0:00:02 > 0:00:04- Meet the sheriffs. - Let's introduce ourselves.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07- We're High Court enforcement officers.- We 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 > 0:00:15..if you've been ripped off and don't know where to turn...
0:00:15 > 0:00:16I'm not waiting any more.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18I'm ordered to seize goods to clear this debt,
0:00:18 > 0:00:20which would mean clearing this place out.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24..if you've been to court but still not been paid what you're owed...
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Why don't you just tell me who you are?
0:00:26 > 0:00:27This is an absolute crock.
0:00:27 > 0:00:28You need to pay this.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30..the High Court enforcement officers
0:00:30 > 0:00:32are charged by law to recover
0:00:32 > 0:00:34what a court says is rightfully yours.
0:00:34 > 0:00:35I've seized your car, sir.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Either let us through the door, or we'll go through the window.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39Whoa, whoa, whoa.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41It's time to call...the sheriffs.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Just collected 42 grand.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Coming up...
0:00:48 > 0:00:53Karen Wileman sold her Ford Galaxy for £4,500
0:00:53 > 0:00:57through a car dealer, but didn't get a penny from the sale.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00I have to admit that some nights I've gone to bed, haven't slept,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03annoyed that I'd lost this money,
0:01:03 > 0:01:05you know, for me and my family.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Can the sheriffs right the wrong and get her her money?
0:01:09 > 0:01:12We've been sent here today to seize goods or collect the money.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17Sheriffs Lawrence and Kev take on a windows installation company
0:01:17 > 0:01:20on behalf of a former employee owed wages.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24We've got a High Court writ against Mercury Windows Ltd.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Can they get him the £6,800 a court says he's owed?
0:01:28 > 0:01:30This is an attempt at transferring assets
0:01:30 > 0:01:32to defeat paying this debt, isn't it?
0:01:32 > 0:01:35And Darryl and Marc go on the hunt
0:01:35 > 0:01:38for over £40,000 of unpaid rent.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41- I can get two grand. - You need to get more than that, sir.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51On the road again, sheriffs Lawrence Grix
0:01:51 > 0:01:54and Kev McNally are heading east from London for a date with
0:01:54 > 0:01:57a company who haven't paid one former employee
0:01:57 > 0:01:59the money he's entitled to.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05We're in Ashford in Kent. We're on our way to Mercury Windows Ltd.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Their latest assignment is on behalf of a man who,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15having worked at Mercury Windows for over ten years,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19was dismissed without warning or notice pay.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21He doesn't wish to be identified.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25He took his case to court, where the company contested it fully,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28but the judge agreed with the former employee
0:02:28 > 0:02:32and ordered Mercury Windows to pay him £6,800
0:02:32 > 0:02:36in compensation, which the company has failed to do.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39- Oh, Mercury.- Here we go.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Now, it's a matter for the sheriffs.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Arriving at the company headquarters, Lawrence and Kev
0:02:45 > 0:02:49park up and head in.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51- Hello, mate.- Hello there.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Mercury Windows Ltd, yeah? We've got a High Court writ.
0:02:54 > 0:02:59We're here today to seize goods to the value of £8,188.49,
0:02:59 > 0:03:03with the potential to remove them and sell them at auction.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Nothing's owned by Mercury Windows?
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Straightaway, the staff member tells them,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12although this is the company's registered address,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15nothing at the site belongs to Mercury Windows.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Unsurprisingly, Lawrence isn't convinced,
0:03:18 > 0:03:21and demands to speak to the company director.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Hello, sir.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Yeah, my name's Mr Grix, I'm an enforcement officer.
0:03:29 > 0:03:30I'm here with a High Court writ.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32The boss, Michael Warren,
0:03:32 > 0:03:36is quick to say that as no assets there are registered to
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Mercury Windows, there's nothing the sheriffs can seize
0:03:39 > 0:03:42to cover the company's debt to its former employee.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Lawrence explains it's not quite that simple.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Unless there's proof to back up his story, this enforcement
0:03:49 > 0:03:52to recover the money owed to the former employee
0:03:52 > 0:03:54is going ahead as planned.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56We would need confirmation.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59My colleague's going to take an inventory, anyway.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01He's started doing that now.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05I'm seizing anything on these premises that's got any value.
0:04:05 > 0:04:06If it's not owned by Mercury Windows,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09it's down to whoever does own it to prove that they own it.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Who owns the assets?
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Tuthill Property Ltd?
0:04:16 > 0:04:19And are you a director of Tuthill Property Limited, as well?
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Lawrence's grilling of company director, Michael Warren,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27is quickly giving him an idea of what's happened here.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30All the assets at the Mercury Windows base, have been
0:04:30 > 0:04:33transferred to another company, which Mr Warren also happens
0:04:33 > 0:04:37to be a director of - Tuthill Property Limited.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42This is perfectly legal and could be bad news for the sheriffs,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44but Lawrence isn't ready to back down yet.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46And there's a financial trail to show that as well,
0:04:46 > 0:04:50where one company bought the assets from another.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53It needs to be a full inventory of what was transferred.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57You can't just be 15 desks, five computers,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00everything has to be detailed specifically.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03If you're able to get that to us, that will be a start,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05then we can exclude things that are on your list.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09OK, thanks, bye-bye.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13He's going to email it over.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16While they wait for the promised proof to arrive,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Lawrence holds fort in the office,
0:05:18 > 0:05:22as Kev finishes his list of potentially seizable assets.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25In cases like these, the smallest details can be
0:05:25 > 0:05:29the difference between payment in full and leaving empty-handed.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Perfectionist Lawrence has high standards for Kev to live up to,
0:05:33 > 0:05:35when it comes to listing assets.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39- No reg on the fork-lift, no?- No.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42- No name on the groover machine?- No.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47Get as much down as you can, mate, just so they can be identified.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50A few minutes later, an email arrives,
0:05:50 > 0:05:55with the boss's own inventory of the assets he claims have been sold
0:05:55 > 0:05:58by Mercury Windows to his other company.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03Lawrence isn't impressed. It's time for another phone call to the boss.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06We've seen your inventory, I don't know if your guy has told you.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Unfortunately, from our point of view,
0:06:08 > 0:06:10it's not worth the paper it's written on.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13If you were buying a car, you wouldn't expect a receipt
0:06:13 > 0:06:16from a car dealer saying, a vehicle, would you?
0:06:16 > 0:06:20There needs to be some way of proving what is what.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23It's got on it, a fork-lift, for example.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25I've just said, "How can you prove to me
0:06:25 > 0:06:28"that that's the fork-lift that's out there now?"
0:06:28 > 0:06:32But today he's facing an adversary whose attention to detail
0:06:32 > 0:06:33rivals his own.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35There's photographs of everything, is there?
0:06:35 > 0:06:39That's what we need to see. We need to see the photographs.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Cheers, bye.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Apparently, there's photos to go with all the items on the inventory.
0:06:46 > 0:06:47Later, we'll find out
0:06:47 > 0:06:51if these photos do indeed provide the proof Lawrence needs to see,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54to prevent the company assets leaving with the sheriffs...
0:06:54 > 0:06:57I can see you've already tried to transfer the assets out
0:06:57 > 0:07:00into the name of another company.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03..or whether the former employee gets back the money he's owed.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16This morning, sheriffs Marc Newton and Tony Smith
0:07:16 > 0:07:18have got up early and driven through the dark
0:07:18 > 0:07:22for a first-thing appointment with a South Coast car dealer.
0:07:22 > 0:07:27I'm off to an address in Bournemouth. It's 6.45 in the morning.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30We're looking for J Nabil and Mrs Watkins.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34We're looking for an amount of £4,044.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Hopefully, give them an early-morning knock
0:07:36 > 0:07:38and we'll get some sort of answer.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42The person they're on their way to help,
0:07:42 > 0:07:44is Karen Wileman of Bournemouth.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47When she decided to sell her car,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50she thought it would raise a few pounds for her and her family.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53But her decision to sell it through a particular local dealer,
0:07:53 > 0:07:57has instead left her in a dispute so serious,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00it's forced her to court and to the door of the sheriffs for help.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Sophie, come up here. Come up here. Quick.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12Mother-of-two Karen works for the local council.
0:08:12 > 0:08:1618 months ago, she decided to upgrade her wheels, and invested
0:08:16 > 0:08:21in a second-hand Volvo XC90 4x4 to help transport her family.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27It meant she no longer needed her old car, a Ford Galaxy.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31Looking round to sell it, she spoke to the dealer that had
0:08:31 > 0:08:35sourced her new Volvo, Joe Nabil of JL Trade Group Ltd.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Joe said what he would do is he would sell the car for me,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43take £500 commission and obviously give me the rest.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46I agreed to that, he came round, I gave him the keys,
0:08:46 > 0:08:50all the paperwork and he went off with the Galaxy.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Thinking Joe Nabil was in the process
0:08:55 > 0:08:58of trying to sell her Galaxy, Karen thought no more of it,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01until, a few weeks later, she got a letter.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05And then I got a letter through the post from the DVLA to say
0:09:05 > 0:09:09I was no longer the registered owner of the Galaxy.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11I thought, "That's strange,"
0:09:11 > 0:09:13because he's obviously sold my car and not told me.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15I just couldn't believe it.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18I didn't want to believe it, because, obviously,
0:09:18 > 0:09:22if I believed it, then I'd know instantly I'd lost £4,500.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Karen got in touch with the dealer, who confirmed to her
0:09:27 > 0:09:32that he had sold her car for £4,500,
0:09:32 > 0:09:34but that the person who'd bought it
0:09:34 > 0:09:37wasn't happy with it and wanted his money back.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40It meant, he said, he couldn't afford to pay Karen.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43He said, "Sorry, Karen, I'm so sorry,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46"I didn't want to worry you with it, I've been trying to deal with it
0:09:46 > 0:09:49"on my own, but there's lots of problems with the car.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53"The person that's bought it isn't happy and wants his money back."
0:09:53 > 0:09:56You know, "I just...just don't want to worry you with it,
0:09:56 > 0:09:58"but I'll sort it out and be in touch."
0:09:58 > 0:10:01I said, "Well, basically, Joe, you've sold the car
0:10:01 > 0:10:04"from your business, as far as I'm concerned, that's a deal,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07"I just want my money."
0:10:07 > 0:10:11Karen arranged to visit the dealer to discuss the problem with him.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14But far from resolving things, the meeting made them worse.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17I said, "Look, Joe, can I have my money?
0:10:17 > 0:10:21"I trusted you as a professional to sell my car,
0:10:21 > 0:10:23"I trusted you to do the checks,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25"I trusted you to prepare it for the sale,
0:10:25 > 0:10:29"I trusted you to make sure that your customer is happy."
0:10:29 > 0:10:33I said, "How can that be my fault that your sell has fallen through
0:10:33 > 0:10:35"and I end up having to pay it?"
0:10:35 > 0:10:37I said, "I don't understand that."
0:10:37 > 0:10:40He said, "Well, you know, I can't afford to lose any money."
0:10:40 > 0:10:42I said, "Joe, I can't afford to lose any money."
0:10:42 > 0:10:46I said, "I've given you £8,500, for a Volvo already,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49"I can't afford to give you another £4,500
0:10:49 > 0:10:52"just because you didn't do your job properly."
0:10:52 > 0:10:55"Take what I owe you, then send me a cheque."
0:10:55 > 0:10:57So we shook hands, he said,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00"There'll be a cheque out to you at the end of the week."
0:11:00 > 0:11:03But Mr Nabil's cheque never materialised.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09Two weeks, no cheque, phoned his mobile, he didn't answer,
0:11:09 > 0:11:12sent him a text message, he ignored it,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14so then I realise that he wasn't going to pay me.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17I started to really panic then, I thought, "Oh, no,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19"they're not going to pay me for the car."
0:11:19 > 0:11:24So I contacted my solicitor, my solicitor wrote a letter saying,
0:11:24 > 0:11:28you know, "Can we have the money for the car? You've sold the car,
0:11:28 > 0:11:29"just send Karen the money."
0:11:29 > 0:11:33He ignored the letter, my solicitor wrote again saying,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36"If you don't pay for the car, then we will take legal action."
0:11:38 > 0:11:42But she still didn't get any money from Mr Nabil.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Karen decided she had no option
0:11:44 > 0:11:48but to go through the daunting process of taking him to court.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51I have to admit that some nights I've gone to bed
0:11:51 > 0:11:54and I haven't slept and I've woken up three in the morning,
0:11:54 > 0:11:58four in the morning, you know, feeling annoyed
0:11:58 > 0:12:02and annoyed with myself, annoyed that I'd lost this money,
0:12:02 > 0:12:05you know, for me and my family.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Just determined to get my money.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Joe Nabil fought the case in court, but the judge agreed with Karen,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15and ordered Mr Nabil to pay her £3,000.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Despite this, Karen's still not received a penny.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Now, Karen's last hope of getting her money back rests with
0:12:22 > 0:12:25sheriffs, Marc and Tony.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Arriving at the registered address of Joe Nabil's car business,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32they find a number of potentially seizable vehicles
0:12:32 > 0:12:33parked on the drive.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36It's a positive sign.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Time to introduce themselves.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Hiya, I'm after Mrs L Watkins.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47This is a High Court writ that's been issued by a Karen Wileman.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52We've been sent here today seize goods or collect the money.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56It's Joe Nabil's partner, Lisa Watkins.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58She admits she's aware of the debt,
0:12:58 > 0:13:02but says her name shouldn't be on the writ with Mr Nabil's.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05She says they've applied to have the judgment set aside.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07For Marc, though, this doesn't change the situation.
0:13:07 > 0:13:12At this stage, it's not set aside - it's a live writ.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16It's nothing to do with me. We were getting my name taken off it.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21My partner has been in contact with the court.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23As I explained, this is still a live writ,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26which means we can still act on it today, unfortunately.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29You need to pay it.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32We haven't got the means to pay it, at all.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Lisa Watkins says they don't have the money
0:13:35 > 0:13:37and isn't prepared to let the sheriffs in.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39If you're not in a financial position,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41we're going to have to take goods away.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43This is where we are today.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46How do we get on? Because I'm not prepared to let you in.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49We'll be seizing vehicles off the drive, then.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Well, those vehicles are not in our name.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54With Marc and Tony's attention turning to the vehicles
0:13:54 > 0:13:57on the drive, car dealer Joe Nabil appears at the door.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01He explains none of the vehicles belong to him
0:14:01 > 0:14:05and so can't be seized to pay his debt to Karen.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08We don't have the documents for the vehicles so check with DVLA.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- We don't. I'm a car dealer. - I understand that.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Check with DVLA, do numberplate checks
0:14:14 > 0:14:16and you'll see they're not in my name.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20I have contracts with private individuals.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22If what Joe Nabil says is true,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25without the leverage the cars provide,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28this assignment just got a lot harder for the sheriffs.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Marc decides to go on the offensive.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36- Obviously, this is in your name personally.- It's in my name, yes.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38I'm a sole trader.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Can you do anything today?
0:14:42 > 0:14:46Yeah. What would you need?
0:14:46 > 0:14:48- Something reasonable. - Something reasonable.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53- When you say reasonable. - Can you do £1,000 today?
0:14:53 > 0:14:56No. Absolutely not. I don't even have that in my bank.
0:14:56 > 0:14:57What are you saying you can do?
0:15:02 > 0:15:07- I can do £500 today. - It's a start.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10As Mr Nabil's partner goes to get the money out from the bank,
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Marc and Tony hold a quick strategy meeting.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17She's gone off to get some money out the cashpoint for us.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19They're going to pay some money, not what we want,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21we'd obviously like the whole amount.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25But, to be honest, if we can get them paying, it obviously helps with our
0:15:25 > 0:15:28whole case if you've started to pay now, so let's keep it going.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32His partner returns with the promised £500 in cash,
0:15:32 > 0:15:35and Joe Nabil hands it over.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39Now the challenge is to convince him
0:15:39 > 0:15:42to sort out the rest of Karen's money.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46You need to put in what you've got incoming
0:15:46 > 0:15:49and what you've got outgoing and explain this is what you can pay.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53- 500, mate, eh?- 500, yeah, 500.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Joe Nabil agrees to work out exactly how much he can afford and then
0:15:58 > 0:16:02make Karen an offer to clear the debt in monthly instalments.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Keep up the payments going, once you've set this arrangement,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09- keep it going.- Yeah. - Get it cleared off.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12We've listed that vehicle cos, obviously, you can't provide proof
0:16:12 > 0:16:13that it isn't yours.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16If you want to send in the proof when you get it with that, yeah?
0:16:16 > 0:16:20With the car dealer promising to keep paying Karen back and
0:16:20 > 0:16:24acknowledging he must provide proof that none of the vehicles on his
0:16:24 > 0:16:27drive are owned by him, Marc and Tony have done
0:16:27 > 0:16:28all they can for today.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Hopefully, you'll just get paying and we won't see you again, but if
0:16:31 > 0:16:33you've got any problems, you give me a call, yeah? All right?
0:16:33 > 0:16:36- Cheers, mate.- No problem, bye-bye. We've got the guy paying, you know?
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Obviously, he hasn't paid anything for over six months.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43At least we've got some money off him this morning. So at least
0:16:43 > 0:16:46we've got the wheels in motion now, which is good.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Finally, for Karen,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51it looks like her long ordeal may be coming to an end.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55Right, I got a letter to say they managed to collect
0:16:55 > 0:16:59the sum of £500 cash, which is a good start, I'm quite optimistic.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04Joe and Lisa have assured them that by 1st December
0:17:04 > 0:17:07they'll be sending the rest to them.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10So, yeah, I'm pleased with the £500 and I'll await the extra shortly.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21As officers of the High Court,
0:17:21 > 0:17:25occasionally the sheriffs are sent to enforce a debt of such size
0:17:25 > 0:17:29that there's little realistic chance of the defendant being able to pay.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32We'll be seizing an aeroplane this afternoon.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34There it goes, down the runway. Follow that plane.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37This morning, Midlands sheriffs Darryl Oreton
0:17:37 > 0:17:41and Marc Povey are taking on one such assignment at the home
0:17:41 > 0:17:45of a man owing a huge sum of money in rent arrears.
0:17:45 > 0:17:53Just coming into Cambridge now... We got a balance of £41,208.77,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56so it's quite a large amount, residential property,
0:17:56 > 0:18:00hopefully there's some decent assets either in the house or on the drive
0:18:00 > 0:18:01if we can gain access.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12Darryl and Marc are in the historic university town of Cambridge.
0:18:12 > 0:18:13They've been tasked with enforcing
0:18:13 > 0:18:18a High Court writ against Cyril Weinman, who signed a 21-year lease
0:18:18 > 0:18:21on a shop premises for his dog-grooming business
0:18:21 > 0:18:24but later sub-let the property to another business
0:18:24 > 0:18:26without the landlord's permission.
0:18:27 > 0:18:32Six months later, this new business left and stopped paying the rent.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35When the out-of-pocket landlord, Dennis Whitfield,
0:18:35 > 0:18:38contacted Cyril Weinman to ask what was happening,
0:18:38 > 0:18:42he said it was nothing to do with him as he'd sold the business.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46The landlord sued Mr Weinman for
0:18:46 > 0:18:49failing to fulfil his rent commitment.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51When the case was contested in court,
0:18:51 > 0:18:56a judge ordered Mr Weinman to pay £22,000 in unpaid rent with
0:18:56 > 0:19:00the landlord's considerable legal costs on top.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03When this mammoth debt remained unpaid,
0:19:03 > 0:19:05it was passed to the sheriffs.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Arriving at the address on the writ,
0:19:08 > 0:19:13they park up and prepare to ask for a debt which, including legal costs,
0:19:13 > 0:19:19sheriffs' fees, interest and VAT, is now over £40,000.
0:19:22 > 0:19:23- Good morning.- Morning, sir.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Enforcement Officer from the High Court.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28- Morning.- Morning. It says here, "The High Court writ against
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- "Cyril James Weinman" - is that yourself?- Yes.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36OK. I got sent out here today to either... It's £41,208.77
0:19:36 > 0:19:38or to seize goods to the value.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43'Cyril Weinman tells Darryl he's in the process of selling
0:19:43 > 0:19:47'another of his properties, which has a charging order on it
0:19:47 > 0:19:49'for the money owed to Dennis Whitfield.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53'This means when the sale goes through, part of the proceeds
0:19:53 > 0:19:56'will automatically be used to clear the debt.'
0:19:56 > 0:20:00- It's secured in a property of mine, which has been sold.- OK.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02We've still got a live writ today
0:20:02 > 0:20:05so that isn't going to affect anything at the moment.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07We need this money today.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11- I don't have it. - You don't have any of this?
0:20:11 > 0:20:13It will be a seizure of goods, then.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16- Basically, I've got nothing. - It would be goods in the house.
0:20:16 > 0:20:17Is that your vehicle outside?
0:20:17 > 0:20:21No. Mine, I sold six weeks, seven weeks ago, basically it clapped out.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Mr Weinman goes to fetch some paperwork,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27leaving the front door open.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Darryl takes the opportunity to follow him inside,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33as he's legally entitled to do.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Straightaway, he spots something.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37Jaguar key ring.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45Marc. Go and block that car in. There's a Jaguar key ring there.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Marc goes to block in the Jag with the sheriffs' van.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55We're going to make... start making a list of goods now.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Just start applying some pressure. Obviously, it's £40,000,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00so it's a lot of money to raise.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03We'll try and get a part payment today, get him on a payment plan
0:21:03 > 0:21:07for the balance until the house is possibly sold.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Cyril Weinman says the Jag is his son's.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Darryl demands to see proof of ownership.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18- So it is in your name. - No, he's Cyril Weinman.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23- You're the registered keeper. - He's been living here for a time.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Right, the vehicle's going to be seized, unfortunately, Cyril.
0:21:28 > 0:21:29It's a start.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33But with over £40,000 owed to the out-of-pocket landlord,
0:21:33 > 0:21:34there's a long way to go.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38And when Mr Weinman makes another offer,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41it's some way below what's required.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45Probably, pushing it, I can get two grand...
0:21:45 > 0:21:48We'd be looking at more than that, Cyril.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52It's clear there aren't sufficient assets here to pay
0:21:52 > 0:21:56the over £41,000 debt owed to Mr Whitfield.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Despite this, it's still Darryl's job to execute this
0:21:59 > 0:22:01High Court writ like any other.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05He explains to Mr Weinman that he needs to start dealing with
0:22:05 > 0:22:07the debt or they'll have no choice
0:22:07 > 0:22:10but to start removing assets from the house.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13If I believe the goods are in jeopardy today,
0:22:13 > 0:22:17- they will be removed today. We can't leave this property now.- OK.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Mr Weinman tells Darryl he has a court appointment in an hour's time,
0:22:21 > 0:22:24relating to another matter.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26With his car blocked in and seized,
0:22:26 > 0:22:28it doesn't look like he'll be making it.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32As there's no realistic chance of collecting the full amount today,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Darryl wants to be fair.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38- I can probably accept five now. - I can't raise five.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Do you want to try? It's ten past eight now so you've
0:22:40 > 0:22:44got pretty much 50 minutes to get us five grand here now.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48- That's the best I can do. You're owing £41,000.- I realise that.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50I need £5,000 before we can leave this premises,
0:22:50 > 0:22:52before I release your vehicle.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Twist it a bit for me, a little bit more.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00I've already twisted it down from 41,000.
0:23:04 > 0:23:085,000. Cash, debit or credit card or bank transfer.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11- You want five grand?- Yes. - That then stops the action?
0:23:11 > 0:23:15Stops any action today. How is it likely to be paid, then, Cyril?
0:23:15 > 0:23:17- I've got the cash.- Oh, right, OK.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Despite saying he could only manage £2,000 earlier,
0:23:22 > 0:23:27as if by magic, Cyril Weinman comes back downstairs with a large
0:23:27 > 0:23:29wad of cash for significantly more.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Marc goes to help him count it.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34I'd rather do it in front of you.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Let's hope it's as close to five grand as we can. Obviously,
0:23:38 > 0:23:41we'd like more but there's nothing of huge value.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43I know we've got the vehicle, but it's still
0:23:43 > 0:23:47nowhere going to clear 41 grand's worth of debts, eh?
0:23:48 > 0:23:52Has Mr Weinman come up with the promised £5,000?
0:23:52 > 0:23:54What have we there? Four?
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- How much is there, Cyril? - 20, 40, 60, 80, 90.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00So that's 4,1. So we're 900 short.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03And I can see you've made the effort getting 4,1. If you tell me you
0:24:03 > 0:24:07- can get the other 900... - Five o'clock.
0:24:07 > 0:24:08Five o'clock this evening.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14With over 4,000 in cash collected and another £900
0:24:14 > 0:24:18to follow by the end of the day, it's a solid result for Darryl
0:24:18 > 0:24:21and Marc in difficult circumstances.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23We pushed for more when we got there
0:24:23 > 0:24:25but we didn't really a great lot of leverage.
0:24:25 > 0:24:30It's just over 10% of the debt we've got, it's not a great amount
0:24:30 > 0:24:32but it's not bad, not a bad result.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37For the landlord, Dennis Whitfield, it's a positive first step
0:24:37 > 0:24:40in getting back the thousands in unpaid rent owed to him.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Lawrence and Kev are still at Mercury Windows Ltd in Kent,
0:24:52 > 0:24:57trying to get a former employee the unpaid wages a court says he's owed.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Earlier, Lawrence spoke to company director Michael Warren,
0:25:01 > 0:25:04who claimed that all the assets on the premises had been sold to
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Tuthill Property Ltd, a company he's also the director of.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Lawrence was less than convinced of his story and demanded proof.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18When Mr Warren sent through an inventory of these items,
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Lawrence's suspicions only deepened.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Unfortunately, from our point of view,
0:25:22 > 0:25:24it's not worth the paper it's written on.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27If you were buying a car, you wouldn't expect a receipt from
0:25:27 > 0:25:29a car dealer saying "a vehicle", would you?
0:25:29 > 0:25:34You know? There needs to be some way of proving what is what.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37But Mr Warren then claimed to also have photos that could
0:25:37 > 0:25:41positively match every item on his list to the assets
0:25:41 > 0:25:45on the premises, therefore proving the transfer was genuine.
0:25:45 > 0:25:50Stickler-for-detail Lawrence now wants to see every photo.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53So if you can go back to the first picture,
0:25:53 > 0:25:55I can see the two air compressors.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59But with the photos matching up to the assets on the boss's list,
0:25:59 > 0:26:03it's looking like Lawrence will have to admit defeat here.
0:26:03 > 0:26:04Yeah. Two Microsols, yeah.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08He's got one last card to play, though.
0:26:08 > 0:26:13What I need to see is a bank statement..
0:26:14 > 0:26:19..showing these amounts, either separately or together going between
0:26:19 > 0:26:21the two different companies.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25Lawrence listens with bated breath as the staff member
0:26:25 > 0:26:26calls his boss again.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29They say, can you go on and do the online banking and show where
0:26:29 > 0:26:31this money's being paid?
0:26:31 > 0:26:34If Mercury Windows' director can provide
0:26:34 > 0:26:38proof of the transaction, this enforcement is dead and buried.
0:26:39 > 0:26:40It hasn't been paid?
0:26:41 > 0:26:43It's owed?
0:26:44 > 0:26:45Right, OK.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Right, we're taking it, then.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52It's the breakthrough the sheriffs desperately needed.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Despite the assets' ownership being transferred from Mercury Windows
0:26:55 > 0:26:59to the other company, no money has passed between them.
0:26:59 > 0:27:00Hello, sir.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Lawrence takes over the call to tell Mr Warren
0:27:03 > 0:27:07as far as he's concerned, the sale is null and void.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Then the goods are going, sir, as they still belong to Mercury Windows.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14No, it all still belongs to Mercury Windows.
0:27:14 > 0:27:15Yes, it does.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18You've now admitted to me that funds were never transferred.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20This invoice has never been paid.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Those assets still belong to Mercury Windows.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25No, it doesn't matter.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28They've never been purchased.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Sensing victory, he turns the pressure up.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34I'll tell you what this is, sir. I'll be quite blunt with you.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38This is an attempt at transferring assets to defeat paying this debt.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42Isn't it? The transfer...
0:27:42 > 0:27:46The transfer paperwork was drawn up three days before the tribunal.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49I can see you've already tried to transfer the assets out
0:27:49 > 0:27:50into the name of another company,
0:27:50 > 0:27:53so I now believe the goods to be in jeopardy,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55so I will be removing them today.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59At this point, Michael Warren performs a major U-turn
0:27:59 > 0:28:02and says he'd like to pay in full.
0:28:02 > 0:28:03Not a problem.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06We catch everybody by surprise.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08I have, yeah. Bye-bye.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13Lawrence's top-notch negotiating has got the desired effect.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15Okey-dokey, here we go.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Time to bring out the trusty chip-and-pin machine.
0:28:21 > 0:28:22There's that one.
0:28:24 > 0:28:25There's the receipt.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29With the full amount owed to the former employee collected,
0:28:29 > 0:28:31it's a superb result for the sheriffs.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33- Thanks, gents.- Cheers.- Cheers, guys.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35- See you later.- Bye-bye.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38Dealing with a sheriff of Lawrence's experience,
0:28:38 > 0:28:42not having all your documents in place is asking for trouble.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45Unfortunately, for the debtor company,
0:28:45 > 0:28:47the assets had never been transferred.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50The money had never actually been paid,
0:28:50 > 0:28:53so, you know, the transfer just effectively hadn't happened.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56The goods still belong to the original debtor company,
0:28:56 > 0:28:58so we were able to seize them,
0:28:58 > 0:29:02which prompted the director to pay in full, over three cards.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Lawrence and Kev work for this High Court enforcement company
0:29:13 > 0:29:15in South London.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19Boss David Carter has over ten years' experience
0:29:19 > 0:29:20in this line of work.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23Sheriffs are High Court enforcement officers
0:29:23 > 0:29:26and we enforce County Court judgments in England and Wales
0:29:26 > 0:29:28that are over £600 and up to six years old.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31We're looking for full payment or removal today.
0:29:31 > 0:29:32It's a fairly known fact that
0:29:32 > 0:29:35most of the public don't realise that they can use us.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39- Hiya.- If you have a judgment that hasn't been paid,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42they can be instructed to attend anywhere in England and Wales
0:29:42 > 0:29:44to recover the debt you're owed.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47Good morning, sir. My name's Mr Grix. I'm an enforcement officer.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50A typical day for a sheriff can range from a variety of things.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52They will generally start very early...
0:29:52 > 0:29:54It's just before 5am now.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56..calling on residential premises
0:29:56 > 0:29:58to try and catch people in before they go to work.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02Mr Ban! Enforcement officers! Can you come downstairs, please?
0:30:02 > 0:30:06We're there to recover the money for the creditors.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10If we're successful, then it's a happy day for the guys on the road.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13That's the cash there paid, so paid in full.
0:30:13 > 0:30:14Lovely, thank you.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18We've had a variety of incidents with our officers on the road.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- One was run over by a car. - Whoa, whoa, whoa!
0:30:21 > 0:30:24- We've had one stabbed. - Don't push, don't push!
0:30:24 > 0:30:26They get threatened on many occasions.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29- Don't touch me. Get your hands off me.- I'll call the police.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32It's dangerous, which is why it's often a two-man job these days.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36Obviously, it's a threat to kill. That's why I've called you guys.
0:30:36 > 0:30:37To be a good sheriff,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40you need a variety of skills and these include negotiation...
0:30:40 > 0:30:42Right, have you got anything
0:30:42 > 0:30:45to say who you are, like your company's house certificates?
0:30:45 > 0:30:48- It's diplomacy...- I'll listen to what you have to tell me, sir.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50I will always pay you the courtesy of doing that.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53However, it doesn't prevent us enforcing today.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55But it's also being authoritative
0:30:55 > 0:30:58and making people understand the powers that you have.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01You've got the option to pay now and we've got the goods, unfortunately.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05As High Court enforcement officers, we recover around £65 million a year
0:31:05 > 0:31:08for unpaid creditors and these are people that are owed the money.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11They've been through court, they've got their judgment
0:31:11 > 0:31:13and still the debtor hasn't paid.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15Just clamp it. Clamp it. Clamp it.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17It's very easy to demonise us
0:31:17 > 0:31:21and not understand that we're also the good guys for a lot of people.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23- Right, I hope I won't see you again.- Hopefully not.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25Well, not under these circumstances!
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Hallelujah, eh?
0:31:36 > 0:31:40On the road again, in South London, are sheriffs Lawrence and Kev.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42They're on their way to the type of business
0:31:42 > 0:31:46you wouldn't expect to have not paid a debt awarded by a court.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50We've got a debtor by the name of A-Z Law Solicitors.
0:31:50 > 0:31:55The total debt is £50,484.70,
0:31:55 > 0:31:57so it's a substantial debt.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59It has actually been contested.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01They've taken it to the Court of Appeal and lost,
0:32:01 > 0:32:04so they are well aware of the debt
0:32:04 > 0:32:05and hopefully it'll just be an oversight
0:32:05 > 0:32:09and they will have the funds to pay it and we can get it cleared.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15As law enforcement officers,
0:32:15 > 0:32:20it's rare that sheriffs chase up debts from legal practitioners.
0:32:20 > 0:32:21But as they park up and head in,
0:32:21 > 0:32:25that's exactly what they're planning on doing today.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28Hello there. Is this A-Z Law Solicitors?
0:32:28 > 0:32:30- Yes.- Sorry?- Yes.- Yes?
0:32:31 > 0:32:34My name's Mr Grix. I'm an enforcement officer.
0:32:34 > 0:32:39The employees get the boss, Mr Khan, to come and talk to Lawrence.
0:32:39 > 0:32:40Hi there.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43I'm an enforcement officer.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46I'm here today to execute a writ against A-Z Law Ltd.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50As Mr Khan takes Lawrence and Kev into his office,
0:32:50 > 0:32:53we're asked to leave the premises.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56Lawrence leaves the boss in no doubt as to what he's there for.
0:32:57 > 0:33:02We're here today to seize goods to the tune of £50,484.70.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07The only way to prevent further action today is to pay in full.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10My colleague is taking an inventory at the moment.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15Worried about Lawrence's threats to remove goods,
0:33:15 > 0:33:18Mr Khan tries to invoke the law on his side.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20He says all the equipment in the office
0:33:20 > 0:33:22qualifies as tools of the trade,
0:33:22 > 0:33:26which would mean the sheriffs wouldn't be able to take them.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29Lawrence tests his theory with a few questions.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33You're saying this is tools of A-Z Law
0:33:33 > 0:33:35and I'm saying to you, "Who is A-Z Law?"
0:33:35 > 0:33:38Who are the other people? Who's the person out there?
0:33:38 > 0:33:40The man admits they're his employees.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Right, so it's not tools of the trade.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45If there's more than one person working for the business,
0:33:45 > 0:33:48if there's an employee, there are no tools of the trade.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51If it's a limited company, there are no tools of the trade.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54Tools of the trade are for one person and one person only,
0:33:54 > 0:33:57maybe a plumber or whatever in his van
0:33:57 > 0:34:00with his tools that he needs to carry out his business.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02Mr Khan then decides
0:34:02 > 0:34:05the other people in the office aren't his employees.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Don't try and move the goal posts just because you've tripped up.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13You need to sort out some money today
0:34:13 > 0:34:15or the goods from here are going.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20But Mr Khan refuses to pay anything at all.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26Getting increasingly frustrated, Lawrence decides not to hang around.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29Right, would you all like to back-up your computers?
0:34:29 > 0:34:31Because I'll be removing them very shortly.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Everything in here is liable to go.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35One of the employees tells Lawrence
0:34:35 > 0:34:37they're planning on a further appeal in the case,
0:34:37 > 0:34:40this time to the Supreme Court.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43But that doesn't succeed in impressing Lawrence.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47But all that's irrelevant if there's a live writ, which there is.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49I'm willing to negotiate
0:34:49 > 0:34:53over what you've got available in funds today.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56As the debate continues,
0:34:56 > 0:34:59the boss still refuses to pay anything at all.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01OK, then then the goods will be removed.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03I've had enough.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05I'm about to call a truck.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08If you can tell Cathy I need a seven-and-a-half tonne truck
0:35:08 > 0:35:11as soon as she can get one here, please. If she can give me a ring.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13Are all your computers backed up, sir?
0:35:13 > 0:35:15It's up to you to back it up. I'll be unplugging them.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18Everybody, you need to back-up your computers.
0:35:18 > 0:35:19This is your only warning.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23We will be coming round and unplugging them very shortly.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25Despite the threat of the tow truck,
0:35:25 > 0:35:28the boss continues to insist he's a sole trader
0:35:28 > 0:35:31so Lawrence can't take his assets.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34You are not a sole trader. Just please go to the bank.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40Faced with losing his desks, filing cabinets and computers,
0:35:40 > 0:35:42Mr Khan realises he's got to pay something.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45He heads out to see about raising some funds.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49Kev, meanwhile, keeps the pressure up.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51I'm going to start with these computers next door.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54This one's all backed up, I presume, is it?
0:35:57 > 0:36:00Nearly an hour later, Mr Khan comes back
0:36:00 > 0:36:05and says he can afford to pay £7,000 by bank transfer.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09As it's more than the goods in the office are worth, Lawrence agrees.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13Hello, Suze. Put the truck on hold for a minute.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16- Bye.- Lawrence checks the transfer has gone through.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18Is that the bank on the phone?
0:36:18 > 0:36:19- Yeah.- Hello there.
0:36:19 > 0:36:24Right, and can you just give me details of the beneficiary account, just to verify?
0:36:24 > 0:36:26That's right, yeah, and how much?
0:36:27 > 0:36:29Yeah, thank you. Bye-bye.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34And with that, the money's in the sheriffs' bank account.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36Time to go,
0:36:36 > 0:36:40but not before Mr Khan gets in one final gesture of defiance.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43Just got some paperwork for you to sign, Mr Khan.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45Are you going to sign it?
0:36:45 > 0:36:47OK, I'm not waiting around any longer
0:36:47 > 0:36:51because we've already been lenient on the waiting time charged already.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53I'll bid you good day. Thank you. Goodbye.
0:36:56 > 0:36:57War of attrition.
0:36:57 > 0:37:03£7,000 has been transferred but the man was an argumentative nightmare,
0:37:03 > 0:37:05just wouldn't listen to what we were saying
0:37:05 > 0:37:09and was coming up with effectively worthless arguments.
0:37:09 > 0:37:14Every time we sort of took a step forward, we took ten steps back.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17There's £7,000 paid
0:37:17 > 0:37:21but some £43,000 still outstanding.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23Mr Khan has the sheriffs off his back for now
0:37:23 > 0:37:26but if the debt remains unpaid,
0:37:26 > 0:37:28you can be sure they'll be back.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39The sheriffs often find themselves
0:37:39 > 0:37:41in the middle of disputes between businesses
0:37:41 > 0:37:44that are far from straightforward.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47This afternoon, Lawrence and Kev are en route to one such case,
0:37:47 > 0:37:52with a High Court writ to enforce against a London greengrocer's.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54We're going to Palmer's Green.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57It's a company called Ornec Ltd,
0:37:57 > 0:38:01trading as 1001 Supermarket.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03The claimant is their accountants,
0:38:03 > 0:38:06so obviously not paid their accountants' bill.
0:38:06 > 0:38:11The total we've got due is £2,459.34.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19Given the limited shelf life of most grocery items,
0:38:19 > 0:38:23Lawrence has a clear idea of what goods they'll be looking to seize today.
0:38:23 > 0:38:28I'd imagine the main assets will be wet stock and possibly cigarettes.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30In a city full of convenience stores,
0:38:30 > 0:38:33finding the right shop could prove tricky.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35What number do we want?
0:38:35 > 0:38:37342-344.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39262, so we're on the right.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41Supermarket 1001, that's it.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44That's it. And there's a space.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47Time to park up and introduce themselves to the boss.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51Hello there, sir. Are you the boss?
0:38:51 > 0:38:54My name's Mr Grix. I'm an enforcement officer.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58And I've come here today to execute a High Court writ against Ornec Ltd,
0:38:58 > 0:39:01trading as 1001 Supermarket.
0:39:01 > 0:39:06I'm here today to seize goods to the value of £2,459.34.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10- The only way to prevent further action is to pay in full.- How much?
0:39:10 > 0:39:13£2,459.34.
0:39:13 > 0:39:14Is what for?
0:39:14 > 0:39:18Well, it's for your unpaid accountants' bill, I would imagine,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21being as the claimant is your accountants,
0:39:21 > 0:39:23so have you not paid your accountants?
0:39:23 > 0:39:24Yeah, of course I paid them.
0:39:24 > 0:39:29Well, they've got judgment against you for £1,567.19
0:39:29 > 0:39:32which they've transferred up to the High Court for enforcement purposes
0:39:32 > 0:39:36and with all the additional costs, it's now at £2,459.34.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38Could I speak to my accountant?
0:39:38 > 0:39:41- Sorry?- Can I call them?- Yeah, sure.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43Start with the wet stock, mate.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45They've got wet stock behind the counter over there.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47As the seemingly confused man
0:39:47 > 0:39:50goes to call the new accountant he now uses,
0:39:50 > 0:39:53Kev gets on with listing the shop's prime assets.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57They've got fags as well, Kev.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01We're asked to leave, but continue filming from the street.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03Having got through to his current accountant,
0:40:03 > 0:40:06the man passes the phone to Lawrence to speak to him.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09Hello? And can I just ask you who you are?
0:40:09 > 0:40:11So you're another firm of accountants.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14Yes, I'm here to execute a High Court writ.
0:40:14 > 0:40:18The total amount outstanding is £2,459.34.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21We're here today to seize goods to that value.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25My colleague is at the moment taking an inventory of the contents of the shop.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29The only way to prevent further action today is to pay in full.
0:40:31 > 0:40:32The store boss tells Lawrence
0:40:32 > 0:40:35he knows nothing about the judgment against him
0:40:35 > 0:40:38and hasn't received any letters about it.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Well, I don't know, but everybody tells us that.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44Nobody says, "I got all the letters and I couldn't be bothered to deal with it."
0:40:44 > 0:40:46Everybody says they haven't had the paperwork.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50If the court sent out a letter, it's deemed to have been delivered
0:40:50 > 0:40:52unless it's returned to sender.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56It's looking like this shop's window could soon be emptied.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00Then the shop's new accountant calls back with an offer for Lawrence.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02We don't take cheques, sir.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05It's got to be cleared funds.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08They can be bankers' drafts, a direct bank transfer
0:41:08 > 0:41:11or it can be paid in cash or on a debit card or credit card
0:41:11 > 0:41:14with a chip or pin machine, which we've got.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16It's crunch time for the boss -
0:41:16 > 0:41:19pay up or the sheriffs will be forced to remove goods.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Lawrence turns the pressure up.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25It needs to be full payment as well
0:41:25 > 0:41:28because we're not actually ordered here today to collect the money.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32We're ordered here to seize and remove goods to be sold at auction
0:41:32 > 0:41:36because the money should have been paid before, and it hasn't been.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39This tough stance has the desired effect.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41The boss finally agrees to pay,
0:41:41 > 0:41:43in full, in cash.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45Sign there and print there for me.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48I'll have my pen back. Cheers!
0:41:48 > 0:41:49HE LAUGHS
0:41:49 > 0:41:51There you go. Bye-bye.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56It's another payment in the bag for Lawrence and Kev
0:41:56 > 0:41:59with a minimum of fuss.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01There's just one problem.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04- How did we get a parking ticket? - Oh! I put an hour on it.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08We've been an extra half-hour. Grab that off, then.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10Despite this unexpected expense,
0:42:10 > 0:42:13it's still been a good afternoon's work for the sheriffs.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17We got paid in full but copped a parking ticket for our trouble.
0:42:18 > 0:42:19Lawrence explains
0:42:19 > 0:42:23this may not be the last they hear from 1001 Supermarket.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26What he was saying was, it was two firms of accountants
0:42:26 > 0:42:29and they merged together and then they split or something
0:42:29 > 0:42:31and he'd ended up paying both firms.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33He said he's going to get it back off them,
0:42:33 > 0:42:37take his own legal action against them because he's paid twice
0:42:37 > 0:42:39and I told him where to come to get the judgment enforced
0:42:39 > 0:42:41if they don't pay him. We could end up
0:42:41 > 0:42:45getting this same bit of money going backwards and forwards a few times.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47It's a positive result for the sheriffs
0:42:47 > 0:42:49from a potentially tricky job.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53A "paid in full" means the people they've come to collect for
0:42:53 > 0:42:56will finally get the money a court says they're owed.