him up and he said he'd come down and pick it up and repair it for us the next day.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57But he never turned up.
0:35:57 > 0:36:02I rang him again. He said he'd come down later in the week and he didn't.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06I rang him up again and asked him to come and repair it
0:36:06 > 0:36:09or I would be forced to take legal action against him.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13He said, "That'll take several months and you won't get your money back
0:36:13 > 0:36:16"and you still won't get the vehicle repaired."
0:36:16 > 0:36:20I inferred from that that he had no intention of repairing the vehicle.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22With no other avenues open to him,
0:36:22 > 0:36:27Gregory was forced to go through with his threat and take Mr Rosenthal to court.
0:36:27 > 0:36:32His case wasn't contested by the dealer and the court awarded in Gregory's favour.
0:36:32 > 0:36:37But despite this, Mr Rosenthal has continued to avoid paying.
0:36:41 > 0:36:48With nowhere left to turn, the only person that can help Gregory now is Sheriff Pete Spencer.
0:36:48 > 0:36:53He is on his way to Manchester to try and track down Mr Rosenthal.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56We're going to visit the address that we've got.
0:36:56 > 0:37:03I believe some letters have been sent out there and have been sent back "Not known at this address".
0:37:03 > 0:37:07But he's registered this particular address that we're visiting,
0:37:07 > 0:37:10so hopefully, he'll be there this morning.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15Pete gets to the address on the writ,
0:37:15 > 0:37:18but the bad news is
0:37:18 > 0:37:20Mr Rosenthal isn't there.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25In fact, it appears he's long gone from this house.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28It's empty. There's nothing inside at all.
0:37:28 > 0:37:33Nothing for Pete to seize here, but he's as tenacious as a Sheriff gets.
0:37:34 > 0:37:39Pete finds a second address for Mr Rosenthal, this time at a commercial premises.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43His detective work on the phone proves highly illuminating.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46The guy seems to be never there.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49We spoke to the people in the next-door unit
0:37:49 > 0:37:53and they said he's away buying and selling vehicles all the time.
0:37:53 > 0:37:58It's hit or miss if he's going to be there, so hopefully today we'll get there.
0:37:58 > 0:38:03If he's there, brilliant. If not, we'll try him on the phone and hopefully, he'll come down.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07Pete's search for the elusive Mr Rosenthal continues,
0:38:07 > 0:38:11but when he arrives at the commercial address,
0:38:11 > 0:38:13his fears are soon realised.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16Dean Rosenthal is not here either.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20But on the plus side, some of his property is.
0:38:21 > 0:38:27This unit here, the shutters and the door behind us, the landlord confirmed there is items in there.
0:38:27 > 0:38:32Pete will seize the items if Dean Rosenthal doesn't pay what he owes,
0:38:32 > 0:38:35and the moment of truth has arrived.
0:38:35 > 0:38:41Pete's phone research again pays dividends. He has managed to track down the man himself.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43I need to collect 3,332.01.
0:38:43 > 0:38:50I've got a locksmith on standby and police on standby to break in and seize whatever goods are inside.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56Yeah, I know. We've got a low-loader on standby
0:38:56 > 0:39:01to come and collect eight vehicles, plus a transporter, to recover the cost.
0:39:02 > 0:39:07Mr Rosenthal doubts Pete's threats, but he's deadly serious.
0:39:07 > 0:39:12All Sheriffs have the power to enter commercial properties, using force if necessary.
0:39:12 > 0:39:17I've got a warrant to break in today. That's why the police...
0:39:17 > 0:39:22The next person for me to ring is the police and the locksmith and the low-loaders
0:39:22 > 0:39:27to come and get the items out. They go off to storage, then get sold at auction.
0:39:27 > 0:39:33Instead of just messing us around, get down here so we can deal with it. That's the best way to do it.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36Pete's strategy seems to be working.
0:39:36 > 0:39:41Within minutes, Mr Rosenthal arrives, in his own Pajero.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46At this point, our camera operator is asked to leave.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49The discussions continue behind closed doors.
0:39:51 > 0:39:56Within minutes, Pete emerges with a bulging envelope.
0:39:56 > 0:40:01That's the money in full collected today. There's a bit of waiting time put on as well.
0:40:01 > 0:40:07And the total amount collected was £3,548.01.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11Payment in full. The claimant will be getting their money,
0:40:11 > 0:40:13so a good result.
0:40:13 > 0:40:19Pete's tenacity has paid off, both for him and, more importantly, for Gregory,
0:40:19 > 0:40:25who can expect a four-figure sum heading his way any day soon.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34Since the Sheriffs met with Green Oaks Pharmacy's solicitor,
0:40:34 > 0:40:41Yasmin and Al-Nasir have been told of the walking possession agreement on the Range Rover that he signed.
0:40:41 > 0:40:45That's very good news. At least we have got a result.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49They've done what nobody else has been able to do.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53At least it's a beginning. Up until now, nothing had started,
0:40:53 > 0:40:55so at least something's started.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59- So it's the beginning. - So we shall keep on fighting.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06Lawrence and Kev have revisited the Brassingtons' house in Derbyshire.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10They were hoping for more than the chicken feed they got last time,
0:41:10 > 0:41:14but again they failed to lay eyes on Mr Brassington.
0:41:16 > 0:41:21They clamped one of the cars to see if it would draw Jonathan Brassington out,
0:41:21 > 0:41:23but not even that could raise him,
0:41:23 > 0:41:26so they served papers and left.
0:41:26 > 0:41:31They're currently investigating the ownership of the vehicles, with a view to a third visit.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35And if they don't get Jonathan Brassington's attention then,
0:41:35 > 0:41:39they'll seize and tow any cars they can prove he owns.
0:41:40 > 0:41:46It's five weeks since Mark and Kev went to builder Alan Fitzgerald's house.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51Following that visit, Mr Fitzgerald promised to arrange payment to Hilda.
0:41:51 > 0:41:56And now, authorised High Court Enforcement Officer Peter Watts is making a special trip
0:41:56 > 0:41:59to a certain lady, bearing good news.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02- Come in.- Thank you.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05What I'm very pleased to be able to tell you
0:42:05 > 0:42:10is that we've actually recovered £4,678...
0:42:10 > 0:42:13- Oh, that's wonderful.- ..81p.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16Oh, dear!
0:42:16 > 0:42:21Thanks to the Sheriffs, Hilda has another happy memory to add to the list.
0:42:23 > 0:42:28When Peter came along with this wonderful cheque
0:42:28 > 0:42:32to bring this awful situation to a close...
0:42:32 > 0:42:35It's absolutely wonderful.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd