Episode 15 The Sheriffs Are Coming


Episode 15

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Transcript


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-Meet the Sheriffs...

-Let's go and introduce ourselves.

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-We're High Court Enforcement Officers.

-We're here today

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-to execute a High Court Writ.

-They're the men whose job it is

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to get YOU your money back.

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It's an arrestable offence to stop me doing my job.

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If you've been ripped off and don't know where to turn...

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-I'm not waiting any more.

-I'm ordered to seize

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goods to clear this debt, which would mean clearing this place out.

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If you've been to court, but still not been paid what you're owed...

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-Why don't you just tell me who you are?

-This is an absolute crock -

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-you need to pay this!

-..the High Court Enforcement Officers

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are charged by law to recover what a court says is rightfully yours.

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-I've seized your car, sir.

-You can have a letter through the door

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-or we'll go through the window.

-Whoa, whoa, whoa!

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It's time to call...the Sheriffs.

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I've collected 42 grand...

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Coming up...

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Lawrence and Kev head to Savile Row,

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to give a world-famous tailor a dressing-down.

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I carry with me the power of arrest and I'll call the police down

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to have you arrested...

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Liz Greaves' ex-boyfriend promised to pay her

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for the £2,000 sofa she bought.

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But instead, she's been left seriously out of pocket.

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Felt quite helpless at the time, because I just thought,

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"Am I ever going to get my money back?"

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Can the Sheriffs get her what she's owed?

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Look - we'll look to come back with locksmiths, that's all.

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There's no point damaging the front door.

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And Emma Crook was unfairly dismissed by the pub she worked at.

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Basically, I was sacked for making a comment on Facebook.

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Can the Sheriffs get her the £4,600 she's owed?

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Just to explain - enforcement officer,

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we've got a High Court Writ to attend here tonight...

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London -

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centre of the country's legal, financial and political business.

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And the heart of one of the most exclusive shopping districts

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in the world.

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It's not often a place the Sheriffs visit...

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Where am I going?

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..but today, it's exactly where Sheriffs Lawrence Grix

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and Kev McNally are headed.

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They're off to visit a shop

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that hasn't paid a debt to one of its suppliers.

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But it's not just any old shop.

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I'm going to a call in Savile Row,

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to a company called Nick Tentis Ltd.

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Don't know what the debt is about,

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but they do appear to be a Savile Row tailor.

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Erm, quite a nice shop, with a couple of little bay trees outside.

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We've got a debt of £7,376.78.

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It's an Italian company, so I'm guessing,

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by the fact that it's got a "tex" in the name, that they've provided

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some kind of suit material or something like that...

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that Nick Tentis has then gone on to make suits out of,

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but not paid the supplier.

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Savile Row, in Mayfair, is world famous for its tailors

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and bespoke menswear.

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It's outfitted everyone, from Winston Churchill and Admiral Nelson

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to Michael Jackson and the Royal Family.

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It might not know it yet, but today, The Row is about to host

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two unexpected new gentlemen customers.

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I think that might be it on the right down there,

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with the little trees outside.

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-Nick Tentis, there it is.

-Can I go in there, or that one?

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Yeah, you're all right in there - maximum stay, four hours.

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They found the shop and a parking space.

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They head in, to try and find tailor Nick Tentis.

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-My name's Mr Grix, I'm an enforcement officer.

-Right, OK.

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I've got a High Court Writ to execute against Nick Tentis Ltd.

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I'm here today to seize goods to the value of £7,376.78,

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or collect payment in full.

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The man gets boss Nick Tentis on the phone.

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We've got a High Court Writ.

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OK.

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While the staff try and sort out what to do,

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Lawrence and Kev take the opportunity to browse the garments.

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But they're not on a shopping trip.

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There you go...

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See if you can get some information

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off the labels or something, off them.

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If the debt's not paid, these expensive suits

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could be seized, removed and sold to pay off the debt.

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At this point, we're asked to leave.

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However, boss Nick Tentis arrived soon after

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to speak to Lawrence, who quickly gets him up to speed.

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We've got a High Court Writ to the tune of £7,376.78.

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The man claims he's paid the debt,

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and can't understand why the Sheriffs are visiting.

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Lawrence asks for proof, but the man says

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he won't be able to get any until tomorrow.

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Lawrence makes some calls to see if the office can establish

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whether the client's received any money.

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Hello, it's Lawrence - who's our client? Have we got solicitors?

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Well, can you get them to pull their finger out?

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Because we're here - you know what solicitors are like.

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All right! Cheers.

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Whatever the tailor is claiming, Lawrence needs to continue his work.

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We still need a list anyway, Kev,

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because then we can bill the client if it's already been paid.

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He starts listing assets, and putting his own estimates

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on what they might fetch at auction -

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values to which the owner takes exception.

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It's my experience - not your experience of selling suits

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at mark-up...at ticket price...

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It's my experience of selling items at auction

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that puts the value on these and dictates how much I take.

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The tailor says he won't allow Lawrence to remove any assets.

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You can't stop me.

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The tailor asks him how he expects to remove goods

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without his permission.

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I shall just pull up the van out here, and load it up.

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The man says he'll stop Lawrence doing this.

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You won't, because you'll be arrested for obstruction.

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I carry with me the power of arrest,

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and I'll call the police down to have you arrested.

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The man says, if Lawrence can give him some time, he'll get him

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the evidence he needs that this debt's already been paid.

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We won't be coming back.

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The only way we'd come back is to remove.

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If we left here today, it would either be a case of...

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If it turns out you hadn't paid it, you'd need to pay the balance.

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I can live with £3k.

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Go and see what you can get and we'll deal with it once

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we know what we're dealing with.

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While the man goes off to see how much money he can rustle up,

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Lawrence continues listing his assets.

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A few minutes later, he returns with £1,500 cash.

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But it's still someway short of the £7,376

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that Lawrence has come to collect today.

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It's not really cutting the mustard, is it, on a debt of this size.

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The tailor says later today, he hopes to get proof that he's

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paid the debt and if he can't, he'll just pay the outstanding balance.

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You'll need to sign a walking possession agreement,

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which basically signs over the goods that I've seized to the court.

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His point made, Lawrence relents.

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He's got £1,500 cash for now, and a walking possession order

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on clothing inside the store to protect the remainder of the debt.

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-That's a walking possession. Bye-bye.

-Ta-ra.

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I tend to think he has paid it, to be honest.

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Someone in his position in Savile Row,

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they're not going to not pay a debt.

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And if he hadn't paid it,

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I'm pretty sure he'd have found a way to pay us in full now.

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Apparently, his bookkeeper's going to be at home this

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evening at about 6.00pm.

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He's got all our contact details and he's going to ask him

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to send it over to us. He's shown willing.

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He's paid £1,500 and we'll see what happens on Tuesday.

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And with that, the Sheriffs head off.

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If Mr Tentis can't prove he's paid the debt,

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they'll be back to remove the garments they've seized.

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While the vast majority of the Sheriffs' cases

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involve some sort of business, occasionally,

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they have to enforce on writs relating to purely personal matters.

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I believe it's apartments. That's the only information I've got.

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On their way to one such case today

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are Sheriffs Pete Spencer and Dave Crabtree.

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They're in Bolton on their way to try and find a particular address.

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This is a private individual versus a private individual.

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Seemingly, the debt relates to purchases of some sofas

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or something.

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The woman they're on their way to help is Liz Greaves from Bolton.

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Two years ago, she split up with her then boyfriend.

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It's always a difficult time in anyone's life,

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but it's left her with a most unexpected of problems, one that

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means she's out of pocket and forced to go to the Sheriffs for help.

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Before Liz and her ex-partner Michael Baglin broke up,

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Liz bought new sofas intended for their new home.

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It was a big investment, costing over £2,000,

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and one Liz hoped would be worth it in the long run.

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Liz paid for the sofas in full, and when they broke up,

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Mike agreed to keep the sofas in his flat and pay her

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£55 a month for the next four years, until they were paid off.

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At first, he did so.

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But after nine months, despite having the sofas in his possession,

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the money dried up.

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It was a constant battle every month,

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you know, for a week or chasing him.

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"Have you paid? Have you paid? Are you going to pay?"

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And I eventually got some,

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but not anything like what I was supposed to get.

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I felt quite hopeless at the time cos I just thought,

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"Am I ever going to get my money back?"

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I was just really fed up of all the arguing

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and the chasing every month.

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Getting nowhere with Mike, Liz decided to take her case to court.

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My only option, really, was a small claims court, initially.

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I thought, "It's worth a try.

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"I might not get anything but at least it's something."

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Liz brought a County Court Action against Mike for the money

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that was outstanding on the sofas.

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But when he got notice of the case,

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Mike contacted Liz to sort the issue out.

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He then said he couldn't pay that but he'd sell the sofas

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and give me £750, which I agreed to, because I just wanted an end to it.

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Then I said to him, "Well, go back to the court

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"and say you'll pay £750 and I'll agree to that."

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But he didn't do. So he then had a month to make a £100 payment,

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which would then be the start of the instalments to cover the £2,000.

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He never paid that either.

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By now, Liz had had enough.

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She didn't have the sofas or her money, and she needed it.

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It was £2,000. It is a lot of money, and money I could do with.

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Liz went back to court.

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It's unusual that the courts settle matters between ex-partners,

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but when Mike didn't contest the case, the court judged

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in favour of Liz and ordered him to pay her the £1,983 she was owed.

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But he's still not paid up.

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Liz's only hope of getting her money back now rests with the Sheriffs.

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Get back onto the main road and see if that's Manchester Road.

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But it's not proving easy.

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We need to go back up to the top of the road, carry on down there

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and it's just on the left-hand side, further down.

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Other than the address,

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the only distinguishing features they're aware of

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are that they're looking for a block of apartments and an electric gate.

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Are there electric gates on these? That's the one. Oh, yeah.

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Bingo.

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Finally.

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As well as the address, they've got the gate code,

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which means they can gain access to the block's car park.

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But it's not just for the convenience of parking their van.

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It means if there is a vehicle on the debtor's parking space,

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they can locate and seize it, on paper at least,

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to use as leverage to get the debt owed to Liz Greaves paid.

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See if this works. Nah.

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Might have changed it, Dave.

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But Dave's having problems getting the code to work.

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Must have changed it.

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Green light comes on and it says "accept".

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Will Pete fare any better?

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It's the skills that pay the bills.

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Number 22.

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Probably round to the left, I think.

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They head in and moments later, Pete finds what he's after.

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-Anything there?

-22, yeah?

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Yeah, car.

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So we've got a vehicle in the bay we're looking for,

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so we'll just make a note of that vehicle registration first.

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That's a nice car, isn't it?

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Head round to the intercom system, see if we can get anyone's attention.

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With the vehicle seized, they go to find the apartment itself.

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Being a shared block,

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getting access to the front door might not be that easy.

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No-one's answering the intercom and they can't get access to

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the flat on the top floor they're after.

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There's a vehicle in the bay, so you'd think they're potentially in.

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Dark hair, average build.

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You'd think it'd be second floor, as well.

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Luckily, Pete manages to raise the block caretaker.

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We're looking for Mr Michael Baglin.

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Right. Has he gone, moved out?

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The caretaker says he's happy to pass on Pete's notice of seizure.

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But Pete also wants him to pass on the fact that his powers

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as a Sheriff go a lot further than just delivering notices of seizure.

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We'll look to come back with locksmiths.

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Are you generally at number 2?

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-Yeah.

-There's no point in damaging the front door with a locksmith

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and changing locks, it'll just create problems.

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Ultimately, that's what we'll look to do

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if we don't get any return off this, you see.

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Don't do this one.

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You're number 2, aren't you? You're number 2.

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-And you're generally here in the day or...?

-I'm never far away.

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Right, OK.

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Pete hands the caretaker the seizure paperwork and

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asks him to deliver it.

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Right, OK. If you can slide that under his door or something.

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I'll wait to see if he gets back in touch.

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If he doesn't, we'll just chase it a bit further and see.

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-OK. Hopefully, he'll reply. Thanks.

-Thanks for your time.

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With no-one in the flat and unable to gain entry,

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there's nothing more Pete and Dave can do today.

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While it's far from the ideal outcome,

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it's also certainly not a failure.

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Pete has a strong sense

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Mr Baglin will get the message he asked the caretaker to pass on.

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They've seized one vehicle on paper, established where Mr Baglin lives

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and made sure he'll get their notice of seizure.

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And indeed, Pete was proved right.

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Sometimes the Sheriffs' paperwork alone is enough to make

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people think twice about ignoring court debts.

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Some days after Pete and Dave's visit, Mr Baglin contacted

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the Sheriffs and arranged payment for Liz, in instalments.

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For her, it's a huge relief to finally get her money.

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I was really, really relieved when this letter arrived because it

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was actually... I never thought I would see this day.

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So now to have actual proof that they have received the money,

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and to receive the cheque as well,

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was the end to a very long, drawn-out process.

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You all right? Guv'nor about?

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We're Sheriffs from the High Court.

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The Sheriffs enforce over 70,000 High Court Writs every year.

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We're here today to seize goods to the value of £42,000.

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It's a job that takes them all over England and Wales,

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from country villages and seaside towns

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to the heart of the major towns and cities.

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But with such a vast territory to cover, one challenge

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the Sheriffs constantly face is finding the addresses they're after.

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-Where am I going?

-I don't know. It hasn't found a satellite yet.

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I just love numbers that go - 4, 15, 2.

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-That's 2.

-What we after?

-20.

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Armed with little more than a writ and a sat nav,

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this can be difficult at the best of times.

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Could be anywhere, couldn't it?

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We still can't find it. Is it here somewhere?

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Are you the guys from earlier? You've not found it?

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What a debacle.

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But no matter how convoluted their route...

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-Where are we?

-There, I think.

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..or tucked away the address they're looking for...

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Country lane. Named house. Brilliant.

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..they always find it in the end.

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-Got it.

-That's it. I'm telling you.

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Oh, yeah. There. Look. We found it and we're here.

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These days a High Court Writ costs £60.

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If the Sheriffs are successful, there's nothing more to pay.

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If they're unsuccessful, the only cost is a £60 admin fee.

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You take some finding!

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On the road again, Lawrence and Kev are back in London, but this

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time dealing with an assignment more in their neck of the woods.

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They're on their way to a south London car garage,

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called in to collect a debt owed by one business to another.

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We're on our way to Camberwell at the moment.

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To a company called SP Fleet Ltd for a debt of £5,880.80.

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Where's it gone? Where is it?

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Arriving at the street listed,

0:18:260:18:28

finding the right premises is the first challenge.

0:18:280:18:31

SP MOT.

0:18:310:18:32

That's it.

0:18:320:18:34

Lawrence spots a familiar name but with a twist.

0:18:340:18:38

They're looking for SP Fleet Ltd.

0:18:380:18:40

They've found SP MOT Ltd.

0:18:400:18:43

It's got to be that MOT place, I would think.

0:18:430:18:46

While Lawrence is sure they're at the right place,

0:18:460:18:49

the difference in the name on the writ could prove

0:18:490:18:52

a major stumbling block in getting this debt paid.

0:18:520:18:55

It's time to find out.

0:18:550:18:57

-Hello there. SP Fleet Ltd?

-Yeah.

0:18:570:18:59

My names Mr Grix, I'm an enforcement officer.

0:18:590:19:02

I'm here today to execute a High Court Writ.

0:19:020:19:04

I'm here today to seize goods to the value of £5,880.80.

0:19:040:19:09

The lady on reception says they're aware of the debt

0:19:120:19:14

and have offered to pay it off monthly.

0:19:140:19:17

Lawrence explains this doesn't change what they've come to do.

0:19:170:19:20

The claimant's entitled to transfer it to

0:19:200:19:22

the High Court for enforcement purposes at any time.

0:19:220:19:25

It doesn't matter what appeals are going on.

0:19:250:19:27

If they want to execute it in the meantime, they can do.

0:19:270:19:31

SP Fleet's boss isn't there but the woman gets him on the phone.

0:19:310:19:35

You're able to get him on the phone, though, aren't you?

0:19:350:19:39

She puts him on to Lawrence,

0:19:390:19:40

who's more than happy to explain the situation.

0:19:400:19:43

We're been sent here today to execute this High Court Writ.

0:19:430:19:47

We're here to seize goods to the value of £5,880.80.

0:19:470:19:51

So we're not actually here for money today.

0:19:510:19:54

We're actually ordered here by the court to seize goods

0:19:540:19:58

to clear the debt.

0:19:580:19:59

Goods that can be removed and sold at auction.

0:19:590:20:02

However, if you want to pay it in full,

0:20:020:20:05

that would obviously prevent the need to remove your goods and sell them.

0:20:050:20:09

The company boss doesn't seem keen on either option

0:20:110:20:14

and immediately throws a spanner in the works.

0:20:140:20:17

So you're saying everything here is SP MOT?

0:20:170:20:21

He says all the goods in the garage belong to SP MOT Ltd

0:20:210:20:25

not SP Fleet Ltd, and so can't be seized by the Sheriffs

0:20:250:20:28

to pay the debt.

0:20:280:20:30

Is there any paperwork here showing that goods belong to SP MOT Ltd?

0:20:310:20:35

The main thing I'm looking at, at the moment,

0:20:350:20:38

is your recovery truck sitting outside.

0:20:380:20:41

That's leased, is it? Is the lease paperwork here?

0:20:410:20:44

In situations like these, the responsibility to prove who owns what

0:20:450:20:49

lies with the defendant, not the Sheriffs.

0:20:490:20:53

Unless the proof is forthcoming,

0:20:530:20:55

this enforcement will be going ahead.

0:20:550:20:57

What I'll have to do, I'll have to seize everything

0:20:570:21:01

and you'll have to, on behalf of SP MOT,

0:21:010:21:03

submit a third party claim to those goods.

0:21:030:21:06

The boss asks to speak to the receptionist again.

0:21:060:21:09

Yeah, sure.

0:21:090:21:10

He wants to speak to you.

0:21:100:21:12

Has Lawrence done enough to convince him it's best to pay up?

0:21:120:21:16

-How much is it?

-£5,880.80.

0:21:160:21:20

The boss wants to talk to Lawrence again

0:21:200:21:23

and offers to pay £5,000.

0:21:230:21:26

I can live with that. Fair play to you, that's showing willing.

0:21:260:21:31

When can you pay the other 880?

0:21:310:21:33

I can live with that. How you going to pay that?

0:21:330:21:36

Lady's got a debit card. OK, we'll do that, sir.

0:21:360:21:39

With the man offering to pay the bulk of the debt,

0:21:390:21:42

Lawrence is more than happy.

0:21:420:21:45

It's now simply a case of PIN number in,

0:21:450:21:47

and home and dry for the Sheriffs.

0:21:470:21:50

Call authorisation centre.

0:21:500:21:52

Or maybe not.

0:21:530:21:54

The machine tells Lawrence he must call the card company.

0:21:550:21:58

Right, so he needs to speak to the bank and I need to keep the card.

0:21:580:22:02

So close to getting the payment they came for.

0:22:020:22:05

They've told me to retain the card

0:22:050:22:09

Mr Powell's got to get in touch with his bank.

0:22:090:22:12

Lawrence must now find another means of getting the money

0:22:120:22:15

from SP Fleet Ltd.

0:22:150:22:17

You can do it by bank transfer. £5,000.

0:22:170:22:22

That's it. Excellent.

0:22:220:22:25

Luckily, this time, the payment, made by bank transfer,

0:22:260:22:30

does go through.

0:22:300:22:31

36741.

0:22:310:22:34

Lawrence double checks with the office

0:22:340:22:37

that they've received the £5,000, and they're on their way.

0:22:370:22:41

Thanks. Bye-bye.

0:22:410:22:43

It's a nice way to end the day.

0:22:430:22:45

We've got £5,000. Only 880 left.

0:22:470:22:49

I did see the bank statement to show there was only £5,000 available,

0:22:510:22:56

so they paid what they could, effectively.

0:22:560:23:00

And with that, they head off, with the money in the bank and the

0:23:010:23:05

business that's owed it soon to get what's rightfully theirs, in full.

0:23:050:23:09

Back on the road and heading for another car dealership,

0:23:190:23:22

are Sheriffs Lawrence and Kev.

0:23:220:23:24

But this time,

0:23:250:23:27

they're on their way to a classic car showroom in central London.

0:23:270:23:30

They've got a Bugatti Veyron, they've got just about every top

0:23:320:23:35

make of car you'd expect to find at a really high quality car dealer.

0:23:350:23:40

The man they're trying to help is himself a car dealer.

0:23:400:23:44

He paid a £16,000 deposit to CSFLPM Ltd.

0:23:440:23:50

Formerly called Clive Sutton Premier Marques Ltd.

0:23:500:23:54

It was for a Porsche 911.

0:23:540:23:56

But he never got the car or his deposit returned.

0:23:560:24:00

The case went to court.

0:24:010:24:03

CSFLPM Ltd did not contest it

0:24:030:24:07

and a judge awarded the car dealer £16,000.

0:24:070:24:10

A later appeal for set aside was also judged to be without merit.

0:24:100:24:16

Since then, the car dealer has yet to receive any money.

0:24:160:24:20

Given the quality of stock we're expecting to find on the forecourt,

0:24:250:24:28

we should have a fairly good chance of clearing this up.

0:24:280:24:32

Intending to get the car dealer his money back,

0:24:320:24:35

five minutes later,

0:24:350:24:37

Lawrence and Kev arrive at the imposing garage showroom.

0:24:370:24:40

-SAT NAV:

-'You have reached your destination.'

0:24:400:24:42

That's it. Clive Sutton.

0:24:420:24:44

And immediately, Kev's getting excited.

0:24:440:24:46

Mate, you see that Mustang they've got at the front?

0:24:460:24:49

That's the old...

0:24:490:24:50

-The old 350 Shelby GT.

-The one from that film.

0:24:500:24:53

-Eleanor.

-Yeah, that's it.

0:24:530:24:55

Time to park up and head in.

0:24:550:24:58

Let's go and introduce ourselves.

0:24:580:25:00

It looks like Lawrence and Kev are a bit early.

0:25:060:25:09

With the garage deserted, they take the opportunity to have

0:25:090:25:13

a closer look at a classic Mustang sports car.

0:25:130:25:15

Lawrence is confident it would easily pay the debt all on its own.

0:25:160:25:21

What are they worth, then?

0:25:230:25:25

That, that's on the internet at 174.

0:25:250:25:28

-174 grand?!

-Yeah.

0:25:280:25:30

It's gorgeous, though, innit?

0:25:310:25:33

Let's go sit in the van for a minute, then, eh?

0:25:330:25:35

There's nothing to do but sit tight and hope the garage opens up.

0:25:370:25:42

It should opening any time now.

0:25:420:25:44

9 o'clock it opens, apparently.

0:25:440:25:46

Lawrence is right. Bang on time, a salesman appears.

0:25:470:25:50

As Kev moves the van onto the garage forecourt, Lawrence explains

0:25:520:25:55

the purpose of their visit to the staff member inside.

0:25:550:25:58

My name's Mr Grix, I'm an enforcement officer.

0:26:020:26:05

So, would you like to let me in and I'll speak to you about it?

0:26:050:26:08

The salesman invites Lawrence in and grudgingly opens up for Kev, too,

0:26:080:26:12

but isn't prepared to let us follow him.

0:26:120:26:15

If you've seen us on the telly,

0:26:150:26:17

you know what the score is.

0:26:170:26:19

This needs paying in full or we'll be taking stock.

0:26:200:26:25

We continue filming from outside as the salesman promptly disappears...

0:26:250:26:29

Where's he gone?

0:26:290:26:30

..leaving two excited sheriffs to prowl his showroom.

0:26:300:26:34

These vehicles may be easy on the eye

0:26:360:26:39

but, more importantly, they're assets that could, if necessary,

0:26:390:26:43

be seized and sold to pay the debt owed to the car dealer.

0:26:430:26:47

I just want a car with a button in it that just says "launch".

0:26:470:26:52

Absolutely awesome car.

0:26:520:26:54

-Is it a Shelby Mustang what...?

-500 GT.

0:26:540:26:56

Absolutely beautiful.

0:26:580:27:00

You're going to get in it in a minute.

0:27:000:27:03

Petrol-heads Lawrence and Kev are in their element.

0:27:030:27:06

Still waiting for the salesman to return,

0:27:060:27:08

Lawrence decides it's time for a test drive.

0:27:080:27:11

Jeez. There's just so much space, ain't there?

0:27:110:27:15

-A ton, isn't there?

-Yeah.

0:27:150:27:18

Absolutely awesome.

0:27:180:27:19

How much leg room have you got?

0:27:210:27:22

While sitting in the car of his dreams is certainly

0:27:220:27:25

a pleasant way to spend the morning,

0:27:250:27:27

Lawrence's priority is getting the car dealer his money back.

0:27:270:27:31

He calls the Clive Sutton office number

0:27:310:27:34

in search of the vanished salesman.

0:27:340:27:36

Hello there. My name's Mr Grix.

0:27:370:27:39

I'm at your shop in St John's Wood.

0:27:390:27:42

I'm an enforcement officer.

0:27:420:27:44

I saw the sales guy and he disappeared about 15 minutes ago and hasn't come back.

0:27:440:27:48

Thanks, bye.

0:27:480:27:50

That was a woman. There must be an office upstairs.

0:27:520:27:55

This call soon has the desired effect, as another man appears

0:27:550:27:59

and introduces himself as the garage's financial controller.

0:27:590:28:03

He invites the sheriffs to follow him upstairs to his office.

0:28:030:28:06

Mr Grix. We didn't even realise this was here.

0:28:060:28:09

We realised the other guy had gone somewhere. We didn't realise where he'd gone.

0:28:090:28:13

After having to wait for over 40 minutes,

0:28:130:28:16

Lawrence wants to get things moving.

0:28:160:28:18

I don't know if you know how a High Court Writ works.

0:28:180:28:20

We're ordered out to seize goods to clear the debt, basically.

0:28:200:28:24

The only way to prevent that is to pay in full.

0:28:240:28:27

The cars downstairs are the main things now.

0:28:280:28:32

The man claims all the luxury cars are being sold

0:28:320:28:35

on behalf of customers, and aren't owned by the garage.

0:28:350:28:39

He has documents he says prove this and wants to show Lawrence.

0:28:390:28:44

This not a sale and return document. This is a buyer's document.

0:28:440:28:47

So far, I'm not happy with that at all, what I've seen there.

0:28:470:28:50

There's absolutely no evidence whatsoever

0:28:500:28:52

that that car is on a sale-or-return basis.

0:28:520:28:54

The water just gets muddy, doesn't it?

0:28:540:28:57

But just when it looks like Lawrence has the upper hand,

0:28:570:28:59

the man uses his laptop to show him something else -

0:28:590:29:03

proof on the Companies House website that the business named on his writ -

0:29:030:29:08

CSFLPM Ltd, formerly called Clive Sutton Premier Marques Ltd -

0:29:080:29:13

is in liquidation.

0:29:130:29:15

It's a body blow for chances of getting the money owed.

0:29:150:29:20

With the company liquidated,

0:29:200:29:22

Lawrence now knows there's nothing at the garage they can seize,

0:29:220:29:26

and no chance of payment.

0:29:260:29:28

We'll be on our way. OK.

0:29:300:29:31

Cheers.

0:29:330:29:34

For Lawrence, it's doubly frustrating.

0:29:360:29:39

They can't get the car dealer his money back

0:29:390:29:41

and have wasted their morning.

0:29:410:29:43

We were going all through the paperwork for the vehicles,

0:29:430:29:46

and then he shows us that they are actually liquidated, so...

0:29:460:29:50

You know, we could have been in and out, really.

0:29:510:29:53

There's now a new company running this garage

0:29:550:29:57

which isn't responsible for the liquidated company's debts.

0:29:570:30:01

There's nothing to do on this at all. That's it. Gone.

0:30:020:30:06

Clive Sutton told us the company was unable to contest the original judgment

0:30:060:30:10

because the director with knowledge of it was abroad.

0:30:100:30:13

They latterly made an appeal to have the judgment set aside,

0:30:140:30:18

but because of the financial collapse of CSFLPM Ltd,

0:30:180:30:23

they were unable to proceed with the application.

0:30:230:30:26

They said the collapse of CSFLPM Ltd was due to the activities of a since convicted fraudster,

0:30:270:30:34

which had led to a number of trade creditors incurring losses.

0:30:340:30:38

Sheriffs can go to any address in England and Wales

0:30:480:30:51

to enforce a writ, and at any time they want.

0:30:510:30:55

They frequently work unsocial hours...

0:30:550:30:58

..often surprising debtors with an early-morning house call.

0:30:590:31:03

But today, it's an evening callout for sheriffs Pete Spencer

0:31:030:31:07

and Dave Crabtree.

0:31:070:31:09

They're winding their way through Preston in Lancashire

0:31:090:31:12

on their way...to the pub.

0:31:120:31:15

But they're not planning on a relaxing pint.

0:31:150:31:19

We're doing an evening visit for enforcement.

0:31:190:31:22

It's a public house, the Golden Cross public case.

0:31:220:31:25

Seemingly, this is an employment tribunal case

0:31:250:31:28

where the GC (LANCS) Ltd, which manages the pub,

0:31:280:31:32

the Golden Cross pub which we're going to,

0:31:320:31:35

has obviously had an issue with a member of staff

0:31:350:31:39

and ended up with an employment tribunal deemed against them.

0:31:390:31:43

The person Pete and Dave are on their way to help

0:31:450:31:48

is Emma Crook from Preston.

0:31:480:31:51

When she took a job at a local pub,

0:31:510:31:53

she hoped she'd get experience in catering.

0:31:530:31:56

Instead, it's left her out of pocket

0:31:570:31:59

and forced to go to the sheriffs for help.

0:31:590:32:02

Today, Emma is taking time out in her local pub,

0:32:060:32:10

but two years ago, looking to develop her catering career,

0:32:100:32:13

she took a job at another pub, the Golden Cross in Preston,

0:32:130:32:18

run by Sharon Duxbury.

0:32:180:32:19

She hoped to eventually run the pub kitchen as a separate business.

0:32:200:32:25

However, with the kitchen space being used as storage,

0:32:250:32:28

this plan didn't come to fruition.

0:32:280:32:30

Instead, she became a full-time member of staff,

0:32:300:32:34

working the bar and living in accommodation above the pub.

0:32:340:32:38

Everything was fine.

0:32:380:32:40

We got along well, but Sharon wasn't working at the pub at the time.

0:32:400:32:45

She has another job.

0:32:450:32:47

It was only later on, when she took over as full-time manager,

0:32:470:32:50

that the problems began.

0:32:500:32:52

Emma worked hard and put in long hours.

0:32:520:32:54

It was a job that was far from glamorous.

0:32:540:32:58

My duties at the pub - line cleans, cleaning the pub,

0:32:580:33:02

all the horrendous stuff that comes with the toilets in there.

0:33:020:33:05

Bank cheques. Got the floats.

0:33:050:33:08

Started serving the customers.

0:33:080:33:11

I was happy for a while, yes, definitely.

0:33:110:33:14

It was only in the latter stages that I wasn't really that happy.

0:33:140:33:18

But after a year with the company,

0:33:200:33:22

Emma was unceremoniously sacked after the pub management took

0:33:220:33:25

exception to some posts she made on Facebook.

0:33:250:33:29

I put a comment on Facebook saying that my head had turned to mush.

0:33:290:33:32

There were comments that followed off Sharon saying that

0:33:340:33:37

I was slagging off the customers, which was untrue.

0:33:370:33:40

The morning after, I hadn't read comments,

0:33:420:33:46

but I got a text message off her asking me to come in for a meeting.

0:33:460:33:50

As I went in for a meeting that day, she sacked me on gross misconduct.

0:33:500:33:54

Yeah, basically, I was sacked for making a comment on Facebook.

0:33:540:33:59

I was numb, really, because I didn't think she would be able to do it,

0:33:590:34:03

but there was not much I could say. It was her decision.

0:34:030:34:06

And Emma had lost more than just her job.

0:34:060:34:09

I'd lost where I was living, I had to move back into my parents'.

0:34:090:34:13

It was hard.

0:34:130:34:15

Feeling wronged, Emma looked to take legal action.

0:34:170:34:20

She spoke to a solicitor.

0:34:210:34:24

Yeah, they thought I definitely had a case.

0:34:240:34:27

I showed her all the text messages and the messages on Facebook,

0:34:270:34:32

-and she definitely thought I had a case.

-They went to court.

0:34:320:34:36

The pub didn't attend the case and, instead, wrote a letter in their defence.

0:34:360:34:41

The judge saw the letter that she sent in and, basically,

0:34:410:34:43

the letter had nothing to do with the case.

0:34:430:34:46

He dismissed letter and awarded in my favour.

0:34:460:34:49

Emma was awarded £4,700 but despite the court order,

0:34:510:34:55

this hasn't been paid.

0:34:550:34:57

The circumstances are just...

0:34:570:35:00

We were old friends at one point and now there is nothing there.

0:35:000:35:04

It's been traumatic.

0:35:040:35:06

I still owe my mum and dad money, because I borrowed off them

0:35:060:35:11

while I was out of work.

0:35:110:35:13

It's still not good.

0:35:130:35:15

Feeling she had no other option if she was to get the money a court said she was rightfully owed,

0:35:170:35:22

Emma decided to call in the sheriffs.

0:35:220:35:24

If Emma is to get any of her money back,

0:35:270:35:30

she's relying on sheriff Pete's ability to convince the Golden Cross pub

0:35:300:35:33

their best interest is in paying this off here and now.

0:35:330:35:39

But as Pete knows only too well,

0:35:400:35:42

getting money out of a pub is never easy.

0:35:420:35:45

Yeah, I mean, we visit many pubs and, generally,

0:35:450:35:49

the brewery will own the fixtures and fittings,

0:35:490:35:52

or will have a debenture over the fixtures and fittings,

0:35:520:35:57

so, potentially, the assets...

0:35:570:36:00

the assets of the defendant might be nothing,

0:36:000:36:03

or it's possibly stock and cash that's in the till, maybe.

0:36:030:36:08

We got the director's name, a Miss Sharon Duxbury.

0:36:080:36:12

She manages the pub and is also a director, seemingly, of the limited company,

0:36:120:36:18

so hopefully, she'll be there tonight when we attend.

0:36:180:36:22

Moments later, they locate what they are looking for.

0:36:220:36:26

Number six... Yep, Golden Cross. Pull up outside.

0:36:260:36:29

They park up and head in.

0:36:310:36:33

And before they've got anywhere near the bar,

0:36:360:36:39

-they get lucky and run into pub manager Sharon Duxbury.

-Yeah?

0:36:390:36:43

Hiya. Is there somewhere we can have a chat, away from your customers?

0:36:430:36:47

We are enforcement officers. We've got a High Court Writ to attend here tonight.

0:36:470:36:51

At this point, we're asked to leave the pub.

0:36:510:36:54

We film from outside, as Pete explains why he's there.

0:36:540:36:57

It's in connection with a Miss Crook.

0:37:010:37:03

Yeah, it's gone through Croydon County Court,

0:37:030:37:06

then moved up to High Court for our enforcement

0:37:060:37:08

which is the reason for our visit tonight.

0:37:080:37:11

It's £4,845.08.

0:37:110:37:14

It was £4,642 originally.

0:37:140:37:18

I've come to collect the full amount tonight.

0:37:180:37:20

I'm commanded by the High Court judge to attend to seize goods

0:37:200:37:24

to the value of, with the intention to remove or collect the full amount.

0:37:240:37:28

The manager questions

0:37:280:37:29

why she hasn't been given any notice of the Sheriffs' visit.

0:37:290:37:33

We don't tell you that we're coming out

0:37:330:37:35

cos if we tell you we're coming out, people move assets.

0:37:350:37:38

So we don't tell you we're coming out.

0:37:380:37:40

This is the first you'll know of it being moved up to High Court, really.

0:37:400:37:44

The pub management are co-operative

0:37:440:37:46

but don't have the full amount owed there and then.

0:37:460:37:50

Pete explains the procedure for payment.

0:37:500:37:52

That's fine. What we've got to do, we've got to seize goods on site

0:37:520:37:56

so that's what he's gone off doing at the moment.

0:37:560:37:59

I've got to seize those items.

0:37:590:38:01

You then have five days,

0:38:010:38:03

so you need to get in touch with any third parties that might own them

0:38:030:38:06

or have an interest in those goods

0:38:060:38:08

to tell them they've been seized by the High court.

0:38:080:38:10

They then must write to us with proof of ownership

0:38:100:38:14

and then we take them off.

0:38:140:38:15

Keen to help the pub management out,

0:38:150:38:18

Pete outlines ways they can pay off the debt

0:38:180:38:20

without losing the contents of the pub.

0:38:200:38:23

Other option would be, I can take a part payment tonight

0:38:230:38:26

and then you can go into a monthly agreement.

0:38:260:38:28

I'm quite happy to do that, but I must take a payment tonight.

0:38:280:38:32

We've got a card machine, so Visa, debit card...

0:38:320:38:35

And it looks like success is on the cards.

0:38:360:38:38

The pub agrees to pay.

0:38:380:38:40

The only question is, how much they can raise tonight?

0:38:400:38:45

Pete comes outside to fetch the card machine.

0:38:450:38:47

She can't afford the full amount of four-eight today

0:38:470:38:50

but what she's going to do is pay us something like £1,000

0:38:500:38:54

and then potentially go into an arrangement.

0:38:540:38:57

The value of the goods within the pub is nowhere near the value of the debt

0:38:570:39:02

plus a lot of stuff from rental, etc,

0:39:020:39:05

so the best option in this case is to take the payment,

0:39:050:39:08

give her the option to start paying monthly to clear it off

0:39:080:39:12

and at least then the debt's cleared.

0:39:120:39:16

The fact the pub want to pay the debt is great news for Pete.

0:39:160:39:19

They can't pay in full,

0:39:190:39:21

so he'll have to negotiate the best deal he can for Emma.

0:39:210:39:24

Obviously, you tell me you haven't got the 485

0:39:240:39:28

so what can you pay me tonight?

0:39:280:39:29

The woman says she'll try and pay by card.

0:39:290:39:33

There'll be £905 on that, yeah?

0:39:330:39:36

Could you enter your PIN and press the green button, please? Thank you.

0:39:360:39:39

Are you paying something off this one as well?

0:39:390:39:42

Can you do a bit more, or...?

0:39:420:39:43

Wipe £1,500 off that.

0:39:430:39:46

It's a score for Pete.

0:39:460:39:47

And with that, it's time, gentlemen, please, for Pete and Dave.

0:39:480:39:53

'A debt card payment of £900,'

0:39:530:39:55

£100 in cash

0:39:550:39:57

and then she's had to borrow her partner's debit card

0:39:570:40:01

to pay another £200 on that. She didn't have the full amount.

0:40:010:40:04

There weren't really goods there to seize to the value of the full amount.

0:40:040:40:07

So that's a good result, yeah, as far as I can see.

0:40:070:40:11

Yeah, initial payment plus an offer to pay monthly to pay it off

0:40:120:40:17

so yeah, good result.

0:40:170:40:18

With a healthy part of the debt collected

0:40:180:40:21

and more promised as part of a payment plan,

0:40:210:40:23

it's a great result for Emma.

0:40:230:40:25

She'll have £1,200 coming her way soon

0:40:250:40:28

and regular payments promised to pay off the rest.

0:40:280:40:32

I've got a text from my solicitor

0:40:320:40:34

saying she's agreed to pay £100 a week,

0:40:340:40:36

so hopefully I will be getting something soon.

0:40:360:40:38

I am very pleased with that.

0:40:380:40:40

The Golden Cross manager Sharon Duxbury told us...

0:40:410:40:44

..at a time when the pub industry was struggling.

0:40:540:40:57

Since Lawrence and Kev visited Savile Row

0:41:010:41:03

and collected £1,500 from outfitter Nick Tentis,

0:41:030:41:07

despite the tailor's insistence that he'd already paid the debt,

0:41:070:41:10

he was unable to find any proof to back this up.

0:41:100:41:13

Instead, he paid off another £2,800

0:41:150:41:18

with the remainder of the £7,376 debt promised to follow.

0:41:180:41:24

And if he doesn't pay it,

0:41:250:41:27

Lawrence still has a number of expensive suits seized on paper,

0:41:270:41:31

which he can remove and sell if this money isn't forthcoming.

0:41:310:41:35

And since the Sheriffs' visit to SP Fleet Ltd in South London,

0:41:360:41:40

the garage have now paid the final £880 of the debt owed,

0:41:400:41:45

settling it once and for all.

0:41:450:41:48

But since we filmed, there's been no joy for the car dealer

0:41:500:41:53

and his attempts to recover the £16,000 he paid to CSFLPM Ltd

0:41:530:41:59

as a down payment on a car.

0:41:590:42:01

As the company is now in liquidation,

0:42:030:42:06

it's unlikely he'll see any of his money,

0:42:060:42:09

although he's still investigating other avenues to try

0:42:090:42:12

to recover what a court says is rightfully his.

0:42:120:42:15

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