0:00:02 > 0:00:04- Meet the Sheriffs. - Let's go and introduce ourselves.
0:00:04 > 0:00:08- We're High Court Enforcement Officers.- We're here today to execute a High Court writ.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Their job is to get you your money back.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13It's an arrestable offence to stop me doing my job.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16If you've been ripped off and don't know where to turn...
0:00:16 > 0:00:19- I'm not waiting any more. - I'm ordered to seize goods to clear this debt,
0:00:19 > 0:00:21which would be clearing this place out.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25..if you've been to court but still not been paid what you're owed...
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Why don't you just tell me who you are? This is an absolute crock. You need to pay this.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31..it's time to call the Sheriffs.
0:00:31 > 0:00:36- I've seized your car, sir.- You can have a letter through the door, or we'll go through the window.
0:00:36 > 0:00:37Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39They're Enforcement Officers of the High Court,
0:00:39 > 0:00:41and the law says...
0:00:41 > 0:00:43they're on your side.
0:00:43 > 0:00:44Just collected 42 grand.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53Coming up - fitness instructor Qamar Ahmed plunged into debt
0:00:53 > 0:00:56when the company he worked for didn't pay him for months.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00'I was behind on mortgage payments. It just became impossible to hold on to my property,'
0:01:00 > 0:01:02and it was repossessed.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Can Sheriff Lawrence Grix weigh in and get him what he's owed?
0:01:06 > 0:01:08I'm ordered here to seize goods to clear the debt.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11I'm starting to lose patience, to be honest.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14When Lawrence and Kev visit a man with many identities...
0:01:14 > 0:01:18You could call yourself Basil Brush. We can enforce against an alias.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20..which one doesn't want them in his house?
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Don't put your hands on me!
0:01:26 > 0:01:27Yeah, what?! What?!
0:01:27 > 0:01:31And tempers fray when the Sheriffs visit a tissue factory.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34- Don't- (BLEEP)- touch my bloody stuff again!
0:01:34 > 0:01:38Will the Sheriffs be soft or strong as they battle to recover an unpaid debt?
0:01:38 > 0:01:42I don't want to stop your business from trading, but that's where we're at.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50It's 6.30am, and Enforcement Officers Lawrence Grix
0:01:50 > 0:01:52and Kev McNally are on the road.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56They're in Hayling Island, near Portsmouth,
0:01:56 > 0:01:58on their way to meet a man of many names.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03We've got a defendant by the name of Mr Joseph White.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07The Sheriffs have visited the address before, but the man
0:02:07 > 0:02:12living there claimed not to be Joseph White, but Joseph McVeigh.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16What's more, vehicles there belonged to a Joseph Mayday.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Lawrence, however, believes all these Josephs are one
0:02:19 > 0:02:24and the same person, and intends to prove it so he can enforce the writ.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29He's given us the runaround a bit, but hopefully today, we've got sufficient paperwork with us,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32sufficient evidence to shut the man up, basically.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38The total due is £28,605.32.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Lawrence and Kev are visiting on behalf of two former tenants
0:02:45 > 0:02:48who've been awarded substantial sums by the court
0:02:48 > 0:02:53after falling into dispute with landlord Joseph White over their tenancy deposit.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Arriving at the substantial premises,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01it's looking hopeful there'll be seizable assets on site.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06No-one's up.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10It gives Lawrence plenty of time to list vehicles to potentially seize.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15There was a noise there. There's definitely someone in.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Finally, they manage to raise someone from inside the house.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21- Hello there, sir.- Hi.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I'm looking for Joseph White AKA Joseph McVeigh,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27formerly known as Joseph Mayday - would that be yourself, sir?
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Who?
0:03:29 > 0:03:35Joseph White AKA Joseph McVeigh, formerly known as Joseph Mayday...
0:03:35 > 0:03:37No.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Recognise him from the photo.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47At this point, our cameraman is asked to leave.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51The man says he IS Joseph McVeigh.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53You were formerly Joseph Mayday, is that correct?
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Did you change your name by deed poll, did you?
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Mr McVeigh confirms he WAS known as Joseph Mayday
0:03:58 > 0:04:02but denies he has ever been known as Joseph White.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06This is a problem for Lawrence, as Joseph White is the name on his writ.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Lawrence is convinced Mr McVeigh IS Mr White,
0:04:10 > 0:04:11but he has to prove it.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Yeah, it's you, sir, and we're here today to seize goods
0:04:15 > 0:04:19to the value of £28,605.32.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21The man says he knows nothing about the case
0:04:21 > 0:04:24and continues to insist he's not Mr White.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Right, who owns the Nissan Navara?
0:04:27 > 0:04:29Lawrence threatens to remove the car.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Mr McVeigh says he can't, because it belongs to his son.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35If your son doesn't live here,
0:04:35 > 0:04:38why does he leave all his vehicles here...and where's your vehicle?
0:04:38 > 0:04:40These are your vehicles, aren't they?
0:04:40 > 0:04:42They're registered in your son's name.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Well, we require proof otherwise, sir.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46He needs to come down with proof of ownership, sir,
0:04:46 > 0:04:47or we're going to remove, OK?
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Mr McVeigh goes inside to contact his son.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57Meanwhile, Lawrence and Kev have found something interesting in the paperwork.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Who does a "J" like that?
0:04:59 > 0:05:01That's him.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Comparing two signatures,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Lawrence believes the distinctive "J"s
0:05:05 > 0:05:09are a dead giveaway that they're signed by one person.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11He believes he's got his man.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Look at that "J".
0:05:14 > 0:05:17That is you, sir. There is the "J" of J White, you have signed that.
0:05:17 > 0:05:18Yes, you have, sir.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21It's very identifiable, isn't it?
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Highly identifiable. You are also known as Joseph White.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30That's quite...that's quite an unmistakable "J".
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Even faced with Lawrence's evidence, Mr McVeigh insists
0:05:33 > 0:05:35he is not Mr White.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37But Lawrence is convinced.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39- You're known as J White, Joseph White.- No.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43Yes, you are, sir. We can enforce against an alias.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46If you're the person... You could call yourself Basil Brush.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48If you're the person known as Basil Brush,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50then we can enforce against you or Basil Brush.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57With negotiations going nowhere, Kev decides to step things up.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Determined to get the former tenants the money they're owed,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04he heads to the van to get the clamp for the Navara.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Meanwhile, and much to his surprise...
0:06:07 > 0:06:08Oh, he's gone in.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12..Lawrence is invited into the house.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Perhaps Mr McVeigh doesn't realise that once inside,
0:06:16 > 0:06:21Lawrence can get listing assets, and not even the police can remove him.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24I'm surprised he's been invited in, to be fair.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28'You've now let me into your house, so I will be clearing it out.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30'That is how it goes.'
0:06:30 > 0:06:32This is not what the man expected
0:06:32 > 0:06:34when he invited Lawrence into the house.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38He begins to take exception to Lawrence's presence.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40'We're not bouncers with a clipboard -
0:06:40 > 0:06:42'we're authorised to come here by the High Court.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44'I'm not leaving the premises, sir.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49'I'm within my rights to be here, and I will be removing goods today
0:06:49 > 0:06:50'unless you clear this debt.'
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Suddenly, tempers fray.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55'No, don't try and push me out of the house, sir.'
0:06:55 > 0:07:00With the temperature rising inside, Kev goes to Lawrence's aid.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01Come in, mate.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Don't put your hands on me!
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Don't...don't put your hands on me!
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Don't put your hands on me!
0:07:09 > 0:07:12I've gained peaceful entry, which entitles my colleague
0:07:12 > 0:07:14and anybody else I invite in...
0:07:16 > 0:07:20With things turning nasty, the police are called.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24While they wait for them to arrive, Lawrence ramps up the pressure.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27I'll need a truck to take away a Nissan Navara.
0:07:27 > 0:07:34It's already on the file - 57 plate, Nissan Navara.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37And Lawrence's tactics have an immediate effect.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Despite continuing to insist he's not the debtor Mr White,
0:07:40 > 0:07:45Mr McVeigh agrees to pay off some of the debt - £5,000.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49But Lawrence is holding out for more.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51I might be able to take half.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55The debt, as it stands at the moment, is not what's on there obviously,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58cos we've had lots of visits.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59With Lawrence standing firm,
0:07:59 > 0:08:05Mr McVeigh ups his payment to £7,000 of the 28,000 owed.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07With matters reaching a conclusion for today,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09the police car is cancelled.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14My colleague's in the process of taking the clamp off your van.
0:08:14 > 0:08:15That's your copy of the receipt.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18And with a part payment, it's over for today.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Lawrence's canny detective work
0:08:20 > 0:08:23and tenacious arguing has once again come up trumps.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28As far as I'm concerned, that was a result
0:08:28 > 0:08:31because there's not a lot of evidence that Joseph McVeigh
0:08:31 > 0:08:34is or was Joseph White.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36I'm pretty sure he is,
0:08:36 > 0:08:40and the fact that he volunteered to pay some money sort of implies that.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44That will keep the wolf from the door for the time being.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46And he can take whatever legal action he needs to take,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49and obviously we'll go by whatever the court says.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59After we filmed, Joseph White AKA Joseph McVeigh...
0:09:02 > 0:09:04He and his former tenants attended court, where they...
0:09:08 > 0:09:10..in full and final settlement.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27It's early morning, and Enforcement Officers Lawrence and Kev
0:09:27 > 0:09:31are in the van again and coming into Watford.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34They're here to settle a debt with a local gym, Fitness4Less,
0:09:34 > 0:09:39whose relationship with a personal trainer hasn't...worked out.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42With a gym, I would think you'd find sufficient assets there to clear
0:09:42 > 0:09:46the debt, so we'll be looking for full payment.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50The man they're on their way to help is Qamar Ahmed, from Watford.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53His personal fitness is everything to him,
0:09:53 > 0:09:56and working out is his passion.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59But it's not just a hobby - it's also his livelihood,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02as a professional personal trainer.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08After deciding to make personal training his career seven years ago,
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Qamar took a job with a local gym, Sports Academy.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14It's the best job I've had, it was fantastic.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20But Sports Academy ran into financial problems,
0:10:20 > 0:10:22with wages paid only sporadically.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27The company was taken over by a new firm, Fitness4Less.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29They inherited the Sports Academy wage bill
0:10:29 > 0:10:31and Qamar and the other staff
0:10:31 > 0:10:35hoped they'd finally get paid what they were owed.
0:10:35 > 0:10:36Two breaths, let's go.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38But at a meeting with staff,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41the new owner had some hugely disappointing news.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44They categorically said that they're not going to pay our wages
0:10:44 > 0:10:46in front of the previous owner who had, five minutes before,
0:10:46 > 0:10:51just said that the new owners will pay us our backdated wages.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Qamar was owed just over £4,000 in unpaid wages,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58so, together with the other disgruntled staff,
0:10:58 > 0:11:02he agreed to help bring legal action to fight their case.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04They had already made it pretty obvious
0:11:04 > 0:11:06they had no intention of paying us that money.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09So that was the only sensible thing to do.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12We had to take it through the courts,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14so we had to stick together
0:11:14 > 0:11:17and we had to take this to the tribunal.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19When the judge heard the case,
0:11:19 > 0:11:21he ruled that when the business was sold,
0:11:21 > 0:11:23the new owner should take on the responsibility
0:11:23 > 0:11:25for the previous company's unpaid debts,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28including backdated wages.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30It was vindication for Qamar.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Justice.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Justice has been done. Absolutely.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36It was a great feeling.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39But getting the money he was owed wasn't quite as simple as that.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44Fitness4Less began to settle with Sports Academy's former employees,
0:11:44 > 0:11:47but a signed agreement for Qamar wasn't forthcoming.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51A lot of my colleagues at this point started to get paid off.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53I was still being positive, I was thinking,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56OK, maybe they're going through reverse alphabetical order
0:11:56 > 0:11:58and I'm going to get paid right at the end.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00So I was waiting and waiting and waiting
0:12:00 > 0:12:03and that money just did not come through.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06The stress of the legal fight
0:12:06 > 0:12:08and failure to pay him the money he was owed
0:12:08 > 0:12:10took its toll on Qamar.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12He was diagnosed with acute depression
0:12:12 > 0:12:13and signed off work.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17That was the beginning of my dark path
0:12:17 > 0:12:20that I had to go down. I found myself alone,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23I found myself often spending days
0:12:23 > 0:12:25with the curtains shut...
0:12:25 > 0:12:29and I just didn't want to be seen by anyone, really.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Without his unpaid wages,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Qamar's financial situation went from bad to worse.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38Eventually, it cost him his home.
0:12:39 > 0:12:40That's where I used to live.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43As soon as I stopped getting paid by Fitness4Less
0:12:43 > 0:12:45I was behind on mortgage payments.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48It just became impossible to hold on to my property
0:12:48 > 0:12:50and it was repossessed.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54I've been put up by good friends
0:12:54 > 0:12:56and they've helped me through a lot.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Finally, a few months after the tribunal hearings,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Qamar received a part payment from Fitness4Less.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07He was promised the rest would follow, but it didn't,
0:13:07 > 0:13:11so he went back to the employment tribunal.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14I'm very stubborn. There was no way I was going to give up on that, no way.
0:13:14 > 0:13:15No way.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Fitness4Less didn't attend the latest tribunal hearing,
0:13:21 > 0:13:23and a judgment was issued in Qamar's favour.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27But, despite this, Qamar still hasn't been paid.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30So now it's up to Lawrence and Kev
0:13:30 > 0:13:34to get Qamar the money and the closure he so desperately wants.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Back in Watford, Lawrence and Kev
0:13:41 > 0:13:43have finally found a place to park up.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46So we can't stop here, though.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48With a deep-seated fear of traffic wardens,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Lawrence leaves Kev with the van -
0:13:50 > 0:13:53this is going to be one writ
0:13:53 > 0:13:55he'll have to enforce alone.
0:13:55 > 0:13:56He's stayed with the van
0:13:56 > 0:14:00because it's got clamping signs and tow-away signs and things.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Hello there. My name's Mr Grix.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08I'm an Enforcement Officer.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13I'm here to execute a High Court writ against Fitness4Less Watford Ltd.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Basically I'm ordered here by the court today
0:14:16 > 0:14:19to seize goods to the value of £5,399.58
0:14:19 > 0:14:22with a view to selling them at public auction
0:14:22 > 0:14:23to clear this debt.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Yeah. Qamar Ahmed.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34While the manager gets on the phone to his superiors,
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Lawrence gets to work making notes on equipment.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42If need be, he could seize and remove machinery
0:14:42 > 0:14:43to pay off the debt.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Right, I'm ordered here, as I say, to seize goods to clear the debt -
0:14:52 > 0:14:54it can be prevented by full payment.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56So your manager,
0:14:56 > 0:14:58your director, whoever...
0:14:59 > 0:15:03The manager runs off to call his boss again
0:15:03 > 0:15:06while Lawrence tries to work out which exercise machine is which.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Handily, it's all labelled up with what it is!
0:15:11 > 0:15:13The manager is back,
0:15:13 > 0:15:15and this time he's got a message for Lawrence.
0:15:15 > 0:15:20His boss says the Sheriffs can't take a thing.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23No.
0:15:24 > 0:15:25No.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29Unfortunately, it's a line Lawrence has heard many times before.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31I'll draw your attention to that bit.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34"You are now commanded to seize in execution
0:15:34 > 0:15:37"the goods chattels and other property of the defendant."
0:15:37 > 0:15:39It doesn't order us to give notice,
0:15:39 > 0:15:43it orders us to seize the goods to be sold at auction.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47The manager gets back on the phone,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49but he's soon back to update Lawrence.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Yeah.
0:15:56 > 0:15:57Yeah.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01If he normally starts at ten and he's sorting out his private life
0:16:01 > 0:16:04then that's entirely down to him.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Yeah, I think we're going to get paid in full.
0:16:10 > 0:16:11It's looking promising,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13but Lawrence knows better
0:16:13 > 0:16:16than to count his pennies until they're firmly in his hand.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Having agreed to wait, it seems he might not even need to -
0:16:21 > 0:16:25the gym manager is back with good news.
0:16:25 > 0:16:26Oh, right.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28He's doing the transfer, is he?
0:16:31 > 0:16:33All Lawrence needs to do
0:16:33 > 0:16:35is wait to see that the funds have come through
0:16:35 > 0:16:37and it's job done.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Can you just keep your eye on the bank account for me?
0:16:44 > 0:16:45Half an hour later,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Lawrence is still waiting for payment.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50We, meanwhile, are asked to stop filming.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53I'm starting to lose patience, to be honest.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56Nearly an hour after he was explicitly told
0:16:56 > 0:16:58that the money had been transferred,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Lawrence gets a call from the account manager
0:17:00 > 0:17:02who is only now making the payment
0:17:02 > 0:17:05and wants the account details - again.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08I'm now charging the waiting time, OK?
0:17:08 > 0:17:11So there's another £217.80
0:17:11 > 0:17:13to add to that bill.
0:17:13 > 0:17:14That's what mucking about is.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18Being told that a payment's being made
0:17:18 > 0:17:19two hours before it is.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22With Lawrence beginning to flex his muscles,
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Fitness4Less are beginning to feel the burn.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28They decide to cut their losses and pay up.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31This time, the money does go through.
0:17:32 > 0:17:33Payment at last.
0:17:33 > 0:17:34But despite his success,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Lawrence is still feeling the frustration of his visit.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41I could have been gone from there probably two hours before I was,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44so in the end I did charge them an hour's waiting time.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47Let's get out of here.
0:17:47 > 0:17:48And, most importantly,
0:17:48 > 0:17:50they can report back
0:17:50 > 0:17:53that Qamar will finally receive the money that's due to him.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57I'm very happy, and I'd like to say thank you to them.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00I think I made the right choice, for sure.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03With that money, I'm going to set up my own personal training business
0:18:03 > 0:18:06and I'm going to make a difference in my life
0:18:06 > 0:18:09and I'm going to make a difference in the lives of my clients as well.
0:18:12 > 0:18:13Fitness4Less told us
0:18:13 > 0:18:16that when they took over the Sports Academy gym
0:18:16 > 0:18:19they did not know about unpaid staff wages
0:18:19 > 0:18:21and that legal advice they were given at the time
0:18:21 > 0:18:23indicated they should not be responsible.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26They believe they made all reasonable effort
0:18:26 > 0:18:28to get Qamar his money,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31including writing him a cheque for him to collect from them.
0:18:31 > 0:18:32They said, however,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35that despite numerous efforts to get in touch with Qamar
0:18:35 > 0:18:37they were unable to reach him
0:18:37 > 0:18:40and that he left them no forwarding contact details.
0:18:45 > 0:18:46Qamar's unpaid wage bill
0:18:46 > 0:18:49is just one of 70,000 High Court writs
0:18:49 > 0:18:52enforced by Sheriffs in England and Wales every year.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55We're Enforcement Officers.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57We've got a High Court writ to attend here today.
0:18:57 > 0:18:58We're higher than a bailiff.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Sheriffs have more power than County Court bailiffs,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05and obstructing them in their work is a criminal offence.
0:19:05 > 0:19:06You've now trapped us in here,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09we're going to need to call the police.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11A High Court writ costs £60.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14If the Sheriffs are successful, that's it.
0:19:14 > 0:19:19If they're unsuccessful, the only cost is a £60 admin fee.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21We've removed one vehicle, we've seized all the other vehicles.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23It was £6,900 there.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Paid it straightaway, so it's all good.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Enforcement officers Craig Wilde and Tom Coyle
0:19:39 > 0:19:42are on their way to help a business customer
0:19:42 > 0:19:44recover a substantial unpaid debt.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47We're off to Wolverhampton today.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50The defendant in this case that we're going to see
0:19:50 > 0:19:52is Alliance Paper & Tissue Ltd.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56It's £10,750.19.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Alliance Paper & Tissue Ltd had some machinery installed,
0:20:02 > 0:20:04but still haven't paid the supplier.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06This is Tom's second visit
0:20:06 > 0:20:08he was here a couple of weeks ago,
0:20:08 > 0:20:10when Alliance Paper & Tissue Ltd
0:20:10 > 0:20:12promised they would pay the debt.
0:20:12 > 0:20:17He ended up doing a part payment of £2,500 on the day.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21But this is one of the Sheriffs' more complex cases.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23There are two companies trading here.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Tom found it confusing last time,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28and it's about to get even more so.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Tom runs for the open door to gain access to the building.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38Hello?
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Now he's in, he can't be thrown out.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42Mr Patel about?
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Tom met company boss Mr Patel when he was here before.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Do you want to talk in there? Yeah, no problem.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52What's the situation?
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Yeah, yeah, no problem.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01While Tom waits for word from the accountant,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Craig is looking for seizable property.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06The big warehouses are locked
0:21:06 > 0:21:09and in the open one, there's not much of value.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13There's just a bit of tissue paper here that is worth some money,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16clearly not £10,000.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18I'll go and help Tom now.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22With word back from the accountant, there's a problem -
0:21:22 > 0:21:27Mr Patel now says the company trading here is AP Paper & Tissue,
0:21:27 > 0:21:29which is what the signs on the building say.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32He claims that the company on Tom's writ,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34Alliance Paper & Tissue Ltd,
0:21:34 > 0:21:35is in administration.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49If Alliance Paper & Tissue IS in administration,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52or all of the assets are owned by another company,
0:21:52 > 0:21:54it's bad news for Craig and Tom.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00Craig checks with Companies House, the official register of companies.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02There is a company called Alliance Paper & Tissue Ltd,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04and it is trading.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06The company that's going into administration
0:22:06 > 0:22:08is nothing to do with their company.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Our company is still operating and trading
0:22:10 > 0:22:12and you've liquidated the old company.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15It now appears that the original company named on the writ
0:22:15 > 0:22:17had its name changed
0:22:17 > 0:22:19and was then put into administration.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23Another company with the same director, Ghanshyam Patel,
0:22:23 > 0:22:26was later renamed Alliance Paper & Tissue Ltd.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29So when Craig searched on the company name,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31it appeared to be trading.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35Mr Patel gets his accountant on the line again
0:22:35 > 0:22:37to try to explain.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39I've got the Sheriff here,
0:22:39 > 0:22:40do you want to speak to him?
0:22:40 > 0:22:43It's a High Court writ of fi fa
0:22:43 > 0:22:46for Alliance Paper & Tissue Ltd.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49The accountant again says Alliance Paper & Tissue
0:22:49 > 0:22:51is in administration.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Craig's research shows it's alive and well.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57As a company called Alliance Paper Paper & Tissue
0:22:57 > 0:22:58is still in business,
0:22:58 > 0:23:02the Sheriffs will continue to list goods for seizure
0:23:02 > 0:23:05and, if necessary, Mr Patel can contest the seizure in court.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Well, we're going to carry on, unfortunately.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17As Craig digs up more evidence,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19tempers fray in the tissue factory.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22If you start stopping me doing my job,
0:23:22 > 0:23:24that is an criminal offence
0:23:24 > 0:23:25and I'll have you arrested for that.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27- What?- No need to get violent, is there?
0:23:27 > 0:23:29We'll come back to Wolverhampton later
0:23:29 > 0:23:31to see if the Sheriffs can get the debt paid.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46This morning, Sheriffs Marc Newton and Tony Smith
0:23:46 > 0:23:48are heading down the M4 into Wales.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53We're going to the National Engine Centre in...
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Cardiff.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Total amount outstanding is £4,164.83.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03The Sheriffs are on their way
0:24:03 > 0:24:05to help David Conway and his wife Dorothy
0:24:05 > 0:24:07from Billingham, in Teesside.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10He's been retired for the past 20 years
0:24:10 > 0:24:12and now loves to spend his spare time flying.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16This is me hangar,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18these are pride and joys.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Noddy's my best.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Yeah. The planes are part of my life.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25They're very important to me.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27If I didn't have the planes,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30I would be just sat watching television all day.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33I've crashed dozens and dozens.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35This is my latest.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37I'm known as Crasher Conway
0:24:37 > 0:24:39because I've had so many crashes.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41As his enthusiasm for his hobby has grown,
0:24:41 > 0:24:44so has the size of his planes.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47If David wanted to keep his hobby on the straight and level
0:24:47 > 0:24:50he needed to buy a car to transport the planes in.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54He decided the perfect vehicle was a Renault Grand Espace.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57At the National Engine Centre in Cardiff,
0:24:57 > 0:25:01David thought he had found the car he so desperately needed.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04I'd seen the car online.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06The car was in good condition,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09one previous owner, and I really wanted this car,
0:25:09 > 0:25:10I didn't want any other car.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13So I got on the train and went and got it.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17It was an exhausting 600-mile round trip from Billingham to Cardiff,
0:25:17 > 0:25:19but David really wanted the car.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22When he arrived at National Engine Centre,
0:25:22 > 0:25:24David wanted to try the Espace.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27He was allowed to take it for a brief test drive.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29I thought it was a nice car,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32so I went ahead and bought it.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36The Renault Espace cost David £2,500,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38all the savings he and his wife had.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41But it was only four miles down the road
0:25:41 > 0:25:43when disaster struck.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45The car started losing power
0:25:45 > 0:25:47and eventually it stopped.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Stranded with a barely working car
0:25:50 > 0:25:52somewhere in Cardiff,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55David didn't know where to turn.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Fortunately, he was able to get the car back to the garage
0:25:58 > 0:26:00and he asked for a refund.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03But the garage said if he wanted one,
0:26:03 > 0:26:05he'd have to leave the car in Cardiff
0:26:05 > 0:26:09and wait till Monday when appropriate staff could process it.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14I couldn't leave the car there and leave me money there.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16So I had to bring the car back.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18With no refund,
0:26:18 > 0:26:23David realised he would have to nurse the car 300 miles back home.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26It took me over seven hours to drive back home
0:26:26 > 0:26:28and it really was horrendous.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Desperate to find out what was wrong,
0:26:31 > 0:26:34David took the car to a local garage.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37They diagnosed the problem as a dodgy engine control unit
0:26:37 > 0:26:40and a faulty valve in the exhaust system.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42They couldn't give me an exact price,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45but they said it could go into thousands.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49David immediately contacted the National Engine Centre
0:26:49 > 0:26:54hoping for a quick resolution, but none could be agreed.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58It left him with the undrivable Espace grounded outside his home,
0:26:58 > 0:27:01constantly reminding him of the ordeal.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06It's put so much pressure and stress on my wife and I.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09David was left with no option
0:27:09 > 0:27:13but to take National Engine Centre to court. They failed to show up,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16and a judgment was issued in David's favour.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19The garage applied to have the case set aside
0:27:19 > 0:27:23but once again were absent, and again David won the case.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Despite victory, David still hasn't received a penny.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31I feel so annoyed that he's, he's got away with it.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37With nobody left to help, it's now down to the Sheriffs to
0:27:37 > 0:27:39answer David's distress signal.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53Tony and Marc have found National Engine Centre.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55There it is, there.
0:27:55 > 0:27:56Quite big, isn't it?
0:27:58 > 0:28:01They head in to try and get David the money he's owed.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05- Hiya, mate.- Morning.- It's about the High Court writ that's been
0:28:05 > 0:28:07issued by a David Knox Conway.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09The claimant sent us out to collect the money.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13- Can I speak to my boss? - Yeah, no worries. We'll wait here.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15While the man heads off to get his boss,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Marc is already getting a bad feeling about this job.
0:28:18 > 0:28:23I said, "Is that the National Engine Centre?" He said, "Yeah," and then he said he don't work here.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26- You are after me?- National Engine Centre.- National Engine Centre.
0:28:26 > 0:28:27Can I have a look?
0:28:27 > 0:28:31- It's not us, mate, see you later. - Who's that? Who is it then?
0:28:31 > 0:28:33That's not us.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Well, it says National Engine Centre up there.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39- Yeah. What does it say on the end? - It says "Ltd".- Yeah.
0:28:39 > 0:28:44The man claims that the name on the writ, National Engine Centre, isn't here.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48The company trading at these premises is Nat Engine Centre Ltd.
0:28:48 > 0:28:49Cheery-bye.
0:28:49 > 0:28:54After a less than warm welcome, our camera is asked to leave.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56The conversation carries on in the office,
0:28:56 > 0:29:00where the man, Mr Peter Anderson, denies being the company director
0:29:00 > 0:29:03of National Engine Centre, or Nat Engine Centre Ltd.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06But he refuses to find any proof.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08The more info you can show us, the better it is.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10You got your Companies House certificate?
0:29:10 > 0:29:12Why would you not do that if it's nothing to do with you?
0:29:12 > 0:29:15You're moaning we're here and then you're not willing to help out.
0:29:15 > 0:29:20It doesn't take long for Marc to find evidence contradicting the man's story.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22You just had a delivery for the National Engine Centre.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25That box there. The one that says "National Engine Centre" on top.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28If you don't show us proof, we're going to start seizing goods.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32Then things start to rev up at the Engine Centre.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35Get up, get everyone out the garage.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37I want these guys to leave, they won't go.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Yeah, yeah, they're going to be in breach of the peace now.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44But it seems his staff aren't quite as keen to go toe to toe
0:29:44 > 0:29:45with the Sheriffs as he thought.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47So he calls the police instead.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50He's actually being quite awkward at the moment.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53Unfortunately, he's not cooperating at all.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57He's called the police and said there's been a breach of the peace, which there hasn't, really,
0:29:57 > 0:30:00but we're just waiting for them to arrive now.
0:30:01 > 0:30:0420 minutes later, the police arrive.
0:30:04 > 0:30:09With Mr Anderson talking to the police, Marc and Tony take stock.
0:30:09 > 0:30:14The police are telling him he needs to pay or else we're going to start
0:30:14 > 0:30:17removing the goods, so that's where we are, we're just waiting to see
0:30:17 > 0:30:21what happens, whether we can budge him into getting to pay some money.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24It looks like the only way the Sheriffs will get
0:30:24 > 0:30:27David his money is by seizing goods.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29Marc's been looking at what's available, and phones
0:30:29 > 0:30:33the office to tell them about the substantial stock of engines.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35This is loads of engines, I mean, loads.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37When I say loads, I mean loads.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40There's loads of them out there. There's hundreds of them.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45How did National Engine Centre Ltd gain all them engines?
0:30:45 > 0:30:49They didn't just turn up one day with all them engines, did they, and put them in there?
0:30:49 > 0:30:51They came from somewhere.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54With the argument stalling, Marc offers the man an ultimatum -
0:30:54 > 0:30:58provide receipts for each and every engine, pay the debt,
0:30:58 > 0:31:01or say goodbye to the whole lot.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03Every single thing that's in that workshop,
0:31:03 > 0:31:07I need a receipt for, in the name of Nat Engine Centre Ltd.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10Right, the situation is, my colleague is now on the phone.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14Tony's ordering up a truck. It's going to be a big one.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17Seven-and-a-half tonne will probably be enough,
0:31:17 > 0:31:18but then you're going to need a forklift,
0:31:18 > 0:31:21because he ain't going to let you use his forklift, tell you that now.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23He's the most difficult person I've met.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25If you pay now, it will be that price,
0:31:25 > 0:31:28but I'm telling you, it will go up, and it will go up by thousands.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31But with the tow truck on its way and his engines about to
0:31:31 > 0:31:36leave the premises, Mr Anderson has a sudden change of heart.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40- Marc...- What, money?- Yeah.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43Though Mr Anderson isn't admitting who owns the engines,
0:31:43 > 0:31:46he IS offering to pay. But he's not offering enough.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49- All right, what about half of it then?- Meet us halfway.- Two grand.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52- Come on, come on.- You Welsh boys have all got loads of money.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Finally, the Sheriffs win the battle of wills
0:31:56 > 0:31:59and head back to the office for payment.
0:31:59 > 0:32:04Take that, that's just to say he's paid us £1,250 in cash there.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06Cheers, thank you. Bye-bye.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Let's go, get out of Wales.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15Mr Anderson has paid £1,250 today,
0:32:15 > 0:32:19and promises to put a payment plan in place to cover the rest.
0:32:19 > 0:32:24Not as great as we wanted, but we've got £1,250 in cash off him here,
0:32:24 > 0:32:26so it's a start.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30But despite Tony and Marc's efforts, Mr Anderson failed to submit
0:32:30 > 0:32:33a payment proposal for the outstanding amount.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Three weeks later, the Sheriffs returned
0:32:36 > 0:32:41and collected the balance of £3,744.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45David Conway is on cloud nine.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50The money has enabled him to settle his debt
0:32:50 > 0:32:54and buy the car of his dreams - another Renault Grand Espace.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58The Sheriffs have come along and really done the business.
0:32:58 > 0:32:59Yeah, over the moon.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03The National Engine Centre told us
0:33:03 > 0:33:06they had offered David a refund the day he visited
0:33:06 > 0:33:09and it was his decision to instead have them repair the car
0:33:09 > 0:33:11and drive it home.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14They said they'd later sent him a replacement part
0:33:14 > 0:33:18and offered to pay for a local garage to fix the problems.
0:33:18 > 0:33:23They'd also again offered him a refund if he returned the car.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26They said it was Mr Conway's decision to turn down these options
0:33:26 > 0:33:29and instead pursue court action.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32They said they had tried to contest the case
0:33:32 > 0:33:34but that the court had lost papers.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37They said, following the Sheriffs' enforcement,
0:33:37 > 0:33:39they'd again offered to pay the balance
0:33:39 > 0:33:41if the car was returned to them -
0:33:41 > 0:33:44an offer they say Mr Conway chose to reject.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55At the paper company in Wolverhampton,
0:33:55 > 0:33:59the management claims the company on Tom's writ is in administration,
0:33:59 > 0:34:01and doesn't have to pay.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05But while searching for goods to seize, Craig has found invoices
0:34:05 > 0:34:08that seem to prove Alliance Paper & Tissue Ltd
0:34:08 > 0:34:10HAS been trading here.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14That date, still taking orders as of this date.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18- The day after... You are. - This is all scrap. It's off to bin.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20It's not scrap, sir, that's the 30th August,
0:34:20 > 0:34:23the day after you're saying this company goes into administration.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26- Listen to me...- This company has never gone into administration, sir.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- Listen to me.- He will call you back now, won't he?
0:34:29 > 0:34:31- Leave my personal things. - Now we're digging, aren't we?
0:34:31 > 0:34:33- What?- No need to get violent, is there?
0:34:33 > 0:34:36- Now I've found you out...- Don't you - BLEEP- touch my bloody stuff again.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40Now I've found you out, we're going to carry on.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43- Do you understand?- I do understand. - That's right.- What do you understand?
0:34:43 > 0:34:47- I understand fully the situation, sir.- Yeah.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49- Old paperwork is it? - Yeah, yeah. There you are.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53Rip it up, that's fine. I'll find some more here, to be fair.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56Oh, we'll carry on. Not a problem at all.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59Mr Patel, that was the issue which I was explaining to you.
0:34:59 > 0:35:04- There's paperwork everywhere. - Listen to me...- I've listened to you.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Why... Make a big deal about it? It's a High Court order.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09It's not a case of making a big deal about it, sir.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12- Here we go again, look.- Leave that stuff. Don't touch so many... Listen.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15- It's called diligent search, sir. - Oh, "diligent search"?
0:35:15 > 0:35:18This is none of your bloody paperwork. Don't touch it.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22If you start stopping me doing my job, that is a criminal offence
0:35:22 > 0:35:24- and I will have you arrested for that.- Right.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28You tell him, tell him, whose is this? AP, isn't it?
0:35:28 > 0:35:31While Mr Patel argues with the Sheriffs,
0:35:31 > 0:35:33their HQ has been in touch.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35The administrator has sent through documents
0:35:35 > 0:35:38about the company name change and administration.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41But as Craig has found paperwork that seems to show
0:35:41 > 0:35:44Alliance Paper & Tissue Ltd still taking orders,
0:35:44 > 0:35:48HQ says the evidence isn't completely convincing.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50The office have told us to crack on.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53It would appear that they changed their name the day that Tom was here
0:35:53 > 0:35:57so in absence of the proof of the goods belonging to the third party,
0:35:57 > 0:36:00our instructions are from the office to carry on
0:36:00 > 0:36:03and start unplugging everything, just to push it that extra further.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06Do you need the computers? Do you need to back them up or anything?
0:36:06 > 0:36:08I've said to the girls.
0:36:10 > 0:36:11You need to do that very quickly,
0:36:11 > 0:36:14because we need to start unplugging them.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17As Tom prepares to take possession of the company's computers,
0:36:17 > 0:36:20Craig has used his detective skills
0:36:20 > 0:36:23to get into one of the big locked warehouses.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26If you look on the keypad you can see which buttons are pretty worn.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30I let myself in and as soon as I got in, yeah, they were a bit upset.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35While arguments continue about who owns it,
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Craig seizes the stock and machinery in the warehouse.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43The problem we've got with these, you know,
0:36:43 > 0:36:44I'm not a paper tissue guy.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46I use plenty of it to be fair, but...
0:36:50 > 0:36:53Over in the office, Tom is seizing the office equipment.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56Interesting day at work, isn't it?
0:37:01 > 0:37:02To keep up the pressure,
0:37:02 > 0:37:05Craig organises the trucks with the office.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10Marc, I've got quite a large-scale removal on,
0:37:10 > 0:37:12if you're available for it.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15With the greatest respect,
0:37:15 > 0:37:17the only way forward is payment at the moment.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19I don't want to stop your business from trading,
0:37:19 > 0:37:21but that's where we're at.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27You're talking at least 50%.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30At least 50%, which is at least £5,000.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33They won't entertain anything less than that.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35Having taken stock of the Sheriffs' position,
0:37:35 > 0:37:39Mr Patel has agreed to find some money, and make a payment.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43Craig discusses terms with the accountant.
0:37:43 > 0:37:465,000 today and he needs to put his proposal in.
0:37:46 > 0:37:47OK.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49Can I just borrow that calculator?
0:37:52 > 0:37:54- THEY CHUCKLE - How much, about five grand?
0:37:55 > 0:37:58One of the employees heads down to the local bank,
0:37:58 > 0:38:02and makes a cash transfer for £5,000.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05- Thank you very much, Mr Patel. - All right, no hard feelings. - Take care.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07No problem. Bye-bye now.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10They've dismantled everything here, now we've got to put it all back.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13We've paid some money out, £5,000,
0:38:13 > 0:38:17which we're going to claim back now and in the meantime,
0:38:17 > 0:38:19they've earned their fee, really.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22We'll resolve these issues behind the scenes
0:38:22 > 0:38:27and I'm sure we'll get it back. And...yeah, we'll just move on.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32The naming of the companies was confusing.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36The original Alliance Paper & Tissue Ltd went into administration.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40Shortly after, another company was given the same name,
0:38:40 > 0:38:44Alliance Paper & Tissue Ltd at the same registered address.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47Exactly which company owns the assets
0:38:47 > 0:38:50and whether it was in administration the day of the Sheriffs' visit
0:38:50 > 0:38:53is due to be dealt with in court at a future hearing.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58Mr Patel told us he thought the Sheriffs had interfered
0:38:58 > 0:39:02with his business unnecessarily, but even he seems to agree
0:39:02 > 0:39:04they did their job well.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08At the end of the day, they always win, that's what I say.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11They're in the business to win, all the time.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13And they've done their job today.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15The gentleman got a bit irate at one point
0:39:15 > 0:39:17when it was going to removal stage.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20But I think it's a good resolution, all round, to be fair.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23Apart from leaving with the gentleman's calculator,
0:39:23 > 0:39:26which I did by accident! So we'll have to try and get that back
0:39:26 > 0:39:27in the post to him.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40The Sheriffs' work isn't all about collecting debts
0:39:40 > 0:39:42from small businesses.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45We're High Court Enforcement Officers.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47Sometimes they're tasked with taking on
0:39:47 > 0:39:49some of the biggest corporate names in the UK.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55And this afternoon, Lawrence and Kev are on just such a case.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00We're on our way to Luton at the moment, to Thomson Airways.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04It's to do with a delayed flight and the total due
0:40:04 > 0:40:07is £1,727.82.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16This passenger's case - and soon to be thousands more like it -
0:40:16 > 0:40:20have come about due to a recent European Court of Justice ruling.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23If your flight is delayed for more than three hours
0:40:23 > 0:40:27without an adequate reason why, you can demand compensation
0:40:27 > 0:40:31from the airline at fault. It's opening the floodgates
0:40:31 > 0:40:34for passengers to get back what they deserve.
0:40:34 > 0:40:39- That's their logo, isn't it? Is it that top one?- I believe so, yeah.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41Thomson is part of the TUI Travel Group,
0:40:41 > 0:40:46which in 2012 made £490 million in operating profit.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Will they be able to rustle up the £1,700 they need
0:40:49 > 0:40:51to pay off this debt?
0:40:51 > 0:40:54Hello there, I'm looking for somebody from Thomson's Airways
0:40:54 > 0:40:56who can deal with a High Court writ.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00Reception goes off to find someone more senior to deal with the issue.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04How will Thomson's big brass react to having two Enforcement Officers
0:41:04 > 0:41:07on site, with a High Court writ in hand?
0:41:07 > 0:41:11Hello there. Oh, you're from legal, are you? I'll show you some ID.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Right, pop in.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18At this point, our cameraman is asked to leave the building.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20The firm's legal team get looking into the case.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25While they do that, Kev gets on with listing goods he can seize
0:41:25 > 0:41:27and remove if necessary to pay off the debt.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30'I'm making an inventory of your goods because
0:41:30 > 0:41:32'we're here to seize goods, so I'm seizing them at the moment.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35'I'll write a list of inventory of all the goods.
0:41:35 > 0:41:39'Yeah, I'm not going to sit down for a minute, thanks.'
0:41:39 > 0:41:42'It's basically flight delays,
0:41:42 > 0:41:46'because a CCJ was issued which still hasn't been paid
0:41:46 > 0:41:51'so he's used his rights to transfer it up to the High Court for enforcement purposes.'
0:41:53 > 0:41:56Kev comes out to fill us in on what's going on inside.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59There's obviously lots and lots of office space in there.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02Hundreds of computers, desks, sofas, tables and such forth.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05Televisions all round the place. We'll take the full inventory
0:42:05 > 0:42:09of the place and they're just sorting out payment at the moment.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Faced with Lawrence and Kev and a High Court writ,
0:42:13 > 0:42:16Thomson agree to pay, there and then, in full.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20Lawrence and Kev emerge with the money in the bank
0:42:20 > 0:42:22and a smile on their faces.
0:42:22 > 0:42:23It was a good outcome in the end.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27We got paid in full on a credit card...as we expected to, really.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31It wasn't a vast amount of money, £1,700.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35A company like Thomson's can easily afford that.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38It's good news for the Sheriffs, but much more importantly,
0:42:38 > 0:42:41for the passenger who brought the claim and who'll finally get
0:42:41 > 0:42:45the money they're owed paid in full and in good time.
0:42:46 > 0:42:47Thomson Airways told us
0:42:47 > 0:42:51they would like to apologise to the customer for the delay in paying
0:42:51 > 0:42:53the compensation awarded.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56They said they operate a fair and thorough process to deal with
0:42:56 > 0:42:59EU delay claims in line with the regulation.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02They said on this occasion, an administration error
0:43:02 > 0:43:04meant that the payment was not processed,
0:43:04 > 0:43:06but that it had now been made.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09They said they'd like to reassure customers that they are committed
0:43:09 > 0:43:13to maintaining on-time performance across their flying programme.