0:00:02 > 0:00:03If you're owed money but aren't getting paid,
0:00:03 > 0:00:05it's time to call the sheriffs.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08My name's Mr Grix. My colleague and I are Enforcement Agents.
0:00:08 > 0:00:09I'm here to issue a High Court writ.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12I've got to do what I'm instructed to by the courts.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15They're Enforcement Agents of the High Court,
0:00:15 > 0:00:17and if a court's ruled in your favour,
0:00:17 > 0:00:19they're on your side.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22If the debtor doesn't want to pay...
0:00:22 > 0:00:25You currently owe £9,461.80.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28..the law says the sheriffs can get you what you're owed.
0:00:28 > 0:00:29If you don't come to the door,
0:00:29 > 0:00:31we have to remove the vehicle off the drive.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34You'll have a week to pay in full before it gets sold at auction.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Whether it's a small company...
0:00:36 > 0:00:37Can I speak to the person in charge, please?
0:00:37 > 0:00:39..or a household name...
0:00:39 > 0:00:40We're here to see somebody from G4S.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44..if they owe you money, the sheriffs get it paid.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46I'm not going anywhere. You get him to come in here.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49We're not going to wait around like that. It needs to be done now.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50I just collected 42 grand.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Coming up, Lawrence and Kev face an unusual barricade
0:00:57 > 0:00:59on an eviction job...
0:00:59 > 0:01:00This will be interesting.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03I think he's probably deadlocked it off, mate.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04..but will they be able to get in
0:01:04 > 0:01:06and reclaim the building for its owners?
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Claire Yew wasn't paid the rent she was due from a lettings agent.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14He owed me about six months' rent.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16That was quite hard for me and my family
0:01:16 > 0:01:19because I still had to pay the mortgage.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22Sheriff Ken Warby has an ultimatum for the manager.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24I'm going to have to insist on half payment,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26or I remove the goods.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29A bathroom supplier who's fallen behind with payments
0:01:29 > 0:01:32is taken by surprise when the sheriffs come to call.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Until you guys turned up today,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36I thought they'd just give me a bit of breathing space
0:01:36 > 0:01:38to try and get some money together.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40He's got cash, but is it enough?
0:01:48 > 0:01:50Sheriff Ken Warby is in East London
0:01:50 > 0:01:54on his way to a lettings agent in Whitechapel.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Our claimant was letting a property through them
0:01:57 > 0:02:01and the debtor has not released the money to our claimant.
0:02:02 > 0:02:07We're going for approximately £8,500 including sheriff fees.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12The lettings agent is called Hometrader Properties.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15They owe money to full-time mum Claire Yew,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17who found herself in dispute with the company
0:02:17 > 0:02:21after deciding to buy a house to rent out.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24I was looking for a house for a buy-to-let investment,
0:02:24 > 0:02:29so I wanted somewhere as close to London as possible.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31She managed to find what she thought would be
0:02:31 > 0:02:34an ideal property in Plaistow -
0:02:34 > 0:02:37not too far from Central London, but still affordable.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39It is actually a three-bed terraced house
0:02:39 > 0:02:41with two receptions and a basement,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44so one reception can be used as a bedroom as well.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49And it's close to all the amenities, the hospital and public transport.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Her offer on the property was accepted
0:02:51 > 0:02:53and the sale went through quickly.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55As there was already a tenant living there,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57the seller made a suggestion.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59The vendor discussed with me and said,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01"Well, they have been good tenants," and he said,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04"Currently, I've got a guaranteed rent contract
0:03:04 > 0:03:09"with the managing agent and they pay me every month no problem,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13"so why don't we just keep the tenant and save all the hassle?"
0:03:13 > 0:03:16The tenancy had been managed by Hometrader Properties,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19and its agent confirmed they'd be willing for Claire
0:03:19 > 0:03:22to keep the existing tenant on the same terms.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25They would get the guaranteed rent of 1,300 every month,
0:03:25 > 0:03:29so it doesn't matter whether the tenants pay or not.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Since they organised everything for me and made it easy for me
0:03:32 > 0:03:34and they told me that we don't have to pay anything,
0:03:34 > 0:03:36I thought, "Well, why not?"
0:03:37 > 0:03:41For the first few months, the rent was paid as promised,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43but then payments began to be delayed,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46with the man at Hometraders saying there were problems
0:03:46 > 0:03:48with tenants' housing benefit.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52He told me that because the tenant is on housing benefits,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55the tenant's rent is actually paid by the council,
0:03:55 > 0:04:01and apparently, the tenant did some part-time job over December
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and she didn't put in some paperwork and, I don't know, some red tape.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06So, anyway, they claimed that
0:04:06 > 0:04:09the council had stopped giving them the rent.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13And despite Claire's contract saying the rent would be guaranteed
0:04:13 > 0:04:16no matter what, payments continued to lag behind.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18It just dragged on and on and on.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22He owed me about 9,000, which is about six months' rent.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25That was quite hard for me and my family because
0:04:25 > 0:04:27I still had to pay the mortgage
0:04:27 > 0:04:29in order not to have the house repossessed.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Claire decided the only way to stop the situation getting worse
0:04:34 > 0:04:36was to get the problem tenant evicted.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40In the meantime, the agents made occasional payments,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42but nowhere near what she was owed.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45He told me, "Don't worry. I'm not going to cheat your money."
0:04:45 > 0:04:46Then the tenant leaves.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49"It'll be sorted out once the tenant leaves, right?"
0:04:49 > 0:04:50So, the tenant left.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53I went to see him and said, "OK, now the tenant has left,
0:04:53 > 0:04:55"can I have my payment, please?"
0:04:55 > 0:04:57And he started to give me more excuses.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00"Just give me two weeks, I promise. Three weeks.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02"We'll give you a payment in three weeks' time."
0:05:02 > 0:05:03So, I tried calling him so many times.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Just to speak to him, I have to call, like, ten times a day
0:05:06 > 0:05:08just to catch him, and then he'll say,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11"Oh, I'll call you back tomorrow. I'll check this out."
0:05:11 > 0:05:12And he never calls me back,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15so that's when I decided to take him to court.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18But while she was going through the court process,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Claire received some surprising news.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25The council called me up to find out why I evicted the tenant
0:05:25 > 0:05:28because the tenant was a bit upset,
0:05:28 > 0:05:33and I told her it's because the agent hasn't paid the rent
0:05:33 > 0:05:35for six months.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39That's when I found out that the council had been paying the rent
0:05:39 > 0:05:43but it's just that, every month, they just deducted a little bit,
0:05:43 > 0:05:44so that's when I found out
0:05:44 > 0:05:47that he actually had the money all this time.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48Claire won her case in court
0:05:48 > 0:05:51after the agents didn't enter a defence.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54The judge ordered them to pay back the money they owed to Claire.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57He still didn't do anything. There was no response from him.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00That's when I decided to escalate the case to the sheriffs
0:06:00 > 0:06:03cos I've seen them on TV and they do really well.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07They are my only hope of recovering the money for me.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18In East London, Ken is on his way to Hometrader Properties
0:06:18 > 0:06:20to get Claire's money back.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24It's a large sum, but will there be enough assets to cover it?
0:06:24 > 0:06:27There can be assets to seize at an estate agents, yeah.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Computers, printers. There's not usually a great deal,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33but there's still usually a bit of office equipment there.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Right, I've found the place - it's there - but there's no parking,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40surprise, surprise. You've got to watch the wardens.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42They come out of the cracks of the pavement and do you.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45I usually have it on me Bromleys pretty quick,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48and get to my car before I get a ticket.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49On your what, Ken?
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Bromley-by-Bows - toes.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Spoken like a true Cockney.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56The next rhyming slang we'll need is the one for "pay up".
0:06:59 > 0:07:01- Knock-knock. Hello.- Hello.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Hi there. Can I speak to the person in charge, please?
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Is that yourself, sir?
0:07:07 > 0:07:11My name's Mr Warby from the Court's Sheriffs Office.
0:07:11 > 0:07:16This is regarding a judgment against Hometrader Properties.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20The man doesn't seem to recognise the details of the case,
0:07:20 > 0:07:21but another staff member does.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Well, we're here as a result of
0:07:28 > 0:07:30a writ of control from the High Court.
0:07:33 > 0:07:34Ken shows his writ,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37but the man says the matter is still in dispute
0:07:37 > 0:07:39and he asks our cameraman to leave.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Inside, the boss tells Ken
0:07:44 > 0:07:46that he is contesting the court's decision
0:07:46 > 0:07:48and so he doesn't want to pay.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50He says the matter is being dealt with
0:07:50 > 0:07:52by his solicitor, Mr Haque,
0:07:52 > 0:07:56and as his office is only next door, he asks Ken to come and see him,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59but they don't get very far.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01After you. After you.
0:08:01 > 0:08:02After you, I insist.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04I'll tell you what, I'm not going anywhere.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08- You get him to come in here. - The boss refused to leave first,
0:08:08 > 0:08:12making Ken suspicious it's a ruse to lock him out of the shop.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15I've changed my mind. I want to see him in here.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Mr Haque does come to the agents.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Our camera is invited back in to record the conversation.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Ken's now had a chance to survey the assets in the office,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28and there's not much, so he offers a deal.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Total stands at 8,496.60.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37What I'm prepared to do today is accept half this payment
0:08:37 > 0:08:42from your client and give 14 days to pay the balance.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05But the courts have issued Ken with a live writ,
0:09:05 > 0:09:08which needs to be paid and no excuses.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11As it stands at the moment, I'm here with this writ of control
0:09:11 > 0:09:13and I'm going to have to insist on half payment.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28I think I'm being more than reasonable.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31The choice is your client either pays half of it
0:09:31 > 0:09:33or I call up a removal van
0:09:33 > 0:09:35and remove the goods on my list.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39You can make a complaint, sir, if that's what you want to do.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43Mr Haque's refusing to back down.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Instead, he wants to make a complaint.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50Ken gets the office on the phone, but it's his turn to speak first.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52- Hello, Jack. It's Ken. - OVER PHONE:- 'Hello.'
0:09:52 > 0:09:57Require a removal van, if possible. It's general office equipment.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01Ken's ramped up the pressure, but Mr Haque's come out fighting.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03OK, this is Jackie.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24Mr Haque wrongly believes that Ken is exceeding his powers.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27The office asks him to put his concerns in writing.
0:10:43 > 0:10:44Thanks.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Mr Haque leaves and our camera is again asked to step outside.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57While the boss mulls over the offer of half payment,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Ken continues to list the assets in the office,
0:11:00 > 0:11:04but in the end, removing them isn't necessary.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Realising that the sheriffs have the law on their side,
0:11:07 > 0:11:09the boss gives in.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12They paid me half after some argument,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14and I've got a controlled goods agreement
0:11:14 > 0:11:17for them to pay the balance within 14 days.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20The job went well. I listed the items in there.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22If they were to go at auction,
0:11:22 > 0:11:25you probably wouldn't get much more than a grand for them anyway.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28And as for their solicitor Mr Haque's objections,
0:11:28 > 0:11:29Ken isn't the least bit worried.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33He seems to think that they should have 14 days
0:11:33 > 0:11:36before they have to pay any money whatsoever.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39I did tell him it was down to my discretion
0:11:39 > 0:11:41and I wanted half payment there and then,
0:11:41 > 0:11:43which is what I got.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Sure enough, Hometrader paid the final balance
0:11:46 > 0:11:49and Claire Yew has got back the money she was owed.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54I'm very happy about this cos I never expected anyone
0:11:54 > 0:11:57to be able to recover the money from him,
0:11:57 > 0:12:01but they managed to do it, so I'm very, very thankful to them.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08The manager of Hometrader Properties says that...
0:12:13 > 0:12:16He says he paid for maintenance work on the property
0:12:16 > 0:12:19for which Ms Yew has never been charged.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21And he says that the lettings agent
0:12:21 > 0:12:23covered the legal costs
0:12:23 > 0:12:27of the eviction totalling £1,280.
0:12:32 > 0:12:33If you've been ripped off
0:12:33 > 0:12:37and the person or company responsible refuses to pay you back,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41the first step is to make a claim in the County Court.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43It's simple to do this online.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45For a small fee, depending on the size of the claim,
0:12:45 > 0:12:49the court will review the evidence, and if it finds in your favour,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51the debtor will be ordered to pay up.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55If they don't, then for a further £66,
0:12:55 > 0:12:57the High Court will grant a writ
0:12:57 > 0:13:00authorising the sheriffs to act on your behalf.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03If they're successful, you get all your money back.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09It's an early start for Lawrence and Kev
0:13:09 > 0:13:12who are on their way to a car garage in Luton.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14The business owner has stopped paying rent,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17so the landlord wants the premises back.
0:13:19 > 0:13:20It's a car body shop
0:13:20 > 0:13:24and the tenant has been evicted twice already, I believe,
0:13:24 > 0:13:27but he keeps breaking back in again and carrying on business,
0:13:27 > 0:13:31so we're going up there today taking possession of the premises
0:13:31 > 0:13:33and then handing it over to the client.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35This job is a writ of possession,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37where the sheriffs are taking back a building
0:13:37 > 0:13:39rather than pursuing a debt,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41but from the information they've been given,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44it sounds like there could be complications.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46We've been advised that the roller shutter
0:13:46 > 0:13:49may be blockaded on the inside by a vehicle.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51And that's not all.
0:13:51 > 0:13:52There's a small gated yard to the front
0:13:52 > 0:13:55where we've been advised there might be a dog.
0:13:56 > 0:13:57Doesn't sound too bad.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- Famous last words. - Yeah, I bet it'd still bite you.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04Maybe.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10When they arrive, it's still early and the garage is shut.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12It becomes immediately obvious
0:14:12 > 0:14:14that they've got a problem on their hands.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19- Oh, so, that's what he's doing. - Oh, now I understand.- Yeah.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21So, that is going to be a bit of a pain.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25We were presuming the car was inside and the door opens outwards,
0:14:25 > 0:14:27but the door opens outwards with a car in front.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31So, we've now got to get the car moved back
0:14:31 > 0:14:33before we can get through the door.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37As the handbrake's on, that's going to be tricky,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40but locksmith Andy Marsh thinks he might be able to help.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Could try and open it through the...the air bag...
0:14:45 > 0:14:47- You've got a puffy bag, have you?- Yeah.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50- And then see if we can pull the door handle, see if that does it.- Yeah.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53If Andy can get in and take the handbrake off,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56it'd be problem solved.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00We use air bags. Don't want to damage the vehicle in any way.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03It's all electric, so you won't be able to wind the windows down,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06so it's pretty much fingers crossed on this one.
0:15:06 > 0:15:07The pressure's on.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11While Andy gets started,
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Lawrence and Kev get their bit of good news -
0:15:14 > 0:15:16- the dog's not here. - The neighbour has advised us
0:15:16 > 0:15:19that if the dog was in there, we'd have heard it by now.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23So, not going to get bitten, as yet. That's always nice to hear.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Meanwhile, Andy's struggling.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30I think he's probably deadlocked it off, mate.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32If the car's been fitted with deadlocks,
0:15:32 > 0:15:34they won't get in without a key.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Some you win, some you lose.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39But one way or another, it'll be moved.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41The only option now might be a tow truck,
0:15:41 > 0:15:45which the landlord has said they would provide if needed.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Lawrence gets on the phone, only to find they've been let down.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51She's just informed me her nephew was looking into it
0:15:51 > 0:15:53and the guy they were going to use is in Poland,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56so he's been trying to find somebody else.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59If the sheriffs had known, they would've brought one themselves.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02- Now it's too late. - This is one of the issues you get.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Occasionally, a client says they're going to arrange a truck,
0:16:06 > 0:16:08so we've left it for them to arrange a truck.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Soon, the landlord herself arrives with her solicitor,
0:16:13 > 0:16:17and it turns out she's pretty pleased to see Lawrence and Kev.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- Hi, Lawrence.- Morning.- Are you OK?
0:16:20 > 0:16:22- Hiya, Kev.- Hi there. How you doing?
0:16:22 > 0:16:23Hello. All right? How's it going?
0:16:23 > 0:16:24Big fan of you guys.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26I didn't think I'd actually meet you in my life...
0:16:26 > 0:16:29- Thank you. - ..but it happens to me, yeah.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31While the family starts calling around for a tow truck,
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Kev's looking at other options.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36- Hello, mate.- Hiya.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38You haven't got any skates, have you?
0:16:38 > 0:16:39- Skates? No, man.- Not got any?
0:16:39 > 0:16:42- Has anyone around here got any, do you think?- Yeah.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Skates are rollers which can be used to move a stationary car,
0:16:45 > 0:16:48and the search is on to see if they can borrow some.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Meanwhile, back on the forecourt,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53the landlords haven't given up on the car
0:16:53 > 0:16:55and are taking matters into their own hands.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58What are we towing it with now?
0:17:01 > 0:17:02It's going to be dragged.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05This will be interesting.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- Safety footwear. - LAUGHTER
0:17:12 > 0:17:16And it's not just the funky footwear troubling Lawrence.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19My concern is that silly little strap thing
0:17:19 > 0:17:21that you can buy out of a petrol station.
0:17:21 > 0:17:28It is no way rated to tow something that's in gear with the brakes on.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32- If that hook goes... - Could well ping.- Yeah, so...
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Don't stand too close to that.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40It's not quite the set-up Lawrence and Kev are used to.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Not ideal, to say the least, but...
0:17:43 > 0:17:45It's not ideal in the slightest.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Cable is not rated to pull that at all.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53But will it work? CREAKING
0:17:53 > 0:17:56The strain sounds wrong getting further back.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58- CLATTERING - There you go.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01This is so ghetto, isn't it? This is...
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Later, we find out whether the sheriffs
0:18:06 > 0:18:08can get into the garage.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10MOTOR REVS
0:18:10 > 0:18:13A petrol grinder pretty much goes through everything and anything.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31In the North East, Sheriff Chris Pearson
0:18:31 > 0:18:34is on his way to a very different kind of job.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37He's going to see a seller of upmarket bathrooms
0:18:37 > 0:18:39who's got a debt to pay.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43We're off to Stockton-on-Tees to see a company called Envy Homes.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Envy Homes owes £2,286
0:18:46 > 0:18:48after falling behind
0:18:48 > 0:18:50with payments to a supplier -
0:18:50 > 0:18:51City Distribution Limited.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53The company was taken to court.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57It didn't defend the case and judgment was found against it.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Chris has been told it's a small, one-man company,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02and on arrival, is pleasantly surprised.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04Envy Homes.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Ah, looks more than a one-man band to me.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09If it's a company, they normally have assets
0:19:09 > 0:19:11and it's normally straightforward.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Fingers crossed that's how it's going to be here.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19It's a large showroom full of stock.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23But despite it being the middle of the day,
0:19:23 > 0:19:25there doesn't seem to be anyone in.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31Just as he's trying to reach the debtor by phone,
0:19:31 > 0:19:35- a man arrives.- How are you doing? Is this your premises, sir?
0:19:35 > 0:19:36- It is, yes.- Yeah, all right.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40I've got a High Court writ to do with City Distribution Limited.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44You've got a balance at the minute of £2,285.61.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46I haven't got all that sort of money at the moment,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49but I daresay I could have, like, half of it within a couple of days.
0:19:49 > 0:19:50Yeah, you need to get it right now.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52We're actually here to take control of your goods.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56- I'll see what I can do.- No problem, I'll hang fire. No problem.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59The man goes inside to see if he can raise the money,
0:19:59 > 0:20:03and for the time being at least, Chris is happy to wait.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05We'll give him time to make a few phone calls.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08I'm sure the threat of us going in there
0:20:08 > 0:20:11and taking his stock, I think that's going to be more than enough
0:20:11 > 0:20:13to get him to get the funds for us.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17And while the boss does what he has to do,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19Chris is doing a bit of window-shopping.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22I like that mirror. See the mirror? I know it's just a standard mirror,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25but the effect of it's nice, isn't it?
0:20:25 > 0:20:28The boss has called some friends to try to borrow the money,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31and while he waits to hear back, tells Chris what's gone on.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33I always paid them.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35I had problems before, but I always cleared my debts OK.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37- But just this year, it's just killed it.- Right.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40It's just dead and so I couldn't pay the first month.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Then the second month hit and I just said,
0:20:42 > 0:20:44"Look, I'm sorry, I'm still struggling."
0:20:44 > 0:20:47I just assumed they'd realise business would be bad
0:20:47 > 0:20:48and they would just take it easy.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52I didn't expect you guys to turn up, put it that way.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54But the County judgment was issued against the business
0:20:54 > 0:20:58more than two months ago and it should have been settled.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Now faced with a demand for immediate payment,
0:21:01 > 0:21:03it's not clear whether he's going to be able
0:21:03 > 0:21:04to get the money together.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07I don't know who he's phoning, what's happening, to be honest.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10If he can't get the money, there's plenty of assets for us to take,
0:21:10 > 0:21:11so we're fine there.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13I can give him as long as he needs, really.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15He seems a genuine guy, he's trying to sort things out,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17so try and give him a bit of extra time.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Time to check out the bathtubs.
0:21:23 > 0:21:24Very nice.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28I don't think I can afford these prices, though.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Bit expensive in here.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33We're more B&Q type people, to be honest.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Meanwhile...
0:21:39 > 0:21:41..the boss has called in a couple of favours
0:21:41 > 0:21:44and some friends have dropped by with the cash.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47It looks like Chris is home and dry,
0:21:47 > 0:21:51but when he counts the money, there seems to be a problem.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54- How much did you say was there? - It should be exactly...
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Well, the exact amount. Is it off, is it?
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Absolutely. It's quite a way off.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02You're 520 short, by the looks of it.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05The man had told Chris it was the right amount to the penny,
0:22:05 > 0:22:09yet more than £500 seems to be missing.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11- Could you give me five minutes? - Yeah, yeah.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13I'll see what I can sort out cos I don't know why...
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Just when it looked like the job was in the bag,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18everything's been thrown into doubt.
0:22:18 > 0:22:19If the man doesn't have the cash,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23then Chris might have to take goods after all.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26But luckily, it turns out to be a simple mistake.
0:22:26 > 0:22:27Right, located, mate.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29There was some in the back of the drawer.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33Check it over, but it's definitely right now.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34Yeah, that's right there.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37- Well done, mate. Brilliant. Thank you.- OK.- Thanks for your help.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Cheers. Appreciate that.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42At the end of the day, I wasn't planning on going anywhere.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44As you can see, my showroom's still here,
0:22:44 > 0:22:47but the company decided to basically go forward
0:22:47 > 0:22:50and put a County Court Judgment against the company
0:22:50 > 0:22:52to get the money back.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54But, as I said, you can only pay it if you've got it.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Until you guys turned up today,
0:22:56 > 0:22:58I thought they'd just given me a bit of a breathing space
0:22:58 > 0:23:00to try and get some money together.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03The man's supplier has finally got the money they were owed,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06and Chris is just glad to see the matter resolved
0:23:06 > 0:23:08in the best way possible.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11He's a genuine guy, pretty nice guy,
0:23:11 > 0:23:13so I'm happy for him that he got the money together,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16rather than having to tip him out, take all the gear.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32Lawrence and Kev are in Luton trying to reclaim a garage for its owner
0:23:32 > 0:23:34after the tenant stopped paying rent.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36But a car's blocking the door
0:23:36 > 0:23:39and a tow truck, which was promised, hasn't arrived,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43so now the landlords are trying to move the car themselves,
0:23:43 > 0:23:45much to Lawrence and Kev's disapproval.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47- Could well ping.- Yes.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49Their first attempt failed.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51CREAKING AND CLATTERING
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Now it's take two.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- CREAKING - Knot's going to go.
0:23:57 > 0:23:58Not rated to pull that at all.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04This time, it works.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06- That'll do you.- That'll do.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Yeah, remarkably enough,
0:24:09 > 0:24:14the double knot on the little garage towrope did the job.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Now it's just a matter of getting through the door.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20MOTOR REVS
0:24:20 > 0:24:23A petrol grinder pretty much goes through everything and anything.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25Diamond-tip blade on it.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Andy gets to work.
0:24:42 > 0:24:43He's through the hinges.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48And a crowbar finishes the job.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50That was it, was it?
0:24:50 > 0:24:52- There we go.- No problem.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Inside, the garage has been left in a bit of a mess,
0:24:58 > 0:25:00and you need to watch your step,
0:25:00 > 0:25:05but much to the landlord's relief, there's no sign of any major damage
0:25:05 > 0:25:07and the equipment they own is still there.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10- Just a case of making it secure, then, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17While work starts on the doors, Lawrence takes a look around.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21The tenant owes rent, and so, along with the writ to evict him,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24they've got another one to take control of goods,
0:25:24 > 0:25:26but there's nothing here of value.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Certainly no sign of the supercars advertised outside.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31Works on some nice cars -
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Ferraris, Aston Martins, Lamborghinis, Porsches.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37Can't see many people rushing to bring their Lamborghini here,
0:25:37 > 0:25:39to be honest, but...hey-ho.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43The only things of interest are some dirt bikes,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46but it's not clear who they belong to.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48They haven't got number plates on them,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51so there's no real way of ascertaining ownership.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53Doubt they're street-legal, to be honest.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Another obstacle to enforcing the writ of control
0:25:56 > 0:25:59is that they have to serve the former tenant notice.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02I brought a notice of enforcement with me today
0:26:02 > 0:26:03in case he'd been here.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06If he'd turned up, I could've served him with the notice,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09but he hasn't, so we've now got to have an alternative address
0:26:09 > 0:26:11cos obviously this is no longer his address.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Hopefully, he won't be able to get back in here.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20So, for now, all that's left to do is seal the property up,
0:26:20 > 0:26:24and this time, the landlord's solicitor wants it done properly.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29We used commercial bailiffs initially.
0:26:29 > 0:26:30We got possession of the premises
0:26:30 > 0:26:34and the occupier broke back in the next day,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37so we then got a County Court bailiff to come round
0:26:37 > 0:26:42and again, the occupier broke back in the next day,
0:26:42 > 0:26:44which is why the sheriffs are here.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48And they're not going to make the same mistake.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Check out the fire exit.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Apparently, this is how he got in last time.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Yeah, he's nailed it all up.
0:26:55 > 0:27:00He seems to have screwed it up quite securely since he got back in,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02but I still see this as the weak point.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06So, we're just making extra sure...
0:27:08 > 0:27:09..that it's secured.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13And then it's time to head off,
0:27:13 > 0:27:17though not before enjoying a bit more attention from their fans.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20- She's been banging on about you guys for ages.- Oh, stop it!
0:27:20 > 0:27:21It's all coming out now.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24"The sheriffs are coming! The sheriffs are coming!"
0:27:24 > 0:27:26I hope she doesn't tell you everything what I say.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30- Oh, really? Sounds interesting. - You'll start blushing again.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35- Might do.- Yes. - SHE LAUGHS
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Quite nice to not be getting abused.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40It makes a change. But no, no, it's nice.
0:27:41 > 0:27:42Job done.
0:27:45 > 0:27:46Off for breakfast.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51- There you go. There's your keys. - Cheers, then.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53- See you later. - Very nice to meet you, guys.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56- Thank you. - Yeah, thank you very much.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00The premises is safely back in the hands of its relieved owners,
0:28:00 > 0:28:02and with another successful job in the bag,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04the sheriffs are on their way.