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 > 0:00:07My 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 courts.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15They're Enforcement Agents of the High Court.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18And if a court's ruled in your favour - they're on your side.
0:00:20 > 0:00:25- If the debtor doesn't want to pay... - You 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 > 0:00:30If you don't come to the door, we have to remove
0:00:30 > 0:00:31the 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 > 0:00:37- Whether it's a small company...- Can I speak to the person in charge, please?
0:00:37 > 0:00:39..or a household name...
0:00:39 > 0:00:41We're here to see somebody from G4S.
0:00:41 > 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 > 0:00:50I just collected 42 grand.
0:00:55 > 0:00:56Coming up -
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Mandy Springer was sold a car with a dangerous flaw...
0:01:00 > 0:01:03This was the one where the wheel came off.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06My grandson and I definitely could have been killed that day.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09..but the dealership which sold it to her isn't keen
0:01:09 > 0:01:10to pay for the repairs.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14£1,140.62 pays us, gets her paid and we're gone.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Er, no.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21A shop which sells mobility scooters owes a customer a refund.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24The sheriffs plan to get it, whatever it takes.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25The goods will be going,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29because there's no evidence that they belong to anybody else.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36It's 10am and Lawrence and Kev are in Windsor,
0:01:36 > 0:01:41on the trail of a second-hand car salesman with a debt.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44This morning, we are going to see a Mr Howard Bridgman,
0:01:44 > 0:01:47trading as Primavera Cars.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51He owes £1,140.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53This is expenses incurred.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Four days after the purchase of a Land Rover Freelander
0:01:56 > 0:01:57and the wheel fell off it.
0:01:59 > 0:02:00Not ideal.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04No, it's not good to have a wheel fall off any vehicle, really.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07So, yeah, that's who we're after now. We're a couple of miles away.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Lawrence and Kev are working on behalf of Mandy Springer.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15She was driving with her grandchild, Dante, in the car
0:02:15 > 0:02:18when the incident happened.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21She'd only just bought the Land Rover from a local dealer
0:02:21 > 0:02:24she'd found on the internet called Primavera Cars.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29The salesman seemed fairly helpful, he was quite a friendly fellow
0:02:29 > 0:02:32and he didn't seem to know very much about the car, actually.
0:02:32 > 0:02:38When I was asking him had the car been serviced? He said, "Oh, no."
0:02:38 > 0:02:42Nevertheless, it seemed to be what she was looking for.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44My husband and I looked over the car,
0:02:44 > 0:02:46we did pop the bonnet as well, we looked underneath for any
0:02:46 > 0:02:49kind of mysterious rusting
0:02:49 > 0:02:52and you know, it seemed sound to look at.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00The Land Rover had a new MOT and Mandy negotiated a discount
0:03:00 > 0:03:02to pay for a service she'd arrange later.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09Thinking she had a good deal, she paid £3,600 and drove it away.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Only a few days later, disaster struck.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20I'd come off the motorway and as I pressed the brake, the car shook,
0:03:20 > 0:03:22I just about held it...
0:03:23 > 0:03:26..and you could hear
0:03:26 > 0:03:27something, like, it snapped.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31I was very fortunate that the guy behind me
0:03:31 > 0:03:33didn't actually smash into me.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Another guy came out and was knocking on the window,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41shouting, "Your wheel's come off the car!"
0:03:41 > 0:03:44The wheel had come almost completely detached.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47And the car was stranded in the middle of the road.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50We're in two lanes of traffic because the car had slightly swerved
0:03:50 > 0:03:51into the other lane,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54so we could have been hit by any car coming down.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58I think my grandson and I definitely could have been killed that day.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01It wasn't safe to stay in the car,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04so Mandy took 22-month-old Dante onto the verge
0:04:04 > 0:04:06and called Primavera Cars.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10There was no footway to stand, so we were standing in brambles.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13I was trying to get help from the garage.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17In the end, it was kind of like I was just arguing
0:04:17 > 0:04:19and wasting my time. He refused to help me.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23He didn't care, he didn't care at all.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26So Mandy called the police who helped recover the car.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29But Primavera wouldn't take it back.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34They said no, they didn't want to help at all.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Instead, it was delivered to a Land Rover specialist.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42When he examined it, Mandy was shocked by what he found.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47He gave me four of these, these are spacers.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50I didn't know anything about spacers until he told me.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53It's to make the wheels look bigger, make the car look bulkier,
0:04:53 > 0:04:57so maybe a boy racer might have stuff like this on their cars.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00The spacer sits between the hub and the wheel,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04and on this one, four of the five connecting bolts had failed.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08This was the one where the wheel came off,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11it was just by the grace of God that that one held on.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16Using wheel spacers isn't illegal in the UK, but should be declared
0:05:16 > 0:05:20to insurance companies as an after-market modification.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Mandy feels she ought to have been warned.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27These should have been taken off the car prior to them selling it.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29They should have known about these.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Mandy took Howard Bridgman to court.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35He didn't defend the case and was ordered to pay her back
0:05:35 > 0:05:38the money she spent on fixing the car and her costs.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44Bridgman offered to pay Mandy by bank transfer, but she was worried.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46I didn't trust their actions at all.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48There was no way I was going to give them my bank details.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52Wary of giving out her details, Mandy said she wanted a cheque,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55one of the other payment methods recommended by the court.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57But Bridgman refused.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00At one point, they called me eight times in one day,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04kept calling and calling and saying, "We want your bank details.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06"If you don't give us your bank details,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09"we're going to issue a counter action against you."
0:06:09 > 0:06:13They could have made payment at any time and they refused to do it.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16And then there were the text messages.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19"I'm still not happy about the way this has played out
0:06:19 > 0:06:22"and I would suggest you receive adequate training in car mechanics
0:06:22 > 0:06:26"before checking the vehicle over yourself in future instances."
0:06:26 > 0:06:27So I thought...
0:06:29 > 0:06:33..at the end of the day, you sold a car to somebody,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35it could have killed them.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37In fact, the law makes it clear that the dealer
0:06:37 > 0:06:40is responsible for the vehicle being fit for purpose.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44With the garage apparently unwilling to send her the cheque she wanted,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Mandy was left with little choice.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51I had seen The Sheriff on telly before.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Never thought in a million years that I'd have to use them.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00I was angry enough and I did want something to be done.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02I did want my money back.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12And so now Lawrence and Kev are on their way to get it for her.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14Since Mandy bought her car,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18Howard Bridgman has joined forces with a new business partner
0:07:18 > 0:07:21and they now trade as Primavera Cars Limited,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24operating from the same address as before.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Howard Bridgman's partner is on site
0:07:27 > 0:07:29and he seems to know all about the case.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Hello, there.
0:07:32 > 0:07:33Yeah, good, thank you.
0:07:36 > 0:07:37- Yeah.- Yes.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Right, well she's sent us out with a High Court writ.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47£1,140.62 pays us, gets her paid and we're gone.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Lawrence isn't here to run messages around and it's now too late
0:07:57 > 0:08:01for the car dealer to make a payment directly to Mandy.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Right, problem being she's now transferred it
0:08:03 > 0:08:06to the High Court for enforcement purposes.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11What you need to seek is independent legal advice, we're not here
0:08:11 > 0:08:14to advise you. We're here to obviously execute the writ
0:08:14 > 0:08:15on behalf of our claimant.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20The man doesn't want to pay the costs of the sheriffs' visit.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26But like it or not, the full amount is what he'll need to come up with.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28We hold the money for 14 days,
0:08:28 > 0:08:30it doesn't get disbursed straight away.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33So that gives you 14 days to get legal advice.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Then if we're ordered to pay back the money,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37we pay back the money, simple as that.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39But at the moment, we've got a High Court writ
0:08:39 > 0:08:41that says this has got to be paid.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46The man doesn't want our camera in his office and we're asked to leave.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50He doesn't protest much longer however, and Kev soon comes out.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Spoke to the guy. He knows all about it, to be fair.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55He's going to make payment now, so I've got the card machine,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58brought the van up and he's going to pay and off we go.
0:08:59 > 0:09:00The man does indeed pay
0:09:00 > 0:09:05and he invites our camera back in to tell his side of the story.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07He says he thought the accident might have happened
0:09:07 > 0:09:11because a friend of Mandy's had given the car a once over.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15She said that, "Two days ago, my brother in law, who's a mechanic,
0:09:15 > 0:09:19"was looking over the car", and all that and found some bits.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23Anyway, and then she's had the wheel came off two days after that.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26I said, "Well, sounds like something that he's probably done, then."
0:09:26 > 0:09:30He says Primavera offered to look at the car, but Mandy refused.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34They didn't defend the case because they didn't receive the paperwork.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37And he says, following the judgment, they tried to pay
0:09:37 > 0:09:41but the disagreements over the payment method was the problem.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43She wanted a cheque.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46We kept asking for... E-mails asking her, for her sort code
0:09:46 > 0:09:48and account number, so we could pay it.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Cos we want evidence to show that we've done it.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53So we know it's been paid, so we can go to the court and let them know
0:09:53 > 0:09:56that it's all been done. Cos we don't want this going any further.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Mandy was under no obligation to give out her details
0:09:59 > 0:10:03and cheque is one of the payment methods recommended by the courts.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Refusing to send one has now cost Primavera Cars,
0:10:07 > 0:10:09though the man has come up with a way to make sure
0:10:09 > 0:10:11he gets his money's worth.
0:10:11 > 0:10:12We'll do a selfie.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17That was about as easy a job as you'll ever get, to be honest.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22The gentleman saw us, recognised us, invited us into the office,
0:10:22 > 0:10:24he knew exactly what case it was about.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28He's not overly happy that he's got our fees on top now, but he was half
0:10:28 > 0:10:30expecting a visit from us anyway
0:10:30 > 0:10:34and just paid us straightaway on a card. So...
0:10:34 > 0:10:37..all in all, another successful case for our client.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41Back in Reading, it's the news Mandy's been waiting for.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43It's been a really good result.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46I'm pleased that I did get in contact with the sheriffs cos
0:10:46 > 0:10:50they've helped take the stress out of a stressful situation.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52So, I'm really pleased.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56I just sincerely hope that doesn't happen again to somebody else.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59If you've been ripped off and the person or company responsible
0:10:59 > 0:11:02refuses to pay you back,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05the first step is to make a claim in the County Court.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08It's simple to do this online for a small fee,
0:11:08 > 0:11:10depending on the size of the claim.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12The court will review the evidence,
0:11:12 > 0:11:17and if it finds in your favour, the debtor will be ordered to pay up.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20If they don't, then for a further £66, the High Court will
0:11:20 > 0:11:25grant a writ, authorising the sheriffs to act on your behalf.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28If they're successful, you get all your money back.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Lawrence and Kev are making a trip to the seaside.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38We are heading to East Wittering,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40down on the south coast.
0:11:40 > 0:11:46We're going to Non Stop Mobility Ltd for a total of £1,903.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49So it's a commercial premises we're going to, a shop.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54The writ's in favour of a customer, who bought a mobility scooter,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57and wasn't happy with it.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00I quote, "It was not fit for purpose."
0:12:00 > 0:12:04After being refused a refund, the customer took the company to court
0:12:04 > 0:12:07and won by default after it didn't enter a defence.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10The sheriffs are hopeful they'll be able to get their money back.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15I imagine there's going to be plenty of assets at this shop
0:12:15 > 0:12:16as long as the shop's still trading.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19We can fill this thing up with mobility scooters if need be.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21It shouldn't be too much of a problem, I don't think.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24But famous last words.
0:12:24 > 0:12:25Famous last words indeed,
0:12:25 > 0:12:29as this job's about to throw up some surprises.
0:12:29 > 0:12:30- There.- Just there.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32The sheriffs head in.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36Inside, they find the company director's husband, Mr McWilliam.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40- We've got a High Court writ against Non Stop Mobility Ltd.- Oh, yeah.
0:12:45 > 0:12:46They've set it aside?
0:12:46 > 0:12:48- Yeah.- When was this?
0:12:50 > 0:12:52It's a familiar story.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56Mr McWilliam claims the judgment has been overturned.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58But when he starts getting out his paperwork,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00a different picture emerges.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03His appeal hasn't yet been heard.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05So the only thing which will stop the sheriffs enforcing
0:13:05 > 0:13:10the writ today is if he's been granted a stay of execution,
0:13:10 > 0:13:11which he thinks he has.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Have you got a copy of the order staying the writ, because I haven't.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Obviously, if it's stayed, then we'll leave you in peace.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20But we've got no evidence at the moment that it is.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25But unless we can see that, then we have to carry on.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28The shopkeeper should have a court order
0:13:28 > 0:13:31confirming what he's saying, but he can't seem to find it.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33And it's becoming increasingly obvious
0:13:33 > 0:13:36he hasn't understood the court process.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39There's two separate things. There's a set aside and there's a stay.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41And each incurs its own fee.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43How many application forms did you send?
0:13:43 > 0:13:46- One.- And what did the application ask for, a set aside or a stay?
0:13:50 > 0:13:52They won't give you a stay without a set aside.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54The fact that you've got a hearing date,
0:13:54 > 0:13:56that is when your set aside hearing is.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Well, if you've only paid one lot of £155...
0:14:02 > 0:14:05If Mr McWilliam had got a stay of execution, then
0:14:05 > 0:14:08he would have had to pay a second court fee.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10It sounds like he didn't.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12If you can't find the paperwork,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14- have you got the money to pay this today?- No chance.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Right, well, then we'll be removing goods.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22The man insists he does have a stay of execution,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24but his paperwork's in disarray.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26No, this was the original judgment.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29He's showing Lawrence various letters from the court...
0:14:29 > 0:14:33This is the notice that it's been transferred to Chichester.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35..but none are the right one.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40So, we're getting there, but you hadn't even opened that.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Then amongst a pile of letters, it's Lawrence that strikes gold.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Oh, here it is.
0:14:47 > 0:14:48It's the court order,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51confirming there's a hearing in a few weeks' time.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54But it's what it doesn't say that's crucial.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56There's nothing that says enforcement action
0:14:56 > 0:14:57is stayed in the interim.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03It's the smoking gun Lawrence needs.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06He can now press on to try to get the claimant her money back.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10It doesn't stay execution in the meantime,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14so the amount outstanding is £1,903.03,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17which needs to be paid immediately, or goods will be removed.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22- Is there no-one that could lend you the money?- No.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Right, well, goods will be removed to clear the debt then, sir.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31The sheriffs get to work deciding which items to take.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34In particular, they've got their eyes on the mobility scooters,
0:15:34 > 0:15:38which are the most valuable things in the shop.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40But now, faced with their removal, Mr McWilliam
0:15:40 > 0:15:42claims they're not the shop's.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Right, have you got paperwork to that effect?
0:15:48 > 0:15:51You know, paperwork where you enter into a contract
0:15:51 > 0:15:53with people to sell goods on their behalf.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02Well, then, the goods will be going because there's no evidence that
0:16:02 > 0:16:03they belong to anybody else.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06But just when it looks like this job's only going one way,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09events take a surprising turn.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Mr McWilliam has phoned the courts,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14and is asking them to intervene on his behalf.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31He appears to have found a sympathetic ear
0:16:31 > 0:16:34and hands the phone to Lawrence.
0:16:34 > 0:16:35What I've said to the gentleman,
0:16:35 > 0:16:39he's obviously applied for a set aside because he's got
0:16:39 > 0:16:42the hearing date, but he hasn't applied for a stay in the interim.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45I've got a truck on the way to remove the contents of the shop.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48He should have applied for a stay. He hasn't, he hasn't got one,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51so the writ is live and we're here to execute it today.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56But the woman at the court wants to double-check.
0:16:56 > 0:16:57She's gone.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Well, she's going to go and speak to the judge.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03A few minutes later, she rings back.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06PHONE RINGS
0:17:08 > 0:17:12And it's just what Lawrence had feared.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15I need a copy of that revised order e-mailing to me, please.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20A judge has revised the court order and even though he hasn't
0:17:20 > 0:17:25paid for it, Mr McWilliam has now been granted a stay of execution.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28As it's the sheriff's job to carry out the court's wishes,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31they have to leave empty-handed.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34But later in the programme, we'll find out what happens
0:17:34 > 0:17:36when they're back two months later.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54Sheriff Ken Warby is in Dunstable, near Luton,
0:17:54 > 0:17:56on his way to a trading estate.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00We're going to visit a large furniture store, SCS,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03the original debt is just over £2,000.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Ken's attending on behalf of a customer who bought
0:18:09 > 0:18:12a recliner sofa, but the leather finish began to peel off.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17When she asked the store for her money back,
0:18:17 > 0:18:21she was instead offered an alternative sofa at a reduced price.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25She wasn't happy, and despite the Citizens' Advice Bureau
0:18:25 > 0:18:29intervening on her behalf, they couldn't come to an agreement.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32So she took SCS to court
0:18:32 > 0:18:34and when they didn't offer a defence,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37was awarded a default judgment.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Ken's not expecting them to remember.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42I'll give them enough time to try
0:18:42 > 0:18:46and find out exactly who the claimant is, chances are they'll
0:18:46 > 0:18:48need to speak to the head office
0:18:48 > 0:18:50because this is just one of their branches.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52But given the stock he knows will be on site,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55he's not going to take no for an answer.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59They'd have more than enough assets to cover the debt here,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02pick one of about 30 or 40 three-piece-suites if you like.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07Sometimes, Sheriffs go direct to the company's head office,
0:19:07 > 0:19:12but they're entitled to enforce anywhere the debtor has assets.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16This is one of a dozen or so stores they've got up and down the country.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21However, the notice of enforcement would have come to this address.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25It's the address on the writ, so Ken heads in.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33SCS, I'd like to speak to the person in charge. My name's Mr Warby.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36It doesn't take the man long
0:19:36 > 0:19:39to realise he's not about to make a sale.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42We're asked to leave while Ken starts the process
0:19:42 > 0:19:45of getting through to someone with the power to pay up.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48This is as I thought it would be, big company,
0:19:48 > 0:19:50I've just spoken to the store manager,
0:19:50 > 0:19:52so he's now contacting his head office.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56He's going to fax over a copy of the actual
0:19:56 > 0:20:00writ of control, so it's just a question of waiting at the moment.
0:20:00 > 0:20:01There's only going to be one outcome,
0:20:01 > 0:20:06I want the money for my client. That's it.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09With nothing else he can do, Ken has a quick sit down
0:20:09 > 0:20:12and his thoughts turn momentarily to his own living room.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18The sofa's really nice, actually, it reclines a treat.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22The one I'm looking for really is on a button, electric, on a button,
0:20:22 > 0:20:24if I can get one like that.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27I'm not sure I'd get a discount here, somehow.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Finally, however, the manager is back
0:20:30 > 0:20:33and an hour and a half after he arrived, Ken's done.
0:20:34 > 0:20:35Head office are going to pay,
0:20:35 > 0:20:39a control goods agreement has been signed, and yeah, successful job.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43The customer's finally got her money back.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46SCS might be a few thousand down on the day,
0:20:46 > 0:20:49but after Ken spent the morning trying out every sofa in the shop,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52they might have a new customer to make up for it.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Grey one was rather nice,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58so I did say to them next time I come in,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01if I'm not holding my clipboard, maybe we can do some business.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03SCS told us -
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Earlier, Lawrence and Kev visited a shop
0:21:38 > 0:21:41called Non Stop Mobility in East Wittering.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45The sheriffs had to walk away empty-handed after a judge
0:21:45 > 0:21:48granted the shop a last-minute stay of execution
0:21:48 > 0:21:50to allow an appeal to take place.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54Now two months later,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58Lawrence and Kev are heading to the seaside town once again.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00He's had his hearing. The case has been thrown out,
0:22:00 > 0:22:02so we're on our way back here now
0:22:02 > 0:22:05and going to get payment. Well, we're hoping to get payment.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08But the sheriffs aren't banking on it being that simple.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09Last time the shopkeeper said
0:22:09 > 0:22:12he didn't have the money
0:22:12 > 0:22:14and now with extra fees,
0:22:14 > 0:22:15the bill's gone up.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Best case scenario, he's expecting us and he's got the money
0:22:18 > 0:22:20sitting there waiting for us, but I shouldn't think so.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22He's going to know we're going to be back.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Hello?
0:22:26 > 0:22:28At first the shop looks to be unattended.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31But then Mr McWilliam emerges from the back.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34- Oh, hello.- Hello again, sir.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37You lost your appeal, didn't you? So now the full total is due.
0:22:37 > 0:22:43We're here today to take control of goods to the value of £3,268.36.
0:22:43 > 0:22:44Were you not aware you lost?
0:22:52 > 0:22:55This time he asks our cameraman to leave.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58He tells Lawrence he thought he'd won his case.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01He gets out some paperwork from the court, which he says will
0:23:01 > 0:23:05prove it, but it's a move that spectacularly backfires.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09He's saying he doesn't know anything about it.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12And then produces a letter that is an order saying
0:23:12 > 0:23:13that his case has been dismissed
0:23:13 > 0:23:15and he also has got an extra £1,500
0:23:15 > 0:23:18on top of the judgment debt.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21So he's not best pleased about that.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24The sheriffs hadn't been told about the additional costs
0:23:24 > 0:23:25awarded by the court.
0:23:25 > 0:23:30Now they've been added, the shop owes well over £4,500.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32And Mr McWilliam isn't about to settle up.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36He's saying he hasn't got any money to pay,
0:23:36 > 0:23:38the same as he was last time, and to be honest, I don't doubt him.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41His wife's got no money, he's got no money.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43So the only thing we've got of value really are the scooters.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45I think there's nine scooters in total.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49He's saying he's signed a letter saying that his mate owns them,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51but it's literally, just a bit of paper.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55So we've decided we're going to take these scooters,
0:23:55 > 0:23:57cos there's no other way we're going to get paid here at all.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01In fact, it's not just the scooters that will be going.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03To get the claimant her money back,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05they're going to have to pretty much clear out the shop.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Lawrence has begun listing the goods one by one.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12And Kev reckons he's rather enjoying it.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14He's got a bit of a glint in his eye
0:24:14 > 0:24:16looking at some of these scooters,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19There's a sort of wide scooter that he's got his eye on, I think.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21He's sort of coming to that sort of age.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24Don't tell him that, though.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26But Lawrence shouldn't get carried away too quickly
0:24:26 > 0:24:30as Mr McWilliam has again put in a call to the local court
0:24:30 > 0:24:33in a bid to stop the sheriffs in their tracks.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36They've advised him to fill in some different form
0:24:36 > 0:24:39that she's going to submit to the judge.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43And in the meantime, the atmosphere inside the shop is heating up
0:24:43 > 0:24:46as a man has arrived with a large Alsatian dog.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51It turns out he's got some sort of stake in this business,
0:24:51 > 0:24:52so he's got money invested in it.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55I think he's the guy that owns the scooters as well
0:24:55 > 0:24:56or claims to own the scooters.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00But I think he's got actual more investment than just that.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02He sort of bombed in here with his Alsatian,
0:25:02 > 0:25:06telling us we're not going to do this and that and what have you.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08But it's going to take more than a large dog to put
0:25:08 > 0:25:12the sheriffs off and the man soon leaves.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Meanwhile, Mr McWilliam has heard back from his latest
0:25:15 > 0:25:17appeal to the courts
0:25:17 > 0:25:20and this time, he hasn't been so lucky.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Surprisingly enough, the judge has seen it already
0:25:22 > 0:25:24but dismissed everything.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26So that avenue for him has gone now.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31The entire contents of the shop are going to be removed.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33There's three scooters, I think, that we've seen paperwork for
0:25:33 > 0:25:36to show us that they don't belong to this Limited Company.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40The rest of it's going to be going and the truck is on its way.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42It's obvious the business is struggling,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45and emptying the shop isn't ideal for anyone.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49So Lawrence and Kev do make one last-ditch attempt to get the man
0:25:49 > 0:25:51to make some kind of payment,
0:25:51 > 0:25:55but it doesn't have quite the reaction they'd hoped for.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58We basically said if he could get two and half grand together, then
0:25:58 > 0:26:02we could leave his stuff here and put an arrangement in place for him.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05But he's not going for it, can't get any funds together, so he's gone.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09He's given us the keys to the shop and he's off, left us to it.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12If that's what he wants to do, it's up to him.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16The truck pulls up outside and Lawrence and Kev start loading.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20That's going to be the first one.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22What's the best way to take them?
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Cos we don't want them going down those steps.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26There's only one thing for it.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41After all, Lawrence is at home on anything with four wheels
0:26:41 > 0:26:44even if it only goes 5mph.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49I do have some knowledge of mobility scooters.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53My mother got through a few in her latter years, God rest her.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Managed to fit a few in the back of my van
0:26:55 > 0:26:57when they'd broken down and I had to go and collect her.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59She used to run out of batteries.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04Kev, meanwhile, is wrestling with the complexity of the machines.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08What's going on here? What's he done to this one? Has he broken this one?
0:27:08 > 0:27:11This one's got something wrong with it, Lawrence.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Only Lawrence doesn't have the same problem.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17It's very slow, but I'll get there.
0:27:20 > 0:27:21Might have to push a bit.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25As for Kev,
0:27:25 > 0:27:30- he's still struggling...- It's not neutral. What am I not doing right?
0:27:30 > 0:27:31..and is ultimately beaten.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34This one, Lawrence, is broken.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36What have you done with it?
0:27:36 > 0:27:38- It's just broke.- It's not broken.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41You muppet. What's the matter with you?
0:27:43 > 0:27:45They fill up the van as much as they can
0:27:45 > 0:27:49and though it probably won't be enough to cover the £4,500
0:27:49 > 0:27:51the shop owes, every bit helps.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Mobility stuff has got a value.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59There's a few bits in there that are worth a reasonable amount of money,
0:27:59 > 0:28:00but most of it's second-hand.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03It'll have some value to it.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05And that means that the customer who took the shop to court
0:28:05 > 0:28:08will get at least some of their money back.