0:00:00 > 0:00:04- Meet the sheriffs. - My name is Mr Grix. My colleagues and I are enforcement agents.
0:00:04 > 0:00:10They work for the High Court and if it says you are 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 > 0:00:21How are you going to pay it?
0:00:21 > 0:00:23..or remove assets instead.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26The car will be going unless you can pay it.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29You will 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 > 0:00:34I wouldn't do that if I were you.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36The door needs to stay open.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Every year in England and Wales
0:00:39 > 0:00:45unpaid debts totalling more than £80 million are recovered by the sheriffs.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Coming up...
0:00:50 > 0:00:56Valerie Hull spent £10,000 on a boat, only to discover it was a wreck.
0:00:56 > 0:01:01The engine was rusty and in pieces, basically.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06But the man who sold it is in no hurry to refund her cash.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Can I pay £1,000 now and pay the rest shortly?
0:01:09 > 0:01:10We have to collect that today.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17At a demolition company, Lawrence eyes up some seriously heavy goods.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19We've been sent to this address today to take control of goods
0:01:19 > 0:01:22which at the moment are the excavators and the crusher.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Ken meets a debtor with an identity crisis.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29This guy, in a roundabout way, is trying to palm me off.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37Enforcement agents Craig Wild and Tommy Coyle are in the van
0:01:37 > 0:01:40and on the motorway before the sun is up.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43They've got a High Court writ for more than £12,000
0:01:43 > 0:01:46against a member of the public and they are on their way
0:01:46 > 0:01:47to his home address.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50It's early in the morning, it's just 7 o'clock,
0:01:50 > 0:01:53we are off to a little village which is just south of Birmingham.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56We are going to see Mr Jason Holdsworth.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01It's in relation to a boat that Mr Holdsworth sold on eBay which wasn't
0:02:01 > 0:02:02apparently fit for purpose.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Mr Holdsworth sold the boat to Valerie Hull.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09She and her partner had their hearts set on owning a boat
0:02:09 > 0:02:14and, after months of deliberation, had decided to take the plunge.
0:02:14 > 0:02:19We had retired. It seemed a good idea to be able to go to the Tewkesbury Marina
0:02:19 > 0:02:22and have some leisure time on this boat.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26I'm not saying we'll ever go out to sea on it but it just was a nice way of
0:02:26 > 0:02:28relaxing and enjoying our retirement.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31When they found what they thought was a good deal online
0:02:31 > 0:02:35for a Crownline 250 CR, they leapt at the opportunity.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38The pictures of it were beautiful. It was in excellent condition.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Couldn't see any fault with it,
0:02:40 > 0:02:45and at £10,000 it seemed like a really good buy.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48The seller was Jason Holdsworth and he invited them to his house
0:02:48 > 0:02:50to talk it over.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53We sat down, chatted about the boat and the good condition it is.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57But there was one problem. Mr Holdsworth said he needed a quick sale.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03He said that where it was moored, which was Cardiff Yacht Club,
0:03:03 > 0:03:08he was having to pay £150 a week for it to stay there.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12It was too far away to go and see it at short notice
0:03:12 > 0:03:13so, fearful of losing out,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17Valerie and her partner agreed to a blind purchase.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22And the arrangement was the next day, just after nine o'clock,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25I would put the money into his bank account by bank transfer
0:03:25 > 0:03:30and he would pay for having it delivered from Cardiff to Tewkesbury.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33But no sooner had Valerie stumped up the cash,
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Mr Holdsworth called to change the arrangement.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41An hour later, I got a phone call from Mr Holdsworth saying we couldn't
0:03:41 > 0:03:44have the boat Thursday now, it would be the following week.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47We were a little bit perplexed because we thought in that
0:03:47 > 0:03:51time limit, we could have actually gone to Cardiff and looked at it.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55The boat was delivered the following week, but Valerie was in for a shock.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57First, there was the delivery.
0:03:57 > 0:04:03The company that had towed it there asked for the fee for taking it
0:04:03 > 0:04:06and we said that was part of the deal, it was a free tow.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09He went, "No, he hasn't paid us."
0:04:09 > 0:04:11And then there was the boat itself.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13It's damp, it's musty.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16All the wiring was hanging inside the boat,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19so none of the wiring was connected at all.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23The front leather seats, which on the pictures were beautiful white seats,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26were actually dark grey and torn.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29And the engine in the engine bay
0:04:29 > 0:04:32was rusty and in pieces, basically.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35It was just horrible.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39As the couple were inexperienced, they sought a second opinion.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44An engineer came, did a report for us and he said, "This engine is rusty,
0:04:44 > 0:04:48"it's not going to turn, it's never going to be any good
0:04:48 > 0:04:52"and, quite frankly, my advice is to try and get your money back
0:04:52 > 0:04:55"because it's not going to do anything, this boat, at all."
0:04:55 > 0:04:59The couple began trying to get their money back from Mr Holdsworth.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02They had hoped he would be responsive, but it wasn't to be.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08We did try various things, we went through all the right sequences,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12but even when we rang him on his mobile, he ignored us.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13He just cut us off.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18Court was the only option and the couple won their case when Jason didn't attend.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22But he still hasn't paid them back and, in the meantime, they are
0:05:22 > 0:05:26forking out more than £300 a month in mooring fees
0:05:26 > 0:05:29when they don't even have a usable boat.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31It's heartbreaking, really.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34We are pensioners, we are retired.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36It's an incredible amount of money to lose.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39All we can do now is leave it with the sheriffs and keep our fingers
0:05:39 > 0:05:44crossed and hope that they will be able to do something for us.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Tommy and Craig are on the outskirts of Birmingham.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58More than 60 miles from the nearest coastline, it's an unlikely location
0:05:58 > 0:05:59to find a boat dealer.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03Nevertheless, it appears to be where Mr Holdsworth lives.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05They think they're on the right road,
0:06:05 > 0:06:09but there's no sign of any boats conveniently sitting on a driveway.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Also, all the houses here just seem to have numbers,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14when they have only been given a name.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16I can't see it. I think it's back there.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19But Craig thinks he's worked it out.
0:06:19 > 0:06:20It's this one here.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22So they pull up and try their luck.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25Hello, sir.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Sorry to disturb you. I'm trying to find a property called The Stables.
0:06:30 > 0:06:31Any idea?
0:06:31 > 0:06:35But the man says this isn't it, and he's not Jason.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40You are not him, no? This isn't The Stables?
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- Right.- But something tells Craig that the man knows more than he is
0:06:44 > 0:06:45letting on.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Cos on the back of your jacket, it's got Holdsworth.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50And that's not all.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52So, is Jason your son, is he,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54or summat? And this is The Stables, yeah?
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Down the bottom there, on the brick.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02He is indeed Jason's father.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06He says Jason doesn't live here and he will try to get him on the phone.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12A bit early for him, I suppose, isn't it?
0:07:13 > 0:07:15What do you do yourself?
0:07:15 > 0:07:16Construction.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22Oh, right, yeah, new builds.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26Craig is not getting far with his small talk and Mr Holdsworth Senior
0:07:26 > 0:07:30heads off for a meeting, leaving the sheriffs alone on the driveway.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Just as they wonder what to do next, Jason appears on foot.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39- Are you all right? - Hello, mate, Jason, is it?
0:07:39 > 0:07:41- Yes.- Hi, I'm Mr Wild.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43- How are you?- Not too bad.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47It's to do with a High Court writ, a court order, for...
0:07:48 > 0:07:49..Valerie Hull.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53She's obviously took a court order against you
0:07:53 > 0:07:56for some boat or something you sold.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Jason clearly knows all about the case and invites the sheriffs in
0:08:01 > 0:08:02to explain.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Jason claims he thought the legal process wasn't over,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09but it is and the sheriffs are here to collect.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12The balance stands at the moment at just over £12,000.
0:08:12 > 0:08:13It's gone up by £2,000?
0:08:13 > 0:08:18At the moment you've incurred £1,200 enforcement fees,
0:08:18 > 0:08:23£535 judgment costs, and £129 interest.
0:08:23 > 0:08:24Are you in a position to pay that?
0:08:24 > 0:08:27No. What happens with the boat that she's got of mine?
0:08:27 > 0:08:29It's worth 12-£15,000.
0:08:29 > 0:08:35The order that I've got at the moment is just to recover the money from you.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37When he didn't defend the case in court,
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Ms Hull was granted a default judgment and Jason lost his chance to ask
0:08:41 > 0:08:44for the return of the boat to be included on the order.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46If they want the boat back to me, that's fine.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49I could sell the boat quite easily...
0:08:49 > 0:08:51..for more than...
0:08:51 > 0:08:52..they paid. Yeah, yeah.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Unfortunately, the court order commands us to come along today and demand
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- payment from you.- Yes.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00All right, can I pay that this weekend?
0:09:00 > 0:09:02We have to collect that today.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Can't I pay £1,000 now and pay the rest shortly?
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Craig is not keen on vague promises of future payment,
0:09:09 > 0:09:12so Jason's dad steps in,
0:09:12 > 0:09:15offering to pay on his cards and from his savings account,
0:09:15 > 0:09:21but he'll have to make a trip to the bank when it opens in an hour or so's time.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Craig doesn't want to wait around,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27but he's also not willing to leave without a guarantee of getting
0:09:27 > 0:09:30Valerie's money, so he comes up with a plan.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33The Stables is where you live which is just further down the lane, is it?
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- Yes.- Have you got a vehicle?
0:09:35 > 0:09:38- Yeah, I've got some cars there. - If I can list something down now,
0:09:38 > 0:09:42you sign the form, it acts as security until nine o'clock.
0:09:42 > 0:09:48Provided Jason's vehicles are worth enough, then a control of goods agreement could be the answer.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53It would effectively give the sheriffs ownership of the cars until the debt is paid off.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00Jason's house is close by and, on arrival, the sheriffs see just what they want on the driveway.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02There is his Jag there.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04A large motor, isn't it?
0:10:04 > 0:10:07The Range Rover and the pick-up behind.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09That will do.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Only one of the cars is on finance
0:10:11 > 0:10:14and the other two will do nicely.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17So Craig gets straight down to business.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19The two vehicles act as security.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22If I can get you to sign and print your name there for me.
0:10:22 > 0:10:23Sure.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28The deal is done but Jason isn't particularly happy about it.
0:10:28 > 0:10:33He still says there was nothing wrong with the boat he sold Ms Hull.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36What I think is they found out it's going to be £5,000 a year
0:10:36 > 0:10:39to keep the boat in the water and they didn't want the boat any more,
0:10:39 > 0:10:43so basically I said, "Look, if you want to bring the boat back to the yard,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46"get it delivered back to the yard on a trailer,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48"then we can have a look at obviously refunding your money."
0:10:48 > 0:10:53I didn't hear anything back from them for a few months and then got the court letter
0:10:53 > 0:10:54saying that I owed £10,500.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57I rang my solicitor, she dealt with it all,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00they've sent me a letter back to The Stables, which I haven't received.
0:11:00 > 0:11:01OK, lovely.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Cheers.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05- Cheers, guys. Take care.- Thanks for your time, mate. Take care.
0:11:05 > 0:11:11Nevertheless, the court made its decision and Jason must now pay his debt in full.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13The sheriffs are confident he will.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15I think they've got the money all day long.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17They are going to pay at ten o'clock in full.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20Clearly he signed control of the goods of his vehicles over to the custody of the court
0:11:20 > 0:11:21so if they don't pay,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24we'll be back this afternoon to remove them.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Mr Holdsworth did indeed settle his bill later in the day
0:11:27 > 0:11:31and Valerie has finally got her money back.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Absolutely brilliant.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37We can now carry on with our retirement...
0:11:37 > 0:11:41..hopefully look forward to getting back on the water with another boat.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45We are just so happy we've got the money back.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Using the County Courts to try to recover money you are owed
0:11:55 > 0:11:59isn't difficult. 1.5 million money claims are made every year
0:11:59 > 0:12:01in England and Wales,
0:12:01 > 0:12:05involving anything from faulty goods or poor workmanship to unpaid invoices.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Claims can be filed by post or online for a small fee.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15Both parties in the case will be asked to submit evidence and you may have
0:12:15 > 0:12:17to attend a court hearing.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19If you are successful,
0:12:19 > 0:12:23a County Court judgment or CCJ will be issued against the debtor and if
0:12:23 > 0:12:26they still don't pay, that's when you call the sheriffs.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Enforcing a writ often requires the sheriffs to draw on all of their
0:12:34 > 0:12:37powers of persuasion and negotiation.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40These tactics work best when the debtor is willing to engage in a
0:12:40 > 0:12:43meaningful dialogue.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46But occasionally, debtors simply don't want to play ball.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48In the South East today,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51sheriffs Lawrence Grix and Kev McNally are about to demonstrate that
0:12:51 > 0:12:54persistence is another useful skill to have.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58This morning we are on our way to Pyecombe in West Sussex,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00just outside Brighton.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03We're going to see Wealden Haulage & Demolition Limited.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07And this debt is relating to...
0:13:07 > 0:13:14..tipper hire charges, crushed concrete haulage, and muck away.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19In other words, waste disposal services, supplied by another company,
0:13:19 > 0:13:21who haven't been paid.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Wealden Haulage & Demolition Limited were taken to court and didn't
0:13:24 > 0:13:28offer a defence. So judgment was entered by default.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Three months later, and they still haven't paid,
0:13:32 > 0:13:36but the sheriffs are hoping to finally make sure they do.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39They owe a total of £16,335.
0:13:41 > 0:13:46They actually operate off a farm, so we're going to go there.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48As they turn into the address,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51they immediately set eyes on a haulage truck.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53This is the right place, innit?
0:13:53 > 0:13:59They head past the farm shop and up the track towards a house.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03Hello. Hello, you two, hello!
0:14:04 > 0:14:05- Morning, sir.- Hello.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08I'm looking for Wealden Haulage & Demolition Limited.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10- That's me.- That's you.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13It's Markus Saich, the company director.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16We have a High Court writ to execute against Wealden Haulage &
0:14:16 > 0:14:21Demolition. The amount outstanding today is £16,335.99.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25- Right.- We're ordered now to take control of goods to that value
0:14:25 > 0:14:26- to clear the debt.- Right.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29And the only way to prevent further action is to pay in full.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Yeah, but I've applied to the courts to have that set aside,
0:14:31 > 0:14:32and I'm waiting to hear back so...
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Right, an application doesn't stop enforcement, sir.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38- I'm told... I'm told it does. - By a solicitor?- Yeah.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Yeah, no, it doesn't. Is this your private residence,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42or is the business actually run from here?
0:14:42 > 0:14:45The business is run from down there, this is my private residence.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Right. I'm assuming you don't want goods removed.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49No, I don't know what goods you are going to remove,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52cos there isn't anything here that isn't on HP.
0:14:52 > 0:14:58But before Lawrence can probe the details, Mr Saich simply walks off.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02It's a bizarre turn of events, but Lawrence isn't fazed.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I'm just going to make a note of some registrations,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07then we'll go down to where the business is run from,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10because we're more likely to find some assets down there, I would think.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14The sheriffs get in the van and drive back to the farm shop,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17where it looked like Mr Saich was headed.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21As they approach, Kev thinks he spots movement inside.
0:15:21 > 0:15:22- He's in there.- What, in the shop?
0:15:22 > 0:15:23- Yeah.- Is that where he is?
0:15:23 > 0:15:24Yeah.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31But any hopes that they may have found Mr Saich soon evaporate.
0:15:31 > 0:15:32No, it's shut.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38The farm shop is locked, and there's no sign of anyone inside.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41There was someone in there, 100%, and there's no-one else around,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44- is there?- No. There might be an office at the back or something.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Lawrence has a nose around, but there's no other way in,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51and still no sign of Mr Saich.
0:15:51 > 0:15:56Their best option now to get the debt paid is to identify some company assets,
0:15:56 > 0:15:58which, on paper, should be straightforward.
0:15:58 > 0:16:04They've got fixed assets of 674 grand, or they did have in November '15.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05There's also this tipper.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07That truck's what we need, really.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09But it's massive.
0:16:09 > 0:16:10We can't really clamp it, can we?
0:16:10 > 0:16:12No. Definitely!
0:16:12 > 0:16:16I don't think there is a clamp on the market that will get on the wheel of one of those.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19So with Mr Saich unwilling to cooperate,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22this time the sheriffs will have to call it quits - for now.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26I'm just going to leave paperwork, and that's that.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30Later, the saga continues when the sheriffs pay
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Wealden Haulage & Demolition another visit.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Enforcement agent Ken Warby is no mug,
0:16:41 > 0:16:46and today his nose to sniff out a tall story is going to come in handy.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49He's on his way to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire
0:16:49 > 0:16:51in search of a local businessman.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55We are going to visit someone called Mr Rostami,
0:16:55 > 0:16:59trading as LJ's Nightclub.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03Mr Ebi Rostami's been sued by a woman who was injured
0:17:03 > 0:17:07after slipping in his club. A court's ordered him to pay, but he hasn't,
0:17:07 > 0:17:11so it's Ken's job to collect £5,213,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14including costs and fees.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19It turns out Ken is no stranger to the nightclub scene himself.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Give me a half of shandy, and...
0:17:24 > 0:17:27I can pull a few shapes on the dance floor, absolutely.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29But sadly, we won't get to see that today,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32as it seems the nightclub has shut down.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35We was there a couple of weeks ago, and that's empty,
0:17:35 > 0:17:39so we're turning our attentions now to this new address.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43Sheriffs are permitted to visit any address where they believe
0:17:43 > 0:17:45the debtor may have assets,
0:17:45 > 0:17:49and they've been told Mr Rostami also runs a cafe.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52This second business could be the key to Ken getting his claimant's money.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56He reaches Aylesbury,
0:17:56 > 0:17:57parks up...
0:17:57 > 0:18:02and heads into town on foot, passing the nightclub on the way.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Just checking to see no-one's moved back in there,
0:18:05 > 0:18:09but it is as it was a couple of weeks ago.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12The cafe is just down the road, and Ken heads in.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Hello. I wanted to speak to Mr Rostami.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27He's the owner, yeah?
0:18:27 > 0:18:29I need to speak to him urgently.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Can someone get hold of him?
0:18:33 > 0:18:34Thank you.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38The barwoman heads off to see if she can track down Mr Rostami,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41and shortly afterwards a man appears from the back.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43Hello.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46It's Mr Rostami I want to speak to.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51Sorry, are you a... Are you a manager here?
0:18:51 > 0:18:55In fact, although Ken has no way of knowing it, this is Mr Rostami,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58and he's being somewhat economical with the truth.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05He's not here?
0:19:06 > 0:19:07Right.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Well, you need to get him on the phone,
0:19:11 > 0:19:14because I need to speak to him urgently, thank you.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Cheers.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Mr Rostami walks off, and although he doesn't know the full story,
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Ken smells a rat.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Well, this is interesting. I think this guy, in a roundabout way,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27is trying to palm me off to someone else.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31It's ten minutes since Mr Rostami disappeared
0:19:31 > 0:19:34before a new member of staff comes to speak to Ken.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45Right. We were informed that the guy owned this as well.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49Right, OK. Did he used to own this, then?
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Right. I need to speak to the owner,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55because I've got a High Court writ of control,
0:19:55 > 0:19:58which gives me authority to remove goods from here in lieu of an
0:19:58 > 0:20:01outstanding amount that he owes.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03So you need to make some phone calls
0:20:03 > 0:20:06and get him or her down here straightaway.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09So while one staff member thinks Mr Rostami owns the cafe,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12another seems to know nothing about it.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Ken's not sure what exactly is going on,
0:20:15 > 0:20:19but he knows better than to take the barman's word for it.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21"He doesn't own this, Michelle owns this."
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Well, I'm not going to go away on that basis.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27I need to speak to the supposed owner or new owner of this place,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30and I need some proof that she is the owner here.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35Soon enough, a woman turns up who appears to be a manager.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37Hello.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Are you Michelle?
0:20:45 > 0:20:49Our cameraman obliges and steps out onto the street.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Ken follows shortly afterwards,
0:20:52 > 0:20:56and it seems Michelle has told him the same thing as the barman.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59She just confirms that he shut the nightclub down, this guy,
0:20:59 > 0:21:01and he has nothing to do with this place.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05I said, "I need to see some proof that you are the sole owner of this place."
0:21:05 > 0:21:07She said, "Well, it's going through."
0:21:07 > 0:21:09And then I said, is your name on the business rates?
0:21:09 > 0:21:11She said, "No, it's still his name."
0:21:11 > 0:21:13I said, "You need to find this money and find it all,
0:21:13 > 0:21:18"because I will be removing your goods."
0:21:20 > 0:21:24If Mr Rostami has indeed sold the business to this Michelle,
0:21:24 > 0:21:26it must've been fairly recently.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29There's even still a job advert in the window with his name and mobile
0:21:29 > 0:21:33number on it. Not to mention his earlier appearance behind the bar.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Ken is not going to walk away from this one in a hurry.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42And soon enough, there is an offer of payment.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45She said that she can't come up with the full amount of money but she can
0:21:45 > 0:21:50come up with £2,000 and she has offered to clear the debt in three weeks.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53So rather than shut the business down,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56which in effect is what it will do if we remove everything from there,
0:21:56 > 0:22:02I'm going to get on and do that now and hopefully that will be good enough for the client.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05The news is she is actually, um...
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Mr Rostami's ex-wife,
0:22:08 > 0:22:09so that's the connection.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Dig a little bit deeper and we always get the truth in the end.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18A good result for the client, on to the next job.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Following filming, the debt owed by Mr Rostami was paid in full.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27The young woman who was injured in LJ's nightclub
0:22:27 > 0:22:30has now got the money awarded to her by the court.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Lawrence and Kev are once again on the trail of a debt owed by
0:22:41 > 0:22:44a company called Wealden Haulage & Demolition Limited.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47They previously visited the company's registered address,
0:22:47 > 0:22:49which was on a farm.
0:22:49 > 0:22:50This is the right place, innit?
0:22:50 > 0:22:53But the director, Markus Saich, was far from helpful...
0:22:55 > 0:22:59..and the only real asset there wasn't going anywhere in a hurry.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02That will have to go on an articulated low loader.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Or possibly be dragged.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Other vehicles seen at the site have now been confirmed as being on
0:23:08 > 0:23:12finance and further contact with Mr Saich hasn't come to much.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17The director did contact me saying that there was an order from
0:23:17 > 0:23:20the court stopping enforcement,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23but despite repeated requests, he hasn't provided that.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27So as far as we're concerned, this writ is still live.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30So far, they've had the doors shut in their face at every turn,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33but the sheriffs don't give up easily
0:23:33 > 0:23:35and now they've got a new lead -
0:23:35 > 0:23:38a tip-off of a site where Wealden might be operating.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42So they're going there in the hope of collecting the £19,000 now owing.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45On arrival, it appears to be
0:23:45 > 0:23:48some kind of aggregate processing facility.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51There aren't any signs mentioning the debtor company
0:23:51 > 0:23:55but Lawrence spots a man working on the site and tries his luck.
0:23:55 > 0:23:56Morning.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02I'm looking for Wealden Haulage & Demolition.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04That's you? My name's Mr Grix.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06My colleague and I are enforcement agents,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09we've got a High Court writ against Wealden Haulage & Demolition.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11We're ordered here today to take control of goods,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14which, by the looks of it, are the excavator and the crusher.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Are you able to get him on the phone?
0:24:16 > 0:24:20- Thank you very much. - So far, so good...
0:24:21 > 0:24:24..until Lawrence is handed the phone.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Morning, sir.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Was it you I met at the other address at your house?
0:24:29 > 0:24:32It is indeed the company director, Markus Saich.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35We've been sent to this address today, sir, to take control
0:24:35 > 0:24:38of goods which, at the moment, is the excavators and the crusher.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42Once again, Lawrence is told everything is on finance.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Have you got paperwork to that effect?
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Are you able to get that to us?
0:24:47 > 0:24:50- You're not?- Mr Saich says if Lawrence wants the paperwork
0:24:50 > 0:24:53- he can come and get it.- Right, well, I'm not coming there, sir,
0:24:53 > 0:24:57because I'm here and I'm going to be taking these goods into control.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01But not only is Mr Saich refusing to bring the documents the sheriffs
0:25:01 > 0:25:02need to see,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05he's now once again claiming that enforcement action has been stopped
0:25:05 > 0:25:08by the courts. Lawrence is sceptical.
0:25:08 > 0:25:09You told me weeks ago, sir,
0:25:09 > 0:25:13there was an order from the court stopping execution.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17I've asked you repeatedly for that and you haven't provided it.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20It hasn't been stopped until you find out what's going on.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22I have a live writ.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25OK, then, sir, call the police.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27It would be far more helpful if you have got...
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Oh, there you go.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Actually, it'd be a good thing if the police turn up now.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33That might prompt him to get down here
0:25:33 > 0:25:36and that'd be better for us. It's one of the ways we can progress
0:25:36 > 0:25:37this one at the moment.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43Otherwise, Mr Saich's reluctance to cooperate is once again leaving the
0:25:43 > 0:25:45sheriffs in a tricky position.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48If the machinery really doesn't belong to Wealden Haulage
0:25:48 > 0:25:50& Demolition Limited, then removing
0:25:50 > 0:25:53it would be a very expensive mistake.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56But it doesn't sound like the director's going to help them put
0:25:56 > 0:25:57the ownership beyond doubt.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00The director of the company doesn't really want to speak to us.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03If the vehicles ARE leased from somebody, just give us the paperwork
0:26:03 > 0:26:05- and we can go away.- As it is,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08the sheriffs will have to work it out for themselves,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11so they head inside the yard for a closer look.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15But as they do, the worker present asks our camera to leave and shuts
0:26:15 > 0:26:17the gates behind him.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22Seeing the chain go on, Lawrence gives the man a warning.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26I know that obviously your boss is telling you to do things but I just
0:26:26 > 0:26:28have to advise you, from your point of view,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30it is a criminal offence to obstruct us.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33So I'm just advising you on a personal level
0:26:33 > 0:26:37because I wouldn't want you doing anything that puts you personally in
0:26:37 > 0:26:40jeopardy because you're following your boss's instructions.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46The employee goes back to work while the sheriffs have a nose around.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50However, their exploration of the site reveals nothing besides
0:26:50 > 0:26:52the huge amounts of concrete
0:26:52 > 0:26:55and no further clues to the ownership of the machines.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58There's a building next to the yard with another company's name over the
0:26:58 > 0:27:02door, so Kev heads in to ask what, if anything,
0:27:02 > 0:27:06they can tell the sheriffs about the crusher and the diggers.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08He soon returns with news.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11- That crusher's financed and it's owned by this lot.- Yeah.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13But he got his boss on the phone and he was like, "Yeah, no, no,
0:27:13 > 0:27:17- "it's definitely ours." And they've got no reason to...- No.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21They began the day hoping to walk out of here with nearly £20,000,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24but that now looks like a tall order.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28# Don't know where we're going Got no way of knowing
0:27:28 > 0:27:31# Driving on the road to nowhere. #
0:27:31 > 0:27:33More than two hours after they arrived, and with no sign
0:27:33 > 0:27:35of the police,
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Lawrence eventually gets a call from the debtor's solicitor,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40who's only just been instructed.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44They say they'll need a few days to collect the relevant paperwork.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Frustrated, but with no leverage to demand payment,
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Lawrence has no choice but to agree.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53If you're actually going to cooperate, which I imagine you will,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55and deal with this in a sensible manner,
0:27:55 > 0:27:57rather than just being obstructive like your client,
0:27:57 > 0:28:00I'll give you till close of business on Monday to get the paperwork over.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02And then I'm quite happy to leave it.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Otherwise, I'll be back and I will remove it.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07But it never comes to that.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Following filming, Wealden Haulage & Demolition Limited paid the sheriffs
0:28:10 > 0:28:14just over £19,000, clearing their debt in full.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18The waste disposal company which hadn't been paid
0:28:18 > 0:28:20has now got the money they were owed.