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 in the vehicle. He rejected all those.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11A court of law backs you,
0:00:11 > 0:00:13but you still don't get your money.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Little did I know how long it would take to try and recover the money from him.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19(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 > 0:00:33Sheriffs are High Court enforcement officers,
0:00:33 > 0:00:36who recover what a court judgment says is owed.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40The writ orders us to come here and seize goods
0:00:40 > 0:00:41to 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 > 0:00:53But fighting for the underdog isn't a job for the faint-hearted.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54Mind yourself, Lawrence.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I'll back that truck straight through your windscreen!
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Debtors aren't pleased to see them.
0:00:59 > 0:01:00They're harassing me.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Because they hate paying up.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05- Are you happy for me to leave you some paperwork?- No. I'm not.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07- Go away. - DOOR SLAMS
0:01:10 > 0:01:11In today's programme...
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Karen Steadman's employers were supposed to deduct money
0:01:16 > 0:01:20from her wages, to go towards paying her rent.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22The money was deducted,
0:01:22 > 0:01:25but they didn't pass it all onto her landlord.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29So Karen and her family were threatened with eviction.
0:01:29 > 0:01:30It was very, very stressful,
0:01:30 > 0:01:33and I wouldn't like any other person to go through it.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36The sheriffs pay her employers a visit.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39Will they get Karen's cash?
0:01:39 > 0:01:42- What do I need to do, then? - You need to pay it.- I need to pay it?
0:01:42 > 0:01:48The sheriffs go to the home of a businessman who failed to pay an employee her wages.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51They're told he's moved out. But is it the truth?
0:01:51 > 0:01:52- OK, mate.- Bye-bye.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56If that bloke was lying, I don't think he'd give us a forwarding address,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59cos the chances are you're going to get rumbled.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05And the sheriffs revisit a garage in Hayes which sold a customer's car
0:02:05 > 0:02:07but didn't give him the money.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10They remove property to settle the debt,
0:02:10 > 0:02:14but a £20,000 piece of equipment is missing.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17It was here this morning, cos the power lead's still plugged in.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20So I think potentially it's in the boot of a car somewhere.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28The Steadman family lives in Lewisham, London.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Ten years ago, mum Karen got behind on her rent.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34But her landlord agreed a solution.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36Karen's employers, APCOA Parking,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39would deduct money directly from her wages every month
0:02:39 > 0:02:42to pay her rent and the arrears.
0:02:42 > 0:02:48But in 2008, Karen and her daughter, Ayesha, got a shock.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51We kind of just assumed that everything was going along fine,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53until one day the housing officer turned up
0:02:53 > 0:02:55and said they hadn't been paid,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57and that was the first we knew of it.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Of course, the money was still being deducted off Mum's wages.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02It turned out the deducted wages hadn't been passed on
0:03:02 > 0:03:05to Karen's landlords by APCOA.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09The rent arrears had reached £10,000,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13and the Steadmans' landlords couldn't wait any longer for the cash.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17They said that they wanted the money, the lump sum of money, now.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21And if we didn't, then they wanted to evict us from our house.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24There was no way Karen could get her hands on such a large amount
0:03:24 > 0:03:26of money at short notice.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30We couldn't pay, so it was like,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33my mum had to talk to her employer to try and find out what happened.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35But then they started giving her the run around
0:03:35 > 0:03:37and it wasn't giving much information.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Ayesha and her brother, Josiah, became forensic accountants
0:03:41 > 0:03:45overnight, scouring their mum's wage slips and rent books
0:03:45 > 0:03:49for proof that the rent money had been deducted from her wages,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51but not passed on to her landlord.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54I wanted to stay in the house that I grew up in,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56so I had to find out what happened.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59My mum was getting really stressed, and she was getting headaches and stuff,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Obviously it's not good for her health. I had to help her.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Me and my brother had to do something.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06It's very, very stressful,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09and I wouldn't like any other person to go through it.
0:04:09 > 0:04:15The wage slips proved the money had been taken, but not passed on.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19The Steadmans took APCOA Parking to the County Court.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22It was a David and Goliath case.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Ayesha, with her home-made dossier of documents,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29against APCOA Parking, a £500 million company.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32The judge was really impressed.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35He was like, the main thing was the table,
0:04:35 > 0:04:37where we worked out what APCOA had taken
0:04:37 > 0:04:41and how much they paid over and how much they kept, and all the dates.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44And once he saw that, he was like, that's the main thing he needed.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48The County Court judge found in the Steadmans' favour,
0:04:48 > 0:04:50but the company still didn't pay up.
0:04:50 > 0:04:55So Ayesha applied for a High Court writ for the owed money.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58I thought that this would work, it was just a matter of doing it
0:04:58 > 0:05:03and then when the lady phoned my mum to say that they received the case,
0:05:03 > 0:05:07I was quite relieved. It was like, "We're going to get paid.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09"I'm sure we're going to get paid."
0:05:09 > 0:05:11I thought, "At last."
0:05:11 > 0:05:15"I can be rent... I can be debt-free...
0:05:15 > 0:05:19"For a very long time. I can be actually debt-free."
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Living in debt isn't fun.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24It's stressful.
0:05:26 > 0:05:27Good afternoon...
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Because APCOA Parking didn't pay up,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36the Steadmans contacted this High Court enforcement office.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42They allocated the case to sheriffs Kev McNally and Lawrence Grix.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46And now, they are on their way to APCOA to enforce the writ
0:05:46 > 0:05:52and hopefully get Karen's cash, plus court costs and interest.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55They owe just over £19,000.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59Whether they want to part with that money straightaway remains to be seen.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Lawrence and Kev's first challenge
0:06:03 > 0:06:05will be finding the right person to speak to
0:06:05 > 0:06:08at a company with 4,300 employees.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Nobody will want to deal with it, basically.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14It'll be everybody else's problem.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17And you'll probably have to wade around for a while until...
0:06:17 > 0:06:21firstly, the person that deals with the actual problem arrives,
0:06:21 > 0:06:24and then they'll have to get in touch with who's going to pay it.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28So it's going to be Legal Department, Finance Department...
0:06:28 > 0:06:31But they should have money to pay it, that shouldn't be a problem.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34The prospect of being bounced from department to department
0:06:34 > 0:06:38isn't the only thing concerning Lawrence.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40He's worried he might get a parking ticket.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43It's a parking company, and funny enough, we're parked outside
0:06:43 > 0:06:45where it says Residents' Parking or Pay At Machine,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49and there's no pay-and-display machine in sight, anywhere up this road.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Erm, so there you go.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56I've put a sign in the window. What effect that'll have, I don't know.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58We'll ask when we get in where we can buy a ticket.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Don't want to incur a parking fine.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Sheriffs handing over cash to the firm that owes them money?
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Now that would be a first(!)
0:07:09 > 0:07:11- Good morning.- Hello, there. - Hi, there.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14- My name's Mr Grix. I'm an enforcement officer.- OK.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17I'm here today to execute a High Court writ
0:07:17 > 0:07:21against APCOA Parking UK Limited on behalf of a Karen Steadman.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23OK.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26So, I don't know who you're going to need to call to...
0:07:26 > 0:07:27to deal with that.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Hi, there. I've got an enforcement officer in reception.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34They're wanting to issue a writ on behalf of Karen...?
0:07:34 > 0:07:36- Steadman.- Steadman.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38- She's going to get someone. - Thank you.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41As a matter of interest, we parked in the road opposite,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44and it says Residents' Parking or Pay At Machine.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46But there's no pay-and-display machine.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48I don't suppose you know where one is?
0:07:48 > 0:07:49We've had this problem,
0:07:49 > 0:07:54- we don't actually do the parking, believe it or not.- But you don't know where there's a machine?
0:07:54 > 0:07:56I don't, because a colleague had the same problem
0:07:56 > 0:07:59- and she just left it there... - Yeah, I've put a note in the window.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Hello, there. I'll show you some ID first.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Mr Grix, I'm an enforcement officer.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07I'm here today to execute a High Court writ
0:08:07 > 0:08:11against APCOA Parking UK Limited, on behalf of a Karen Steadman.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Erm, there was a judgment made for...
0:08:15 > 0:08:17- A judgment made?- Yeah.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19When was the judgment issued?
0:08:19 > 0:08:23- Erm...- Cos sometimes they don't come to the Head Office, sometimes they go out...
0:08:23 > 0:08:27Well, the County Court date was 30th September this year.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30This says 24th of the first, we've got none outstanding.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Erm...
0:08:32 > 0:08:34And I can get the report for you, which I got off the...
0:08:34 > 0:08:38A report doesn't, you know, doesn't mean anything.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41You know, if you believe you've got nothing outstanding,
0:08:41 > 0:08:45obviously it must have been paid, and you would need to evidence that.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47- It's, you know...- Absolutely.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50It's no good saying, "Oh, there's nothing on the report."
0:08:50 > 0:08:52I've actually got one here,
0:08:52 > 0:08:57where I've printed it off. County Court Judgment, 30 September, 2011...
0:08:57 > 0:08:58for £16,039 in Bromley.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06- What do I need to do, then? - You need to pay it.- I need to pay it?
0:09:06 > 0:09:08In cleared funds, so it can be transfer,
0:09:08 > 0:09:10but it needs to be an instant transfer.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13We need to be able to see it arrive in the company account.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16- OK. In that case, gentlemen, would you like to take a seat? - Yeah, sure.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19- I will see what arrangements I can make...- Thank you.
0:09:19 > 0:09:20A cheque won't do?
0:09:20 > 0:09:23No, no, we don't take cheques at all. It's got to be cleared funds.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25It's good news for the Steadmans
0:09:25 > 0:09:29that Lawrence had done his homework before coming today.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32It's always handy, because I produced...
0:09:32 > 0:09:34I produced that check myself,
0:09:34 > 0:09:38I ran the check myself the other day before I left the office.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41And obviously that shows it's still outstanding, so...
0:09:43 > 0:09:48And obviously if the lady hasn't done a check recently, it's got missed.
0:09:49 > 0:09:54Half an hour later, APCOA's Legal Department calls Lawrence
0:09:54 > 0:09:56to say the company disputed the judgment
0:09:56 > 0:09:58and asked for a 'set aside'
0:09:58 > 0:10:02to delay payment while the case was considered.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03But that was months ago,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06before the date on the Steadmans' High Court writ.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Did you actually get a date for your...
0:10:09 > 0:10:12for your hearing, for your set aside?
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Right. Well, perhaps they didn't even get your application, then, sir.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18So, we're eight months down the line.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21You applied for a set aside and you've heard nothing
0:10:21 > 0:10:24and, with respect, you've done nothing about it.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30But if you've applied and not heard back,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33surely you should be checking into that.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37All I can go by, sir, is what I've got in front of me today,
0:10:37 > 0:10:38which is the live writ.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41I mean, we need to collect money.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45I mean, there's plenty of assets here that we can remove, if necessary, to clear this debt.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50OK. But all that... All that will end up doing is putting up the costs,
0:10:50 > 0:10:54because obviously we'll have to call in lorries to remove sufficient goods from the premises.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56OK. And it's going to disrupt...
0:10:56 > 0:11:01Right, the total outstanding at the moment is £19,213.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06But if we go over the next 15 minutes,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09we'll have been here an hour, so an hour's waiting time will be going on that,
0:11:09 > 0:11:11which is £181.50 plus VAT.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16At this point, our cameraman was asked to stop filming.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18He left the premises to await developments.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26An hour later and Lawrence has emerged from the building.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Erm... It was payment in full.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Had the solicitor on the phone.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33They applied for a judgment to be set aside
0:11:33 > 0:11:35back in January or February.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39They hadn't heard anything back.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42But just an application for set aside doesn't stop us enforcing anyway.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46And it is a bit foolish, if you haven't heard anything,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48to just let it go for that long.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51They've paid it, and I've checked that the money's in
0:11:51 > 0:11:53and it is in our account.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55So I've issued a receipt and that's it.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59Lawrence and his colleagues successfully retrieve
0:11:59 > 0:12:02over £2 million from debtors each month.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06They can now add £19,000 to this month's total.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11We asked APCOA to comment.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14They say that Karen Steadman is a valued member of staff.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17They say the situation arose as a result of an error
0:12:17 > 0:12:20and the matter was in the process of being resolved
0:12:20 > 0:12:23when the High Court writ was issued.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25In Lewisham, Karen is relieved
0:12:25 > 0:12:28that the sheriff's mission has been a success.
0:12:28 > 0:12:34But she knows she also owes a debt of gratitude to her daughter, Ayesha, and son, Josiah.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37It's amazing what they've achieved,
0:12:37 > 0:12:39and I'm very proud of them.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42And I couldn't do it without them,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45because the stress, for me, it was too much.
0:12:45 > 0:12:51Ayesha has a tip for anyone who needs to take on a big company in court.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Keep documents of everything.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Make sure you've got proof of all of the things that you do,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59because people will twist what you're saying...
0:12:59 > 0:13:01what they can to get out of anything.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05I've learnt, keep all of your documents. Keep them all.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Thanks to Ayesha and the sheriffs,
0:13:07 > 0:13:11the Steadman family no longer faces eviction.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22It's 7am, and Sheriff Marc Newton is on his way to Winchester
0:13:22 > 0:13:23with colleague, Kev.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26They're acting on behalf of an office manager
0:13:26 > 0:13:30who didn't get paid for a month's work.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32She took her two ex-bosses to a tribunal,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35which found in her favour. But they still didn't pay up.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38So she got a High Court writ.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41Marc and Kev are about to enforce it.
0:13:41 > 0:13:46We've got a Robert and a Patrick we're looking for at this address.
0:13:46 > 0:13:47So...
0:13:47 > 0:13:50We're looking for a total amount of £3,482.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58KNOCK ON DOOR
0:14:01 > 0:14:03I'm after Robert Engelhus.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08The man who opens the door says Mr Engelhus moved out a month ago.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11No problem. I'm from the High Court.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14They've issued a writ for him today at this address.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17I don't suppose you've got a forwarding address for him at all?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20The man does have an address for Mr Engelhus.
0:14:20 > 0:14:21It's a valuable lead.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Debtors rarely leave such information behind.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27We need to try to get there quick, really, before he gets to work.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32- Should be local, I think.- Should be.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37The address is only minutes away.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41But when they arrive, there's no sign of the man they're looking for.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Hiya. I'm after Robert Engelhus?
0:14:46 > 0:14:51The woman who answers the door says Mr Engelhus doesn't live at this address.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53She clearly has nothing to do with the writ
0:14:53 > 0:14:56the sheriffs are trying to enforce.
0:14:56 > 0:14:57No problem.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59'Because we've been to another address for him,
0:14:59 > 0:15:01'and the bloke said he just moved in.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04'But I don't know whether that bloke's telling the...'
0:15:04 > 0:15:07All right. Lovely. Bye-bye.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11She's telling the truth. Definitely.
0:15:11 > 0:15:16- She is?- Yeah, she is. But I'm a bit dubious about him now.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20Marc's starting to wonder whether the man at the first address
0:15:20 > 0:15:22sent them on a wild goose chase.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Kev thinks not.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28If that bloke was lying, I don't think he'd give us a forwarding address,
0:15:28 > 0:15:30- cos the chances are you'll get rumbled.- Yeah.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32By giving us a forward address,
0:15:32 > 0:15:34when you could easily just say no to that, couldn't you?
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- Yeah.- But saying no to that is an easier option than
0:15:37 > 0:15:39giving us an address, innit?
0:15:39 > 0:15:44There's only one way to find out if the man was lying -
0:15:44 > 0:15:48go back to where they started and question him more intensively.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53This time a woman answers the door
0:15:53 > 0:15:55and says her husband has gone to work.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58But if he has, he must have walked there.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01The car is still on the drive.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05Can you just confirm his name, then, just so we can let the court know...
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Erm... No.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09I don't want to...
0:16:10 > 0:16:15That's a somewhat strange response to being asked your husband's name.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16Right...
0:16:21 > 0:16:26- Must confirm something, I guess. - Exactly, that confirms, all right...
0:16:26 > 0:16:28She made a point of locking the door, as well.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32When the door opens again, the truth is revealed.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34- What's this about, mate?- Hiya.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37The man from earlier is home,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40and he is the businessman named in the writ.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43He asks the camera to move off his property.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49The businessman tells Marc he's gone bankrupt
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and shows him paperwork to prove it.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55This means the sheriffs won't be able to seize goods from him.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58It doesn't look like the former office manager
0:16:58 > 0:16:59will get her money today.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Erm...
0:17:03 > 0:17:05No problem.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09The businessman suggests the sheriffs visit his previous colleague,
0:17:09 > 0:17:10who's also named on the writ.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13I presume he's local to this area though, is he?
0:17:13 > 0:17:17But all he knows is which county he's living in.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19He's Essex way, is he?
0:17:19 > 0:17:21No problem. There you go, all right.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24- Bye-bye.- Take care, mate.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Marc was right to be suspicious earlier.
0:17:27 > 0:17:28It is the guy we were after,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31which he couldn't deny the second time he came to the door,
0:17:31 > 0:17:33cos he had an ID round his neck with his name on it.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36- So...- I think he'd resigned to the fact that he'd been rumbled.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38Yeah, I think he'd given up
0:17:38 > 0:17:41and realised we weren't going to go away and we wanted to speak to him, so...
0:17:41 > 0:17:45But after all that, he's just got a bankruptcy order made against him anyway,
0:17:45 > 0:17:47so there's nothing that can be done.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Marc and Kev will go back to the office
0:17:50 > 0:17:53and try to find an address for the other businessman.
0:17:53 > 0:17:54In the meantime,
0:17:54 > 0:17:58all they can do is reflect on a somewhat bizarre morning.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02- Quite satisfied, rumbling someone for just lying. - THEY LAUGH
0:18:02 > 0:18:04But outright.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Kev and Lawrence's next job is at an old battleground,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19a garage in Hayes, Middlesex, which sold the customer's car
0:18:19 > 0:18:21but didn't pass on all the proceeds.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24On a previous visit,
0:18:24 > 0:18:27the sheriffs removed property to pay off the debt.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31But the equipment only got as far as the van.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34The garage owner, Mr Verdi,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37offered to pay off the £32,000 owed in instalments,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40with £5,000 paid upfront.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44Lawrence and Kev took back the computers
0:18:44 > 0:18:47and CCTV they'd removed and returned to base.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53But the garage owner hasn't lived up to his promise
0:18:53 > 0:18:58of regular repayments, to pay off the £27,000 still owed.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02So the sheriffs are taking it to the next level.
0:19:03 > 0:19:09We're not looking for money today. Unless they happen to pay in full.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Erm... We're actually going to be removing goods.
0:19:12 > 0:19:19Lawrence plans to take and auction the garage's CCTV system, computers
0:19:19 > 0:19:21and two valuable engine diagnostic kits,
0:19:21 > 0:19:24if they haven't already been disposed of,
0:19:24 > 0:19:26to avoid the sheriffs getting their hands on them.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30They removed one set of diagnostic equipment.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34But if they removed the second set, then they've got none there to use.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38So I don't think they'll have removed that.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42Likewise with the computer system and the CCTV system.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46They've only got a very limited computer system.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48And they've only got one CCTV system.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51So I can't see that they would have removed that,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54because then they'll actually be without it.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57If you've got duplicates of things...
0:19:57 > 0:20:01You know, there's always the possibility that you can hire one or two items,
0:20:01 > 0:20:03providing you've still got one to use.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06But if you haven't got duplicates, you've only got one of anything...
0:20:06 > 0:20:08then you have to leave it there, really.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12They've arrived at the garage.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14But there's a problem.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16It's shut.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20The shutters are down and there doesn't seem to be anybody home.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27They've disappeared.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30But High Court enforcement officers are legally entitled
0:20:30 > 0:20:34to gain access to commercial properties to remove goods,
0:20:34 > 0:20:36whether the owners are there or not.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Do you want to just give the shutters a try?
0:20:38 > 0:20:44I think you'll find they're electric. But they've got a handle on the front, haven't they?
0:20:44 > 0:20:45The shutters are locked tight.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49So Lawrence phones the number above the front door.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51Hello, is that Verdi?
0:20:52 > 0:20:56Yeah, it's the enforcement officers. We're outside, knocking on your door, yeah?
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Sorry? It's not Verdi's?
0:20:59 > 0:21:01It's what?
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Precision Engineering?
0:21:03 > 0:21:06In Verdi's building, using Verdi's phone number?
0:21:06 > 0:21:08No, I do need to ring anybody,
0:21:08 > 0:21:12because we've already seized the assets that are in the premises.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15I'll... I'll... I'll be calling some locksmiths.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18If you're not going to let us in, I'll call locksmiths and forth.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22You call the police, then. If you give them CAD number 4895
0:21:22 > 0:21:25of the 5th of December, they'll know all about it.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27No? OK, then. Bye.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33- Not Verdi? - They're saying it's changed names to Precision Engineering.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36That's what they were trying last time, isn't it?
0:21:36 > 0:21:40- He said they've gone into liquidation. - They haven't though, have they?
0:21:40 > 0:21:43I'll check.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46The man on the phone told Lawrence all the Verdi Ferrari assets
0:21:46 > 0:21:50had been sold to a new company, so they can't be removed.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Lawrence calls the office to get them to check the status
0:21:52 > 0:21:56of Verdi Ferrari with Companies House.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Are they still active?
0:21:58 > 0:21:59Yeah?
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Not dissolved or anything?
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Lovely. Cheers. See you now.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10- OK?- I'm getting lost with this now.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Erm...Verdi Ferrari isn't in liquidation.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19It's still active on Companies House. So, um...
0:22:19 > 0:22:22..we're getting locksmiths down to gain entry.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25The office are going to sort that out now for us.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28But the locksmith might not be necessary.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33A mechanic Lawrence and Kev met on a previous visit has just arrived.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36The garage isn't deserted after all.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- He's one of them.- Yeah. - It's him.- Yeah, I'm sure it is.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43Lawrence and Kev watch to see if there's a secret way in.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47He'll probably go round the back and they'll let him in the fire exit.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50- There's got to be a fire exit, hasn't there?- There is.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52But we can't get it open, so...
0:22:52 > 0:22:54There's little option
0:22:54 > 0:22:57but to wait for the locksmith in the warmth of the van.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05Minutes later, a mechanic comes up and hands over a mobile number.
0:23:05 > 0:23:06You all right? Who's that?
0:23:06 > 0:23:09- The manager.- Manager?
0:23:09 > 0:23:12What, he's the manager of this, is he?
0:23:13 > 0:23:14I'll give him a ring.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20Lawrence informs the Verdi manager about the plan of action.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21We're here today to remove goods.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25We're just waiting for the arrival of a locksmith
0:23:25 > 0:23:27and then we'll be effecting entry into the premises
0:23:27 > 0:23:30and removing goods we've previously seized.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35Because if those goods have been transferred to the new company,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37they shouldn't have been.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39No, we don't label goods.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42We left an inventory on our first visit
0:23:42 > 0:23:45whereby all the goods listed on that inventory,
0:23:45 > 0:23:50and anything else belonging to Verdi Ferrari Aftersales Ltd, was seized.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54When we came on our second visit, we found that little white labels
0:23:54 > 0:23:57with serial numbers had been stuck on,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00well, just about anything that moved basically.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04And as I explained last time, that was irrelevant,
0:24:04 > 0:24:07because we'd already seized the goods on a previous visit.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11Items seized by sheriffs and left on site
0:24:11 > 0:24:13cannot be disposed of in any way,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16unless the third party proves they own them
0:24:16 > 0:24:19within five days of them being listed.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22We have had no third party claim to any of these goods
0:24:22 > 0:24:26from our first visit, which I believe was back in October,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29which is, you know, well over the five days.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33Now, because no third party claim has been made to those goods,
0:24:33 > 0:24:38in accordance with RSC Order 17, we are here today to remove them.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42And they will be removed from here and taken to auction.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46We're not being fobbed off with waiting round for hours,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49because there's allegedly some money on its way.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51We're here today to remove goods.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53And if you'll excuse me, I'm not being rude,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56I've got an incoming call which might be the locksmith.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58I need to take this other call.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Hello, Mr Grix speaking.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03Missed it.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Lawrence phones the office.
0:25:05 > 0:25:10The missed call was them confirming the locksmith is minutes away.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13All right. I'll give the police a buzz then.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16All right. Thanks, Soph. Bye.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17Have you got one?
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Yeah, on its way from Hayes. So not very far at all.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Lawrence wants the police to be present
0:25:23 > 0:25:27when the locksmith arrives, to reduce the chance of trouble.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30I think it might be advisable if some of your officers come down.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33All the units along here, all know one another,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36and there was loads of them out there last time we attended.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39We are going to be effecting entry by force, using locksmiths.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44Lovely. Thanks very much. Bye-bye.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Police are on their way.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53But before the police or the locksmith arrive,
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Mr Verdi, the father of the owner of Verdi Ferrari, shows up.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00He's also the landlord of the building.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02So what have you come here to do, sir?
0:26:02 > 0:26:06Have you come to let us in? Save the locksmith drilling?
0:26:06 > 0:26:10- We've called the police. They're on their way.- Police are here.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13- Hello.- Hello, mate. You all right?
0:26:13 > 0:26:16POLICE RADIO CRACKLES
0:26:16 > 0:26:20The police coming, and the impending arrival of the locksmith
0:26:20 > 0:26:23appear to have done the trick. Kev is allowed in.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27We had your colleagues out,
0:26:27 > 0:26:31we didn't call them, last time we were here.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Right. Is it the whole property, or is it things inside?
0:26:36 > 0:26:37What we're after is goods.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40I'm going to wait for my colleague.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42You have to unlock that as well.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46Generally speaking, they give us the run-around when we come in.
0:26:46 > 0:26:47This is the third time.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50It's, "Give us an hour and we'll get some money."
0:26:50 > 0:26:53And you end up being here for hours, and nothing happens.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55So we're here today to remove.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58OK. I'm just going to have a word with them.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01- I'm going to take these with me. - Yeah, sure.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Lawrence joins Kev in the garage.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08Now they can get on with what they came here to do.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09Well, just take everything out.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11- Would you like to come up? - Yeah, sure.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14But before the sheriffs start removing equipment,
0:27:14 > 0:27:18the policeman tells them Mr Verdi wants to talk upstairs.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20So basically...oh, see!
0:27:20 > 0:27:24Excuse me. I've asked you before, nicely...
0:27:24 > 0:27:26At this point, the camera operator is asked to leave the building.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Mr Verdi tells Lawrence that a new company
0:27:32 > 0:27:36is now his tenant in the garage, and it owns all the assets.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40But when Lawrence checks the name of this new business
0:27:40 > 0:27:42with Companies House, it doesn't exist.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45And Lawrence finds cash receipts in the office
0:27:45 > 0:27:48in the name of Verdi Ferrari.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51His patience has run out.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55You've put a name on the lease that doesn't exist.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Come on, let's get this stuff out.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00Do want to back these up before I unplug 'em all?
0:28:00 > 0:28:01Just unplug it, Kev.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04He's been given the chance to back it up and he hasn't.
0:28:04 > 0:28:05You can't stop us, sir.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08You should have claimed it in accordance with RSC Order 17.
0:28:08 > 0:28:14We seized these goods months ago. Don't get in my way.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Don't obstruct me, or you're liable for arrest.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Now, move out the way.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24While Kev goes to open the van,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28Lawrence stays on the premises to ensure they aren't locked out.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Sheriffs can remove tools of the trade
0:28:35 > 0:28:37essential for the running of a business,
0:28:37 > 0:28:40if the debtor is a limited company.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42And Verdi Ferrari is just that.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50And this signed Manchester United Football Club shirt
0:28:50 > 0:28:53certainly isn't a tool of the trade anyway.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57But the most valuable piece of equipment,
0:28:57 > 0:29:00the £20,000 engine diagnostic kit,
0:29:00 > 0:29:02is nowhere to be found.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05- Disappeared.- Yeah, disappeared, the diagnostic kit.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08Without a trace.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10That's twice we've had that in the van.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12Should've taken it the first time.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16Lawrence has his own theory about the diagnostic kit's whereabouts.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20I believe it was here this morning. The power lead's still plugged in.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23I think it's in the boot of a car somewhere.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27I've searched all over the place, and I can't find it.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31Without the diagnostic kit, the property removed today
0:29:31 > 0:29:35may not raise the £27,000 required to clear the debt.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38So Lawrence notes the details of cars
0:29:38 > 0:29:40that could be removed at a later date,
0:29:40 > 0:29:43if they're owned by Verdi Ferrari.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49Cars on the forecourt listed.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51Everything of value removed.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53Job done.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58The garage owner has five days to pay up what he owes,
0:29:58 > 0:30:02or establish the removed property doesn't belong to him.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04If he doesn't pay up,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07or the equipment doesn't raise enough money at auction,
0:30:07 > 0:30:10the sheriffs will be back.
0:30:10 > 0:30:11We don't give up.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14If they manage to prove that Verdi Ferrari Aftersales
0:30:14 > 0:30:17don't own anything, or if they do go into liquidation,
0:30:17 > 0:30:21which is what we were told today, although it hasn't happened yet,
0:30:21 > 0:30:25then obviously we can't reinforce against a liquidated company.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28But who knows! Erm...
0:30:28 > 0:30:32We won't be giving up, so if we don't get the proof, we'll be back again.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34And we'll keep at it until we get some kind of outcome.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37Lawrence and Kev head off.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39But minutes later,
0:30:39 > 0:30:42they get a phone call from a solicitor acting for Verdi Ferrari.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45He's just informed me that he's managed to get
0:30:45 > 0:30:48an order from the court for return of the goods.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51Obviously we'll comply if there is an order.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55But I'll wait until we've got a copy of it in our office.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59We won't just take his word for it over the phone.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02But people can go to court and get a stay.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06And judges will allow a stay on occasion,
0:31:06 > 0:31:09just in case there's been some kind of impropriety
0:31:09 > 0:31:13or, you know, a potential miscarriage of justice.
0:31:13 > 0:31:19They will always grant a stay until such time as you get a hearing.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22And if we're ordered by the court to return the goods,
0:31:22 > 0:31:24then obviously we'll comply with that.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28So the saga of Verdi Ferrari takes another twist
0:31:28 > 0:31:31and the sheriffs may be revisiting the garage again
0:31:31 > 0:31:33to take the property back.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36Lawrence and Kev return to base.
0:31:44 > 0:31:49It's 6.30am. And while they wait for news about Verdi Ferrari,
0:31:49 > 0:31:53Lawrence and Kev have been allocated another job.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56They've got a long drive ahead, so they're passing the time
0:31:56 > 0:32:00by having a heated debate about a subject of great importance.
0:32:00 > 0:32:05Who do you think would win out of a fight between pate and soup?
0:32:05 > 0:32:07I would say soup.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11The pate would become dissolved and just become part of soup.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14No, it's not if they're mixed together.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17It's which one's sort of harder, you know?
0:32:18 > 0:32:22Pate's got to be harder than soup. Has to be.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27It depends if the soup's got croutons, they're quite hard.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30- Ah, see! Now you're changing the dynamics of the soup!- Ha-ha!
0:32:30 > 0:32:33- Pate's a bit namby-pamby.- No way!
0:32:33 > 0:32:36It's a bit of a namby-pamby thing to eat.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39"I'm having some pate on toast."
0:32:39 > 0:32:40You're kidding, in't ya?
0:32:40 > 0:32:41THEY LAUGH
0:32:41 > 0:32:46The soup versus pate debate will have to be resolved some other time.
0:32:46 > 0:32:51Lawrence and Kev are nearing their destination.
0:32:51 > 0:32:56The director of a recruitment firm owes a former colleague £6,000.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59So the former colleague got a High Court writ for the cash.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02The sheriffs are on their way to execute it.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04But they're struggling to find the director's house.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08The address on the writ is a house name, rather than a number.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13This is the argument against having names on houses.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18It's saying we're about here. It's that one. Good man.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22Lawrence has spotted a car in the drive
0:33:22 > 0:33:25he may be able to remove to clear the debt.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Only one vehicle in there.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29Spin it round, Kev, and we'll block the gates.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32The house the sheriffs are visiting this morning
0:33:32 > 0:33:36is in a more prosperous area than they're used to on their travels.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40- Nice old road, though, isn't it? - Nice. This whole area's nice.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43The director lives here. That's what's on Companies House.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46And there is a, I think it is the secretary,
0:33:46 > 0:33:48is a holding company which is also...
0:33:48 > 0:33:51Do you want to jump out? I'll pull it up.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55Now they've found the company director's house,
0:33:55 > 0:33:59Lawrence and Kev can start the process of executing the writ.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05Stage one, formally posting it to the director.
0:34:08 > 0:34:13Stage two, seeing him face to face and getting him to pay up.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17Lawrence tries to guess the code for the gate.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21GATE BEEPS
0:34:23 > 0:34:25Oh, well. Worth a try.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29There are 1,000 possible combinations for three digits, 0-9.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33So Lawrence goes for a more straightforward approach.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35INTERCOM RINGS
0:34:38 > 0:34:41That's a nice alarming noise, isn't it?
0:34:41 > 0:34:43There's only one car there. It's only a Golf.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46Only a Yaris, sorry. Unless the other car's in the garage.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49But you've got a wheelie bin in front of one of them.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51The car's in front of the other one.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54- Do you want to try the door? - Yeah, we might have to.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56- Lawrence'll climb over the gate! - THEY LAUGH
0:34:56 > 0:35:00GATE BEEPS Ah! There is a light on.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04Someone's faintly visible through the bedroom window.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09Would you like to speak on the intercom?
0:35:09 > 0:35:13He's potentially phoning somebody, texting someone, or something.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17Oh, there's a lady now. Just bobbed her head up.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20Sort of peered over the windowsill and dropped back down again.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24She must have crawled to the window on her hands and knees, I'd think.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29Most people who've got an outstanding debt
0:35:29 > 0:35:32when they get a knock at this time in the morning
0:35:32 > 0:35:34will have an idea of what it's about.
0:35:34 > 0:35:35Morning, sir.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37- I'll show you some ID. - Did you ring?
0:35:37 > 0:35:40We did, yeah. Buzz, buzz, buzz, on the thing.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44- Didn't ring.- My name's Mr Grix. I'm an enforcement officer.- Yeah.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46I'm here today to execute a High Court writ
0:35:46 > 0:35:48against G2 Human LLP.
0:35:48 > 0:35:53- We've got an outstanding debt of £7,046.07.- Right.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56We're here today to execute this writ,
0:35:56 > 0:35:59which is basically seizing goods of the debtor company.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02- The company has no assets at all. - It's got no assets here?
0:36:02 > 0:36:06It has none, and it certainly hasn't got any here.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09This is the registered address of the company.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11It is. But it's just a registered address.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14- It's not active, and it's not here. - It's not active?
0:36:14 > 0:36:16It's not active, and it's not here, no.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18So, when did it cease to be active?
0:36:18 > 0:36:21Well, it's active as a company but it's not trading.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23It has no assets, it has no money.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27It's got a bank account with £3.50 in it.
0:36:27 > 0:36:29Are you able to show me some evidence of that?
0:36:29 > 0:36:34Have you got a copy of the bank statement with that on it?
0:36:34 > 0:36:39I can quickly get you one, but I'm not going to open the gates.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41- You not going to what? - Open my gates.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43If you could get me that bank statement, then.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Unlike with commercial properties,
0:36:48 > 0:36:51sheriffs can't break into a residence to remove goods
0:36:51 > 0:36:53to clear the debt.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55They can walk through an open door,
0:36:55 > 0:36:58but there's usually less business-owned property to seize
0:36:58 > 0:37:00in a company director's home anyway.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02You might find a company vehicle,
0:37:02 > 0:37:08because, you know, a lot of directors would still take a company vehicle
0:37:08 > 0:37:10rather than pay for it themselves.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13And you may find a home office.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16If it's, you know, a fairly small company.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19This is a lovely house, there's obviously money.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23Whether it's come from this company or not, we've no way of telling.
0:37:23 > 0:37:27But, you know, if there's a home office in there,
0:37:27 > 0:37:29we can climb over the gates.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33We can't force entry into a residential property.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36We can't force entry into the garages because they're attached.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40So we've got no way of getting into that house to establish
0:37:40 > 0:37:41if there's a home office in there.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45Kev thinks he could have sneaked into the house earlier
0:37:45 > 0:37:49to see if there is anything worth asset stripping.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51Could have got in while he was nattering.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54Leaves the door open, doesn't he?
0:37:54 > 0:37:57- Huh?- Leaves the door open.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59Yeah, but by the time you climbed over the fence,
0:37:59 > 0:38:02he could have run back there quite easily.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07- Is that a challenge? - THEY LAUGH
0:38:07 > 0:38:09It's Challenge Kev!
0:38:09 > 0:38:12It's surprising what sheriffs are legally allowed to do
0:38:12 > 0:38:14at debtors' homes.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18If somebody goes in and leaves the front door open, we can walk in.
0:38:18 > 0:38:23You can turn the door handle, and if the door opens, you can go in.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27- We can climb through open windows. - We can go over these gates.
0:38:32 > 0:38:33There you go.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40- Right, OK. - That's all there is, I'm afraid!
0:38:40 > 0:38:45Despite the bank statement backing up what the director said about his company having no money,
0:38:45 > 0:38:49Lawrence isn't giving up on his search for assets to be seized.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53Obviously now we will have to do a search
0:38:53 > 0:38:55and see if there are any commercial premises.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59We can affect an entry into a commercial premises.
0:38:59 > 0:39:00We can't here. It's your residence.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03An Englishman's home is still his castle.
0:39:03 > 0:39:04So we won't be forcing entry.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08Shouldn't put, um, shouldn't put my house down
0:39:08 > 0:39:12as a registered address on businesses that were...
0:39:12 > 0:39:15..It really is, it's a dormant company.
0:39:15 > 0:39:16It does nothing.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18But even dormant companies have property
0:39:18 > 0:39:20that can be auctioned to pay debts.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23The company director says the car in the drive
0:39:23 > 0:39:26belongs to him and his wife, not the business.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29But Lawrence isn't taking his word for it.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33I've seized the car on paper anyway. We'll do our checks on it.
0:39:33 > 0:39:37If it turns out it's registered to you or your wife personally,
0:39:37 > 0:39:40then obviously... But we can't take your word for it, sir.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42That could be a company vehicle.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45That'd be nice. If the company had an asset.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49And on that note, the sheriffs make their farewells.
0:39:49 > 0:39:50OK.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56This time, Lawrence and Kev leave empty-handed.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59If a company hasn't got any assets at all,
0:39:59 > 0:40:03the director can't be forced to pay anything.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05Why didn't he contest it, then?
0:40:06 > 0:40:10- Have I got my lights on?- Oh, dear.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17The man at the gate says he has no liability towards the complainant.
0:40:17 > 0:40:22He says the company the High Court enforcement officers were looking for
0:40:22 > 0:40:24has never operated from his home.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33It's a month since Kev and Marc's wild-goose chase around Winchester,
0:40:33 > 0:40:36on behalf of the unpaid office worker.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39They're still trying to find an address for the other businessman.
0:40:39 > 0:40:45If they can track him down in Essex, they'll soon be paying him a visit.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49The High Court found against Verdi Ferrari.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Lawrence and Kev didn't have to take any of the property back.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56Thanks to the sheriffs, some of the outstanding debt's been paid.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00And the customer whose car the garage sold but didn't pay is happy.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03Verdi Ferrari is now in liquidation.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05It's now two months since Lawrence and Kev
0:41:05 > 0:41:09gave the businessman an early morning wake-up call.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12It's been established that he works from a home office
0:41:12 > 0:41:15in the garage which is attached to the house.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18This means the sheriffs can't force entry to remove assets.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21So they've now closed the case.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26And in Lewisham, the Steadmans have now officially received the money
0:41:26 > 0:41:31owed by APCOA parking, thanks to the sterling efforts of the sheriffs.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34As soon as the cheque cleared,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37within the same week all the debts got cleared.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41For the first time in over a decade, Karen is debt free.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44It was such a relief.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47I feel like my grey hairs can just take a break now.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58If you did three months' work, you'd expect to be paid for it.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00But in Yasmine Chatur's case,
0:42:00 > 0:42:0412 weeks' work at a pharmacy earned her nothing.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08I'm just small fry. But I have earned this money.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12Lawrence takes on a lawyer in pursuit of Yasmine's cash.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16I'm asking you for the third time, what's your boss's name?
0:42:16 > 0:42:19- Just phone the office. - What's his name?- Phone the office.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22The sheriffs get given the cold shoulder,
0:42:22 > 0:42:25when they chase up a debt in Derbyshire.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28We're putting your phone through the cat flap.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32And the sheriffs are back on the trail of the builder
0:42:32 > 0:42:35who took an 86 year-old for over £4,000
0:42:35 > 0:42:38of shoddy and unnecessary roofing work.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41Don't let him escape.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44Get him by the tail or anything!
0:42:44 > 0:42:47Hopefully there won't be no trouble.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50And if we need the police, we'll give them a call.
0:43:13 > 0:43:17Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd