0:00:02 > 0:00:04- Meet the Sheriffs.- Let's introduce ourselves.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07We're enforcement officers. We're here to execute a High Court writ.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10They're the men whose job it is to get you your money back.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13It's an arrestable offence to stop me doing my job.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15If you've been ripped off and don't know where turn...
0:00:15 > 0:00:17I'm not waiting any more.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19I'm ordered to seize goods to clear this debt,
0:00:19 > 0:00:21which would mean clearing this place out.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24If you've been to court but still not been paid what you're owed.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Why don't you tell me who you are?
0:00:26 > 0:00:28This is an absolute crock. You need to pay this.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31The High Court Enforcement Officers are charged by law
0:00:31 > 0:00:34to recover what a court says is rightfully yours.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36I've seized your car, sir.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39- Let us through the door, or we'll go through the window.- Whoa.
0:00:39 > 0:00:44- It's time to call the Sheriffs. - I've collected £42,000.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Coming up...
0:00:48 > 0:00:52Farmer Brian Nutter got fleeced after shearing 3,000 sheep.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54It's just a poor do when I go and shear a sheep for a man
0:00:54 > 0:00:57that I know and won't pay me.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Sheriff Pete pays the debtor a visit.
0:01:01 > 0:01:02Will they pull the wool over his eyes?
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Unless he's sold them already there's 3,000 sheep that we'll seize.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Lawrence and Kev pay a visit to aeroplane giant Airbus
0:01:10 > 0:01:15to get money back for a man whose factory job ruined his hearing.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19We're here today to seize goods to the value of £42,000.
0:01:19 > 0:01:25Can they convince the £26bn company this is a debt that needs paying?
0:01:27 > 0:01:30And Marc and Tony take on a Luton car yard.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33If it's nothing to do with you, why don't you just tell me who you are?
0:01:37 > 0:01:41On a rainy morning in West Yorkshire, Sheriffs Pete Spencer
0:01:41 > 0:01:44and Dave Crabtree are heading deep into farming country
0:01:44 > 0:01:47looking to get another member of the public back money
0:01:47 > 0:01:49that's rightfully theirs.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Right, first job is Todmorden.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Believe it's a farm that we're going to,
0:01:55 > 0:01:58so hopefully today there'll be some farming equipment.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02The man they're on their way to help is Lancashire farmer Brian Nutter.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Like most farmers these days, he's having to work harder and harder
0:02:07 > 0:02:09for smaller and smaller returns.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14So, when a neighbouring farmer reneges on a contract to pay,
0:02:14 > 0:02:16leaving him thousands of pounds out of pocket
0:02:16 > 0:02:21and relying on the Sheriffs for help, it's a serious matter.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23We have to pay our bills,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26y'know, we can't get away with not paying our bills,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29so why should he get away with not paying his bills?
0:02:36 > 0:02:37For over 20 years,
0:02:37 > 0:02:43Brian Nutter's life has been all about sheep.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Everybody says sheep are stupid.
0:02:46 > 0:02:47They're very clever, are sheep.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51His passion for these woolly beasts
0:02:51 > 0:02:55has seen him develop into one of the fastest shearers in the North West.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59I was 16 when I sheared my first sheep.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03Shearing, it's all where your feet go.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07They say, shearing 300 sheep a day is equivalent to running a marathon.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Brian's steady hand and years of experience
0:03:14 > 0:03:18meant sheep owners flocked to engage his services.
0:03:18 > 0:03:19As his shearing business grew,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22it took him to farms across the country.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26But Brian's fortunes took a turn for the worse
0:03:26 > 0:03:29when a local farmer named Andrew Barker came to him
0:03:29 > 0:03:31with an especially tough assignment.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33I've known him for a couple of years,
0:03:33 > 0:03:37but he asked me to shear his sheep.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40It was just short of three thousand,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43we sheared for him in total. A very big job.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48The scale of the job meant Brian needed help
0:03:48 > 0:03:52and he took on two extra shearers to share the work.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54He struck a deal with Mr Barker at the going rate
0:03:54 > 0:03:56of £1 per sheep.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59After five exhausting days
0:03:59 > 0:04:04providing much needed trims to each of the farmer's 2,968 sheep,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Brian was looking forward to a well-earned pay-day.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13But with the huge crop of wool safely in the bag,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16despite numerous promises from the farmer
0:04:16 > 0:04:19this much-needed payment never arrived.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23You trust people, but it's just a poor ado
0:04:23 > 0:04:25when I go and shear a sheep for a man that I know
0:04:25 > 0:04:27and won't pay me.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30He's no loyalty to the people that work for him.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35He owes me £3,000 and I've paid my shearers nearly £2,000,
0:04:35 > 0:04:37of that money for the work that they did for me.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40I'm nearly £5,000 out of pocket
0:04:40 > 0:04:43He's made money out of me going shearing the sheep
0:04:43 > 0:04:45because he can sell his wool.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47So, yeah, you do get angry.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Having been forced to pay his shearers out of his own savings,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55Brian was determined not to let Mr Barker fleece him.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57After two years without payment
0:04:57 > 0:05:02he decided the only way to get his money was to sue the errant farmer.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04When the case went to court,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08the farmer admitted liability and was ordered to repay the money.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09But despite this ruling,
0:05:09 > 0:05:14Brian found Mr Barker still wasn't ready to pay up what he owed.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19It took him three months before I got the first cheques,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22and then I only got them because I went for them.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27I said to him, "If these cheques are going to bounce, let me know,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30"and I won't put them in the bank." He told me that they would clear.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33And as I said, the first two cheques bounced,
0:05:33 > 0:05:37and the third one cleared, but he told me not to put that one in,
0:05:37 > 0:05:41so, I mean I've been right with him, all along,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43but he hasn't been right with me.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47With Barker breaking his promise to the court
0:05:47 > 0:05:50and having no other way of enforcing the agreement to pay,
0:05:50 > 0:05:55Brian's last hope of seeing his money now rests with the Sheriffs.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58And Brian has a suggestion for how they could clear the debt.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03It's a solution harking back to the Saxon days of the Sheriffs,
0:06:03 > 0:06:07when seizing livestock was an everyday occurrence.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10It wouldn't really take a lot of sheep...
0:06:10 > 0:06:14... maybe 70 or 80 sheep would pay the debt at a realistic valuation.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20It's now down to Sheriffs, Pete and Dave,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23to give this country yarn its final twist.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27And when it comes to potentially seizing livestock,
0:06:27 > 0:06:31Pete's not one to be sheepish.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Unless he's sold them already, there's 3,000 sheep that we'll see.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38And we'll send Dave to round 'em up.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41Potentially they've got a value and they're owned by the debtor,
0:06:41 > 0:06:46so we can seize and remove to sell to cover the outstanding debt.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Before they can do anything however, they've got to find the farm.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Could be anywhere, couldn't it?
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Just ask her, ask her.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00Andrew Barker, Midgeldon farm.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06It could be anywhere along here.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Just over t'hill.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13And just over the hill they find Midgeldon Farm.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19They're on site for only a few moments before debtor Andrew Barker
0:07:19 > 0:07:21makes an appearance.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23I've got a live High Court writ.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25That's the reason for our attendance today.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29- In the connection with a Mr Brian Nutter.- Oh, right.
0:07:29 > 0:07:34- Did he do some sheep shearing for you or something?- Oh, yeah.- OK.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38There's £4,038.74 outstanding
0:07:38 > 0:07:42- which is the reason for our visit and we've come to collect it.- Right.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46- Right.- How would you like to pay?
0:07:46 > 0:07:48Cash, credit card, debit card?
0:07:52 > 0:07:57Right OK, so cash or bank transfer are the two options then for you.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06At this point, our cameraman is asked to leave the farm.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Pete wants to know more about the dispute
0:08:11 > 0:08:13and makes some discreet inquiries.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17So, what did he do, shear 3,000 sheep for you or something?
0:08:17 > 0:08:18Did you not pay him then?
0:08:18 > 0:08:21But Mr Barker's more worried about finding the money.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24He asks Pete for an extra day to pay.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27I can't. I've got to attend today. It's a live writ to attend today,
0:08:27 > 0:08:31which is to collect the total amount or seize goods to the value of.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Obviously we've already got your Land Rover.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36Erm, so is this yours, this Toyota?
0:08:36 > 0:08:39With the threat of having his vehicles seized hanging over him,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43Mr Barker promises to pay in the next five days
0:08:43 > 0:08:46and Pete's inclined to believe he will.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50If I seize items to protect the outstanding debt, OK,
0:08:50 > 0:08:53so it's going to be the property of the court until five days.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55So if I give you until Monday to pay it.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59As long as we've received that by Monday, we won't be coming back.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05The farmer agrees to sign the walking possession agreement
0:09:05 > 0:09:08giving the court ownership of his vehicles and livestock
0:09:08 > 0:09:10on paper at least.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13The seizure will be lifted once he pays up.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Happy with the result, Pete wraps things up.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19I'll give you all the information, yeah?
0:09:19 > 0:09:22That's all the information there.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23Our account details are there
0:09:23 > 0:09:26and I'll give you till next Monday to sort that out.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31Pete's hopeful the farmer will be good to his word and pay up.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33After all, there's plenty of removable assets on his farm,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36including vehicles and livestock.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38If the money's not forthcoming,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Pete will be straight back to remove them.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44He said he doesn't have a credit/debit card which I can believe
0:09:44 > 0:09:47so it's going to be cash, he's going to get the cash together,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50go into the bank and make the payment.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52He seems confident he's going to come up with the full amount,
0:09:52 > 0:09:57so hopefully by Monday, we'll see it in our client's holding account.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00And, a few days later...
0:10:01 > 0:10:04..Brian Nutter got the phone call he's been waiting for
0:10:04 > 0:10:07since he first got in contact with the Sheriffs.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Well, it's Dave the Sheriff.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13That's all right, is that, it has to happen yet!
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Time will tell.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21And the good news is, the cheque cleared. Payment in full.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34On their way to their latest job are Sheriffs Marc Newton and Tony Smith.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39We're just on our way up the M1 now to Luton.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43We've got a company called Carland Direct.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47The amount outstanding for this writ is £3,239.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Carland Direct are a garage who sold a faulty car
0:10:50 > 0:10:54to one of their customers, Maryam Awan.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57They fixed the car, but then made her pay for repairs,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00so the matter ended up in court.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Carland Direct didn't attend and the court ruled in Maryam's favour.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08And now, she wants her money back.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Arriving at Carland Direct's vast Luton forecourt,
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Marc and Tony head for the main office.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19Can they convince the company they need to pay off this debt?
0:11:19 > 0:11:21HE KNOCKS DOOR
0:11:21 > 0:11:23- Hello, mate.- Hello, mate. You all right?- Yeah, good. You?
0:11:23 > 0:11:26We've got a High Court Writ that's been issued.
0:11:26 > 0:11:27Who's it for, sorry?
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- Carland Direct Ltd.- Who's it from?
0:11:29 > 0:11:32A Maryam Awan.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- Can we talk outside, if you don't mind?- Yeah, no problem. Yeah.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39While the Carland Direct manager has no choice
0:11:39 > 0:11:43but to talk to Marc and Tony, we're asked to leave the premises.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46The manager says he's just an employee
0:11:46 > 0:11:49and therefore can't initiate any payment.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53He says the company director, Mr Shahbaz Khan,
0:11:53 > 0:11:55is away and not back for a day or so.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58But Marc can't wait till tomorrow.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01You need to get hold of him, or someone needs to pay this.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05The amount outstanding is £3,239.44.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Problem is, if you don't, we're going to start removing.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09We have to seize goods today.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14The man says he doesn't have the £3,000 needed to pay the debt.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I'm not being funny, but that's not our problem.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19- We've got a High Court writ. - It's a live writ.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Suddenly, the manager changes his story.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Instead of the next day, the boss is apparently arriving
0:12:26 > 0:12:30in a couple of hours and it's his job to pick him up from the airport.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34But Marc thinks there's something fishy about it all.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36I don't know. He says he's...
0:12:36 > 0:12:40He says... He's coming back in two or three days,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42now he's going to get him in an hour?
0:12:42 > 0:12:45But the manager's still sticking to his story.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48Marc asks which airport he's collecting Mr Shahbaz Khan from
0:12:48 > 0:12:51and he's not entirely sure.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55Possibly Stansted or maybe Heathrow...
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Surely you must know what airport you're going to?
0:12:57 > 0:13:00So he's landing at three o'clock and you haven't left yet?
0:13:00 > 0:13:02Now, like, quarter to three?
0:13:02 > 0:13:05So, you're not going to get there in an hour and five mins?
0:13:05 > 0:13:09The man's inconsistent story is frustrating Marc.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11He's been there for an hour and a half
0:13:11 > 0:13:16and there's no sign of any payment or a director allowed to make one.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Tony decides to step things up.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23He's had an hour. We ain't waiting all day.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25- I'll start clamping that one and that one.- All right.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Just clamp it, clamp it. I'm not interested, clamp it.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39- How are you getting on? - I'm (BLEEP) dirty.
0:13:39 > 0:13:40Just throw it round the bottom.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- I want to do it properly. - Just throw it round the bottom.
0:13:43 > 0:13:48The manager isn't happy about seeing one of the cars being clamped,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52particularly as his own Porsche is sat on the forecourt.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54We're not taking it, we're just cleaning it.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- I'm not waiting anymore. - We've given you an hour.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Come on. We've been here waiting for an hour.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Although the man says he's just an employee,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Marc thinks he's more senior than he lets on,
0:14:05 > 0:14:08and well capable of initiating payment.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Who are you then? Who are you? Who are you?
0:14:10 > 0:14:13- What's your name?- You're the guy who works here who drives the Porsche?
0:14:13 > 0:14:17So, you must get paid good wages, mustn't you, for a car salesman?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- Don't treat me like an idiot. - You must have a few quid if you're driving that.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22With the clamps now out,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25the manager's worried enough about his Porsche to drive off in it,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28while Marc and Tony are busy with the BMW.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Is he on his way to Heathrow?
0:14:32 > 0:14:36Wherever he's headed, Marc decides to open up a second front.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39He leaves Tony on the forecourt, while he heads off in his van
0:14:39 > 0:14:41to the company director's home address
0:14:41 > 0:14:45to see if there's anybody there that could pay the debt.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48We've got an address for the director,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51which is just round the corner so as he's gone off,
0:14:51 > 0:14:55I thought what we might do is pop round to the house round the corner.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58We're not getting anywhere and I think he thinks we're just going to leave. So...
0:14:59 > 0:15:03He's going to be in for a bit of a shock, because we don't.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Wow, what a surprise(!)
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Rather than being on its way to Heathrow,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15the manager's Porsche is outside the director's house.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Is the manager inside?
0:15:19 > 0:15:22Marc gives the house a knock, but whoever's there,
0:15:22 > 0:15:24they don't want to talk to him.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Still getting nowhere near any payment,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Marc rings Tony to tell him to start the procedure
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- to tow the clamped cars. - Give Lawrence a ring
0:15:32 > 0:15:36and start organising tow trucks for this cos the Porsche is parked outside the house
0:15:36 > 0:15:39and he's not opening the door. He's just mucking us about, really.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Marc thinks the manager's inside the house.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46But in fact, he's just round the corner in another car.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48And not in a good mood.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50HORN BLARES
0:16:01 > 0:16:03I'm trying to get hold of the director.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06If you don't mind, stop filming me. I don't consent to you filming me.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Please explain to me why you are here?
0:16:08 > 0:16:10- If you clamp a vehicle that's worth 15 grand.- Yeah.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- That's 3 grand.- I'm trying to get hold of the person,
0:16:13 > 0:16:15- but it's nothing to do with you? - Why are you here?
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Because I'm getting lied to constantly.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20No, you're not. Number's there on the board.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23The vehicle you clamp, what's the next step?
0:16:23 > 0:16:24We're going to remove it.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27I'm not going to wait, I told you that, I'm not going to wait.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31Marc wants to know why, if the manager is just an employee,
0:16:31 > 0:16:35he's so worked up about his attempts to get hold of Shahbaz Khan.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37If it's nothing to do with you,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39it's a bit weird how the car that you drive
0:16:39 > 0:16:43turns up outside the director's home address but it's nothing to do with you!
0:16:43 > 0:16:44Why don't you just tell me who you are?
0:16:44 > 0:16:47You've got something to hide if you won't tell me who you are.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50You could refer to me as Mr Ahmed if you want.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52That's no problem. That's my surname, Mr Ahmed.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55OK, so call me Mr Ahmed. Mr Ahmed.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58If you don't mind pointing that away.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Why don't we get out of the road because we could get run over.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03- If you give me some time... - We've given you time!- I know, but...
0:17:03 > 0:17:07- You've had an hour and a half...- I know, but...- ...and done nothing.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Our director is not in the UK.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11We're trying to locate him and bring him to you...
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Well, you told me earlier he's coming in on a flight at 3pm.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16- That's correct. - It's now 25 past three
0:17:16 > 0:17:19and he's coming in on a flight that's over an hour away from here.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22You're going to get him, so he'll not be here, while you're talking to me.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24I'll phone someone else to pick him up, OK?
0:17:24 > 0:17:27- So, please, bear with us. - I'm going to back the car yard,
0:17:27 > 0:17:29- because we're getting nowhere here. - Please bear with us.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32- We are trying to help you.- OK. Thank you very much.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Marc heads back to Carland Direct's forecourt.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39He still doesn't know where the company director is,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41or where any money's coming from.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43If he doesn't get something soon,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46he'll reluctantly have to tow away the cars.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Don't want to remove goods, y'know.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53Everyone ends up with more to do and basically at the end of it,
0:17:53 > 0:17:57it's the same result apart from the defendant, it's cost them more money.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01It's a message that Tony, meanwhile, has been trying to get across
0:18:01 > 0:18:03to others at Carland Direct.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05He's warned them if they don't pay up,
0:18:05 > 0:18:08they'll get hit by additional towing and Sheriff fees.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13So I said, all in all, your bill could go up £1,500.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Then he got straight on the phone to him and he's coming back.
0:18:15 > 0:18:21Soon after, another Carland Direct employee, Daniel, emerges.
0:18:21 > 0:18:26He may not be the company director, but he does agree to pay, in full.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30It's got to be the full amount. Not a penny less, not a penny more.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Finally, victory for the Sheriffs.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Marc and Tony's assertive tactics
0:18:35 > 0:18:39and refusal to get brow-beaten have come up trumps.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43Carland Direct arrange for the money to get transferred in full.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46They're also keen to put their side of the story.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50We buy and sell cars. Probably about over 100 a month.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52So one or two, we are going to have a few issues.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56Carland Direct, if we do have any issues, we do deal with them.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Happy days, all done.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01If anybody wants to buy any cars, come down to Carland Direct.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03We're more than happy to...
0:19:03 > 0:19:04Although at times frustrating,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Marc's got what he wanted from the job,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09a payment in full.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11In total was about 2.5 hours on that job.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Total collected was £3,239
0:19:15 > 0:19:19of which they paid just over £1,000 in cash and the rest on a debit card.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22It's another score for the Sheriffs
0:19:22 > 0:19:24and, more importantly, means Maryam Awan
0:19:24 > 0:19:29getting back the money a court of law says is rightfully hers.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Marc and Tony work for this High Court enforcement company
0:19:35 > 0:19:37in South London.
0:19:38 > 0:19:43They enforce over 1,000 High Court writs every month
0:19:43 > 0:19:47and recover over £24m of money rightfully owed to their clients.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53- Hiya.- Good morning, sir. My name's Mr Grix, I'm an enforcement officer.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56These days a High Court writ costs £60.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58If the Sheriffs are successful,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01there's nothing more for the client to pay.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03We're looking for full payment or removal today.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07If they're unsuccessful, the only cost is a £60 admin fee.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10So, that's the payment in full.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Sir, we cannot leave until that money hits our bank account.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19For every pound the Sheriffs are asked to enforce
0:20:19 > 0:20:22on average, they collect 93p,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25but despite their high ratio of success,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27life isn't always easy for them.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Today, Sheriffs Marc and Tony are on the road again,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35this time on their way to meet one of their trickiest ever adversaries.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38We're off to Chingford in East London...
0:20:40 > 0:20:44looking for a company called the QC Laboratory Ltd.
0:20:44 > 0:20:49The amount we're looking for in this is £11,673.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53QC Laboratory made employee Teresa Kelly redundant
0:20:53 > 0:20:57after she'd worked for them for 23 years.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00An employment tribunal ruled she was sacked without proper procedure
0:21:00 > 0:21:03and wasn't paid the redundancy money, wages
0:21:03 > 0:21:05or holiday pay she was owed.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09So today, it's Marc's job to try and get her that money back.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Down this alleyway, I think, mate.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18They arrive and pull up.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21They're looking for boss, Andrew Jennings.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24After knocking at the office, a man answers
0:21:24 > 0:21:27and says he's not the boss, but that he does know him.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31- We're after the QC Laboratory? - Nah, he's left.
0:21:31 > 0:21:36- Do you know how long they left?- They went into liquidation before Xmas.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42The man says he runs a different company at the same address.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45But Marc wants proof the two are not connected
0:21:45 > 0:21:48and asks to see any letters or correspondence
0:21:48 > 0:21:51which might prove which company's based at the address.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57You haven't got something with that on postal-wise have you?
0:22:01 > 0:22:02You're (BLEEP) joking!
0:22:06 > 0:22:09- You haven't got a business rates bill?- No.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11Phone bill? Gas bill? Electric bill?
0:22:11 > 0:22:13- You don't pay no bills? - Any sort of bill?- No.
0:22:13 > 0:22:18- This whole building, you're saying to me, pays no bills at all?- No.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21The man might be shy about his post, but suddenly,
0:22:21 > 0:22:24he reveals some other crucial facts.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28He's Alan Jennings, father of the company owner Andrew Jennings
0:22:28 > 0:22:32and the original founder of QC Laboratory Ltd.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34He says the company's now being wound up
0:22:34 > 0:22:37and it's his job to settle its final debts.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40- The company's still... - We're not trading any more.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43You liquidated the company, is that what you're saying?
0:22:43 > 0:22:47Mr Jennings goes inside and Marc follows him.
0:22:47 > 0:22:48To get his client's money,
0:22:48 > 0:22:52he might need to seize any remaining company assets.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55As it trades in specialist laboratory equipment,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58he's hoping there's plenty of machinery inside.
0:22:58 > 0:22:59But to take possession of it,
0:22:59 > 0:23:04Marc needs to prove it still belongs to the company named on his writ.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08And moments later, bingo!
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Marc finds recent letters addressed to QC Laboratory
0:23:11 > 0:23:14and other evidence the company is still trading.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Just got a calibration certificate for one of these machines here
0:23:17 > 0:23:22which was done six days ago, so for a company that's closing down
0:23:22 > 0:23:25or going into liquidation, I don't know why you'd bother
0:23:25 > 0:23:27getting your machines calibrated.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29- How can this come in on 1 June... - Dead easy, mate...
0:23:29 > 0:23:32- ...which is five days ago for a company...- Dead easy...
0:23:32 > 0:23:34- ... that liquidated six months ago? - Yeah.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Because I'm selling up the assets.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41OK, but there's still assets belonging to the company.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42No, there isn't any assets.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Well, you're going to need to show me proof that none of this belongs.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48How can I show you proof?
0:23:48 > 0:23:53- Well, if you can't, we're going to be removing it.- Oh, well, all right, OK.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Yeah? OK, well, I'll start listing this.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00The company assets are in line to be removed,
0:24:00 > 0:24:04only problem is, the value of the ageing machinery
0:24:04 > 0:24:06is unlikely to cover the £12,000 debt
0:24:06 > 0:24:09and, with the company being wound up,
0:24:09 > 0:24:14Mr Jennings feels he's got little to lose by refusing to pay.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18- So do you want to pay? - I don't want to pay. What is it?
0:24:18 > 0:24:22- The outstanding amount. - What is it?- £11,673.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25- I would not pay a penny.- We're going to start removing goods then.
0:24:25 > 0:24:31- I would not pay a penny. You're not going to pay a penny?- No.- Right, OK.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34It becomes clear that Mr Jennings has no interest
0:24:34 > 0:24:38in settling the debt he owes to his ex-employee.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40I would not pay her one penny.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43I'll pay her a pound, that's all I think she's worth.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- Well, the position we're in... - I know the position.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52You keep on with... So what you want to do?
0:24:52 > 0:24:56- What do you mean?- There's tools, do you want to take them?- I can.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03Well, if that's what the claimant wants us to do...
0:25:05 > 0:25:08Despite his machinery being in jeopardy,
0:25:08 > 0:25:12there's only one asset Mr Jennings seems determined to hold on to.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20All right. I won't take that.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26Unfortunately for us at this stage, the goods in there
0:25:26 > 0:25:28are never going to cover this debt
0:25:28 > 0:25:31and the machinery by the time we've got that out and taken that away,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34we're probably not even going to cover the removal costs.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37We're just in a position now where we're trying
0:25:37 > 0:25:40to sort of see if he wants to pay something.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Obviously, he's had a big falling-out with the claimant
0:25:42 > 0:25:44and doesn't want to pay.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47We'll hang on in here for a while,
0:25:47 > 0:25:50we'll list all the goods and see where we go from here, really.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57- Look, if you can't pay anything today...- I told you I can...
0:25:57 > 0:26:01No, not a pound. Let's be sensible about this.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05With little of value on site and Mr Jennings un-cooperative,
0:26:05 > 0:26:07it's now down to whether Marc can persuade him
0:26:07 > 0:26:10it's in his interests to pay.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12We'll see how he gets on later.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22It's 8am in Essex.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26This morning, Sheriffs Lawrence and Kev
0:26:26 > 0:26:30are chasing up a debt from another employment tribunal.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34This time, they're on route to an unusual destination -
0:26:34 > 0:26:39a swimming pool design centre called Poolman Leisure Group Limited.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41They're going there on behalf of a woman
0:26:41 > 0:26:43who was dismissed without notice by the company
0:26:43 > 0:26:47and not given the redundancy money she was entitled to.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Her case went before an employment tribunal
0:26:50 > 0:26:52where it was contested.
0:26:52 > 0:26:59The court ruled in her favour and awarded £7,248 in compensation
0:26:59 > 0:27:04spread over nine monthly instalments, but this hasn't been paid as agreed
0:27:04 > 0:27:07and several thousand pounds remain outstanding.
0:27:07 > 0:27:12It's now down to Lawrence and Kev to do what they do best
0:27:12 > 0:27:15and get her the money she's owed.
0:27:17 > 0:27:22We've found it and we're here. Poolman Swimming Pools, look.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Several of his swimming pools are on display
0:27:26 > 0:27:29but there's no sign of the Pool Man.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34It seems Lawrence and Kev may be a bit early.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36Yeah, we'll sit in the van and wait from them to turn up.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40Sort of hide ourselves away, be discreet.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45While keeping a low profile, Lawrence's first instinct
0:27:45 > 0:27:48is to size up what goods could potentially be seized
0:27:48 > 0:27:50to settle the debt.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54They appear to have quite a bit here in the way of assets.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56I would imagine that trailer's theirs for a start,
0:27:56 > 0:27:58that's next to us.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02As well as the trailer, seizing the swimming pools themselves
0:28:02 > 0:28:04could prove an even stronger bargaining tool.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08However, Lawrence has a different plan for his own garden.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10- I'd rather have a hot tub.- Yeah, you would, wouldn't you?
0:28:10 > 0:28:14Where you've got built-in seats, bubbles, speakers...
0:28:14 > 0:28:18You can sit there and you know, nice hot tub with a drink
0:28:18 > 0:28:20and listen to some music.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24But for Lawrence and Kev, this is no time for relaxation.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28Within five minutes, a woman arrives and starts to open up.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32Might as well go in, hadn't we? Yeah.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36- Hi there.- Morning. Poolman Leisure Group Limited?
0:28:36 > 0:28:39The lady inside is only an employee.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41She tries to get through to the owner
0:28:41 > 0:28:43but can only reach his voicemail.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46As the waiting game continues,
0:28:46 > 0:28:51Kev debates the practicalities of seizing a swimming pool.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53They'd have to drain it, obviously,
0:28:53 > 0:28:57and then get someone in to dismantle it. We wouldn't know how to do that.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00It shouldn't be too difficult.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04Unless the owner shows up and pays up,
0:29:04 > 0:29:08all this could be leaving with the Sheriffs.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11Just in time a man appears.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13Is this the elusive Pool Man?
0:29:13 > 0:29:16- Hi there.- Hello there, sir.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19I'll just show you some ID.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22Mr Grix, the enforcement officer.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25We've got a High Court writ against Poolman Leisure Group Ltd.
0:29:25 > 0:29:31We're here today to seize goods to the value of £3,834.18.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34To prevent further action today, it needs to be paid in full.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37Straight away there's a problem.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40The owner argues he's paying the debt by monthly instalments,
0:29:40 > 0:29:44as agreed and can't understand why the Sheriffs have come calling.
0:29:44 > 0:29:49Worried there's been a mix-up, Kev gets in touch with the office.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52Has that amount been paid, as he said, to confirm?
0:29:52 > 0:29:54Yep, OK.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57OK, thank you. Bye.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01It's now clear exactly what's triggered this enforcement.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05The owner decided to withhold almost half
0:30:05 > 0:30:08of the first court-ordered payment of £600
0:30:08 > 0:30:12for money he says he already paid to the claimant.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Lawrence explains that by not paying the debt as agreed,
0:30:15 > 0:30:18he's violated the terms of the court's judgment
0:30:18 > 0:30:21and now the full outstanding amount is due.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25Because the £600 wasn't paid on the 17th July,
0:30:25 > 0:30:28because it was only £350 which he's told us there,
0:30:28 > 0:30:32she has the right to get us to enforce it.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34The owner is far from happy,
0:30:34 > 0:30:37but knows there's only one way to stop Lawrence and Kev
0:30:37 > 0:30:39leaving with a swimming pool in the back of their van.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41To pay up.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44He asks for half an hour to find the money.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47Bit of a palaver.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50You know, really, you can't be taken off...
0:30:50 > 0:30:54if the court orders you to pay £600, you pay £600.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57But I did sort of put him in the picture
0:30:57 > 0:31:02and let him know, quite categorically, where we stand on it.
0:31:02 > 0:31:06Having made arrangements the owner invites them back to his office
0:31:06 > 0:31:07to take full payment.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12And with that, the Sheriffs are on their way.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19That was paid in full by debit card.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22So, yeah, happy days.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Back in Essex, and Marc and Tony are still on the premises
0:31:33 > 0:31:37of QC Laboratory Ltd, trying to convince former boss
0:31:37 > 0:31:42Alan Jennings to pay up £12,000 owed to former employee Teresa Kelly.
0:31:42 > 0:31:47She'd worked for the company for 23 years, before she was made redundant
0:31:47 > 0:31:49without receiving the payment she was owed.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51I would not pay her one penny.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56Unfortunately, Mr Jennings is proving a handful,
0:31:56 > 0:31:59unwilling to pay up and only too aware of the limited value
0:31:59 > 0:32:03of those company assets on site.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06Are you going to pay any money?
0:32:06 > 0:32:09Yeah, I told you, one pound.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12- No, any sensible amount of money?- No.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20But this is one of its debts.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22But Mr Jennings has other things on his mind.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25Will they make me a star out of this?
0:32:25 > 0:32:28- I think you might be. - I think you could be.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30You've got that Bruce Willis look about you.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32Have I?
0:32:35 > 0:32:39But even Bruce Willis would struggle to get money out of Mr Jennings.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41Do you want to give us some money, Alan?
0:32:41 > 0:32:46- None at all. A pound. - Don't go on about a pound.
0:32:49 > 0:32:54- Never parting with more than a pound? - That's right, mate.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56Marc's having little luck getting payment
0:32:56 > 0:32:59and Mr Jennings has threats of his own...
0:33:02 > 0:33:05- No, you can't lock us in. - Why not?
0:33:05 > 0:33:11- Because that would be imprisonment. - We'd have you nicked for that.
0:33:19 > 0:33:24You look like you want to go to the gym!
0:33:24 > 0:33:29I'm 73, mate. I am (BLEEP) knackered from my last job.
0:33:30 > 0:33:35With Mr Jennings refusing to budge, there's not much more Marc can do.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38He seizes on paper what assets he can see,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41but they're not worth much and Alan Jennings knows it.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44And with that, Marc and Tony call it a day.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47All right, we're leaving a list of goods with you.
0:33:47 > 0:33:48- We're not going to take them. - Oh, please.
0:33:48 > 0:33:54You've got seven days in which to prove they don't belong to the company.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56We can come back at any time.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59- Any time you like.- Even if you're here, we can come back.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02- And force entry.- And force entry to remove these goods.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07YOU cannot take them goods out of here now.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11But you can't. I'm letting you know.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24- See you later.- Seven days. - Or maybe not, if you pay.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31We've listed the goods and we're leaving.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33We're not going to get anywhere.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35It's been a tricky trip for Marc.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38He's played everything by the book,
0:34:38 > 0:34:40but when there's nothing like of seizable assets
0:34:40 > 0:34:41to use as leverage,
0:34:41 > 0:34:46even Sheriffs can hit an Alan Jennings' sized brick-wall.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50The goods in there were of no value.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53He just seemed quite happy to say that he'd give us a quid,
0:34:53 > 0:34:58constantly and I actually do think if we did go to that extreme with him
0:34:58 > 0:35:02and start taking everything out and cleared that whole place out,
0:35:02 > 0:35:05I just think he'd go, "Oh, whatever, I'll just go home."
0:35:05 > 0:35:06I don't think he's that bothered.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10Mr Jennings now has seven days to pay.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13Whether he will remains to be seen.
0:35:23 > 0:35:28In the van and on the M4 to Bristol are Sheriffs Lawrence and Kev.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32They've been specially hired to pay a visit
0:35:32 > 0:35:35to a major multi-national company.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39The man that's hired them is solicitor Amar Alyas.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42He specialises in fighting for compensation for people
0:35:42 > 0:35:46that have suffered deafness through working in noisy environments.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50And he recently took on the case of John.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53John worked for aircraft manufacturing giant Airbus UK
0:35:53 > 0:35:56and its predecessors for over 28 years.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04John worked in a department
0:36:04 > 0:36:07where they would assemble the wings of aircrafts.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10The last 10 years of his work at Airbus
0:36:10 > 0:36:13he worked on the jig as an assembler.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17He would use a lot of drills and these were extremely noisy.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19There was air-tools as well
0:36:19 > 0:36:23and there were many other banging noises surrounding.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27This is the North Wales factory where John,
0:36:27 > 0:36:30who doesn't want to appear on camera, worked.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32But after nearly 30 years with the company,
0:36:32 > 0:36:36it was clear his health wasn't what it had been.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40Suffering from heart problems, he was forced to take early retirement.
0:36:40 > 0:36:46Soon after, his hearing worsened and he was diagnosed with tinnitus.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48The tinnitus was quite severe,
0:36:48 > 0:36:52so if you can imagine spending 20 mins every hour
0:36:52 > 0:36:56having a hissing and a buzzing noise in your ears every day,
0:36:56 > 0:37:00it's very depressing and at times
0:37:00 > 0:37:04your confidence is very low because you cannot hear people.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10John's hearing was so bad, he couldn't get another job
0:37:10 > 0:37:16and the loss of income meant he found himself at risk of losing something else as well.
0:37:16 > 0:37:21John, due to his early retirement, has financial issues.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25He's had problems with his bank in terms of his mortgage.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28He's not been able to keep up with his mortgage repayments
0:37:28 > 0:37:31The bank had an order to take charge of his property
0:37:31 > 0:37:32and to sell the property.
0:37:32 > 0:37:36After suffering in less than silence for four years,
0:37:36 > 0:37:40John finally decided his hearing was so bad, he had to take action.
0:37:40 > 0:37:45His case came to Amar who sent him to an expert to assess his hearing.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49The medical expert gave a report,
0:37:49 > 0:37:52which states that John suffered ten decibels of hearing loss.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55That is quite noticeable hearing loss.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58Ten decibels meant John had lost the same amount of hearing
0:37:58 > 0:38:01due to excessive noise at his job
0:38:01 > 0:38:03as a member of the public would expect to lose
0:38:03 > 0:38:07over half a lifetime of normal hearing loss.
0:38:07 > 0:38:12Armed with the report, Amar set about taking John's claims to court.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15Despite numerous attempts to get a response from Airbus,
0:38:15 > 0:38:17they failed to contest the case.
0:38:17 > 0:38:22The judge ruled in John's favour and awarded him £31,000.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26It's money he desperately needs to buy specialist hearing aids
0:38:26 > 0:38:29not available on the NHS.
0:38:29 > 0:38:33First and foremost, John's going to invest in some hearing aids.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36They are in the region of £5-10,000.
0:38:36 > 0:38:41Secondly, this money's going to help pay his mortgage on time,
0:38:41 > 0:38:45keeping the bank away from taking a charge on the property
0:38:45 > 0:38:49or getting an order from the court in terms of selling the property.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51Despite his court victory,
0:38:51 > 0:38:54Airbus UK have ignored all correspondence
0:38:54 > 0:38:56relating to payment and five months on,
0:38:56 > 0:39:00neither Amar nor John have seen any sign of the money.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03John's last hope of keeping his home,
0:39:03 > 0:39:06and getting the hearing aid he needs, lies with the Sheriffs.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14And while John worked at Airbus's North Wales factory,
0:39:14 > 0:39:16it's the company's Bristol head office
0:39:16 > 0:39:19that Lawrence and Kev are on their way to this morning.
0:39:20 > 0:39:25We've just arrived in Bristol and we're on our way at the moment
0:39:25 > 0:39:29to Airbus UK Ltd who owe just under £42,500.
0:39:29 > 0:39:34I'm not entirely sure what we're going to find when we get there.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38If it's got assets we can seize them
0:39:38 > 0:39:41and potentially remove them to be sold to clear the debt.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44And there's nothing that Lawrence won't consider seizing
0:39:44 > 0:39:48to get his clients back the money they're owed.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52If Airbus UK, or we have reason to believe that Airbus UK Ltd
0:39:52 > 0:39:55owns a plane, then yes, we can seize that.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58Can we take something that's sponsored by Airbus?
0:39:58 > 0:40:01- What have you seen? - The roundabout.
0:40:03 > 0:40:08Arriving at Airbus UK HQ, they park up and head in.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10Security is heavy, unsurprisingly,
0:40:10 > 0:40:14for one of the world's two largest aircraft manufacturers.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17We're asked not to enter the premises,
0:40:17 > 0:40:20but Lawrence and Kev go inside.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24The £42,000 they're after may seem a lot,
0:40:24 > 0:40:27but for a company with revenues of over £26bn,
0:40:27 > 0:40:29it's small change.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33But whether Lawrence can convince them of that remains to be seen.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35My name's Mr Grix, an enforcement officer.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39I'm here today to execute a High Court writ against Airbus UK Ltd.
0:40:39 > 0:40:44We're here today to seize goods to the value of £42,000.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48After a short time inside, Lawrence emerges.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52We're just waiting for somebody to come down and see us at the moment.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55The gentleman just wanted a business card.
0:40:55 > 0:40:56So I'm taking him in a business card.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00They're aware of it, they're just looking into it now
0:41:00 > 0:41:03and then somebody's going to come down and see us.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05So they know about the judgment.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07Hopefully we might be moving on.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11Airbus may know a lot about building planes,
0:41:11 > 0:41:16but they're not clued up on how the High Court enforcement system works.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18Lawrence fills them in.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20There's a County Court Judgement against the company.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23I've got a copy of the writ here.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25The important bit is here.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28You are now commanded to seize in execution the goods,
0:41:28 > 0:41:32chattels and other property of the defendant authorised by law...
0:41:32 > 0:41:34After threatening to seize Airbus UK property,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37Lawrence and Kev are led off to a nearby building,
0:41:37 > 0:41:41while we continue to wait outside.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45John has been waiting nearly five months for payment from Airbus
0:41:45 > 0:41:47and so far, got nothing.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49Lawrence and Kev, on the other hand,
0:41:49 > 0:41:53have been waiting for less an hour when they finally emerge.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57Basically, we collected full payment.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00They just needed to find somebody to deal with it
0:42:00 > 0:42:03and once they did,
0:42:03 > 0:42:06they took us down to the main office, really,
0:42:06 > 0:42:08where head of legal and head of accounts is
0:42:08 > 0:42:12and did a bank transfer for the full amount.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14So another job paid in full.
0:42:14 > 0:42:20That's a staggering £42,426.51,
0:42:20 > 0:42:22including court and Sheriff fees.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24Most importantly for John,
0:42:24 > 0:42:28it means he'll finally get his £10,000 hearing aid
0:42:28 > 0:42:32and makes sure he won't lose his house to the bank.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35No wonder Lawrence is keen to share the good news.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39Just collected £42,000 off of Airbus.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42HE LAUGHS
0:42:43 > 0:42:45Airbus told us, the situation came about
0:42:45 > 0:42:48as a result of an administrative issue
0:42:48 > 0:42:50and that the matter has now been fully settled.
0:42:53 > 0:42:58Five months on from Marc and Tony's visit to QC Laboratory Ltd
0:42:58 > 0:43:02and with no assets of any value, the Sheriffs have now closed the case.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06The client, Teresa Kelly, is now trying to get some of her money back
0:43:06 > 0:43:10through a charity, the National Fund.