0:00:02 > 0:00:04What do you do if you're ripped off and don't know where to turn?
0:00:04 > 0:00:08I did outline all the faults in the vehicle. He rejected all those.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12A court of law backs you, but you still don't get your money.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Little did I know how long it would take
0:00:14 > 0:00:17to try and recover the money from him.
0:00:17 > 0:00:18Sorry....
0:00:19 > 0:00:22It's time to call the sheriffs.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26We have every right to enter the premises by force if necessary.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29We will be entering that building.
0:00:29 > 0:00:35Sheriffs are High Court enforcement officers who recover what a court judgement says is owed.
0:00:36 > 0:00:41The writ orders us to come and seize goods to the value of this debt.
0:00:42 > 0:00:47They're the experts in getting cash that's rightfully yours.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50£1,323.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54But fighting for the underdog isn't a job for the faint-hearted.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57- ..once they're flogged.- I'll back that through your windscreen!
0:00:57 > 0:01:00- Debtors aren't pleased to see them. - 'They're harassing me!'
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Because they hate paying up.
0:01:02 > 0:01:07- Are you happy for me to leave some paperwork?- No, I'm not! Go away!
0:01:10 > 0:01:13In today's programme:
0:01:14 > 0:01:20A builder made 86-year-old Hilda Shaw fork out £4,000 for some work on her roof.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23He left it in a worse state than when he started.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26I was absolutely shattered. I was crying.
0:01:26 > 0:01:31I couldn't leave off because I realised the mess I was getting into
0:01:31 > 0:01:33and I couldn't say stop!
0:01:33 > 0:01:36The sheriffs pay the builder an early-morning visit
0:01:36 > 0:01:38to try and get Hilda's money back.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Things get rather heated.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44I will back that truck straight through your windscreen!
0:01:44 > 0:01:46The sheriffs try to track down a landlord
0:01:46 > 0:01:50who didn't pay his student tenants their deposits when they left.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52But he proves elusive.
0:01:53 > 0:01:58He doesn't want to deal with it on the phone. He's telling me to come to an address he isn't sure of!
0:01:58 > 0:02:03And office manager Joan Wales was unfairly dismissed.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08She was awarded compensation, but her ex-bosses didn't pay up.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10Can the sheriffs help?
0:02:10 > 0:02:14They thought I'd walk away and I wouldn't fight for this.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18But I do fight and I am fighting because it's wrong.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27Hilda Shaw is an 86-year-old pensioner who lives in Northampton.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32She needs the help of the sheriffs because maintenance work on her roof
0:02:32 > 0:02:34became an expensive ordeal.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38The story starts in June 2011
0:02:38 > 0:02:43when Hilda spotted a builder working on the guttering of a nearby house.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45She asked him how much he was charging for the work.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49He said, "1,200".
0:02:49 > 0:02:54I thought, "That don't sound too bad."
0:02:54 > 0:03:00He said, "We don't take any money or no deposits
0:03:00 > 0:03:05"until the work is done." He said, "You'll be ever so pleased with it."
0:03:05 > 0:03:10Hilda decided to get her guttering smartened up by the same building business,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14run by Alan Fitzgerald.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Once they'd got the ladders up on the front of the bungalow,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21you could hear all the banging and the ripping and heaven knows what.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26In comes the tall, towering boss of the lot
0:03:26 > 0:03:31and he said, "It'll be £2,000."
0:03:31 > 0:03:36And that shook me a bit, comparing with what he'd told me
0:03:36 > 0:03:39down the road for the other bungalow.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43And he said, "We shall need the money for the materials."
0:03:43 > 0:03:45You see.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Hilda paid the builder the £2,000.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53Then two days later, he called her outside and pointed to the roof.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59"Look", he said. "Your tiles are all breaking up and they're coming down.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02"Your roof's going to be in a mess", he said.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05I said, "Ooh, that's dangerous."
0:04:05 > 0:04:12And he said, "It'll want putting right otherwise it's going to come tumbling down."
0:04:12 > 0:04:17And he said, "That'll be another 2,000 for doing that."
0:04:17 > 0:04:21I thought, "My God, what am I going to do?"
0:04:23 > 0:04:27Hilda was worried one of her tiles might fall off the roof and hurt someone.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31She rushed off to the bank and withdrew some of her life savings.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36I handed over this money and I thought I didn't seem myself.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38I thought, "What are you doing, woman?"
0:04:38 > 0:04:43One of her neighbours alerted Hilda's son Terry about what was going on.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46He phoned his mother from Lincoln, where he was working.
0:04:46 > 0:04:53And my son was shouting, "Get that man off the property! Get him off!"
0:04:53 > 0:04:55You know, he was yelling there.
0:04:55 > 0:05:01He said, "Don't let him get on that roof!" I was shattered. I was crying,
0:05:01 > 0:05:08I couldn't leave off. Because I realised the mess I was getting into and I couldn't say stop!
0:05:09 > 0:05:14Hilda told the builders to leave and then asked her neighbour Dawn to help.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16She got in touch with Trading Standards
0:05:16 > 0:05:20and I thought, "Thank the Lord I've got somebody to stand up for me
0:05:20 > 0:05:24cos I'm going to start, you know, it's reacting on me terrible.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27Because I went through a terrible state.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32And Dawn said, "If they show up on the Friday,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36"just phone the police."
0:05:36 > 0:05:40She was wonderful. I don't know what I would have done without her.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47Hilda's son Terry travelled from Lincoln to see what the builders had done.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49He was shocked by what he saw.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Well, it's ridiculous.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54If Mum paid over the top for a job,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57and it was correct, OK, you've paid over the top.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01But when the job's not correct, it's... What can you say?
0:06:01 > 0:06:04They told my mother the felt had gone, it had rotted away.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08I knew it hadn't rotted cos I've got bits and pieces in the roof.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10It's not damp. No problem at all with it.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15There was the guttering. It had been folded over.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17It hadn't been fitted right.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21My son poured water into the gutter.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24It was running in the opposite direction. It ran the opposite way.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28You can't get guttering wrong and say, "I'll put the guttering right.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31You shouldn't get it wrong in the first place.
0:06:31 > 0:06:37He said, "My God, they call themselves builders? It's shocking!"
0:06:37 > 0:06:40My mother is very vulnerable at that age. She's normally very alert,
0:06:40 > 0:06:44very clued up and I feel very sad for her.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48But in the situation what happened, I'm worried all the time now.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Hilda got a County Court judgement and a High Court writ for the money.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57But the builder still didn't pay her a penny.
0:06:57 > 0:07:02With nowhere else to turn, she called the High Court enforcement officers.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05She hopes they can get her money back.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10It'll be clearing something in my mind and in my brain
0:07:10 > 0:07:14to think somebody around is there to help us, you know.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18Because there's a lot of elderly that never know where to go,
0:07:18 > 0:07:20and have no-one to stick up for them.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22You know. Oh, God.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30It's 7.00am and sheriffs Mark Newton and Kev McNally
0:07:30 > 0:07:33are on their way to where the builder lives.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36If he's home, he'll be faced with a bill for Hilda's money,
0:07:36 > 0:07:38court costs and interest.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42He owes £6,600.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48It's coming up to seven o'clock, so hopefully he's around.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52We'll give him a knock and see if we can get him out of bed
0:07:52 > 0:07:56and get him to pay some money or seize some of his goods.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58We'll see how we get on.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Mark and Kev have arrived at the builder's house.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10They've made an early start to increase the chance of him being in.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11DOGS BARK
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Sheriffs can legally climb through open windows,
0:08:16 > 0:08:18but Mark opts for a different approach.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Hello?
0:08:23 > 0:08:25BARKING
0:08:25 > 0:08:28They're going to hear the dogs, aren't they?
0:08:36 > 0:08:38INDISTINCT RESPONSE
0:08:38 > 0:08:42- Pardon?- Garage door. - Garage door. Right.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47- Hello.- Hello. Mr Fitzgerald?- Yes.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53A High Court writ has been issued against you
0:08:53 > 0:08:57by a Mrs Hilda Shaw.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59- Hilda Shaw?- Yeah.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04- Regarding what? Do you want to come in for a minute?- Yeah.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06INDISTINCT
0:09:08 > 0:09:10- They might bark.- That's all right.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16High Court enforcement officers usually don't know the background story to the writ
0:09:16 > 0:09:19so they can't answer the builder's first question -
0:09:19 > 0:09:23which particular job is this customer complaining about?
0:09:23 > 0:09:25It's regarding Hilda Shaw.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- I don't know what... - Is it the conservatory?
0:09:28 > 0:09:31- I just get given...- I did a quote for her son yesterday.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33- The job's finished.- Yeah.
0:09:33 > 0:09:39She took you to the county court with regards to it back in October.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42No payment's been made and they sent us out here today.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46- October?- Yes.- We've only just finished the job two days ago.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48- Have you got the address?- No.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- How much is it for?- £6,636.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54- £6,000?!- Mm.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59- Yeah.- Are you sure it's me?- Yeah.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Alan Fitzgerald, A to Z Builders.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07At this point, our cameraman was asked to leave the property.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Mark tells Alan Fitzgerald that, if necessary,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15he'll remove his equipment and auction it to pay Hilda's debt.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19The negotiations continue for over an hour.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26After a tough discussion, Mark and Kev leave the house.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Cheers. Bye-bye.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34He paid us £800 today.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Said he's going to go to the court today to get it sorted.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42He said it's nothing to do with him. He thinks it's some lads he had working for him.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44We'll go from there and see what happens.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Mark and Kev head back to base.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51It looks like they're leaving just in time.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Some of the builder's labourers have arrived.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58They clearly take a dim view of today's early-morning visit to their boss.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05- Pardon?- If you take his equipment, I'll back that truck through your windscreen!
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- No worries. All right.- Just go away!
0:11:07 > 0:11:10We're going now. John, let's go.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Nice people(!)
0:11:28 > 0:11:32Mark and Kev might not have got any money for Hilda
0:11:32 > 0:11:35if the labourers had arrived during the negotiations.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39It was a blessing in disguise that they turned up after he's paid us.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44It could have taken a different turn if they'd been there half an hour earlier.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48He's the kind of guy that... Obviously you treat everyone with respect,
0:11:48 > 0:11:53but you don't want to go in and rub him up the wrong way. It's dealt with now.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Hopefully he'll go to the court and get it sorted
0:11:56 > 0:11:59and if he has to pay, he'll pay.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02So Hilda will get the first instalment of the money she's due.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06If the court rules against the builder's appeal and he doesn't pay the rest,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09the sheriffs will be back.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12We asked Alan Fitzgerald to comment.
0:12:12 > 0:12:18He disputes the allegations. We will return to this story later in the series.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30This High Court enforcement office is based near London.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36If it's a commercial property, we can force entry to levy if necessary.
0:12:36 > 0:12:42Over 70,000 High Court writs a year are executed by Britain's enforcement officers
0:12:42 > 0:12:45who've been known as sheriffs since Saxon times.
0:12:45 > 0:12:51The amount outstanding is £5,521 and 61 pence. How would you like to pay?
0:12:52 > 0:12:56People are increasingly turning to High Court enforcement officers
0:12:56 > 0:13:00because they have a better success rate than County Court bailiffs.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03You don't get seven days. You don't get time. It's a live writ.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05A High Court writ costs £60.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09If the sheriffs are successful, there's nothing more to pay.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12If not, there's an admin fee, also £60.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Sheriff Mark's next job is in Essex.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21He and colleague Simon Castle are visiting a landlord, Syed Raza,
0:13:21 > 0:13:26who didn't give his tenants their deposits back when they moved out.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31It looks like it's going to be a residential address.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36The time is two o'clock. Hopefully we'll get someone in,
0:13:36 > 0:13:40but if we don't, we'll try and seize some goods there today.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44Pop the paperwork through the door and hopefully get a call.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47But we won't know until we get there for sure.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52Three students went to the County Court after their deposits weren't returned.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54They got judgement in their favour,
0:13:54 > 0:13:56but the money still wasn't paid.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59So the claim was transferred up to the High Court.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Now the sheriffs are enforcing a writ for the owed money
0:14:03 > 0:14:06plus interest and costs.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09The amount owed on this is £11,100.
0:14:09 > 0:14:15So it's not a tiny little debt, it's a reasonable amount.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Whether they're going to have that, if they're in,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22we'll have to wait and see on that.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27We don't know what the house is like at the moment, what kind of area we're going into.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29But we will find out soon.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36The sheriffs arrive at what looks like an expensive house.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39And the cars on the drive aren't cheap, either.
0:14:41 > 0:14:42KNOCKING ON DOOR
0:14:43 > 0:14:45There's someone there.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48- How can I help you? - Hi. I'm after Syed Raza.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54- Syed Raza's not here. - No? You're not him, then?
0:14:54 > 0:14:58- I'm not him.- No? Got any way of getting hold of him at all?
0:14:58 > 0:15:01- What's this about? - It's from the High Court.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06- Yes, I can see that.- About some outstanding money that's owed to Emma Shanks.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10- Sorry, who?- Emma Shanks, Fran Muirhead and Megan Nilsson.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- Oh. Is this about the flat? - Could be. I don't know.
0:15:15 > 0:15:20- I just get some details.- I know which one you're talking about. He's not here.- Right.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Any way of getting hold of him? We're here to seize goods today.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- Seize goods today? He doesn't live here any more.- Right.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29- Where does he live now? - He's moved out.
0:15:29 > 0:15:36The personalised number plate on the car is a clue that perhaps Syed Raza still lives here.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38But it isn't proof.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40There may be more than one Syed in the family.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45- I can give you his number and you can talk to him yourself. - No problem.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49OK. I need to see some proof that he's not at this address.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52- Something like a council tax bill. - I'll bring you it.
0:15:52 > 0:15:57Mark's tempted to clamp and remove the car with the Syed plate to pay off the debt.
0:15:57 > 0:16:04But he needs to be sure the car is owned by the landlord Syed Raza and not somebody else also called Syed.
0:16:05 > 0:16:11- I'd like to clamp that car. - It's got the name on it.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13We can't go by what's on the number plate,
0:16:13 > 0:16:17but you don't drive a car that's SYED, if your name's not Syed.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21- Is there two brothers with different middle names?- Not both called Syed?
0:16:21 > 0:16:26They could be. Could be a dad and a son, couldn't it?
0:16:26 > 0:16:32Mark asks the office to do background checks to see if there's more than one Syed in the family.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38Could we see who's living at the address on the electoral register?
0:16:38 > 0:16:41I have a utility bill. But it's quite an old one.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44There's a bank statement which is fairly new.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49While Simon checks the paperwork to clarify who lives in the house,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Mark finds out how many Syeds there are in the family.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54..or there's two.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59No problem. Right, thank you. Bye.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04Sorry. Yeah, there is two Syed Razas.
0:17:05 > 0:17:11Taking the car is too risky. There's a 50/50 chance it doesn't belong to the Syed they're after.
0:17:12 > 0:17:17Mark gets the phone number of the landlord Syed from his younger brother.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19OK. Thank you.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22Let's give him a try.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Hello. Is that Syed Raza?
0:17:29 > 0:17:32It's Mark Luton from the Sheriff's office.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36Yeah? I just spoke to your brother, I believe he's your brother,
0:17:36 > 0:17:38and he's given me your number.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43It's about a High Court writ that's been issued against you.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48Basically, we're looking at collecting payment today.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52You work in the City? What's your address in the City?
0:17:55 > 0:17:58OK. Thank you. Bye-bye.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Doesn't want to deal with it over the phone.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04Told me to come to an address that he's not that sure of!
0:18:04 > 0:18:07He's making it up as he goes along! Gravesend Road in WC1.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Gravesend Road doesn't sound like it's in WC1, but it could be.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Simon does some checks on the address. And it's bad news.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18It doesn't exist. Nothing comes up on it.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Mark was dubious about the address as soon as he heard it.
0:18:22 > 0:18:28"It's Gravesend Road. It's at 200-", and then he went, "-37".
0:18:28 > 0:18:30THEY LAUGH
0:18:30 > 0:18:34He's like, "Let's just make it up as I go along!"
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Mark posts the writ and works out an action plan.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43We'll check the cars and see who they come back as registered to.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49We'll get some details back to our office and look into it a bit more.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53If any of the cars are registered to Syed the landlord,
0:18:53 > 0:18:57the Sheriffs will be back. But for now, they must bide their time.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Disappointing result, but that's the nature of our game.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06We have to pursue people. When we're out like we are today doing first viewings,
0:19:06 > 0:19:08you don't always get the result.
0:19:08 > 0:19:13But you come back armed with more information and get the result second time round.
0:19:15 > 0:19:16If Mark does return,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19he'll bring his wheel-clamp with him.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21This case isn't over yet.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33Joan Wales worked for a company that specialises in hardwood floors for over 12 years.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Joan had a senior role within the business,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38Classical Flooring in Suffolk.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42I was in charge of the showroom.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46If the bosses went on holiday, I was in charge of the company.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48I thought it was a good job.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54Despite being senior, Joan didn't mind helping out the sales staff when things got hectic,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57advising customers which floors to buy.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02When it was really busy and there was lots going on,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06I thrived on it. Loved it. Yeah. So I really liked it.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10Joan thought she got on well with the company owners.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15I don't think you can work with somebody for 12 years and not have a bond.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17I thought they were my friends.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19I did. I thought they were my friends.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23We'd had our ups and downs, as friends do.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28But I never thought for a minute that they'd do what they did.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Never. Never.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37Things started to go wrong when Joan's bosses told her they wanted to reduce her hours by 50%.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43I didn't want to drop my hours because I couldn't afford to.
0:20:43 > 0:20:48I would have definitely lost my home as I wouldn't have been able to afford to pay my bills.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52Having been at the company for well over a decade,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Joan felt she deserved better treatment.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58I was working with another lady as well.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02They didn't want to change her hours, they just wanted to change mine.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06As I'd been there 12 years and she hadn't,
0:21:06 > 0:21:09I didn't think it was right.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12You know, I actually thought,
0:21:12 > 0:21:17if it was a bit of everybody partaking in it, that would be fine,
0:21:17 > 0:21:20but I didn't want it to be just me.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26Joan contacted the Citizens Advice Bureau, who suggested she write a letter to her bosses
0:21:26 > 0:21:29explaining why her hours shouldn't be reduced.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31The letter didn't go down well.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37They called me up to the office. They said they couldn't afford to keep me any longer.
0:21:37 > 0:21:42They were going to pay me to the end of the week and didn't expect me to attend.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46I was free to go. And that would be it.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48And I said, "Well...
0:21:48 > 0:21:51"That's not right."
0:21:51 > 0:21:55I said, "You can't do that. It's illegal!"
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Joan was in a state of shock.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00But she still turned up for work the next day.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03There was a letter on my desk,
0:22:03 > 0:22:09saying basically that after 12 years of service with them,
0:22:09 > 0:22:13due to the financial situation of the company,
0:22:13 > 0:22:17that they couldn't afford to keep me any longer. And it was goodbye.
0:22:19 > 0:22:25Joan couldn't believe what she was hearing from people she'd regarded as friends as well as colleagues.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28It's very hard.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Um, I didn't think they'd do it to me.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43Joan took the company owners to an employment tribunal.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46I decided that I would fight.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50We took it to court.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52It was very stressful,
0:22:52 > 0:22:57all of it, because you're having to fight for something you shouldn't have to fight for.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59But Joan won her fight.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02The tribunal verdict was unfair dismissal
0:23:02 > 0:23:07and she was awarded nearly £13,500.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09But her ex bosses didn't pay up.
0:23:09 > 0:23:16Classical Flooring were supposed to give me my money by a certain time, which obviously they haven't.
0:23:16 > 0:23:22I don't think they'd willingly give me anything, anything at all,
0:23:22 > 0:23:24because to them, you know...
0:23:24 > 0:23:30I think they just thought I'd walk away and I wouldn't fight for this.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32But I do fight and I am fighting
0:23:32 > 0:23:36because it's... It's wrong.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40But there was only so much fighting Joan could do on her own.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45So she enlisted the help of the High Court enforcement office.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49They dispatched two sheriffs to enforce the writ.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55Kev McNally and Lawrence Gricks are going to see Joan's former bosses
0:23:55 > 0:24:01and hopefully get her £13,500 plus interest and their costs.
0:24:02 > 0:24:07The bit we're looking for is just over 15,500. At the moment.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11So we're now in business hours. It's half past ten
0:24:11 > 0:24:14so the company should be open and trading.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Hopefully, we'll just be able to walk in cos it'll be open.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21Hopefully the gentleman will be there and we'll be able to sort it out.
0:24:21 > 0:24:27But if necessary, Lawrence could force entry to remove goods to settle the debt
0:24:27 > 0:24:29because it's a commercial premises.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35- Classical Flooring and Joinery. - Is that them?- Yeah.
0:24:35 > 0:24:40Usually, the threat of removing goods is sufficient to get a debtor company to pay up.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Hello?
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Upstairs, maybe?
0:24:50 > 0:24:53The sheriffs don't give advanced warning of a visit.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57It reduces the likelihood of goods belonging to the debtors disappearing
0:24:57 > 0:24:59before they arrive.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04And it normally increases the chances of finding the owners, but not always.
0:25:07 > 0:25:08They've gone.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Oh, there he is.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19Hello. I'm looking for a Mr Barnard or a Mr Lydford.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21High Court enforcement officer.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24Hello, sir.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28One of Joan's ex-bosses, Mr Barnard, is present.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32He's willing to talk to Lawrence, but our cameraman is asked to leave the building.
0:25:37 > 0:25:42Lawrence's negotiations on behalf of Joan continue for over an hour.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48The Classical Flooring boss says that all the assets have been transferred to another company
0:25:48 > 0:25:50and he has paperwork to prove it.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56Lawrence leaves empty-handed, but the story is far from over.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59I'm happy with the paperwork that I've seen
0:25:59 > 0:26:03that none of the major assets, none of the equipment, the tools,
0:26:03 > 0:26:07or anything like that belong to the two gentlemen personally.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11So there's nothing really at that premises that we can actually remove.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15I have seized all the raw materials and hardwood flooring
0:26:15 > 0:26:19and they're going to provide proof, which they'll be able to,
0:26:19 > 0:26:22that the limited company own that as well.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27But I warned the gentlemen that we can go to their home addresses as it's against them personally.
0:26:27 > 0:26:33So all their personal assets are likely to be seized and removed if necessary to cover the debt.
0:26:35 > 0:26:40Sometimes it can take several visits for the sheriffs to get the money their client is owed.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43But persistence often pays.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48We've hardly given up yet just because we can't get any assets from the company.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51I think we'll end up going to their home addresses.
0:26:51 > 0:26:57I made note of one vehicle that turned up, a 60-registered van
0:26:57 > 0:27:02which will have significant value. So if it's registered to one of them personally,
0:27:02 > 0:27:08and it's clear on finance, we'll be round to whoever's residence it is and we'll have the van away.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12We'll sell it at auction before they know what's happening.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16The sheriffs may soon be visiting Joan's former bosses at home.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20But for the time being, she'll have to wait for her money.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28High Court enforcement officer Pete Spencer
0:27:28 > 0:27:31is on his way to enforce a writ for a company debt.
0:27:32 > 0:27:37A small company won a County Court judgment against a business which it felt owed it money.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Promotional and novelty mug designers, Monstermugs Ltd.
0:27:43 > 0:27:49The total Pete wants from the Monstermugs director today is £2,275.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53But he may be prepared to accept a down payment as it's his first visit.
0:27:56 > 0:28:01Good morning. The reason for our visit, as I explained I'm an enforcement officer.
0:28:01 > 0:28:06- I have a High Court writ and I'm enforcing it today.- A what?- A High Court writ. I'm enforcing it.
0:28:06 > 0:28:13- What's that?- A High Court writ. The claimant has moved it from County Court up to High Court
0:28:13 > 0:28:19- for enforcement purposes.- What does that mean?- We're here to enforce the outstanding debt.
0:28:19 > 0:28:25- So it's either to collect 2,775.56. - Is a cheque all right?- No. It's got to be cleared funds.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29- Credit card, debit card or cash. - I have to be paid. It has to be a cheque.
0:28:29 > 0:28:34- Bank transfer?- I can't do it.- We can take an initial payment today not for the full amount
0:28:34 > 0:28:37- and then you can email in... - How much would that be?
0:28:37 > 0:28:41- What could you pay today? I'd have to ask our office.- Very little.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43Unlike a commercial premises,
0:28:43 > 0:28:48Pete can't force his way into a company director's home to seize goods on a first visit.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51He will have to accept a lower figure today
0:28:51 > 0:28:54and then come back for the rest if he needs to.
0:28:54 > 0:29:00- If I said a couple of hundred today? - If that's the only payment you can pay me today,
0:29:00 > 0:29:04we can take the £200, then you must email into our office
0:29:04 > 0:29:07with an arrangement to pay monthly the outstanding debt.
0:29:07 > 0:29:13- Right.- The claimant can decline that monthly offer, and can demand it in full.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16- Then what happens? - We'd re-attend to remove goods.
0:29:16 > 0:29:21- You'd come back and see us again? - We'd come back.- So you're happy with 200 today?
0:29:21 > 0:29:24- If that's all you can manage. - I'll be right back.- Fine.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30The sheriff's first visit often works as a warning shot.
0:29:30 > 0:29:37Debtors tend to pay the rest of what they owe before a second visit to remove goods becomes necessary.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40What's your pin, if you can press the OK button.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44If I can just ask you to sign the receipt.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47OK. Cheers. Thank you. Thanks.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Before he leaves, Pete lists property he could remove
0:29:50 > 0:29:53to clear the debt if he does have to come back.
0:29:53 > 0:29:58We've levied the vehicle on the driveway which he may not be aware of.
0:29:58 > 0:30:03But it's on the paperwork we've given him that we've levied all the items within the vehicle.
0:30:03 > 0:30:08Pete and his colleagues have one of the highest debt collection rates in the industry.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10They don't give up easily.
0:30:14 > 0:30:20The director of Monstermugs is disputing the County Court judgement against him and his company:
0:30:31 > 0:30:32He says for that reason:
0:30:51 > 0:30:56It's 7.00am and High Court enforcement officers Mark and Kev
0:30:56 > 0:30:58are on their way back to Essex.
0:30:58 > 0:31:04They're revisiting the landlord who didn't give his tenants their deposits back when they left.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07The house was on this road and the car was here as well.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09Right at the end of this road.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13It was a good move by Mark to take down the number plates
0:31:13 > 0:31:16of the cars in the drive on his first visit.
0:31:16 > 0:31:21It's led to a crucial breakthrough in the mission to get the tenants their money.
0:31:22 > 0:31:27One of the vehicles has come back as registered to the man we're after.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29It's the vehicle in front of us.
0:31:29 > 0:31:33So we'll throw a clamp on this and then go and knock the door.
0:31:33 > 0:31:38We're just going to get told he's not here, he doesn't live here and they'll expect us to go away.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43But this time we'll clamp the car and see if we can get a payment out of him.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48The debt comes to £11,799.
0:31:48 > 0:31:53That's the unpaid deposits plus court costs and interest.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56Mark needs to clamp the car quickly
0:31:56 > 0:31:59before the owner sees what's going on and tries to stop him.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03It's going to be tight.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09Just see if he don't get in and try and drive out.
0:32:09 > 0:32:10He'll just drive home.
0:32:10 > 0:32:16If the owner comes out now, he could drive the car away and Mark and Kev couldn't stop him.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Bloody big wheels.
0:32:21 > 0:32:26Mark has secured the clamp. The car is totally immobilised.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28I can get off my arse, now!
0:32:28 > 0:32:31It was like the biggest wheel in history!
0:32:32 > 0:32:37Time to see if the car's owner, landlord Syed Raza, is at home.
0:32:37 > 0:32:38Hiya, mate.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42- I'm after Syed Hassan Raza. - He's not here.
0:32:45 > 0:32:52- Regarding to?- Some money that's outstanding to Emma Shanks, Fran Muirhead and Megan Nilsson.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55First of all, he doesn't live here any more.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59- Did I speak to you before? - No, you haven't spoken to me.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Got any way of getting hold of him at all?
0:33:01 > 0:33:06- Is he a relation? - No. I can get you...
0:33:07 > 0:33:10- OK. Just one moment. - Yeah, no problem.
0:33:14 > 0:33:15If the door had been left open,
0:33:15 > 0:33:18the sheriffs could have walked straight in
0:33:18 > 0:33:21and removed other property belonging to Syed Raza.
0:33:21 > 0:33:26The three students owed their deposit money are from New Zealand.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29One has already gone home. But she still wants her money back.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34I can give you his number, mobile number.
0:33:34 > 0:33:39- Do you want to give him a call?- No, he's not around. He's gone abroad. - Has he?
0:33:39 > 0:33:42You've got no way of getting hold of him at all?
0:33:42 > 0:33:47He'll probably be back at the end of the month.
0:33:47 > 0:33:48Right.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51- Did YOU put that clamp on?- Yeah.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55- Why?- Because I'm going to take it away unless we can get some money.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59- But that doesn't belong to him, does it?- Yeah.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02- It doesn't belong to him. - Who does it belong to, then?
0:34:02 > 0:34:06That belongs to my brother. Under his name.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08- Yes. His name is?- Tiaz Raza.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11It's registered to Syed Hassan Raza.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15How much is there outstanding?
0:34:15 > 0:34:18£11,799.
0:34:18 > 0:34:19- MAN:- Can I help?
0:34:19 > 0:34:25They put a clamp on that car. They said there's 11,000 outstanding.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29You can't put a clamp on my car. It's a company car.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33- I'm using that car.- Have you got the log book for that?
0:34:33 > 0:34:36One second. I have a record of this.
0:34:36 > 0:34:43He doesn't live here any more. If it's something to do with him, it shouldn't get pulled off him.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47I spoke to him before and he gave me an address that wasn't an address.
0:34:47 > 0:34:52- He gave you an address that wasn't an address?- It was just a made-up address.
0:34:52 > 0:34:56The landlord's brother phones him to tell him his car has been clamped.
0:34:56 > 0:35:01Amazing. He couldn't get hold of him a minute ago. Now he's getting hold of him!
0:35:02 > 0:35:05How much is the amount? 11,000 something?
0:35:05 > 0:35:07£11,799.
0:35:07 > 0:35:1011,799.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20The sheriffs could try the door handle.
0:35:20 > 0:35:26And if it isn't locked, walk straight into the house to see if any other goods could be seized.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29- We'll go in in a minute?- Eh? - We'll go in in a minute.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32I've got a feeling this is the parents' address.
0:35:32 > 0:35:33But, yeah...
0:35:34 > 0:35:37We can handle it.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43But the very visible clamp on the car might be enough incentive
0:35:43 > 0:35:46for the family to pay up, whether the landlord's here or not.
0:35:46 > 0:35:51- It's hanging on there! - It's suspended to the tyre.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53It ain't going nowhere!
0:35:53 > 0:35:54Natural disaster.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59I've just spoken to him. He's coming back on the 19th.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02Until the 19th. We can't do anything.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05Well, we're taking the car, then.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Not leaving us any option here.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11Is there any minimum payment we can do?
0:36:11 > 0:36:14No. It needs to be the full amount.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17We can't clear 11,000 between us. We don't have that much.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21It doesn't have to be off one card. We can take it off a few cards.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24However you want to spread that out.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28The landlord's brother invites the sheriffs in.
0:36:31 > 0:36:36Mark checks to see if there are any items relating to the business that could be removed.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40There'll be another room with everything in.
0:36:43 > 0:36:44And now...
0:36:44 > 0:36:49Somebody will come out of their bedroom in a minute, going, "What the BLEEP!"
0:36:51 > 0:36:55At this point, our cameraman was asked to leave the house.
0:36:56 > 0:37:01The family offers to pay £5,000, but that is less than half of what is owed.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05Because this is a second visit, Mark decides to up the ante.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09He asks the office to find out the value of the clamped car.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14If you could just find out what it is worth.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16I'm getting an offer of 5,000.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20But we've got a bit more than that outstanding.
0:37:20 > 0:37:26So if the vehicle's worth like ten or 11, we might as well go with the vehicle.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29If it's worth four, we'll go with paying the five grand.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34But Mark might not have any choice.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38It looks like the family's decided not to hand over any cash today.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41It's not a good sign. They're emptying out the car.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47When Mark goes back into the house, the landlord's brother tells him to take the car.
0:37:47 > 0:37:52But the sheriffs prefer hard cash, so they try a different tactic.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57If you can come back to us with something, try and get a bit more,
0:37:57 > 0:38:00cos we've got an idea of what could happen
0:38:00 > 0:38:04- if you give it all maybe.- Yeah.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07It's not in your brother's interests for us to take the car.
0:38:07 > 0:38:12His costs are going to go up by - I don't know what the figures will be.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16It's going to be another 400 to 500 on the bill.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19Which he'll still be liable for.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23The truck's coming back at just under £9,000.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26The new approach does the trick.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30The family doesn't want to lose the £9,000 car.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Mark comes out to get the chip and pin machine.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37We're trying to get a little bit more from them.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39I feel they can pay more.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42They offered five. We got one brother to say six.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46They asked if we had a card machine and we can't get the gist of the conversation,
0:38:46 > 0:38:50but they want to pay maybe all of it. We'll see where we go.
0:38:50 > 0:38:56It could be £5,000 to 11,800 in one fell swoop.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58That would be quite a result.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00He's paid the lot.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02That's the full amount, yeah?
0:39:02 > 0:39:06The landlord's brother pays the total amount by debit card,
0:39:06 > 0:39:08which adds £5 to the total,
0:39:08 > 0:39:12making it a round £11,804.
0:39:15 > 0:39:21I just want you to sign this saying you paid £11,804 on debit card. The balance is nil.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23Just sign and print there for us.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27The three students from New Zealand will get their deposits back in full.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30Lovely. Cheers, mate. Thanks very much.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34Mark and his colleague successfully retrieve over £2 million a month.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37They can now add £11,800 to that total.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42All they need to do is unclamp the car and they can be on their way.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45I wasn't expecting to get the full payment,
0:39:45 > 0:39:49but they knew if they made half the payment, we'd still have the vehicle
0:39:49 > 0:39:51and we can come back and remove it.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54The older brother made the decision in the end.
0:39:54 > 0:39:58- Full payment was a good result.- It's what we wanted.- Happy with that.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02Mark and Kev return to base
0:40:02 > 0:40:05and soon the three students from New Zealand
0:40:05 > 0:40:07will be getting some good news.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20It's now a month since Lawrence and Kev went to Classical Flooring Ltd
0:40:20 > 0:40:25and former office manager Joan Wales still hasn't been paid what she's owed.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28The sheriffs have now run background checks
0:40:28 > 0:40:30and traced the owners' home addresses.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34Soon, they will go to their houses to seize goods and vehicles
0:40:34 > 0:40:36to pay off the debt.
0:40:38 > 0:40:43The students who didn't get their deposits back from landlord Syed Raza have their cash.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47They realise that without the help of the sheriffs,
0:40:47 > 0:40:49they wouldn't have got a penny.
0:40:49 > 0:40:54And on Christmas Eve, Hilda Shaw received a cheque for £400 from the builder
0:40:54 > 0:40:59who charged over £4,000 for the work on her roof.
0:40:59 > 0:41:04He's offered to make payments of £200 per week to pay off the rest of the debt.
0:41:04 > 0:41:08I could never have done it on my own. No doubt about that.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12It made me feel there was hope where I'd felt so down.
0:41:12 > 0:41:17As if I wasn't going to see any of my money any more.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23Hilda thinks she made the right decision, enlisting the help of the enforcement officers.
0:41:23 > 0:41:30I really am pleased with what can be done to folks like him.
0:41:31 > 0:41:36But if the builder doesn't keep up the payments, the sheriffs will be back.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47David Hart bought a beach buggy to enjoy with his son.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49But he found out it was stolen.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53There's my dream, on the back of a low-loader, going up the road.
0:41:53 > 0:41:59When the sheriffs go to get David's money back from the man who sold it to him,
0:41:59 > 0:42:00things turn nasty.
0:42:00 > 0:42:04You're entitled to your opinion. I'm here doing a job.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06- I'll take your head off your shoulders.- It's my job.
0:42:06 > 0:42:12The sheriffs brave a torrential rainstorm as they visit a pub on behalf of a former employee
0:42:12 > 0:42:14who'd been unfairly dismissed.
0:42:14 > 0:42:19- We're looking to collect some money. - You're not having this jumper!
0:42:20 > 0:42:23And a customer wants his money back from an art gallery
0:42:23 > 0:42:25who didn't give him the print he paid for.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29But before the sheriffs can get his cash, they need to get in.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31He's in!
0:42:55 > 0:42:58Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd