0:00:02 > 0:00:04If you're owed money but aren't getting paid,
0:00:04 > 0:00:05it's time to call the sheriffs.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07My name's Mr Grix. My colleague and I are enforcement agents.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09I'm here to issue a High Court writ.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11I've got to do what I'm instructed to by the court.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14They're enforcement agents of the High Court.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18And if a court's ruled in your favour, they're on your side.
0:00:20 > 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'll have to remove the vehicle off the drive.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34You're allowed 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 be waiting around like that. It needs to be done now.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50Just collected 42 grand.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Coming up...
0:00:57 > 0:00:58The sheriffs eye up a luxury car
0:00:58 > 0:01:01belonging to the boss of a failed care home.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Well, that's Mr Cooppen's Bentley, isn't it?
0:01:03 > 0:01:06It's secured with a clamp, and we'll be calling a recovery truck.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Can the debtor raise the money in time?
0:01:08 > 0:01:10It needs to be paid in full, sir.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12I'm going to hand you back to your daughter now
0:01:12 > 0:01:13because I'm wasting me breath.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16John Clark's possessions went missing in a house move.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20My wife would've been devastated to find they were gone.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Stuff that's been in the family
0:01:22 > 0:01:24for 100 years or more you can't replace.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29Can Ken get the removals company to pay him the compensation he's owed?
0:01:31 > 0:01:36We're shown the door and a lot more besides at a used-car dealers,
0:01:36 > 0:01:38but will the boss settle his debt?
0:01:38 > 0:01:40He's not going to pay until he gets that vehicle back.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43I've told him, "I'm not here to give you your vehicle back."
0:01:45 > 0:01:49It's before dawn and enforcement agents Lawrence Grix
0:01:49 > 0:01:52and Kev McNally are on their way out of London.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56It's just after six in the morning. We are heading towards Surrey.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00They're looking for a Mr and Mrs Cooppen, the owners of two
0:02:00 > 0:02:04care homes which were forced to shut down due to poor quality of care.
0:02:04 > 0:02:11They owe £7,564 for unpaid wages to a former employee
0:02:11 > 0:02:13in the wake of the closures.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17The Cooppens didn't defend the case in court but nor have they paid up.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Where we are going to is actually quite a nice...nice, big house.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25I'm led to believe it's in a gated community as well.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28So, we're hoping the gates are either open or we'll get in
0:02:28 > 0:02:30some other...some other method.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33It could just mean waiting for somebody to come in or out
0:02:33 > 0:02:35and then tailgating.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39As well as a plush house, it's thought the Cooppens may also own
0:02:39 > 0:02:43a plush car - a Bentley Continental spotted on their driveway.
0:02:45 > 0:02:46Looking for £7,500 here.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49A Bentley Continental should be enough to cover that,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51so we need to establish who owns that first.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56It's still pitch-black when the pair arrive.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59And the gated community is looking, well, gated.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03So they don't have a security guard here.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10With most people still in bed and the roads deserted, it could be
0:03:10 > 0:03:14a long wait before a passer-by can let them in, unless...
0:03:14 > 0:03:16It's not going to be as simple as walking round
0:03:16 > 0:03:18and pressing the button, is it?
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Oh, my God, it is.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23- What sort of security is that? - HE LAUGHS
0:03:23 > 0:03:27The gated community has turned out to just be a private road.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30Getting in is pretty straightforward.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32And there's more good news too.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Bentley's there.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Lawrence wastes no time in getting stuck in.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42- It's going to be a little clamp on that one.- Yeah.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45With a light on in the house, it looks like someone's home.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Kev has to try to get the clamp on as quietly as possible
0:03:49 > 0:03:50without alerting them.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53- WHISPERS:- These tyres are massive for this clamp.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Is it going around?
0:03:59 > 0:04:03If it's not going all the way round, just stick it through the spokes.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Once it's on, Lawrence issues the wake-up call.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11A woman answers the door.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Morning. I'm looking for a Mr or Mrs Cooppen.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16They don't live here?
0:04:17 > 0:04:19But you do know them, yeah?
0:04:21 > 0:04:25- My name is Mr Grix. My colleague and I are enforcement agents.- OK.
0:04:25 > 0:04:30The woman shows ID which confirms she isn't Mrs Cooppen
0:04:30 > 0:04:33and orders our camera off the property.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36She's also being very vague about exactly who she is.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Right, so how did you know the Cooppens?
0:04:41 > 0:04:43The woman will only say that she lives in the house,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46so her relationship to the debtors is unclear.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49But with the Cooppens apparently out of the country,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52the only thing Lawrence really needs to know
0:04:52 > 0:04:55is whether they have left any assets behind.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57That is Mr Cooppen's Bentley, isn't it?
0:04:57 > 0:04:59It's in your name, is that right?
0:04:59 > 0:05:02- Yes.- It doesn't matter whose name it's in, it's who owns it.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05But the woman says it's hers.
0:05:05 > 0:05:06So, have you got proof of that?
0:05:06 > 0:05:08At the moment, it's secured with a clamp
0:05:08 > 0:05:11and we're going to be calling a recovery truck.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13The woman produces some paperwork
0:05:13 > 0:05:16which she says will prove she owns the car,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20except all it really shows is that it's been registered in her name
0:05:20 > 0:05:21in the last few weeks.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Nevertheless, the woman's sticking to her story
0:05:24 > 0:05:27and has gone to dig out some more documents.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Meanwhile, Kev has spotted someone else at home.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34There's a guy wandering around upstairs at the moment.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35We haven't found out who he is yet.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38They're not in the country at the moment, who we're after,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41but they definitely live here when they come back, I would imagine.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45The mystery woman is now on the phone to the police.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50And Lawrence is also making a call.
0:05:51 > 0:05:57Hello. I need a Bentley Continental GT picking up.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Lawrence is convinced the Bentley's owned by Mr Cooppen.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03As it would sell for more than enough to pay back the care home
0:06:03 > 0:06:05worker's missing wages,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08he's ordered a recovery truck to take it away.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10The Bentley is going.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Later on, we find out what happens
0:06:15 > 0:06:19when Lawrence gets a call from Mr Cooppen.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23No, it's got to be all of it, sir. The car is going then, sir.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26And there's a clue to the woman's identity.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28You gave the game away there having "mum" on your phone.
0:06:37 > 0:06:38If you've been ripped off,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41and the person or company responsible refuses to pay
0:06:41 > 0:06:45you back, the first step is to make a claim in the County Court.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47It's simple to do this online.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50For a small fee, depending on the size of the claim,
0:06:50 > 0:06:52the court will review the evidence.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56And if it finds in your favour, the debtor will be ordered to pay up.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00If they don't, then for a further £60, the High Court will grant
0:07:00 > 0:07:04a writ, authorising the sheriffs to act on your behalf.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08If they're successful, you get all your money back.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Sheriff Ken Warby
0:07:12 > 0:07:15is also heading out of the capital into the commuter belt.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20It's a long drive, so he's brought some company.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24Oh, this is my travel buddy, yeah. He usually helps with directions.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28He's a Hungarian Vizsla. His name is Gunner.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31And he's a year old.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35With his cushion, his doggie seatbelt
0:07:35 > 0:07:39and regular toilet breaks, Gunner is more demanding than your average
0:07:39 > 0:07:43passenger, but at least he's no back-seat driver.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Today, he's joining Ken in Buckinghamshire,
0:07:45 > 0:07:50looking for a debt owed by the boss of a removals firm.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55The debtor in this case is a Mr Colin Jones.
0:07:55 > 0:08:01He has been taken to court by an individual for lost items.
0:08:01 > 0:08:07The debt is totalling, after our fees, £6,200-odd.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13The case against Mr Jones was brought by John Clark,
0:08:13 > 0:08:17and it resulted from a house move which took place under already
0:08:17 > 0:08:21difficult circumstances, after John's wife had fallen ill.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24We were married in 1965.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27We've got one daughter.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Got to be five years ago now,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33we realised something was wrong with her,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36because she started forgetting...various bits.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41And then everything sort of went downhill from there on.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47It wasn't long before John's wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51Now she doesn't know me, she doesn't speak, she doesn't...
0:08:52 > 0:08:58..doesn't know anybody. To see her as she is now, it's a bit hard.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04The illness means she needs full-time care
0:09:04 > 0:09:07and has had to move into specialist accommodation.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10At first, John remained in the family home.
0:09:10 > 0:09:11But, as the months went on,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13he realised it would be best to sell up.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19She was taken away in the January of '13.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21That was the point I thought,
0:09:21 > 0:09:24"Well, what's the point in staying here?" You know?
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Big house like that, all the memories, all the parties
0:09:27 > 0:09:28and that that we'd had there.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33So, I decided to move back here, to Haddenham, where I was born.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37John enlisted the help of a local removal
0:09:37 > 0:09:40and storage business run by Colin Jones.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43But, on the day he was supposed to be moving,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45he suffered an unfortunate accident.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47I fell down the stairs,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50landed on half of the boxes that I'd packed, ready to move.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53And that's how I ended up in Stoke Mandeville hospital
0:09:53 > 0:09:55when I was supposed to be moving.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00And so my stuff was moved from my house into storage.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04And, then, after I came out of hospital and moved here,
0:10:04 > 0:10:05it was brought here.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09And, after a few days, we began to realise that stuff was missing.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14And they weren't just small items.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Microwave, kitchen table and four chairs...
0:10:18 > 0:10:21A hostess trolley, that went missing.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24All in all, there were more than 20 missing objects,
0:10:24 > 0:10:28including some antique ivory animals with sentimental value.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32They had been in my wife's family well over 100 years.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36I mean, my wife would've been devastated to find they were gone.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39A table and that sort of thing you can replace.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43But stuff that's been in the family for 100 years or more
0:10:43 > 0:10:45you can't replace.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48John assumed they must have been left in the removal firm's
0:10:48 > 0:10:52storage units, so he called them up to find out what had happened.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56I said the stuff was missing and, "OK, we'll look for it."
0:10:56 > 0:10:59I've been up to their depot two or three times.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03"Yeah, we're still looking for it," but it never did come to light.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08As hope of the items turning up faded, John instead made a claim
0:11:08 > 0:11:13for compensation from Mr Jones' insurers for £4,500.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17But it was rejected, with the reason coming as a total surprise.
0:11:17 > 0:11:24According to the insurance company, I'd given Colin Jones
0:11:24 > 0:11:27permission to take some of my stuff to a charity shop.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Come on, I'm not going to pay somebody to store stuff
0:11:31 > 0:11:33and then give it to charity, am I?
0:11:33 > 0:11:36So, now, instead of the items being lost in storage,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39he was being told they were given away.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41But he wasn't about to give up altogether.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Why should these people get away with it?
0:11:43 > 0:11:47I mean, I just thought, "Well, no, listen, it's not on."
0:11:47 > 0:11:51I got straight on to the solicitors and we took it to court.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56John won his case by default after Mr Jones didn't enter a defence,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00but he still hasn't been paid and has now turned to the sheriffs.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Yeah, I've seen the programmes on telly.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06They always seem to get the job sorted, so that's what I done.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Ken and Gunner are on their way to see Mr Jones.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18And, following the details Ken's been given,
0:12:18 > 0:12:21it looks like this is going to be a house call.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23It looks like this is a private address.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Yep, it's a private address.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Ken parks up and heads for the door. But is Mr Jones home?
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- Hiya.- Hello. I need to speak to Colin Jones.
0:12:41 > 0:12:42Will he be here this evening?
0:12:44 > 0:12:49I'm actually from the court, but I can only really speak to Mr Jones
0:12:49 > 0:12:51regarding this case.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Is it at all possible you can get him on the phone for me?
0:12:54 > 0:12:55- Can I speak to him?- Yeah.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59Luckily, Mr Jones' wife is able to reach him right away.
0:13:04 > 0:13:05Mr Jones is in the doghouse.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09But, on the plus side, he's working just down the road.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12Right, as soon as you can. Bye.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Thank you very much.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18And, sure enough, Mr Jones soon shows up.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Hello, Mr Jones? Sorry to ambush you like this, sir.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22My name is Mr Warby.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Ken follows Mr Jones into the house,
0:13:26 > 0:13:28but our camera's not allowed in.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Inside, he explains that he's here to take control of Mr Jones' goods
0:13:32 > 0:13:36to cover the more than £6,200 he owes.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Unless, of course, he pays up.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43And, as Ken comes out to get his card payment machine,
0:13:43 > 0:13:45it looks like he might.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Hopefully, he's going to make a payment of £2,000,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51with the balance to be paid within 28 days.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57It doesn't turn out to be quite that simple.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00- Bye then.- Take care. Bye, guys.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03But, nevertheless, Ken is soon on his way.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06He tried to pay on the card, the card didn't work.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10And he's got his partner to do a bank transfer.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13He's getting his partner to do a bank transfer this evening.
0:14:13 > 0:14:14In the meantime,
0:14:14 > 0:14:19I've taken inventory of the personal items in the house.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22And, although Ken is leaving without full payment,
0:14:22 > 0:14:23he's happy enough with the outcome.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27There's not many assets there and we're getting £2,000 today
0:14:27 > 0:14:28and the balance within 28 days.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32That's quite a good result.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Mr Jones later settled the balance in full.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40And John Clark has got compensation for his missing possessions.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44I got an e-mail from my solicitor telling me that the sheriffs
0:14:44 > 0:14:48had got payment in full. Which is great news. I can...
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Maybe I can put this all behind me now.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07In Surrey, Lawrence and Kev are pursuing unpaid wages of more
0:15:07 > 0:15:11than £7,500 owed to a care-home worker.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13The debtors are the Cooppens,
0:15:13 > 0:15:17a couple that ran two care homes which have now been shut down.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21A woman staying at their house says the Cooppens now live abroad
0:15:21 > 0:15:24and claims she owns the Bentley on their driveway.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Lawrence believes it's owned by Mr Cooppen
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and has called a tow truck to take it away.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Only now there's a delay.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Blimey. Okey dokey.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37A long delay.
0:15:37 > 0:15:3890 minutes.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Kev parks the van in the entrance.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43And, while they wait,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Lawrence reads up about the closure of the care homes.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49"On Tuesday, the 25th, residents were evacuated
0:15:49 > 0:15:51"in their night clothes from Merok Park.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53"Inspectors were so shocked by the squalid conditions
0:15:53 > 0:15:55"that they ordered it to be closed immediately
0:15:55 > 0:15:58"and the pensioners ferried by ambulance to other homes.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01"Residents' families describe Merok Park as a pigsty.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04"Last night, they called for police investigation and demanded to know
0:16:04 > 0:16:09"why the Cooppens had been able to charge so much for such poor care."
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Mr and Mrs Cooppen were never prosecuted over the scandal
0:16:12 > 0:16:16and, it seems, have now left the country with unpaid debts.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18The sheriffs are here to collect.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21But they are now joined by other enforcement professionals
0:16:21 > 0:16:23called here by the house's occupant.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Basically, we're looking for a couple named Mr and Mrs Cooppen.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Apparently, they're not here, they're out of the country.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31So, we're basically taking the Bentley to clear the debt.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34The lady in there said, "Oh, it's mine." We've asked her for proof of
0:16:34 > 0:16:37ownership, she's gone back in and hasn't come back out.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39- If you want to wait here, we'll make contact...- OK.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41..with her and see what she says.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46The police go inside to speak to the woman.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49But because Lawrence and Kev are there by order of the court,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52the police shouldn't prevent them from doing their job.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54We've advised her there's nothing we can do
0:16:54 > 0:16:56- about the seizure of the vehicle. - Cos that's registered.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Any issues, give us a call.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02- And, sure enough, they're on their way.- Thanks very much.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04- Have a good day. - Thanks, guys. Thank you.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Soon, the woman makes another appearance.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12This time, she's got the debtor, Mr Cooppen, on the phone.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15He also claims the Bentley belongs to her.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20To which lady? This lady with the provisional license?
0:17:21 > 0:17:25It has nothing to do with council tax, this is a High Court writ.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29A writ which it doesn't sound like Mr Cooppen is about to pay in full.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Right, well, the car's going then, sir.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35No, it's got to be all of it, sir.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40And with the extra costs of enforcement, the bill is rising.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44You currently owe £9,461.80.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Mr Cooppen wants to make a smaller payment,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51but Lawrence is in no mood to strike a deal.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54No, sir. The car is going, then it will be sold
0:17:54 > 0:17:58and you'll be paid any balance out of that.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00No, it needs to be all of it.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04It's the sheriffs' job to recover as much of the debt as possible.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07And with a car worth about £30,000 sitting in front of them,
0:18:07 > 0:18:11they're not going to accept any stalling.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Right, well, the car will be going, sir.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17You'll have about a week to pay in full to get the car back
0:18:17 > 0:18:18before it gets sold at auction.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20No, it needs to be paid in full, sir.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23I'm going to hand you back to your daughter now,
0:18:23 > 0:18:24because I'm wasting me breath.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27There you go. You gave the game away there having "mum" on your phone.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32The debtor came up on the woman's phone as "mum",
0:18:32 > 0:18:35so she is in fact the Cooppen's daughter.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38And Lawrence is now more certain than ever the Bentley belongs
0:18:38 > 0:18:40to her dad.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43The owner of the vehicle is the person who actually buys it.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45It doesn't matter what it says on the log book.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47So he's the owner.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52All they can do now is wait for the tow truck,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55which finally arrives four hours after it was called.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Right, it's this Bentley here.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01I'll move my van out of the way there, mate.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03The guys swing into action.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05After all the waiting around,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07finally, the end of the job is in sight.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10It should only take a couple of minutes to get it up there.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14He'll just do his checks to make sure it's all nice and clean,
0:19:14 > 0:19:15get it up and we'll be gone.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20There's been no sign of the woman or the man inside the house
0:19:20 > 0:19:21for hours now.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24And even as the team prepare to lift the Bentley off the drive,
0:19:24 > 0:19:28they are staying firmly out of sight.
0:19:28 > 0:19:29The car is hoisted up,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32checked for any damage...
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Scratch there, and there's one along this side as well.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37..and then it's job done.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Lovely. Cheers, mate.
0:19:40 > 0:19:45The Cooppens will now have a week to pay nearly £9,900 to cover
0:19:45 > 0:19:50the original debt plus costs, or else the Bentley will be sold.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54For Lawrence and Kev, it's been a long morning.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56It's one of those things, it took him four hours
0:19:56 > 0:19:59cos he got stuck on the M25. It's nobody's fault.
0:19:59 > 0:20:04And Gannet, who's been desperate for food now for three hours 55,
0:20:04 > 0:20:07has now wandered off on the phone and he's not in the van,
0:20:07 > 0:20:09like, itching to get to some food.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11Food? Hell, yeah!
0:20:14 > 0:20:18Four days later, the Cooppens paid in full.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Their former employee received their missing wages
0:20:21 > 0:20:23and the Bentley was returned.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Many of the sheriffs' cases arise from the sale of second-hand cars.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41And just outside Stockport, Sheriff Alan Pennington
0:20:41 > 0:20:43is about to enforce
0:20:43 > 0:20:48a typical case against a company called Cheadle Car Sales Ltd.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51The premises we're going to is on a retail estate.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56I'm not really sure who I'm going to meet and what assets they've got.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Cheadle Car Sales was taken to the County Court by a customer
0:21:00 > 0:21:03who'd bought a car they weren't happy with.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06They won the case and the company was ordered to give them a refund
0:21:06 > 0:21:07plus costs.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Eight weeks later, it still hasn't.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13So, now, with a High Court writ in his hand,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Alan is going to try to get the customer's money back.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18We'll be there shortly, anyway.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21And hopefully, we can meet up with someone from the premises
0:21:21 > 0:21:24and try and get this case resolved for the claimant.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Cheadle Car Sales, there we are.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31- Hello, fellas.- Hey.- Hello.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34I'm an enforcement agent, I'm here to issue a High Court writ.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Is there anyone I can speak to?
0:21:37 > 0:21:39- Is that camera on?- Yeah.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43At the sight of Alan and our camera,
0:21:43 > 0:21:46the boss of Cheadle Car Sales, Mr Cawley, makes an appearance.
0:21:46 > 0:21:47Yeah, what's it about?
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Can I come in and have a chat with you in the office?
0:21:50 > 0:21:51Yeah, without the camera.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Our camera's asked to leave.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00And while Alan talks to Mr Cawley in his office,
0:22:00 > 0:22:04the staff of Cheadle Car Sales start to show us a bit of cheek.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09In fact, a lot of it.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Inside the garage, the boss is refusing to pay,
0:22:14 > 0:22:18unless, that is, a certain condition is met,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21as Alan explains to his office.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Basically, he wants to know what vehicle it is,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28and he's not going to pay until he gets that vehicle back.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30I've told him, "I'm not here to give you your vehicle back,
0:22:30 > 0:22:34"I'm here to issue you a High Court writ."
0:22:34 > 0:22:35Anticipating a standoff,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Alan tells the office he might need some backup.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40There's about eight of them here.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42And unless the police arrive...
0:22:42 > 0:22:46I don't really want to get involved unless the police are here.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49OK. Thanks a lot. Bye-bye. All right, cheers.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52And, while the boss leaves to run an errand,
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Alan mulls over his options.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57He's only going to pay if the car is returned.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59He's going to come back
0:22:59 > 0:23:03and then we'll go through the process of either having to call
0:23:03 > 0:23:07the police to assist me and a low-loader
0:23:07 > 0:23:09to take the vehicles away.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14So, we'll find out in the next ten or 15 minutes,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16when the gentleman comes back.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21But when Mr Cawley returns, he hasn't changed his stance.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25He now says he offered to fix the customer's car
0:23:25 > 0:23:26when it first went wrong.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29He still wants the vehicle returned as a point of principle
0:23:29 > 0:23:31before he'll pay a penny.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34As this isn't covered by the court order,
0:23:34 > 0:23:36he's got no right to demand this.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40But as it could be a way of avoiding an ugly showdown,
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Alan thinks it's worth a shot and gets the claimant on the phone.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48He's happy to pay out the full amount of money on the claim
0:23:48 > 0:23:51if the car comes back.
0:23:51 > 0:23:52What do you think?
0:23:52 > 0:23:56The claimant says the car is undrivable and won't return it.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59But, as it's currently abandoned on their driveway,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02they are willing for it to be picked up at the garage's expense.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06All right. No problem. Thanks. Bye-bye.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Alan heads in to tell Mr Cawley that's the best he can do.
0:24:11 > 0:24:12All right.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17He'll either have to pay his debt and collect the claimant's vehicle
0:24:17 > 0:24:21himself or else lose another car from his forecourt.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23It has the desired effect.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25Mr Cawley agrees to the deal.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28But, yet again, there's a catch.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31His partner is in hospital
0:24:31 > 0:24:33and she has the bank details
0:24:33 > 0:24:36and apparently runs the admin side of the business.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42So he can't pay today and is asking Alan to come back tomorrow.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45It sounds like another excuse.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48But, given the situation, Alan thinks on this occasion it is
0:24:48 > 0:24:51worth giving him the benefit of the doubt.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54The gentleman is happy to pay.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57I didn't see the point of any further confrontation.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00So we've agreed to meet.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04And, if that's the case tomorrow, then all will be well
0:25:04 > 0:25:06and done and the case will be closed.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Leaving without payment today might look like another bum deal
0:25:10 > 0:25:13from the garage, but Alan's pragmatism pays off.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17The following morning, Mr Cawley settled in full as promised.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19The car was picked up from the customer
0:25:19 > 0:25:21and they got their money back.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30In Hertfordshire, Ken Warby is on his way to execute
0:25:30 > 0:25:33a writ at a company called Novo Cucine.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36I believe they fit kitchens.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40And I believe the claimant on this one
0:25:40 > 0:25:44is just a disgruntled customer.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48A debt of just over £2,500.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Novo Cucine were taken to court by a Mr Michael Quane,
0:25:51 > 0:25:55who won his case by default after the company offered no defence.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59This type of case is bread-and-butter stuff
0:25:59 > 0:26:03for the sheriffs. Ken's visited many a kitchen fitter in his time.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Occasionally, you'll get cookers, fridges, freezers,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10that sort of thing. Sometimes they can be really posh,
0:26:10 > 0:26:12other times a bit crummy.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Ken arrives to find a large, modern building.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18When he goes in, it's exactly what he hoped for -
0:26:18 > 0:26:21a big showroom with plenty of assets.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25Staff, on the other hand, are harder to track down.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27HE KNOCKS ON DOOR
0:26:27 > 0:26:28Hello?
0:26:28 > 0:26:32Ken heads upstairs to see if he can find someone to speak to.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Hello?
0:26:34 > 0:26:38Hello. My name is Mr Warby, I'm from the sheriffs' office.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Can you not get that away from my face? Sorry, I don't want to...
0:26:41 > 0:26:45The woman asks us to not film her and she says that the boss is away.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Any chance you can get him on the phone?
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Can you get him on the phone abroad then?
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Another member of staff now arrives.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58And our camera's asked to leave.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02After seeing the details of the writ,
0:27:02 > 0:27:07it seems the staff are aware of the case, as Ken explains outside.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11The claimant wanted a kitchen, he made a deposit.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14There was a contract, but he never signed it.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16When Mr Quane changed his mind and tried to cancel,
0:27:16 > 0:27:18the company wouldn't let him,
0:27:18 > 0:27:20so he made a claim through the County Court.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24After winning his case, he should have been paid back
0:27:24 > 0:27:26and now Ken is here to collect.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28With plenty of assets in the showroom,
0:27:28 > 0:27:32he's pretty sure it won't take long, and he's not wrong.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37Unfortunately, they don't have the means to pay there,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39but the MD did.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42I spoke to him abroad. He's in Croatia.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45And I told him that he needs to pay the balance in full,
0:27:45 > 0:27:48otherwise we will be removing the goods today.
0:27:48 > 0:27:55So he's made a bank transfer for the full amount of £2,696.99.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58I just checked with the office, that's gone through.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01So, a good result in the end.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04The customer, Mr Quane, has got his money back.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08And it's another case closed for the sheriffs.