0:00:02 > 0:00:05- Meet The Sheriffs. - My name's Mr Grix, my colleague and I are enforcement agents.
0:00:05 > 0:00:06It's to do with a High Court order.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10They work for the High Court, and if it says you're owed money,
0:00:10 > 0:00:12it's their job to go and get it.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16I'm here for £6,072.18.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18They can demand payment on the spot.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20I'm here for the full balance.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22How are you going to pay it?
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Or remove assets instead.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26The car will be going unless you can pay it.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29You'll have a week to pay in full before it gets sold at auction.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Obstructing their work can be a criminal offence.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36- I wouldn't do that if I were you. - The door needs to stay open.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Every year in England and Wales,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43unpaid debts totalling more than £80 million
0:00:43 > 0:00:44are recovered by The Sheriffs.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Coming up...
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Neil Cummings bought an eco-friendly heating system,
0:00:53 > 0:00:55which turned out to be dangerous.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57I paid over £10,500.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00I ended up with a system that was completely unsafe.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04There's a dramatic intervention from Lawrence to stop assets disappearing
0:01:04 > 0:01:07from the business that sold it.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08They were literally engines running,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11I just had to swing the van across and block them in.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Tommy's looking for a result at a football club with a debt to pay.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20I won't leave here today without payment or taking stuff with me.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25Lawrence confronts a car dealer who owes a £12,000 refund
0:01:25 > 0:01:26to a customer.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30I will ask the question again, what can you pay?
0:01:34 > 0:01:36It's eight o'clock in the morning,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40and enforcement agent Lawrence Grix is already on the road.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42He's heading into Surrey for an unpaid debt
0:01:42 > 0:01:47owed by a business specialising in eco-friendly heating systems.
0:01:47 > 0:01:48We're down near Guildford today,
0:01:48 > 0:01:52just coming into a place called Gomshall.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56We've got the Green Shop and Jan Aukstolis.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00I believe it's a shop that sells wood-burning stoves and things,
0:02:00 > 0:02:02and there was an issue with a wood-burning stove.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07We're here today for just under £8,500.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12The claimant in the case is Neil Cummings,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15a self-employed builder who came across the company
0:02:15 > 0:02:19after embarking on a labour of love, building his own family home.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23The idea of actually building a house specifically for us
0:02:23 > 0:02:25was a lifelong ambition.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27There's no gas supply, there's no oil here,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30so I decided that I wanted to go the green route.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32After researching his options,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Neil found a local supplier and installer,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37the Green Shop in Gomshall.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40He went to meet the man in charge, Jan Aukstolis.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43He gave me a quote, which I accepted.
0:02:43 > 0:02:44He talked the talk,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47he seemed to certainly know what he was talking about.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51At the heart of the whole system was a wood-burning stove,
0:02:51 > 0:02:55and initially Neil was very pleased with the installation.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59All of the work proceeded well and everything was installed.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Everything seemed to be fine and above board.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06That was until Neil wanted to add a new feature on to the system,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09and when he couldn't get hold of Mr Aukstolis,
0:03:09 > 0:03:10called in another plumber.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14He came along and had a look at the system that we had here
0:03:14 > 0:03:17for a couple of hours, and he turned round and said,
0:03:17 > 0:03:18"I'm really not happy".
0:03:18 > 0:03:20He said that in his opinion,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23the system didn't have enough safety features within it.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27So Neil had it disconnected.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30When he contacted the manufacturer of one of the other main components
0:03:30 > 0:03:32in his heating system,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35not only did they confirm what the plumber was saying,
0:03:35 > 0:03:40they also forwarded an e-mail they'd sent to Mr Aukstolis.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43And in the e-mail, it basically turned round and said that
0:03:43 > 0:03:46the wood-burning stove used in conjunction with this particular
0:03:46 > 0:03:49system MUST have an in-built quench coil."
0:03:49 > 0:03:53The quench coil is designed to release energy from the system
0:03:53 > 0:03:56in the event of a power cut or safety features failing.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59While it's not necessary in every wood-burning stove,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Neil's particular system required one,
0:04:02 > 0:04:06and without it he feared he was sitting on a potential time bomb.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10What we've actually got is a pressurised system,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12which is building up and up and up.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14It's like an old steam locomotive,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17if you can't release the energy, it's going to explode,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21and the idea of actually spending my life savings building this property,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23to potentially have, you know,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27my family in a dangerous situation, is scary.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32Neil tried to get in touch with Jan Aukstolis to see what he had to say.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36He didn't reply to any of my text messages, e-mails, I phoned him,
0:04:36 > 0:04:39I went down to the shop, I couldn't get hold of him at all.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Eventually, Neil decided the only option was to get quotes to rectify
0:04:43 > 0:04:46the work and complete the installation,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49and then take Mr Aukstolis and the Green Shop to court,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51to cover the costs.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55When they didn't defend the case, Neil won a default judgment.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Since then he hasn't paid any money at all,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01so I've decided that I need to take this case further.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03He's now escalated it to the High Court
0:05:03 > 0:05:07and obtained a writ for the sheriffs to enforce.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10So hopefully in their hands we'll see what they can do.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Lawrence is en route to the shop,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23and his research in the office has painted a promising picture
0:05:23 > 0:05:25of what he might find.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30It looks quite a reasonably large premises,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32when you look at it on Google,
0:05:32 > 0:05:33with a car park to the rear.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37So hopefully they'll have assets there.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40There is money in wood-burning stoves.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Lawrence arrives at the Green Shop
0:05:43 > 0:05:46just as some workers are about to get into their vans.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50I'm going to have to try and catch this fella here, I think.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53So there's no hanging about.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57Morning, gents. I'm looking for Jan Aukstolis.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59- Is that you at all?- No.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01Is he here? Is Mr Aukstolis here?
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Our cameraman retreats to the road,
0:06:07 > 0:06:11while Lawrence tries to find out where Mr Aukstolis is,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14but the workers here appear to be installers or engineers.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18They're keen to get off to their first job of the day
0:06:18 > 0:06:20and don't want to wait.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25When they start preparing to leave, Lawrence swings into action...
0:06:28 > 0:06:29Repositioning his van...
0:06:32 > 0:06:35..and blocking the entire entrance to the car park.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Sorry to have to do this to you, guys.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44I fully appreciate that you're only just trying to earn a living
0:06:44 > 0:06:45and do your job.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48But as their vehicles are sign-written
0:06:48 > 0:06:50and could belong to the debtor,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Lawrence can't let them leave until he has answers,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56which seem to be hard to come by.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Mr Aukstolis isn't here.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03The guys that are here say that they basically run the place,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05they don't see him very often.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08The three vehicles that I've managed to block in
0:07:08 > 0:07:10are all clear of finance.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14If I can't get hold of him and the guys here can't get hold of him
0:07:14 > 0:07:18then, yeah, I'll basically remove the vehicles.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22But getting hold of Mr Aukstolis turns out to be quite simple after all.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26One man who's here is showing more interest in the case.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Mr Grix, G-R-I-X.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31And Lawrence puts two and two together.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33So, are you Mr Aukstolis, then?
0:07:33 > 0:07:36It is indeed Mr Aukstolis -
0:07:36 > 0:07:39the man who sold Neil his dangerous heating system.
0:07:39 > 0:07:45Lawrence shows him his writ and explains he's here for £8,440.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Mr Aukstolis tells him nothing here is owned by him,
0:07:49 > 0:07:50but by his business,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53which is registered as The Green Shop Gomshall Limited.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Lawrence demands proof of ownership,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00but in the end he doesn't need to see it.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Perhaps mindful of his staff trapped in the car park
0:08:03 > 0:08:05and unable to get to work,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Mr Aukstolis manages to come up with some money.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12Lawrence moves his van out of the way and lets them go.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14That didn't go too badly.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16The gentleman there actually was Mr Aukstolis,
0:08:16 > 0:08:21and he's managed to come up with just under £3,500 today,
0:08:21 > 0:08:25and I've put him on a monthly arrangement of £1,000 a month for the rest.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30All being well, he should clear his debt in five months.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33In Sussex,
0:08:33 > 0:08:37word of the payment has come as a welcome relief to Neil Cummings.
0:08:38 > 0:08:39Really good news from the sheriffs.
0:08:39 > 0:08:45We've actually finally managed to get hold of the first initial payment of just over £3,500,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47so that's come in and that's brilliant.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49So we've already got the new wood-burning stove,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52which is just sitting in place, it's not actually connected.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Let's just hope that Jan is true to his word
0:08:54 > 0:08:59and honours the agreement and it will be the end to a lot of stress
0:08:59 > 0:09:02and anxiety that we've had over the last year.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15Using the County Courts to try to recover money you're owed isn't difficult.
0:09:15 > 0:09:191.5 million money claims are made every year in England and Wales,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22involving anything from faulty goods or poor workmanship,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25to unpaid invoices.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Claims can be filed by post or online for a small fee.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Both parties in the case will be asked to submit evidence
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and you may have to attend a court hearing.
0:09:35 > 0:09:36If you're successful,
0:09:36 > 0:09:41a County Court Judgment, or CCJ, will be issued against the debtor,
0:09:41 > 0:09:45and if they still don't pay, that's when you call the sheriffs.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Enforcement agent Tommy Coyle is in the East Midlands,
0:09:51 > 0:09:55with an unusual case on his hands against a sports club.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59We're on our way to Corby today.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01We're visiting Corby Town Football Club.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03I think they're quite a small club.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06There's previously been an agent visit the property,
0:10:06 > 0:10:10spoke to a Steve, who's the chairman, who promised payment.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13The payment has not been forthcoming.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17Corby Town FC has been taken to court for unpaid invoices
0:10:17 > 0:10:20by a company which has done ground work on the pitch.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24The club didn't defend the case and judgment was issued by default.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28It owes £10,965.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32Tommy may not be much of a football fan,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35but today he's hoping for a win.
0:10:35 > 0:10:36Hopefully they'll have some assets there.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40It could be a small bar, it could be some minivans,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43for transporting the players round. It could be some trophies,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47but I don't know how many trophies Corby Town have won recently,
0:10:47 > 0:10:49but we'll have a look.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53We're hoping for a result today, possibly a 3-2 for Tommy.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57Thankfully, it's not match day.
0:10:57 > 0:10:58Welcome to Corby Town FC.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Although Tommy has no trouble getting into the grounds,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06finding anyone to talk to might be another matter.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10But he soon navigates his way into some kind of clubhouse,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12where a team talk appears to be underway.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- Hi, you all right?- You all right? Is the chairman about?
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Could you give him a call for me, it's quite urgent?
0:11:22 > 0:11:24I'm an enforcement agent.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Tommy's stumbled on the club's youth academy,
0:11:27 > 0:11:30and the man in charge offers to get the chairman on the phone.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- Is it? - I don't know what else I can do.
0:11:35 > 0:11:36Is there anyone else you can call?
0:11:36 > 0:11:38The problem I have, I'm literally here,
0:11:38 > 0:11:41I'm going to start listing assets down straightaway.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Once I've listed everything down,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45I'll literally be getting contractors in
0:11:45 > 0:11:47and start removing stuff.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50Understandably, it's not what the man wants to hear,
0:11:50 > 0:11:55especially as he says the academy is separate and not part of the club.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Right, let's start listing everything down.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01News that an enforcement agent is planning to remove the contents of
0:12:01 > 0:12:05the clubhouse soon gets through to the right person.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07- You all right?- The chairman on the phone.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09- Is this Steve, is it?- Steve, yeah.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Hello, sir.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17But club chairman Steve Noble hasn't called up to make a payment -
0:12:17 > 0:12:19he instead has a different take on events.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24He's talking about a deal he's come to with the claimant.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26I appreciate what you're saying,
0:12:26 > 0:12:28but unless I'm instructed by a court,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30I have to carry on with my actions today.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32All right, speak to you in bit.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37The chairman seems to think that he's come to an agreement with the claimant.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40The claimant was going to pay our cost directly to us,
0:12:40 > 0:12:44and then they was going to come to an agreement between themselves.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46I've got no notes of that.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49And a quick call to Tommy's office suggests that while
0:12:49 > 0:12:52the claimant may be willing to accept a payment schedule,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56he wants any such deal to be arranged through the sheriffs.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01In the meantime, Tommy's search for assets continues.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04In the bar, there's some alcohol.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Limited wet stock.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08And a modest collection of silverware.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12Three cups up there, and one large one there,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15so I'll make a note of them.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19Though the first aid room turns out to be of more interest.
0:13:19 > 0:13:20Here we go.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Resuscitating machine, an electronic one.
0:13:22 > 0:13:27I think you just put the paddles on, start her up and it saves your life, basically.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29They're really good bits of kit.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Tommy takes the kit to the van and tries to reach the chairman again
0:13:32 > 0:13:35to see if he's going to come up with the money.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Hello, Mr Noble, it's the enforcement agent.
0:13:38 > 0:13:44Tommy wants at least £3,000 now, but the chairman says he can't pay.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48If you're telling me it's impossible to make any kind of payment today,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51then kind of our conversation's going to come to an end because
0:13:51 > 0:13:54I'm just going to have to carry on with what I'm going to do here.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Mr Noble, I'll probably be here for the next three hours because
0:13:57 > 0:13:59I'll get the contractors on their way.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01If anything does get sorted, let me know,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03but we're going to carry on with what we're going to do here.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Right. Not paying anything then.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12It looks like removal is Tommy's only option,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15and he takes his search for assets pitch-side.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Two goalposts...
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Which, believe it or not, could be removed,
0:14:20 > 0:14:24although they're not as useful as what's in the outbuildings.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27That's the one. This is exactly what I'm looking for,
0:14:27 > 0:14:30something with a bit of monetary value.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32I'll have the keys, as well.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36But before he can get too carried away,
0:14:36 > 0:14:38he's interrupted by a groundsman.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Aren't they? Whose are they?
0:14:44 > 0:14:46They're yours?
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Have you got any evidence? Who are you?
0:14:53 > 0:14:58In terms of assets, the football club isn't proving to be rich pickings.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Tommy's running out of places to look,
0:15:01 > 0:15:03and thoughts wander to Sheriffs FC.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06I'll be a forward, Kev on the wing.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09We'll have Wild in defence, with Ken.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12Alan in goal, Grixy will be our manager.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Tommy returns to the van to start organising the removal,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21but is interrupted by another phone call.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25You hold the lease for the grounds here and the building? Yeah.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30There's been a substitution and a new player is on the pitch.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33It's the landlord, who's got wind that the club's goalposts,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37among other things, might be about to be removed,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40and it sounds like he could be willing to make a payment.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43OK, sir. All right, speak to you in a bit. Bye.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46He's willing to pay on their behalf the 3,000,
0:15:46 > 0:15:49and he'll have it paid by midday tomorrow.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51With limited assets here,
0:15:51 > 0:15:53and other multiple claims over their ownership,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56it's a deal Tommy's prepared to agree to.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59The landlord soon arrives at the club,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02where he meets with Tommy off-camera.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06A controlled goods agreement is signed for the assets listed down.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08With the complexities we had there,
0:16:08 > 0:16:12I think it's a good result, getting the CGA £1,500 per month,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15with the £3,000 paid tomorrow.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18The £3,000 arrived as promised,
0:16:18 > 0:16:20and the company which did the work on the pitch
0:16:20 > 0:16:23has started to receive its money.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Lawrence and Kev are in Sevenoaks in Kent.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37They've got another High Court writ to enforce,
0:16:37 > 0:16:42this time against a business which specialises in classic cars.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46We are heading to a car garage called Karden Europe.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50They owe £12,963.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54This debt is relating to the sale of a Porsche, I believe.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58The garage they're going to looks well-stocked,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00and the sheriffs are feeling confident.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Little do they know that today is not going to go as well
0:17:03 > 0:17:05as they would hope.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10The case began when taxi driver Nick Lewthwaite from Durham
0:17:10 > 0:17:13was looking to buy a new car for him and his wife.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16After saving up some money and taking a loan,
0:17:16 > 0:17:20they decided to treat themselves to the car of their dreams.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23It was always my ideal thing to have a Porsche 911,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26the most iconic car.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28And when Nick found one on Auto Trader,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31it seemed to be everything they wanted.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Light metallic blue, matching blue leather.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38It had so many upgrades, it made the car really special.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40Absolutely perfect for what we were looking for.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43The car was some distance away in Kent,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46at a dealers called Karden Europe Limited.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49But Nick made the trip to have a look and met the company director,
0:17:49 > 0:17:51- Andrew Austin. - He seemed very knowledgeable.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54On his website he'd been in the trade for 30 years.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57He explained that he shipped cars all over the world.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59He was a very convincing man.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Nick met the £34,000 asking price with
0:18:02 > 0:18:08the part exchange of his previous car, a BMW, and £15,000 on top.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13He then drove away as the proud owner of a Porsche 911.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Dream come true. It was an absolute dream come true.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20But not everything about the car was perfect.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25After about 100 miles, the clutch started getting slightly heavier
0:18:25 > 0:18:28and it was starting to struggle to go into gear.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31And Nick's wife found it even more difficult.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34She said it was undriveable for her,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36and that's when I rang them up and told them straightaway,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39I said, "There's something not quite right here."
0:18:39 > 0:18:44Mr Austin advised Nick to take it to a specialist who made some repairs,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46but they also made an alarming discovery -
0:18:46 > 0:18:49the car was still on a finance agreement,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51which its previous owner hadn't paid off.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55That means it was still technically owned by the bank.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57I don't know how much was owing on the car,
0:18:57 > 0:18:59but it still had four and a half years to run.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03So I'm effectively paying for a car that I don't own.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Mr Austin claimed he'd taken out the finance arrangement himself as
0:19:07 > 0:19:09the dealer and would soon clear it,
0:19:09 > 0:19:12but when that didn't happen after a week,
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Nick lost faith and arranged to return the car
0:19:15 > 0:19:17and get his old one back.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21He looked round the car and he says, "I'll give you £12,500."
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Which, along with the return of his BMW,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27was £2,500 less than what he paid.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30I said, "Well, you haven't mentioned this on the phone."
0:19:30 > 0:19:33He said, "I've got my loss of profit."
0:19:33 > 0:19:37Eventually Mr Austin offered to reimburse £13,000,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40and Nick decided to accept it for the time being,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43in the form of a cheque.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46I thought, I'll take his cheque for £13,000,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49and I'll take him to the small claims court for the £2,000.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54I'm not going to get into a fist fight over a car.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58Put his cheque into the bank, and unfortunately it bounced,
0:19:58 > 0:20:00it was stopped.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Mr Austin later made a bank transfer for £3,000,
0:20:05 > 0:20:09but despite Nick chasing time and time again for the rest,
0:20:09 > 0:20:10it never came.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Eventually he made a claim through the County Courts.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15The judge ruled against Karden Europe,
0:20:15 > 0:20:17in favour of Nick's wife Nicola,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20as the purchase was originally made from her bank account.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23But that judgment hasn't been paid either.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28Now the Lewthwaites have taken the next logical step.
0:20:28 > 0:20:29So we've involved the sheriffs,
0:20:29 > 0:20:34and basically they're probably the last hope to get any money.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47Back in Kent, Lawrence and Kev are about to arrive at Karden Europe.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Kev's notes suggest Mr Austin wants to come to a deal.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54The debtor has actually been in touch with us
0:20:54 > 0:20:57and tried to make an arrangement...
0:20:59 > 0:21:01..but we're going to head over there now and look for full payment.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05I believe that the garage we're going to has got quite a lot of stock,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08of particularly high-value cars.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13So we're hoping that although 12,900 is quite a lot of money,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16probably it would only take one of these cars to cover the debt entirely.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18I just hope they're not owned by someone else.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24The sheriffs pull into the garage and park up.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27A man is on the forecourt.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31- Hi sir, you work here?- Yes.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35It's Andrew Austin, the garage owner,
0:21:35 > 0:21:39but he's interrupted before Lawrence can find out any more.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42In the meantime, he eyes up the stock.
0:21:42 > 0:21:48That's the TR6 that's on the website for 19,995, I believe. Lovely.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Not all the cars on display here are classics,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54but there's certainly enough to get their teeth into.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56The next question is, who owns them?
0:21:56 > 0:22:01Mr Austin is off the phone, so it's time to find out.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04My name's Mr Grix. My colleague and I are enforcement agents.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06We've got a High Court writ against Karden Europe
0:22:06 > 0:22:09in favour of a Mrs Nicola Lewthwaite.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11- Oh, right, yeah. - You've been in touch about it.
0:22:11 > 0:22:17We're here today to take control of goods to the value of £12,963.19.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20- OK.- The only way to prevent further action is to pay in full.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24OK, well we haven't got... Karden Europe wouldn't have that,
0:22:24 > 0:22:26that amount of goods.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Well, there's plenty of stock on here.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32Yeah... But Karden Europe works as a commission-based company.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34- It sells...- Right, so everything's on SOR?
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- Yeah.- Have you got paperwork to that effect?
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- Yeah, pretty much, yeah.- Yeah, if I can see, that's what I need to see.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Mr Austin says all his cars are sale or return - in other words,
0:22:44 > 0:22:47he's selling them on behalf of their owners for a fee.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51It's exactly what Lawrence and Kev had feared might be the case,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54and Mr Austin seems to have the paperwork to prove it.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Basically, these are sale or return documents
0:22:58 > 0:23:00for every vehicle that we've got here.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- Can I have a quick look through? - Yeah, sure.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Right, we need to go out and check these.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08I'll give you half, I'll have half.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10They head outside and begin checking
0:23:10 > 0:23:13the documents against every car here.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Right, I've got the Kangoo...
0:23:17 > 0:23:19I've got the Maserati...
0:23:20 > 0:23:23And one by one, they rule them out.
0:23:23 > 0:23:24There's the Zafira.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27- Polo.- I've got the Merc.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30- You've got the Merc, yeah.- I've got the TR6 and I've got that Morris.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34But there are a few cars which don't seem to be accounted for.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37There's still other vehicles that are on the forecourt that aren't there,
0:23:37 > 0:23:40which is the Alfa...
0:23:40 > 0:23:42the Focus RS...
0:23:42 > 0:23:45The Focus RS is my own personal vehicle.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48- Right.- That's all financed, on finance.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Right. The Audi?
0:23:50 > 0:23:52- The Audi...- And the black BM 3-Series out the back.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54It's on sale or return.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Right, so we need to see the paperwork for that.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58I haven't got that at this moment in time.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00So you didn't give the person a receipt?
0:24:00 > 0:24:02No.
0:24:02 > 0:24:03That's very...
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Very trusting of him.
0:24:07 > 0:24:12Mr Austin produces more paperwork, to rule out his car and the Alfa,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14leaving just two within Lawrence's reach.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18They're not worth that much, and so he now knows he's not in a position
0:24:18 > 0:24:21to insist on full payment after all.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24His best chance of recovering Nick Lewthwaite's missing money
0:24:24 > 0:24:28might now rest on Mr Austin coming up with a decent offer.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33Mr Austin says the company has no money at all at the moment,
0:24:33 > 0:24:35but Lawrence is sceptical.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39As a business, you can't not be able to get your hands on some kind of money.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Have you got a bank statement you can show me
0:24:41 > 0:24:44that shows your current financial state for the company?
0:24:44 > 0:24:48No, not physically here.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52He does, however, manage to produce a recent e-mail from his bank.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56There you are, look. "I note that the account is overdrawn at 484.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58"Can you please make arrangements to repay this sum."
0:24:58 > 0:25:00- Which we haven't done yet.- Right. - OK?- Yeah.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04As the two cars are the only leverage
0:25:04 > 0:25:08the sheriffs have to squeeze any payment out of Mr Austin,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Lawrence calls his office to organise a tow truck.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15All right...
0:25:15 > 0:25:16Can you give Rob a buzz
0:25:16 > 0:25:20and see what removal trucks he's got available?
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Cheers, bye.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26But rather that than coming up with the money,
0:25:26 > 0:25:29ten minutes later, Mr Austin pops into the back
0:25:29 > 0:25:33and returns with signed SOR agreements for both cars.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Lawrence can't quite understand it.
0:25:38 > 0:25:39Right, but you didn't have them just now,
0:25:39 > 0:25:41so how have you got signed copies?
0:25:41 > 0:25:44- I got them sent through.- From where? - From my accounts woman.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Mr Austin is saying the woman who does his accounts has just sent
0:25:49 > 0:25:51the documents remotely to his printer.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53Lawrence doesn't believe him.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56I believe you've just written these up yourself
0:25:56 > 0:25:57and signed them yourself,
0:25:57 > 0:26:00so I'll just leave the trucks on their way.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02I haven't signed them myself, but there you go.
0:26:02 > 0:26:07At this point, Mr Austin says he needs to go and get a car MOTed
0:26:07 > 0:26:08and starts to leave.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Right, I've got to go.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13- OK then, sir. - I can't leave you in here.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15You can't throw us out, either.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20All right, look, what can I give you in the form of money...?
0:26:20 > 0:26:21- You've just said...- No, no.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25- From me personally, what...? - You said you couldn't do anything.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27I will ask the question again,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30which I've asked you repeatedly since I've been here -
0:26:30 > 0:26:33- what can you pay? - Can I give you 500 quid?
0:26:33 > 0:26:36- No, it's not enough.- Well, there you go, that's my personal account,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38with 663 in it.
0:26:38 > 0:26:39I can do you £500 now,
0:26:39 > 0:26:43and then we can sort out the terms of the rest of the deal.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46After seeing a near-empty bank account
0:26:46 > 0:26:49and faced with the choice of either £500
0:26:49 > 0:26:51or removing some low-value cars,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54which probably don't belong to him anyway,
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Lawrence has finally pushed it as far as he can.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01He takes the £500
0:27:01 > 0:27:06and gets Mr Austin to sign up to a repayment plan for £1,000 a month.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10There's your receipt and your card.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12You've paid £500 today.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14- Yep.- You've got to pay £1,000 a month.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16- Yep.- If you fail to stick to the arrangement,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19we'll come back and take whatever cars are available at the time.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21Yep.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25It's not the outcome they wanted, but it's all they could do.
0:27:25 > 0:27:31Unfortunately, Karden itself, even though it looks good on paper,
0:27:31 > 0:27:33doesn't appear to really have any assets.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Basically every vehicle's on sale or return,
0:27:35 > 0:27:38so Mr Austin paid £500 out of his own account,
0:27:38 > 0:27:40basically just to get rid of us
0:27:40 > 0:27:42and I've signed him up to £1,000 a month,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45which, given that there isn't actually any leverage,
0:27:45 > 0:27:48I don't think that was a bad, bad result.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51But, you know, we pushed as hard as we could.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53Hopefully he'll stick to it.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57Mr Austin told us that the finance on the Porsche was taken out by his company
0:27:57 > 0:28:01and would have been cleared if the Lewthwaites hadn't returned the car.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03He says he deducted money from
0:28:03 > 0:28:05the refund to cover his costs,
0:28:05 > 0:28:07including extra mileage on the car
0:28:07 > 0:28:08and a screw in one of the tyres.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11He says he only stopped the cheque after
0:28:11 > 0:28:14the Lewthwaites threatened further legal action,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17and he says the company tries to act fairly at all times.