0:00:02 > 0:00:05If you're owed money, but aren't getting paid, it'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 > 0:00:11I've got to do what I'm instructed to by the courts.
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 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 > 0:00:37- Whether it's a small company... - Can I speak to the person in charge?
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. Get him to come in here.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49We're not going to be waiting around. It needs to be done now.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51I just collected 42 grand.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Coming up, David Goddard was sold a family car
0:00:57 > 0:00:59with more faults than features.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Coil springs at the back were gone,
0:01:01 > 0:01:03the exhaust manifold nuts were missing,
0:01:03 > 0:01:05so that was leaking, um...gases.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Can Lawrence and Kev get his money back?
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Is the owner about?
0:01:10 > 0:01:13The only way to prevent further action today is to pay in full.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17A care provider which owes thousands of pounds in unpaid wages
0:01:17 > 0:01:19doesn't want the sheriffs in its office.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22We'll come and have a look because obviously...
0:01:22 > 0:01:25- We can, sir.- We can. - We have a legal right to do so.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28His attitude was that we're going to leave some letters and walk away, but we don't.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33Sheriff Ken Warby is playing the waiting game at the Post Office HQ.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35I'm starting to lose my patience now.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38I'm just going to dig my heels in and insist on full payment.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40If they don't, I'm just going to march around their offices,
0:01:40 > 0:01:42list their items with a view to remove their goods.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49It's a bright spring morning
0:01:49 > 0:01:51and Lawrence and Kev are in South London
0:01:51 > 0:01:55on the trail of a car dealership which owes a debt to their client.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57What is it, 11.30 in the morning?
0:01:57 > 0:02:00We are in South Norwood, South London.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03We are going to Prestige Car Sales.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06They owe £3,958.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Prestige Car Sales of South Norwood,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12not to be confused with any other company of a similar name,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16was taken to court by painter and decorator David Goddard.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18His dealings with the business began
0:02:18 > 0:02:22when he was looking for a family-sized car for his wife.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25I have actually got about 13 grandchildren
0:02:25 > 0:02:27and six great-grandchildren.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30And my wife takes them, especially in the summer holidays,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33takes them down, we've got a caravan in Selsey Bill.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37So, it was always ideal to have a bigger car
0:02:37 > 0:02:41to carry the children around.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43They hadn't been looking for long
0:02:43 > 0:02:46before they found a car which seemed to fit the bill.
0:02:46 > 0:02:51My wife looked through the internet and found a Vauxhall Zafira,
0:02:51 > 0:02:56um...at Prestige Cars of South Norwood.
0:02:56 > 0:02:57So they went to have a look
0:02:57 > 0:02:59and took the car for a test-drive.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03We'd taken it out on the Saturday and it sounded quite nice.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07It was fine. The MOT was only 3-4 weeks old, the MOT.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11And unfortunately, I left my bag there, in the back of the car,
0:03:11 > 0:03:13after test-driving the vehicle.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18Um...and when we got home, my wife said, "Well, that's an omen.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21"You know, that car must be for me."
0:03:23 > 0:03:26So, they bought it for £2,290.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28But the problems began immediately.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30The next day, there was a puncture,
0:03:30 > 0:03:34so we put a new tyre on the vehicle.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39Um...then I said, "Well, you'd best go down to the tyre place
0:03:39 > 0:03:42"and get the tyres checked."
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Um...and it needed another two tyres.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Um...and this is only two days after we bought the vehicle.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51And that was just the start.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53It was only a matter of days
0:03:53 > 0:03:56before it started misfiring about two cylinders.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59It started to rock all over, it was jumping all over the place,
0:03:59 > 0:04:01with misfiring, so on and so forth.
0:04:01 > 0:04:06And then, finally, it just gave up the ghost, basically.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11So we had to abandon the vehicle and get it back home.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14David called up Prestige Car Sales
0:04:14 > 0:04:16to report that the car had broken down.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19He said, "Well, can you get the vehicle to us?"
0:04:19 > 0:04:22I said, "No, we can't really because it's immobile."
0:04:22 > 0:04:26Instead, they agreed he'd take it to a local garage.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Their inspection revealed a plethora of problems.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31The coil springs at the back were gone,
0:04:31 > 0:04:36the exhaust, um...manifold nuts were missing, so that was leaking gases.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38He said, "If I was you," he said, "I've got it running for you,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41"but you shouldn't really spend any more money," he said,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44"because the misfiring's still there
0:04:44 > 0:04:48"and diagnostically, it's telling me that it could be the engine,
0:04:48 > 0:04:53"it could be the gearbox or it could be a sensor."
0:04:53 > 0:04:56I mean, what do you do? Do you replace the three?
0:04:56 > 0:04:59It could have been anything up to about £2,000-£3,000.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03It was very, very frustrating that they'd sent the vehicle out
0:05:03 > 0:05:07in that sort of condition after me telling them
0:05:07 > 0:05:11and explaining to them what the vehicle was going to be used for.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17David spent £600 fixing just enough to get the car back on the road
0:05:17 > 0:05:22and contacted Prestige Car Sales about the remaining problems.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24He said, "Well, bring the vehicle back", he said,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26"and we'll sort it out for you."
0:05:26 > 0:05:29So, David returned the car to the dealers.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32But while he waited for it be repaired, he took a closer look
0:05:32 > 0:05:35at the service history documents which he still had.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38He found a cylinder head had previously been replaced
0:05:38 > 0:05:41and the car had experienced recurring issues
0:05:41 > 0:05:43with the engine misfiring.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45I said to my wife, I said, "Look,"
0:05:45 > 0:05:48I said, "this car isn't any good."
0:05:48 > 0:05:52I said, "It's just not fit for purpose, basically."
0:05:52 > 0:05:55David decided he no longer wanted it
0:05:55 > 0:05:58and asked Prestige Car Sales to keep the car and give him a refund.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02They told him to put it writing, so he did.
0:06:02 > 0:06:07I just said I'd forgo the £600 and £200 I spent on tyres,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10just pay me that, I think, £2,290.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14I said, "All I want is my money back, basically,
0:06:14 > 0:06:16"so we can get another vehicle."
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Um...no reply. Nothing. Nothing at all.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24I couldn't believe that someone could think that they could
0:06:24 > 0:06:29just take £2,000-plus off somebody, a working person,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32and seem to think they'd forget all about it.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35David took Prestige Car Sales to court.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38They didn't defend the case, so he won a default judgment
0:06:38 > 0:06:40for the full cost of the car
0:06:40 > 0:06:42and the repairs he'd made at his own expense.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44They still haven't paid.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47So, now David's put the sheriffs on the case.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50It's a necessity and it's got to be done.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Otherwise, um...I don't know,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56I've no other way of getting the money back, anyway.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05In South London, Lawrence and Kev
0:07:05 > 0:07:08are about to pay Prestige Car Sales a visit.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10Hoping the dealers are still here, for a start.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Hoping they've got some assets,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15some cars worth some value.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17As they approach, it appears
0:07:17 > 0:07:20the garage is tucked away behind the main high street.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24They head in to make their introductions.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Hello, mate.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- Are you the owner, by any chance? - No, mate.
0:07:31 > 0:07:32- Is the owner about?- Sorry?
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Is the owner about?
0:07:34 > 0:07:36My colleague and I are enforcement agents.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39We've got a High Court writ against Prestige Car Sales.
0:07:39 > 0:07:40We're ordered out by the High Court
0:07:40 > 0:07:43to take control of goods to be sold at auction and clear the debt.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Sorry, are you the owner, are you?
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Sorry, he just said you weren't here, so...
0:07:51 > 0:07:53I'll show you some ID, my name's Mr Grix.
0:07:55 > 0:07:56The boss is here after all.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00Now Lawrence has to explain the whole thing all over again.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03We're ordered out by the High Court
0:08:03 > 0:08:06to take control of goods to the value of £3,958.29.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Those goods can be sold at auction to clear the debt.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11The boss leads them into the back.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15The only way to prevent further action today is to pay in full.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19The garage extends behind the row of shops
0:08:19 > 0:08:23and is actually much larger than it appeared from the street.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25But we don't get to admire the stock for long.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31- We'll wait outside.- All right.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Our camera is sent outside.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Indoors, Lawrence explains that if the owner
0:08:40 > 0:08:43doesn't come up with the nearly £4,000 the court demands,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45then he'll have no choice but to leave
0:08:45 > 0:08:49with at least one of Prestige Car Sales' vehicles.
0:08:49 > 0:08:50The boss isn't happy
0:08:50 > 0:08:53and says he's applied to get the judgment set aside,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56but he doesn't yet even have a court date.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58He knows all about it. He's actually got the car here,
0:08:58 > 0:09:02so I don't know why he's got the car here and hasn't paid it.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06He's actually going back to court at some point.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10He hasn't got a date for that yet, but he will be going back to court.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Lawrence has told him the best course of action is to pay up now
0:09:14 > 0:09:16and try to challenge it later.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18It sounds like that's what he's going to do.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20He knows he's got to pay it, so he's going to get a card
0:09:20 > 0:09:24from one of his colleagues in there and they're going to pay for it.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30The sheriffs have been on site for a mere 20 minutes
0:09:30 > 0:09:32when associates of the owner arrive.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Between them, they produce a card and Lawrence takes a payment
0:09:37 > 0:09:40for the full £3,958 owed.
0:09:42 > 0:09:43All went fairly smoothly.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46They will undoubtedly take some kind of legal action, I would think,
0:09:46 > 0:09:50to stop the money being paid out until they've had the hearing,
0:09:50 > 0:09:52but at the end of the day, we've been paid
0:09:52 > 0:09:54and that's all we're worried about.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57In the end, Prestige Car Sales' application
0:09:57 > 0:10:00to get the judgment set aside came to nothing.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02The case never did go back to court.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04Five months after buying the car,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07David Goddard has got his money back.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10I'm very pleased that the outcome is in our favour
0:10:10 > 0:10:13and we've received our money back.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15It's great, brilliant.
0:10:23 > 0:10:24If you've been ripped off
0:10:24 > 0:10:28and the person or company responsible refuses to pay you back,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32the first step is to make a claim in the county court.
0:10:32 > 0:10:33It's simple to do this online.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36For a small fee, depending on the size of the claim,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38the court will review the evidence
0:10:38 > 0:10:43and, if it finds in your favour, the debtor will be ordered to pay up.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45If they don't then, for a further £60,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47the High Court will grant a writ,
0:10:47 > 0:10:51authorising the sheriffs to act on your behalf.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54If they're successful, you get all your money back.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Sheriffs Lawrence Grix and Kev McNally
0:11:00 > 0:11:03are heading to Ashford in Kent.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06We are going to SBE Ltd.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09We're looking for a total of £2,325 today.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Our claimant is Extreme Clean Commercial Ltd.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19The cleaning company successfully took SBE Ltd to the county court
0:11:19 > 0:11:22over an unpaid invoice.
0:11:22 > 0:11:23After the debt still wasn't settled,
0:11:23 > 0:11:27they've now transferred up to the High Court and got a writ.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31The sheriffs don't know much about the details of the case,
0:11:31 > 0:11:33but it does gives the pair the opportunity
0:11:33 > 0:11:36to reflect on their own cleaning abilities.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40I am quite tidy, actually, yeah.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44I'm afraid my cleaning doesn't come up to scratch at home.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48My garage is always tidy, everything's in its place.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51That's my domain and people aren't allowed in there.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56And it's not just Lawrence's garage that's spick and span.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00In the van, too, his orderliness has impressed Kev.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03We've got a first-aid kit, we've got a hammer around here
0:12:03 > 0:12:05just in case the van turns upside down
0:12:05 > 0:12:07and we need to smash a windscreen to get out.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09- Doesn't have to be my van, does it? - In case of a werewolf(!)
0:12:09 > 0:12:11Could come across an accident on the road
0:12:11 > 0:12:13and somebody needs busting out their car.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17If the apocalypse was to hit now,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19we'd be all right in this van, that's all I'm saying.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21There's everything in here you'd ever need.
0:12:21 > 0:12:22Ha-ha!
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Fortunately, the apocalypse hasn't arrived
0:12:26 > 0:12:29by the time they reach the business's premises.
0:12:29 > 0:12:30There it is.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32They don't know what SBE Ltd does,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35or whether there'll be any assets to take.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38The signs on the building don't give much away.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42"Global Electronic Service Logistics Management."
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Whatever that means.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46But they'll soon find out.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48- Oh, good morning.- Morning.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52Name's Mr Grix. My colleague and I are enforcement agents.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56We've got a High Court writ to execute against SBE Ltd
0:12:56 > 0:13:00so we probably need to speak to somebody in legal or accounts.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04But before reception can call anyone, a woman comes down the stairs.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08- Hi, there.- Oh, hello.- We're High Court enforcement agents.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12We have a High Court writ against SBE Ltd on behalf of
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Extreme Clean Commercial Ltd.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19We are here today to take control of goods to the value of £2,325.53.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Unfortunately, the bottom line is we have a High Court writ which
0:13:25 > 0:13:28commands us to come here and take control of goods to clear the debt.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30And the only way to prevent further action is to pay in full.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33Pay.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35- Transfer.- Transfer.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37Yeah, sure.
0:13:41 > 0:13:46The woman takes them upstairs but our camera is asked to leave.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Inside, things start to get complicated.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51They've been joined by the managing director
0:13:51 > 0:13:54and it seems the company isn't willing to just pay up after all.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59The sheriffs have also realised there's a factory
0:13:59 > 0:14:02at the back of the building, full of potential assets,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05only the MD won't let them in.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11When Lawrence demands access, the staff set off the alarms.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12ALARM BLARES
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Moments later, the police arrive.
0:14:17 > 0:14:18What should have been a simple job
0:14:18 > 0:14:21has turned into a headache for the sheriffs.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26After explaining themselves to the officers,
0:14:26 > 0:14:30Kev comes outside to fill us in on what's been happening.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Yeah, it's a big, old company.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Out the back, the workings of the factory,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36they're repairing mobile phones.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40There are machines and other assets worth thousands.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44No wonder the managing director doesn't want to let the sheriffs in.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48But it seems light-footed Lawrence has managed to give the MD the slip.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Lawrence, in his nimbleness, went through a door
0:14:53 > 0:14:55and we were into the workshop.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59With the sheriffs listing assets in the back,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02it was game over for SBE Ltd.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05We're back dealing with the lady we were initially dealing with.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08She has her debit card and she will be paying.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12So, we've got the card machine here, we're going in, getting payment,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14full payment, and we should be on our way soon.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Kev heads back in with the machine
0:15:18 > 0:15:21and, true to their word, the company finally pay up.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Debtors' assets are the leverage sheriffs need to get paid
0:15:24 > 0:15:28and they have the right to explore a premises to find them.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31We were dealing with it quite sensibly
0:15:31 > 0:15:34and calmly initially with the young lady,
0:15:34 > 0:15:38but then the managing director came down and started getting himself
0:15:38 > 0:15:41involved, telling us we couldn't do this, we couldn't do that,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43we were required to stay in reception.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48We said we weren't going to so he instructed the receptionist to press
0:15:48 > 0:15:51the panic alarm but I managed to nip through a door
0:15:51 > 0:15:54when somebody went through it so the young lady came back
0:15:54 > 0:15:56and said she would pay it on her card.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59And that's what happened. So, we got paid in full.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02And with that, the sheriffs head off to the next job.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07The cleaning company will now get the £2,325 they were owed.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22This morning, sheriffs Tommy Coyle and Craig Wild
0:16:22 > 0:16:24are in the Black Country.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28So, we're off to West Bromwich this morning with regards
0:16:28 > 0:16:32to two employment tribunal cases against the same company.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35The company itself is Enable UK Midlands Limited.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38The director of the company is an Amjad Mahmood.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43One's for £5,100 and the other one is for £11,700.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53Enable UK Midlands Limited provides supported living services
0:16:53 > 0:16:55for the disabled and elderly.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00In 2015, the Care Quality Commission described its services
0:17:00 > 0:17:04as "not always safe" and the leadership as "inadequate."
0:17:05 > 0:17:09Now, two former staff members have won employment tribunal cases
0:17:09 > 0:17:12for breaches of contract and unpaid wages.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Today, the sheriffs are instructed
0:17:14 > 0:17:17to collect a total of nearly £17,000.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Whatever amount we collect today,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24we will split the money equally to each case so they both get a share
0:17:24 > 0:17:27and, hopefully, also, we'll have an arrangement in place
0:17:27 > 0:17:28to pay the rest off for them.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33The job's the same with two writs as with one
0:17:33 > 0:17:37and the first step, as always, is to find the boss.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39- Hello.- Hi.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42I'm trying to get in contact with Enable UK Ltd.
0:17:42 > 0:17:43Can I help you?
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- Take a seat... - In the waiting room? OK?
0:17:46 > 0:17:49They said, can we just wait in the waiting room for a minute.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Bit of courtesy, we will do that,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53but once we've explained the situation to them,
0:17:53 > 0:17:55they need to pay it or we carry on doing our job
0:17:55 > 0:17:57which is taking control of goods.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01After a minute's wait, a man comes in to talk to them.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Hello, sir.
0:18:11 > 0:18:12Is Amjad about?
0:18:12 > 0:18:14My name is Mr Wild.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18We're here today with two High Court writs for employment
0:18:18 > 0:18:24tribunal liabilities. The total outstanding is £16,962.03.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29We're not leaving until we are paid.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33We can give you some account details to pay it now. If you want them.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37Speak to Amjad first and I will have a chat with him.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41- He ain't got the money. - They ain't got the money, no.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Although happy to wait if it looks like they are going to get paid,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Craig's patience isn't going to last long.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52I think his attitude was that we would leave them letters
0:18:52 > 0:18:55and walk away, but we don't. Not when it gets to this stage.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58We have the power and authority to walk around these premises
0:18:58 > 0:19:01and that's what we will be doing.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04The man comes back but he has not been able to get
0:19:04 > 0:19:06through to the director, Amjad Mahmood.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14We've come up because we need to see where you're trading from.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19No, we're not going to sit here.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Where are you trading from, office-wise?
0:19:24 > 0:19:25We will come and have a look.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29- We can, we have the authority. - We have a legal right to do so.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31- I've shown you my identification. - I showed you mine.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34- I can show you again. We're not waiting here now.- We can't wait.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38While Craig investigates what's upstairs,
0:19:38 > 0:19:39Tommy heads into the office.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Before he can do anything, however,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44our camera attracts the attention of the men present.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02We leave and continue filming from the road.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Inside, staff tell Craig and Tommy
0:20:04 > 0:20:08that they haven't seen Amjad Mahmood for three weeks
0:20:08 > 0:20:10and that there are three other companies in the building
0:20:10 > 0:20:14who, between them, own all the goods.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Sheriffs are entitled to carry out a diligent search
0:20:16 > 0:20:19for information pertaining to their writ
0:20:19 > 0:20:21and, as they hunt through paperwork in the office,
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Craig and Tommy discover that not only is Mr Mahmood a director
0:20:25 > 0:20:28of at least one of the other companies in the building,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31but they also find a document listing many of the office goods
0:20:31 > 0:20:34as the property of Enable UK Midlands Limited.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Yeah, it got a bit heated initially inside the building.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40They're all claiming not to know the director of our company
0:20:40 > 0:20:42which we started to find out is not true.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45We started finding more and more paperwork of our company.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Obviously got them a bit irate.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50They started to realise we're not just going to go away.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52So, the game's more or less up at this point.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55The more information we gather, you see them breaking down
0:20:55 > 0:20:58and they've come to a deal which is they're going to pay 6,900.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00They'll do a controlled goods agreement
0:21:00 > 0:21:02until the rest of the balance is paid on both orders.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Tommy heads back inside with the card machine and he and Craig
0:21:06 > 0:21:09take payment. It's not long before they're back.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13We have a part payment today of £6,900 which brought
0:21:13 > 0:21:16the balance down to £10,000 exactly.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19As time went by, we kept finding more and more information
0:21:19 > 0:21:21sort of contradicting what they were telling us.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24They ended up looking a bit silly in the end
0:21:24 > 0:21:27and I think they realised and we got the result we did.
0:21:27 > 0:21:28They haven't seen Amjad since Christmas,
0:21:28 > 0:21:32they don't know where he is, he's uncontactable
0:21:32 > 0:21:35and, ultimately, Mr Amjad has 48 hours
0:21:35 > 0:21:37in which to get in contact with our office otherwise we
0:21:37 > 0:21:41will be back to execute and complete the execution of the court order.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Following the sheriffs' visit, Enable UK Midlands Limited
0:21:46 > 0:21:50entered into a payment plan to clear the outstanding balance.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Further money was received, however two months later, the company
0:21:53 > 0:21:58was wound up, leaving its debt to its former workers part-paid.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14From multinationals to dodgy car dealers,
0:22:14 > 0:22:16for the sheriffs it's all the same.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19And on the edge of London's financial district,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22enforcement agent Ken Warby is looking for a household name.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27We're going to see Post Office Ltd and they are the debtors.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31The claimant is a small-time landlord who owns
0:22:31 > 0:22:34a shop which provided postal services.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37When the sub-postmaster left, fixtures and fittings
0:22:37 > 0:22:39belonging to the Post Office were left behind for months,
0:22:39 > 0:22:44which the landlord claims prevented him from renting the property out.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47He took the company to court for storage costs and won
0:22:47 > 0:22:51a default judgment after the company didn't defend the case.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55Now it's down to Ken to get more than £11,000 owed.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58That's our building on the left there,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01I think, where the scaffolding is outside.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05But there's no parking outside
0:23:05 > 0:23:08and a road closure sends him on a long detour.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10You couldn't make this up.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14By the time he's found somewhere to park, he's got a mile-long
0:23:14 > 0:23:16walk back to the Post Office.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Just trying to find the job now.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23When he gets there, the offices look like a building site.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29Nevertheless, this is the address on the writ so Ken heads in.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Hi there. Sorry to bother you.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35I want to speak to someone at the Post Office Ltd.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40They're not here any more?
0:23:42 > 0:23:46The man says the building is being converted into a hotel.
0:23:46 > 0:23:51It was 20 minutes to walk from the car to here and they're not here.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Wonderful.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Satisfied that the Post Office Ltd have moved out,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Ken leaves and the claimant won't get their money today.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05There's nothing we can do there because it's totally empty.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07They've got no forwarding information on the company.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10They've set up somewhere else around here. I'm sure they would have.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14So we just have to find them and go from there.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18It's not quite as simple as finding the new office and marching in.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21The sheriffs are legally obliged to give debtors seven days' notice
0:24:21 > 0:24:24of their arrival and it's now looking like the letter they sent
0:24:24 > 0:24:26would have gone to the wrong address.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31A couple of weeks later, though, and Ken is back on the hunt.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Just like last time, there's been no response to the letter
0:24:34 > 0:24:38the sheriffs have sent, but Ken has a theory.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40It must have got lost in the post. Don't know.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47This time he finds a spot nearby and heads straight in.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56But our cameraman isn't allowed to follow him.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05We continue filming from the street while Ken explains
0:25:05 > 0:25:09he's there to collect more than £11,000.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12He's then left to sit in reception while the staff try
0:25:12 > 0:25:15to figure out what's going on.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18A succession of different people come to talk to him but
0:25:18 > 0:25:21so far none of them have offered any payment.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24The woman dealing with it in the legal department has left me
0:25:24 > 0:25:27sitting in reception now for the best part of an hour.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31They're contacting other people at a different legal department,
0:25:31 > 0:25:33I believe somewhere in Bolton.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35I'm getting a bit bored.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Ken goes back inside where the waiting game continues.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46After more conversations with the staff,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49the Post Office still haven't agreed to pay up.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Ken could demand to go upstairs and start making
0:25:52 > 0:25:54a list of assets to take away.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58He doesn't want to escalate the situation unless it's necessary
0:25:58 > 0:26:01but, after three hours, that moment is getting closer.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03I'm starting to lose my patience now.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Just going to dig my heels in and insist on full payment.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08If they don't, then I'm just going to march around their offices,
0:26:08 > 0:26:13list their items, call up a van, with a view to remove their goods.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15So that's where we are at the moment.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21The waiting might be getting on his nerves but to recover 11 grand,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Ken would have to remove a lot of office equipment so,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27on this occasion, playing the long game
0:26:27 > 0:26:29is the best way to get a result.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32It's quite frustrating because they've got about six magazines
0:26:32 > 0:26:35in there and I've read them cover to cover so far.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37But that's this job sometimes.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41You have to wait around quite a long time for payments.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Sure enough, the Mexican stand-off soon reaches its finale.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52The Post Office Ltd appears to be on the brink of paying up.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54But before the deal is sealed,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Ken has to evade some additional expenses of his own.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Well, the fat lady hasn't sung yet.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06But I'm about to take my seat and get in the audience.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Payment is imminent but I just need to relocate this car
0:27:09 > 0:27:11otherwise I'll get a ticket.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17With his car safe from traffic wardens,
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Ken makes his way back to Post Office's HQ.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24This time he only has to wait another ten minutes.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Right, well, after just over four hours of waiting,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32the sheriff finally got his man.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35£11,947.42 -
0:27:35 > 0:27:38exactly what I came for to begin with.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Great result and the claimant's got his money.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44It's been a long day but it was worth it.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Ken's persistence and patience has got the claimant back
0:27:47 > 0:27:49the money they were owed.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52The Post Office Ltd subsequently applied to have the judgment
0:27:52 > 0:27:56against them set aside but discontinued their appeal.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02The Post Office told us they...
0:28:09 > 0:28:10And they later reached
0:28:10 > 0:28:11an out of court settlement
0:28:11 > 0:28:12with the claimant.