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."
0:01:43 > 0:01:47And fishmonger Tony Allen was left all at sea after trying
0:01:47 > 0:01:49to help a fledgling business.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52I want to see every small business succeed, especially restaurants.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55And I felt completely let down and disappointed with the man.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Can Lawrence and Kev get the money he's owed?
0:01:59 > 0:02:04Everything can go - cupboards, desks, chairs, computers...
0:02:08 > 0:02:11It's before dawn and enforcement agents Lawrence Grix
0:02:11 > 0:02:15and Kev McNally are on their way out of London.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19It's just after 6.00 in the morning. We are heading towards Surrey.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22They're looking for a Mr and Mrs Cooppen, the owners of two
0:02:22 > 0:02:27care homes which were forced to shut down due to poor quality of care.
0:02:27 > 0:02:33They owe £7,564 for unpaid wages to a former employee
0:02:33 > 0:02:35in the wake of the closures.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39The Cooppens didn't defend the case in court but nor have they paid up.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44Where we are going to is actually quite a nice...nice, big house.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47I'm led to believe it's in a gated community as well.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50So, we're hoping the gates are either open or we'll get in
0:02:50 > 0:02:52some other...some other method.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56It could just mean waiting for somebody to come in or out
0:02:56 > 0:02:58and then tailgating.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01As well as a plush house, it's thought the Cooppens may also own
0:03:01 > 0:03:06a plush car - a Bentley Continental spotted on their driveway.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08Looking for £7,500 here.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11A Bentley Continental should be enough to cover that,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14so we need to establish who owns that first.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19It's still pitch-black when the pair arrive.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22And the gated community is looking, well, gated.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26So they don't have a security guard here.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32With most people still in bed and the roads deserted, it could be
0:03:32 > 0:03:36a long wait before a passer-by can let them in, unless...
0:03:36 > 0:03:39It's not going to be as simple as walking round
0:03:39 > 0:03:41and pressing the button, is it?
0:03:41 > 0:03:42Oh, my God, it is.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- What sort of security is that? - HE LAUGHS
0:03:45 > 0:03:49The gated community has turned out to just be a private road.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52Getting in is pretty straightforward.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54And there's more good news too.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Bentley's there.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Lawrence wastes no time in getting stuck in.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05- It's going to be a little clamp on that one.- Yeah.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08With a light on in the house, it looks like someone's home.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Kev has to try to get the clamp on as quietly as possible
0:04:11 > 0:04:13without alerting them.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16- WHISPERS:- These tyres are massive for this clamp.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Is it going around?
0:04:21 > 0:04:25If it's not going all the way round, just stick it through the spokes.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Once it's on, Lawrence issues the wake-up call.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33A woman answers the door.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Morning. I'm looking for a Mr or Mrs Cooppen.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39They don't live here?
0:04:40 > 0:04:41But you do know them, yeah?
0:04:44 > 0:04:48- My name is Mr Grix. My colleague and I are enforcement agents.- OK.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52The woman shows ID which confirms she isn't Mrs Cooppen
0:04:52 > 0:04:56and orders our camera off the property.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59She's also being very vague about exactly who she is.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03Right, so how did you know the Cooppens?
0:05:03 > 0:05:06The woman will only say that she lives in the house,
0:05:06 > 0:05:09so her relationship to the debtors is unclear.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12But with the Cooppens apparently out of the country,
0:05:12 > 0:05:14the only thing Lawrence really needs to know
0:05:14 > 0:05:17is whether they have left any assets behind.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20That is Mr Cooppen's Bentley, isn't it?
0:05:20 > 0:05:21It's in your name, is that right?
0:05:21 > 0:05:25- Yes.- It doesn't matter whose name it's in, it's who owns it.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27But the woman says it's hers.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29So, have you got proof of that?
0:05:29 > 0:05:31At the moment, it's secured with a clamp
0:05:31 > 0:05:33and we're going to be calling a recovery truck.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35The woman produces some paperwork
0:05:35 > 0:05:38which she says will prove she owns the car,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42except all it really shows is that it's been registered in her name
0:05:42 > 0:05:44in the last few weeks.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47She's come out with a registration document,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50which, as we all know, isn't proof of ownership.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54I believe she just had a provisional license anyway.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57It's rare for a learner driver to own a Bentley Continental.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Nevertheless, the woman's sticking to her story
0:06:00 > 0:06:03and has gone to dig out some more documents.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Meanwhile, Kev has spotted someone else at home.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10There's a guy wandering around upstairs at the moment.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12We haven't found out who he is yet.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14They're not in the country at the moment, who we're after,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17but they definitely live here when they come back, I would imagine.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20She hasn't said she's renting the property.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25The mystery woman is now on the phone to the police.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29And Lawrence is also making a call.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36Hello. I need a Bentley Continental GT picking up.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40Lawrence is convinced the Bentley's owned by Mr Cooppen.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43As it would sell for more than enough to pay back the care home
0:06:43 > 0:06:45worker's missing wages,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48he's ordered a recovery truck to take it away.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49The Bentley is going.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Later on, we find out what happens
0:06:55 > 0:06:58when Lawrence gets a call from Mr Cooppen.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02No, it's got to be all of it, sir. The car is going then, sir.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06And there's a clue to the woman's identity.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09You gave the game away there having "mum" on your phone.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18If you've been ripped off,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21and the person or company responsible refuses to pay
0:07:21 > 0:07:24you back, the first step is to make a claim in the County Court.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27It's simple to do this online.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30For a small fee, depending on the size of the claim,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32the court will review the evidence.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36And if it finds in your favour, the debtor will be ordered to pay up.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40If they don't, then for a further £60, the High Court will grant
0:07:40 > 0:07:44a writ, authorising the sheriffs to act on your behalf.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48If they're successful, you get all your money back.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51Sheriff Ken Warby
0:07:51 > 0:07:55is also heading out of the capital into the commuter belt.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59It's a long drive, so he's brought some company.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04Oh, this is my travel buddy, yeah. He usually helps with directions.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08He's a Hungarian Vizsla. His name is Gunner.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11And he's a year old.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15With his cushion, his doggie seatbelt
0:08:15 > 0:08:18and regular toilet breaks, Gunner is more demanding than your average
0:08:18 > 0:08:22passenger, but at least he's no back-seat driver.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Today, he's joining Ken in Buckinghamshire,
0:08:25 > 0:08:29looking for a debt owed by the boss of a removals firm.
0:08:29 > 0:08:35The debtor in this case is a Mr Colin Jones.
0:08:35 > 0:08:41He has been taken to court by an individual for lost items.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46The debt is totalling, after our fees, £6,200-odd.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53The case against Mr Jones was brought by John Clark,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56and it resulted from a house move which took place under already
0:08:56 > 0:09:01difficult circumstances, after John's wife had fallen ill.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04We were married in 1965.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06We've got one daughter.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Got to be five years ago now,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12we realised something was wrong with her,
0:09:12 > 0:09:16because she started forgetting...various bits.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20And then everything sort of went downhill from there on.
0:09:22 > 0:09:27It wasn't long before John's wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Now she doesn't know me, she doesn't speak, she doesn't...
0:09:32 > 0:09:38..doesn't know anybody. To see her as she is now, it's a bit hard.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43The illness means she needs full-time care
0:09:43 > 0:09:47and has had to move into specialist accommodation.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50At first, John remained in the family home.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51But as the months went on,
0:09:51 > 0:09:53he realised it would be best to sell up.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58She was taken away in the January of '13.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00That was the point I thought,
0:10:00 > 0:10:04"Well, what's the point in staying here?" You know?
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Big house like that, all the memories, all the parties
0:10:06 > 0:10:08and that that we'd had there.
0:10:08 > 0:10:13So, I decided to move back here, to Haddenham, where I was born.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17John enlisted the help of a local removal
0:10:17 > 0:10:20and storage business run by Colin Jones.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22But on the day he was supposed to be moving,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25he suffered an unfortunate accident.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27I fell down the stairs,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30landed on half of the boxes that I'd packed, ready to move.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33And that's how I ended up in Stoke Mandeville hospital
0:10:33 > 0:10:34when I was supposed to be moving.
0:10:34 > 0:10:40And so my stuff was moved from my house into storage.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43And then, after I came out of hospital and moved here,
0:10:43 > 0:10:45it was brought here.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49And after a few days, we began to realise that stuff was missing.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54And they weren't just small items.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57Microwave, kitchen table and four chairs...
0:10:57 > 0:11:00A hostess trolley, that went missing.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03All in all, there were more than 20 missing objects,
0:11:03 > 0:11:07including some antique ivory animals with sentimental value.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11They had been in my wife's family well over 100 years.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16I mean, my wife would've been devastated to find they were gone.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19A table and that sort of thing you can replace.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22But stuff that's been in the family for 100 years or more
0:11:22 > 0:11:24you can't replace.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28John assumed they must have been left in the removal firm's
0:11:28 > 0:11:32storage units, so he called them up to find out what had happened.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36I said the stuff was missing and, "OK, we'll look for it."
0:11:36 > 0:11:38I've been up to their depot two or three times.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43"Yeah, we're still looking for it," but it never did come to light.
0:11:43 > 0:11:48As hope of the items turning up faded, John instead made a claim
0:11:48 > 0:11:53for compensation from Mr Jones' insurers for £4,500.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57But it was rejected, with the reason coming as a total surprise.
0:11:57 > 0:12:03According to the insurance company, I'd given Colin Jones
0:12:03 > 0:12:07permission to take some of my stuff to a charity shop.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Come on, I'm not going to pay somebody to store stuff
0:12:10 > 0:12:12and then give it to charity, am I?
0:12:12 > 0:12:16So now, instead of the items being lost in storage,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19he was being told they were given away.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23John's solicitor then advised him to do some charity shopping of his own.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26He suggested I do some investigating, which I did do,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29and I went round all the charity shops in Princes Risborough.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34And nobody there knew anything about any of these items.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37John's hopes of getting his stuff back or
0:12:37 > 0:12:41compensation from Mr Jones were now over.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43But he wasn't about to give up altogether.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Why should these people get away with it?
0:12:46 > 0:12:49I mean, I just thought, "Well, no, listen, it's not on."
0:12:49 > 0:12:53I got straight on to the solicitors and we took it to court.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58John won his case by default after Mr Jones didn't enter a defence,
0:12:58 > 0:13:02but he still hasn't been paid and has now turned to the sheriffs.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Yeah, I've seen the programmes on telly.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09They always seem to get the job sorted, so that's what I done.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Ken and Gunner are on their way to see Mr Jones.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20And following the details Ken's been given,
0:13:20 > 0:13:23it looks like this is going to be a house call.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26It looks like this is a private address.
0:13:26 > 0:13:27Yep, it's a private address.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Ken parks up and heads for the door. But is Mr Jones home?
0:13:38 > 0:13:41- Hiya.- Hello. I need to speak to Colin Jones.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Will he be here this evening?
0:13:46 > 0:13:51I'm actually from the court, but I can only really speak to Mr Jones
0:13:51 > 0:13:53regarding this case.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Is it at all possible you can get him on the phone for me?
0:13:56 > 0:13:57- Can I speak to him?- Yeah.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01Luckily, Mr Jones' wife is able to reach him right away.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Mrs Jones explains there's a visitor on the doorstep.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Mr Jones is in the doghouse.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22But on the plus side, he's working just down the road.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25Right, as soon as you can. Bye.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26When you say "Just down the road" -
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- literally like a minute away or something like that?- Yeah.- Oh, OK.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32- Two minutes.- That's fine. - Yeah?- Thank you very much.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36And sure enough, Mr Jones soon shows up.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Hello, Mr Jones? Sorry to ambush you like this, sir.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41My name is Mr Warby.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Ken follows Mr Jones into the house,
0:14:44 > 0:14:46but our camera's not allowed in.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51Inside, he explains that he's here to take control of Mr Jones' goods
0:14:51 > 0:14:54to cover the more than £6,200 he owes.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Unless, of course, he pays up.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02And as Ken comes out to get his card payment machine,
0:15:02 > 0:15:04it looks like he might.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Hopefully, he's going to make a payment of £2,000,
0:15:07 > 0:15:09with the balance to be paid within 28 days.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15It doesn't turn out to be quite that simple.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18- Bye then.- Take care. Bye, guys.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21But nevertheless, Ken is soon on his way.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25He tried to pay on the card, the card didn't work.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28And he's got his partner to do a bank transfer.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31He's getting his partner to do a bank transfer this evening.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33In the meantime,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37I've taken inventory of the personal items in the house.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40And although Ken is leaving without full payment,
0:15:40 > 0:15:42he's happy enough with the outcome.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45There's not many assets there and we're getting £2,000 today
0:15:45 > 0:15:47and the balance within 28 days.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50That's quite a good result.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Mr Jones later settled the balance in full.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59And John Clark has got compensation for his missing possessions.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02I got an e-mail from my solicitor telling me that the sheriffs
0:16:02 > 0:16:06had got payment in full. Which is great news. I can...
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Maybe I can put this all behind me now.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25In Surrey, Lawrence and Kev are pursuing unpaid wages of more
0:16:25 > 0:16:30than £7,500 owed to a care-home worker.
0:16:30 > 0:16:31The debtors are the Cooppens,
0:16:31 > 0:16:35a couple that ran two care homes which have now been shut down.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39A woman staying at their house says the Cooppens now live abroad
0:16:39 > 0:16:42and claims she owns the Bentley on their driveway.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Lawrence believes it's owned by Mr Cooppen
0:16:45 > 0:16:47and has called a tow truck to take it away.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Only now there's a delay.
0:16:50 > 0:16:51Blimey. Okey dokey.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55A long delay.
0:16:55 > 0:16:5690 minutes.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59Kev parks the van in the entrance.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01And while they wait,
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Lawrence reads up about the closure of the care homes.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07"On Tuesday, the 25th, residents were evacuated
0:17:07 > 0:17:09"in their night clothes from Merok Park.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11"Inspectors were so shocked by the squalid conditions
0:17:11 > 0:17:13"that they ordered it to be closed immediately
0:17:13 > 0:17:16"and the pensioners ferried by ambulance to other homes.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19"Residents' families describe Merok Park as a pigsty.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23"Last night, they called for police investigation and demanded to know
0:17:23 > 0:17:27"why the Cooppens had been able to charge so much for such poor care."
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Mr and Mrs Cooppen were never prosecuted over the scandal
0:17:30 > 0:17:34and, it seems, have now left the country with unpaid debts.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36The sheriffs are here to collect.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39But they are now joined by other enforcement professionals
0:17:39 > 0:17:41called here by the house's occupant.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44Basically, we're looking for a couple named Mr and Mrs Cooppen.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Apparently, they're not here, they're out of the country.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50So, we're basically taking the Bentley to clear the debt.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53The lady in there said, "Oh, it's mine." We've asked her for proof of
0:17:53 > 0:17:55ownership, she's gone back in and hasn't come back out.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58- If you want to wait here, we'll make contact...- OK.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59..with her and see what she says.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04The police go inside to speak to the woman.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07But because Lawrence and Kev are there by order of the court,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10the police shouldn't prevent them from doing their job.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12We've advised her there's nothing we can do
0:18:12 > 0:18:15- about the seizure of the vehicle. - Cos that's registered.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Any issues, give us a call.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- And sure enough, they're on their way.- Thanks very much.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23- Have a good day. - Thanks, guys. Thank you.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27Soon, the woman makes another appearance.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30This time, she's got the debtor, Mr Cooppen, on the phone.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34He also claims the Bentley belongs to her.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38To which lady? This lady with the provisional license?
0:18:39 > 0:18:43It has nothing to do with council tax, this is a High Court writ.
0:18:43 > 0:18:48A writ which it doesn't sound like Mr Cooppen is about to pay in full.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Right, well, the car's going then, sir.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53No, it's got to be all of it, sir.
0:18:53 > 0:18:58And with the extra costs of enforcement, the bill is rising.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02You currently owe £9,461.80.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Mr Cooppen wants to make a smaller payment,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09but Lawrence is in no mood to strike a deal.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13No, sir. The car is going, then it will be sold
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and you'll be paid any balance out of that.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19No, it needs to be all of it.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22It's the sheriffs' job to recover as much of the debt as possible.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26And with a car worth about £30,000 sitting in front of them,
0:19:26 > 0:19:29they're not going to accept any stalling.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Right, well, the car will be going, sir.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35You'll have about a week to pay in full to get the car back
0:19:35 > 0:19:37before it gets sold at auction.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39No, it needs to be paid in full, sir.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41I'm going to hand you back to your daughter now,
0:19:41 > 0:19:43because I'm wasting me breath.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46There you go. You gave the game away there having "mum" on your phone.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51The debtor came up on the woman's phone as "mum",
0:19:51 > 0:19:53so she is in fact the Cooppen's daughter.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57And Lawrence is now more certain than ever the Bentley belongs
0:19:57 > 0:19:58to her dad.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01The owner of the vehicle is the person who actually buys it.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04It doesn't matter what it says on the log book.
0:20:04 > 0:20:05So he's the owner.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10All they can do now is wait for the tow truck,
0:20:10 > 0:20:14which finally arrives four hours after it was called.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Right, it's this Bentley here.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19I'll move my van out of the way there, mate.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22The guys swing into action.
0:20:22 > 0:20:23After all the waiting around,
0:20:23 > 0:20:25finally, the end of the job is in sight.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29It should only take a couple of minutes to get it up there.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32He'll just do his checks to make sure it's all nice and clean,
0:20:32 > 0:20:33get it up and we'll be gone.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38There's been no sign of the woman or the man inside the house
0:20:38 > 0:20:39for hours now.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43And even as the team prepare to lift the Bentley off the drive,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46they are staying firmly out of sight.
0:20:46 > 0:20:47The car is hoisted up,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50checked for any damage...
0:20:50 > 0:20:54Scratch there, and there's one along this side as well.
0:20:54 > 0:20:55..and then it's job done.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Lovely. Cheers, mate.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03The Cooppens will now have a week to pay nearly £9,900 to cover
0:21:03 > 0:21:08the original debt plus costs, or else the Bentley will be sold.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12For Lawrence and Kev, it's been a long morning.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15It's one of those things, it took him four hours
0:21:15 > 0:21:17cos he got stuck on the M25. It's nobody's fault.
0:21:17 > 0:21:22And gannet, who's been desperate for food now for three hours 55,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25has now wandered off on the phone and he's not in the van,
0:21:25 > 0:21:28like, itching to get to some food.
0:21:28 > 0:21:29Food? Hell, yeah!
0:21:32 > 0:21:37Four days later, the Cooppens paid in full.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Their former employee received their missing wages
0:21:39 > 0:21:41and the Bentley was returned.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56Many of the sheriffs' cases arise from the sale of second-hand cars.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59And just outside Stockport, Sheriff Alan Pennington
0:21:59 > 0:22:01is about to enforce
0:22:01 > 0:22:06a typical case against a company called Cheadle Car Sales Ltd.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09The premises we're going to is on a retail estate.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14I'm not really sure who I'm going to meet and what assets they've got.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19Cheadle Car Sales was taken to the County Court by a customer
0:22:19 > 0:22:21who'd bought a car they weren't happy with.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24They won the case and the company was ordered to give them a refund
0:22:24 > 0:22:26plus costs.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Eight weeks later, it still hasn't.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31So now, with a High Court writ in his hand,
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Alan is going to try to get the customer's money back.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36We'll be there shortly, anyway.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40And hopefully, we can meet up with someone from the premises
0:22:40 > 0:22:42and try and get this case resolved for the claimant.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Cheadle Car Sales, there we are.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49- Hello, fellas.- Hey.- Hello.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52I'm an enforcement agent, I'm here to issue a High Court writ.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Is there anyone I can speak to?
0:22:55 > 0:22:57- Is that camera on?- Yeah.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01At the sight of Alan and our camera,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04the boss of Cheadle Car Sales, Mr Cawley, makes an appearance.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Yeah, what's it about?
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Can I come in and have a chat with you in the office?
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Yeah, without the camera.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Our camera's asked to leave.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19And while Alan talks to Mr Cawley in his office,
0:23:19 > 0:23:22the staff of Cheadle Car Sales start to show us a bit of cheek.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26In fact, a lot of it.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Inside the garage, the boss is refusing to pay,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36unless, that is, a certain condition is met,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39as Alan explains to his office.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Basically, he wants to know what vehicle it is,
0:23:42 > 0:23:46and he's not going to pay until he gets that vehicle back.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49I've told him, "I'm not here to give you your vehicle back,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52"I'm here to issue you a High Court writ."
0:23:52 > 0:23:53Anticipating a standoff,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Alan tells the office he might need some backup.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58There's about eight of them here.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00And unless the police arrive...
0:24:00 > 0:24:04I don't really want to get involved unless the police are here.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07OK. Thanks a lot. Bye-bye. All right, cheers.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11And while the boss leaves to run an errand,
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Alan mulls over his options.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15He's only going to pay if the car is returned.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17He's going to come back
0:24:17 > 0:24:22and then we'll go through the process of either having to call
0:24:22 > 0:24:26the police to assist me and a low-loader
0:24:26 > 0:24:28to take the vehicles away.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33So, we'll find out in the next ten or 15 minutes,
0:24:33 > 0:24:34when the gentleman comes back.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40But when Mr Cawley returns, he hasn't changed his stance.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43He now says he offered to fix the customer's car
0:24:43 > 0:24:44when it first went wrong.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47He still wants the vehicle returned as a point of principle
0:24:47 > 0:24:49before he'll pay a penny.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52As this isn't covered by the court order,
0:24:52 > 0:24:54he's got no right to demand this.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58But as it could be a way of avoiding an ugly showdown,
0:24:58 > 0:25:02Alan thinks it's worth a shot and gets the claimant on the phone.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06He's happy to pay out the full amount of money on the claim
0:25:06 > 0:25:08if the car comes back.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10What do you think?
0:25:10 > 0:25:14The claimant says the car is undrivable and won't return it.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17But as it's currently abandoned on their driveway,
0:25:17 > 0:25:20they are willing for it to be picked up at the garage's expense.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24All right. No problem. Thanks. Bye-bye.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29Alan heads in to tell Mr Cawley that's the best he can do.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30All right.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35He'll either have to pay his debt and collect the claimant's vehicle
0:25:35 > 0:25:39himself or else lose another car from his forecourt.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41It has the desired effect.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43Mr Cawley agrees to the deal.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46But yet again, there's a catch.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49His partner is in hospital
0:25:49 > 0:25:51and she has the bank details
0:25:51 > 0:25:54and apparently runs the admin side of the business.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00So he can't pay today and is asking Alan to come back tomorrow.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03It sounds like another excuse.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06But given the situation, Alan thinks on this occasion it is
0:26:06 > 0:26:09worth giving him the benefit of the doubt.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12The gentleman is happy to pay.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15I didn't see the point of any further confrontation.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17So we've agreed to meet.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21And if that's the case, tomorrow then all will be well
0:26:21 > 0:26:24and done and the case will be closed.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28Leaving without payment today might look like another bum deal
0:26:28 > 0:26:31from the garage, but Alan's pragmatism pays off.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35The following morning, Mr Cawley settled in full as promised.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37The car was picked up from the customer
0:26:37 > 0:26:39and they got their money back.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Sheriffs are now officially known as High Court enforcement agents,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46and they'll collect the money you're owed.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49My job is to collect in full or remove goods.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52They've got more powers of entry than bailiffs.
0:26:52 > 0:26:53We don't have to take any notice
0:26:53 > 0:26:55of your security protocol, I'm afraid.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58And there's no limit on the size of the debts they can pursue.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00£1.6 million.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Their fees are set by the government,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06which debtors have to pay on top of what they already owe.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Thank you very much. See you later.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12If the sheriffs can't recover any of your money,
0:27:12 > 0:27:14there's a fee of £75 plus VAT.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31It's just gone midday and Lawrence and Kev are in Putney, South London,
0:27:31 > 0:27:33looking to recoup another unpaid debt.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38We are going to WP&E Hospitality Ltd,
0:27:38 > 0:27:42looking for £3,805.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Our client is Fish! Kitchen Ltd.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50I believe this is for the supplying of fish.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55They didn't pay for their fish.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01WP&E Hospitality Ltd trade as The Lobster House,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04a fish and seafood restaurant on the Thames.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Lawrence is always excited about going out for lunch.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Well, I believe this fish restaurant we're going to
0:28:11 > 0:28:13is quite a nice plaice.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Wah, wah, waaah.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20But you won't carp on about it, will you?
0:28:20 > 0:28:21LAWRENCE LAUGHS
0:28:21 > 0:28:25It's not the first time the sheriffs have visited a restaurant.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28It's a business that's famously hard to make a success of,
0:28:28 > 0:28:32as the claimant in this case also knows all too well.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36Tony Allen is himself a chef with two restaurants
0:28:36 > 0:28:38going by the name of The Fish! Kitchen,
0:28:38 > 0:28:42but he originally built up his business as a fish supplier.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45I was so disillusioned with the fact...
0:28:45 > 0:28:48what I was getting in restaurants as a chef,
0:28:48 > 0:28:50and I thought I could do a lot better.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Tony started buying better fish at the docks
0:28:54 > 0:28:56and selling it to chefs he knew.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Within a few years, he was supplying 600 restaurants.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03And at one point, he had his own TV show with Giorgio Locatelli.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07But he's since scaled-down the wholesale side of the business,
0:29:07 > 0:29:11preferring instead to source fish just for his own restaurants
0:29:11 > 0:29:13and his fishmongers next door.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15I wasn't interested in supplying restaurants.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19For years, I was perhaps waiting anything from 30 to 90 days
0:29:19 > 0:29:21for that revenue to come back and money to come in.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24We do a couple of local restaurants that pay
0:29:24 > 0:29:26when they come in and take their produce.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28But really, we are a retail supplier.
0:29:29 > 0:29:34But he recently got reeled back into the wholesale trade
0:29:34 > 0:29:37when WP&E Hospitality Ltd came knocking on his door.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41When they opened The Lobster House, the director, Mr Ling,
0:29:41 > 0:29:45decided he wanted Tony to supply him and to pick his brains for advice.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48The owner of the restaurant came in to see me.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50I could see that he needed help.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52We're not just fishmongers, I have restaurants of my own.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57I've had a lovely experience in planning menus, balancing menus.
0:29:57 > 0:29:58He appealed to my better nature.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01You know, he met me next-door, he really wanted to buy off us.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03I looked at this as a one-off,
0:30:03 > 0:30:06and I wanted him to succeed, because we would've carried
0:30:06 > 0:30:09on supplying him, we would've had a good business relationship.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11And I thought I was helping him out, really.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17Initially, WP&E Hospitality Ltd paid in cash.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19But soon, they wanted credit.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22After three or four months, he then phoned me
0:30:22 > 0:30:24and said could he have an account.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26I thought we'd built up enough trust.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29At the same time, however,
0:30:29 > 0:30:34Tony noticed not everything was hunky-dory with the new restaurant.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36He was buying very sporadically.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39And then I had a look at the stuff they were buying,
0:30:39 > 0:30:40it didn't match the menu.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42I could see that the chefs were changing,
0:30:42 > 0:30:44the voices on the answering phone were completely different.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47And that sent the alarm bells ringing, really.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Tony had seen the writing on the wall.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53And soon after, he was reminded why he didn't want to supply
0:30:53 > 0:30:55restaurants in the first place.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57We hadn't been paid for two months,
0:30:57 > 0:30:59and I asked him to come in to see me.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02I explained to him, "I can't really supply you any more."
0:31:02 > 0:31:06And he said, "OK, I'll send you a cheque." He never did.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08I phoned him two or three times,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10I even went over to the restaurant to see him.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13I spoke to Chris, my finance director,
0:31:13 > 0:31:16and I said to him that, "We've got to take legal action."
0:31:18 > 0:31:21Before that, Chris tried to sort the matter out himself,
0:31:21 > 0:31:23but he had no more luck than Tony.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25It was very frustrating.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28We had to make several phone calls, send e-mails,
0:31:28 > 0:31:31none of which were replied to.
0:31:31 > 0:31:37When I did actually finally get to speak to the defendant,
0:31:37 > 0:31:41he indicated that there wasn't any more money in the business
0:31:41 > 0:31:44and that he was looking for further funding from abroad,
0:31:44 > 0:31:47which was due within a month or two.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52At this point, The Lobster House owed over £2,500.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59Before the case went to court, WP&E Hospitality Ltd had
0:31:59 > 0:32:03one last chance to reach an agreement with Tony and Chris.
0:32:03 > 0:32:08We had mediation beforehand and he offered between £800, £900.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12£900, you know, I could've taken that. But it's not the money.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14Normally, it would be the money, not the principle.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15But this time it was the principle
0:32:15 > 0:32:19for the amount of time and effort I put in to help the man.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23After Tony declined the offer, the case was heard in court.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27Fish! Kitchen won and WP&E Hospitality
0:32:27 > 0:32:29was ordered to pay the full amount.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33Only Tony hasn't seen a penny.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35And now the best we can hope for
0:32:35 > 0:32:37is that the sheriffs actually produce.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40They've got a very difficult job on this one.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49But if anyone can get his money back, it's Lawrence and Kev,
0:32:49 > 0:32:51and they're headed to The Lobster House,
0:32:51 > 0:32:54hoping to meet its director, Mr Ling.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57- That's it.- The Lobster House?- Yes.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03The building is unmistakable.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06But peering through the window, it doesn't look promising.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09- They're not open anyway. - It's being refurbed.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11The front entrance is locked.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15But around the back, someone comes to the door.
0:33:15 > 0:33:16Hello there. My name's Mr Grix.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19- My colleague and I are enforcement agents.- All right.
0:33:19 > 0:33:24We've got a High Court writ against WP&E Hospitality Ltd,
0:33:24 > 0:33:26trading as The Lobster House.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29The woman says The Lobster House have moved out.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33She's currently setting up a new Mediterranean restaurant.
0:33:33 > 0:33:34Have you not been here long?
0:33:36 > 0:33:39So are you a new company, are you?
0:33:39 > 0:33:40Yeah, sure, cheers.
0:33:40 > 0:33:45Given they only moved out recently, Lawrence needs to make sure that
0:33:45 > 0:33:49none of WP&E Hospitality Ltd's goods are still on the premises.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51You rent the building, but you've bought all the fixtures
0:33:51 > 0:33:53and fittings, have you?
0:33:53 > 0:33:54Yes.
0:33:54 > 0:33:55So who was that money to?
0:33:57 > 0:34:02So he's basically sold you the bits and pieces and moved out?
0:34:04 > 0:34:08The woman hasn't got paperwork to hand to prove what she's saying,
0:34:08 > 0:34:10but Lawrence is happy enough.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13I completely believe what you're saying.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15And you can see it is being refurbished.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20As he will still need to see proof, he asked the woman to send
0:34:20 > 0:34:22her paperwork through to the sheriffs' office.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25And he has got some advice for the new restaurant.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Once you've got this paperwork together,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31have them all to hand so you that
0:34:31 > 0:34:34if you do get any more enforcement agents coming round for
0:34:34 > 0:34:38- whatever debt, you can say, "Look, this is us, we took over then."- OK.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40- And they'll be gone quicker than us.- OK.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42- OK?- See you later, have a good day.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46With no debtor and no assets,
0:34:46 > 0:34:48there is nothing more the sheriffs can do today.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51They don't give up easily, though.
0:34:51 > 0:34:56And six weeks later, Kev's been able to dredge up some new information.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00I did a bit of research, I've come up with this new address for them.
0:35:00 > 0:35:01So we'll go here today,
0:35:01 > 0:35:05see if we can have more luck here than we did before.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07It's another nibble on the line.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09But the sheriffs know from experience
0:35:09 > 0:35:11not to get their hopes up.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14If the restaurant has shut, the company could well
0:35:14 > 0:35:18be in financial trouble, and the new address might not bear any fruit.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21It's more likely to be a director's home address
0:35:21 > 0:35:23or a registered office.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25If they've gone from the trading address,
0:35:25 > 0:35:28it's unlikely you'll find assets anywhere else.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35They arrive at the address. But it is not obvious how to get in.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41Luckily, a man in a neighbouring unit has arrived at the same time.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44- Looking for 1B.- Oh, that's upstairs. - That's upstairs, is it?
0:35:44 > 0:35:46- Is that through that door there, is it?- Hm.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50- Are you just about to open that? - I am.- Excellent news for us.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52Lovely. Cheers.
0:35:54 > 0:35:55Having charmed his way in,
0:35:55 > 0:35:58Lawrence makes his way to the 1B office.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03Morning. Hi there, I'm looking for WP&E Hospitality Ltd.
0:36:05 > 0:36:06You are an office acting for them?
0:36:06 > 0:36:08In what capacity?
0:36:12 > 0:36:14So, what's the name of your business, sir?
0:36:16 > 0:36:20The man says this is just WP&E Hospitality Ltd's
0:36:20 > 0:36:24registered address and that he runs a separate company.
0:36:24 > 0:36:29Lawrence isn't yet convinced that he has nothing to do with the debt.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31Are the two companies connected at all?
0:36:32 > 0:36:34So are you a director of both companies?
0:36:34 > 0:36:37Right. Now we're getting somewhere.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40It's Mr Ling,
0:36:40 > 0:36:44the man Tony said he helped with The Lobster House's menus.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47We are here today with a High Court writ
0:36:47 > 0:36:51- on behalf of Fish! Kitchen Limited...- Yeah.
0:36:51 > 0:36:56..we are ordered to take control of goods to the value of £3,851.78.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59You're responsible, sir. So how would you like to pay?
0:36:59 > 0:37:01Have you got cash here or would you like to pay on a card?
0:37:01 > 0:37:03Bank transfer?
0:37:03 > 0:37:06But Mr Ling doesn't want to pay.
0:37:08 > 0:37:09Yes.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14So, you haven't had the money for the restaurant yet?
0:37:14 > 0:37:17Right, so you're telling me the company's got no money?
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Right, well, I'll have to take control of assets then.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22Just as Lawrence feared,
0:37:22 > 0:37:26Mr Ling says that WP&E Hospitality is broke.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31What's more, he claims it doesn't own anything in this office.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33Lawrence will need to see proof.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36If you can't prove today that it belongs to FM Europe Ltd,
0:37:36 > 0:37:38we will be taking it.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42Everything can go - cupboards, desks, chairs, computers...
0:37:44 > 0:37:47Mr Ling starts to look through his receipts.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50But the sheriffs don't really want the stuff here
0:37:50 > 0:37:53as its value wouldn't cover the cost of removing it.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56They're hoping the threat will convince him to pay up.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59It seems, however, that Mr Ling genuinely can't.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02He shows Lawrence the company's bank statement.
0:38:08 > 0:38:09All right, OK.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12So you can't come up with any funds today?
0:38:13 > 0:38:14Right. So now we come back...
0:38:14 > 0:38:17Mr Ling says he's expecting some money to come in
0:38:17 > 0:38:20from the sale of the restaurant in the next couple of weeks.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23Lawrence isn't going to waste his afternoon emptying this tiny
0:38:23 > 0:38:27office, so instead, he lists the goods and Mr Ling promises to
0:38:27 > 0:38:30pay when his money comes through.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33Right, this is your control goods agreement.
0:38:33 > 0:38:37OK, so the agreement is payment in full by the 14th of December.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41- Yeah, right.- OK? So you need to sign, print and date that.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43OK? Bye-bye.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48And with that, they head for home.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52There was no assets there, that's the biggest trouble you've got.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56It would never be worth removing for a job like that,
0:38:56 > 0:38:58so there's not a lot you can do.
0:38:58 > 0:38:59We saw his bank account.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01So it's sort of hitting your head
0:39:01 > 0:39:03against a brick wall on that one a little bit.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06The only thing we can hope for is when he does get his money
0:39:06 > 0:39:09for the sale of the restaurant, that he pays then.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16What happened to the money from the sale of the restaurant,
0:39:16 > 0:39:17though, is unclear.
0:39:17 > 0:39:22Shortly after the sheriffs' visit, WP&E Hospitality Ltd went
0:39:22 > 0:39:26into liquidation and Mr Ling hasn't settled the debt to Fish! Kitchen.
0:39:29 > 0:39:34We won't be receiving our money. And, obviously, we're disappointed.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37But I think, myself and Chris,
0:39:37 > 0:39:40are resigning to the fact that we wasn't going to get paid.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44One of those things in business. These things happen all the time.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46Put a line under this now and move on.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00In Hertfordshire, Ken Warby is on his way to execute
0:40:00 > 0:40:03a writ at a company called Novo Cucine.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05I believe they fit kitchens.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09And I believe the claimant on this one
0:40:09 > 0:40:13is just a disgruntled customer.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17A debt of just over £2,500.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21Novo Cucine were taken to court by a Mr Michael Quane,
0:40:21 > 0:40:25who won his case by default after the company offered no defence.
0:40:26 > 0:40:28This type of case is bread-and-butter stuff
0:40:28 > 0:40:32for the sheriffs. Ken's visited many a kitchen fitter in his time
0:40:32 > 0:40:35and has become something of a connoisseur.
0:40:35 > 0:40:40Kitchen places, mostly are dummy kitchens fitted.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44Occasionally, you'll get cookers, fridges, freezers,
0:40:44 > 0:40:48that sort of thing that you are able to remove. They just vary.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50Sometimes they can be really posh,
0:40:50 > 0:40:52other times a bit crummy, so...
0:40:53 > 0:40:55You can never tell.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00Ken reckons that if it's the posh type with swanky appliances,
0:41:00 > 0:41:03then his chances of getting paid are pretty good.
0:41:03 > 0:41:08So, when he arrives to find a large, modern building, he's optimistic.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11When he goes in, it's exactly what he hoped for -
0:41:11 > 0:41:14a big showroom with plenty of assets.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18Staff, on the other hand, are harder to track down.
0:41:20 > 0:41:21Hello?
0:41:21 > 0:41:25Ken heads upstairs to see if he can find someone to speak to.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27Hello?
0:41:27 > 0:41:31Hello. My name is Mr Warby, I'm from the sheriffs' office.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34Can you not get that away from my face? Sorry, I don't want to...
0:41:34 > 0:41:38The woman asks us to not film her and she says that the boss is away.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40Any chance you can get him on the phone?
0:41:42 > 0:41:44Can you get him on the phone abroad then?
0:41:46 > 0:41:49Another member of staff now arrives.
0:41:49 > 0:41:50And our camera's asked to leave.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54After seeing the details of the writ,
0:41:54 > 0:42:00it seems the staff are aware of the case, as Ken explains outside.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03The claimant wanted a kitchen, he made a deposit.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06There was a contract, but he never signed it.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09When Mr Quane changed his mind and tried to cancel,
0:42:09 > 0:42:11the company wouldn't let him,
0:42:11 > 0:42:13so he made a claim through the County Court.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16After winning his case, he should have been paid back
0:42:16 > 0:42:18and now Ken is here to collect.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21With plenty of assets in the showroom,
0:42:21 > 0:42:25he's pretty sure it won't take long, and he's not wrong.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30Unfortunately, they don't have the means to pay there,
0:42:30 > 0:42:31but the MD did.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35I spoke to him abroad. He's in Croatia.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37And I told him that he needs to pay the balance in full,
0:42:37 > 0:42:40otherwise we will be removing the goods today.
0:42:40 > 0:42:48So he has made a bank transfer for the full amount of £2,696.99.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50I just checked with the office, that's gone through.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54So a good result in the end.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57The customer, Mr Quane, has got his money back.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01And it's another case closed for the sheriffs.