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 > 0:00:08They work for the High Court.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12And if it says you're owed money, it'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 > 0:00:24- How're you going to pay it? - ..or remove assets instead.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26The car will be going unless you can pay it.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30You'll have a week to pay in full before it gets sold at auction.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Obstructing their work can be a criminal offence.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35I wouldn't do that if I were you.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37The door needs to stay open.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Every year in England and Wales,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43unpaid debts totalling more than £80 million
0:00:43 > 0:00:45are recovered by the sheriffs.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53Coming up, a steel company owes money to a former employee.
0:00:53 > 0:00:58When Dean didn't pay the final wage, I found it more than unfair.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Tommy and Craig go looking for the boss.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Is it him?
0:01:04 > 0:01:07When the sheriffs evict a group of squatters...
0:01:07 > 0:01:08Wakey wakey!
0:01:08 > 0:01:11..Lawrence makes a suspicious discovery.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Somebody else's credit cards.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17I think we'll have to hand those in to the local police.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23When a business which is still trading owes money,
0:01:23 > 0:01:27more often than not, a single visit from the sheriffs
0:01:27 > 0:01:28is enough to get payment.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32But on other occasions, the sheriffs can find themselves
0:01:32 > 0:01:35banging on the door time after time to get their claimant's money.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38In the West Midlands, Tommy Coyle and Craig Wild
0:01:38 > 0:01:42are about to be given the run-around by a steel tubing company.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44So we're off to Wolverhampton today.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48We're off to go and see a company called Infinity Tubes Limited.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53Infinity Tubes Limited owe just over £2,300.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55They were taken to court by
0:01:55 > 0:01:59Army gunner turned salesman Paul Warren from Blackburn.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01He'd been looking for a new job when
0:02:01 > 0:02:05a recruitment company put him in touch with the Midlands start-up.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09Infinity Tubes was looking to be a specialist in ERW.
0:02:09 > 0:02:15ERW is an electro-resistant welded tube - for example, an exhaust.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18It's a strong but very lightweight product.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22The downside to it is it's very, very cheap,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25and you have to sell a lot of it, and I mean...
0:02:26 > 0:02:29..tens of tonnes of it, to get a good return on it.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34With 13 years of sales experience in the steel industry,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Paul had built up a long list of customer contacts
0:02:37 > 0:02:40and thought he could be just the man for the job.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45I drove down to Birmingham, met with them once and I said,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48"Yeah, I'll give it a shot, I'll see what I can do for you."
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Paul started working from home for the company.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54However, it wasn't long before it became clear
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Infinity Tubes still had a lot of work to do
0:02:57 > 0:03:01before he was going to be able to deliver the sales they needed.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05I soon realised within a week, ten days,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07they really weren't geared up,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10and I explained to them, "You haven't even got a computer system,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12"you don't even have an e-mail."
0:03:12 > 0:03:15And they said, "Well, whatever you need, tell us."
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Paul was given a company car
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and he began trying to drum up business from his contacts,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23but he says he simply wasn't getting the information he needed
0:03:23 > 0:03:27from the company and its director, Dean Shilvock.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30I went back to Dean, I said, "Listen, first thing you need to do,
0:03:30 > 0:03:32"you need to tell me your stock levels." I said,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35"I need price lists. I can't go in to customers without price lists."
0:03:35 > 0:03:38So he wouldn't supply the documentation and the prices
0:03:38 > 0:03:40that I needed to seal the deal,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42and I think the final thing was,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45I said, "I work from home, I need a laptop."
0:03:45 > 0:03:49I ended up buying my own for £350
0:03:49 > 0:03:51because they wouldn't supply a laptop.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Paul only stayed a few weeks before resigning,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00working out his notice period and returning the company car.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03But to his surprise, his final week's wages,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06along with some expenses and holiday pay, didn't show up.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11I rung him, wouldn't answer, rung him, wouldn't answer.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14I texted him and said, "Can you please pay me the wage?"
0:04:14 > 0:04:15The text back I got was,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17"Give me your customer list and we'll pay you the wage."
0:04:17 > 0:04:20So customer lists are bread and butter.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22They're everything, they're your worth.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26My customer list is... 358.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29When Dean said, "Give me all your customer list",
0:04:29 > 0:04:32I was giving up basically 13 years of work.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Paul refused, and the money never came.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41When Dean didn't pay the final wage yet I'd worked that time -
0:04:41 > 0:04:44I'd worked up to Christmas Eve -
0:04:44 > 0:04:47I found it more than unfair.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48We've got bills to pay.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51It was Christmas, and suddenly we'd defaulted on two payments
0:04:51 > 0:04:53out of our bank because we thought,
0:04:53 > 0:04:57we didn't even give it two thoughts that we weren't going to get paid.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Mr Shilvock, meanwhile, was showing no signs of budging,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04and Paul decided he wasn't going to take it lying down.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07So I said, "OK, then, I'll see you in court."
0:05:07 > 0:05:11I knew nothing about how to take somebody to court, small claims,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14I had no idea. I googled it.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Paul filed a claim online and, as is standard practice,
0:05:17 > 0:05:21the court initially offered mediation between the two parties.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Paul agreed to accept a part payment in order to
0:05:24 > 0:05:28bring the matter to a close and it looked like they had a deal.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32We are notified by the magistrates that he's agreed and we've agreed,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and then, with about two days to go,
0:05:34 > 0:05:38he suddenly said, no, he weren't going to. He wasn't paying a penny.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43So instead, Paul had his day in court.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Mr Shilvock never showed up and Paul won a judgment by default.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Four weeks later, when he still hadn't been paid,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54something on the television caught his attention.
0:05:54 > 0:06:00I was sat here and on the TV was your programme, and I went,
0:06:00 > 0:06:02"Hang on... They're sheriffs."
0:06:02 > 0:06:05And my wife said, "Well, why don't WE use the sheriffs?"
0:06:05 > 0:06:09Paul has now had his case transferred up to the High Court
0:06:09 > 0:06:12and is banking on the sheriffs to finally get him his money.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15After seeing the programme...
0:06:15 > 0:06:17I've got a lot of faith in it
0:06:17 > 0:06:20that this will put an end to it, hopefully.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31Back in Wolverhampton, Tommy and Craig are approaching the address
0:06:31 > 0:06:33they've been given for the company.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35That's the central trading estate in there.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Unit 25 we're after, matey boy.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40But as they turn into the site, they get their first inkling
0:06:40 > 0:06:43that this job isn't going to be straightforward.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- There you go, Infinity Welding Limited.- There you go.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49It's not quite the name they were expecting to see.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52We have located the premises and it's down on the actual
0:06:52 > 0:06:55industrial estate map as being Infinity Welding Limited,
0:06:55 > 0:06:57which is a separate entity to our company.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59And as they pull up to the unit,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02none of the branding matches the name on the writ.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Oh, look at that, mate.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Although Infinity Welding Limited's likely to be a connected company,
0:07:08 > 0:07:10the sheriffs would only be able to remove assets
0:07:10 > 0:07:15here if they're owned by the named debtor, Infinity Tubes Limited,
0:07:15 > 0:07:19but for now, ownership is the least of their problems.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22The unit is shut, and looks like it's been abandoned.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24It's not looking good at all.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27They should be open by now. We'll make some enquiries.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30While Tommy heads off to ask the neighbours,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Craig makes some phone calls to see if he can find out more about
0:07:33 > 0:07:37Infinity Welding Limited and its relationship to the debtor.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Can you go on to Companies House for me?
0:07:40 > 0:07:44But it soon becomes irrelevant as neither company is here any more.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Made some enquiries. They've been gone about a week from here.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50It's more or less an empty unit.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54The neighbours across there said they've seen them taking
0:07:54 > 0:07:55various equipment out of here.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59With the debtor no longer present and no sign of any assets,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01there's nothing more the sheriffs can do here.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Unfortunately for Mr Warren at the moment, it's a case
0:08:04 > 0:08:07where we'd have to look to trace the company to another address,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10if they're still trading, and pursue it later on.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15The sheriffs call it quits for now,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18but a few weeks later, they're once again back on the road.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23They've been unable to find a new address for the company
0:08:23 > 0:08:26but they do have information about its directors.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Directors of the company are Dean and Debbie Shilvock,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33with a Luke Plant as well, and they all seem to be quite young.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37The sheriffs have run a trace on the names, and it's come back with
0:08:37 > 0:08:40a residential address, which is where they're now heading,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43but Craig knows there's no guarantee of success.
0:08:43 > 0:08:44Company assets at a home address,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47it's always a hard one for us to go in there,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51try and chase the money, but we'll try our best, as we always do.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57Half the battle is usually catching someone in,
0:08:57 > 0:09:00but this time it seems they're in luck.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04- It looks like there's somebody home. - Someone there?- Top floor window.
0:09:04 > 0:09:09- Hello, sir.- Hello.- Trying to get in contact with...Luke Plant?
0:09:09 > 0:09:14- Doesn't live here.- Or Dean and Debbie Shilvock. Is that yourself?
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- Mr Wild from the sheriffs' office. - What's that for?
0:09:17 > 0:09:19With a High Court writ.
0:09:19 > 0:09:24It's Dean Shilvock, one of the directors of Infinity Tubes Limited.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28He doesn't want our camera on his drive, so we have to leave
0:09:28 > 0:09:31while Craig explains he's here to collect just over two grand.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38Mr Shilvock and his wife say they're willing to pay, but in stages.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42As it's unlikely there are assets here belonging to the debtor company
0:09:42 > 0:09:44the sheriffs have little leverage
0:09:44 > 0:09:46and it's an offer they're willing to consider.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49I'll leave you a letter today with an e-mail address, all right?
0:09:49 > 0:09:51Put your proposal in, that it's three payments or four payments,
0:09:51 > 0:09:55whatever you want to do. We'll forward that on to the claimant.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59It's down to him whether he wants to accept it or not.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01But just when it looks like a done deal,
0:10:01 > 0:10:06Dean offers to go one step further and pay in full the following day.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Craig can hardly believe his luck.
0:10:09 > 0:10:10Website's there, OK?
0:10:10 > 0:10:12All self-explanatory.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16Put your reference number in, and then put your debit card in
0:10:16 > 0:10:19and it'll give you an authorisation code to take the payment paid.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- All right? Cheers, thanks. - Thanks, guys.- Bye-bye.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25So I think that went pretty well, for a home address, at least.
0:10:25 > 0:10:26They were reluctant to pay it initially
0:10:26 > 0:10:29but Dean's decided to get it sorted within 24 hours.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31They haven't got a card there to pay it today
0:10:31 > 0:10:34but we've given them the benefit of the doubt, we've given them 24 hours
0:10:34 > 0:10:36to pay the bill, and if they do, happy days.
0:10:36 > 0:10:37But later on...
0:10:38 > 0:10:41..Craig and Tommy are forced to come knocking once more.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43KNOCKING
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Using the County Courts to try to recover money you're owed
0:10:50 > 0:10:51isn't difficult.
0:10:51 > 0:10:551.5 million money claims are made every year in England and Wales,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58involving anything from faulty goods or poor workmanship
0:10:58 > 0:11:00to unpaid invoices.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05Claims can be filed by post or online for a small fee.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Both parties in the case will be asked to submit evidence
0:11:08 > 0:11:11and you may have to attend a court hearing.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12If you're successful,
0:11:12 > 0:11:17a County Court Judgment, or CCJ, will be issued against the debtor,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21and if they still don't pay, that's when you call the sheriffs.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30It's before dawn and the sheriffs are gathering in Southend in Essex.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32There's lights on up in the property,
0:11:32 > 0:11:34so we need to be really quiet.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38They're here to evict a group of squatters from a nearby building.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42If the window's open, me and Jack go through the window.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45If the door opens easy, then in through the door.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48It's a commercial property which has been vacant for a while,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51and it's thought about a dozen squatters have moved in.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54The owner wants them out so he can renovate the building.
0:11:54 > 0:11:59He's got a writ of possession which the sheriffs are about to enforce.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02On this occasion, getting in proves to be straightforward
0:12:02 > 0:12:04as the window opens easily.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Soon followed by the door.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09All right, let's go.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10Hello!
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Once inside, at first they can't find any sign of the squatters...
0:12:14 > 0:12:18- Where's everybody?- ..until they get through into a second corridor...
0:12:18 > 0:12:20Whoa! Warm in here.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24..where the heating is on full blast and gives the game away.
0:12:24 > 0:12:25Least they've got the heating on.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Yeah, nice and warm there, ain't you?
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Wakey wakey! High Court Enforcement.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Enforcement agents, fellas.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35- Get yourself up, get yourself packed up.- Sorry, and lady.- All right?
0:12:35 > 0:12:38In ten minutes I want to see this door open.
0:12:38 > 0:12:39Start packing your stuff up. What's up, mate?
0:12:39 > 0:12:43He's spoken to you already, yeah? All right, guys.
0:12:43 > 0:12:44On first impressions,
0:12:44 > 0:12:47it seems like it's going to be a straightforward job.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50There's lots and lots of rooms.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54It is about ten people altogether but they're all aware and they all
0:12:54 > 0:12:57seem quite cooperative. They're all just packing up and going.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00I did see a big pile of suitcases in one room near the stairs as we
0:13:00 > 0:13:04came in, so it wouldn't surprise me if they're pretty much ready to go.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09There is one woman, though, who is starting to kick up a fuss.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13She's not happy about the sheriffs' early morning wake-up call
0:13:13 > 0:13:16and thinks the eviction isn't being done legally.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Team leader Mark King sets her straight.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22- That... That paperwork that you've been given...- Mm-hm?
0:13:22 > 0:13:26..OK, entitles me, OK, to come into this property
0:13:26 > 0:13:28however I want to come into here...
0:13:28 > 0:13:33- So busting in like that?- ..and take back possession of it, OK?
0:13:33 > 0:13:35So would it not have been the decent thing to knock, maybe?
0:13:35 > 0:13:38- At the moment...- See if someone answers and then actually do this
0:13:38 > 0:13:40in a decent way, a decent manner?
0:13:40 > 0:13:42The lady here was suggesting that we should have just knocked
0:13:42 > 0:13:45and she'd have come and let us in, which I can see her point,
0:13:45 > 0:13:47but we have to cover our own backs.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50We do face some aggression towards us on jobs like this,
0:13:50 > 0:13:54so we find it easier to catch them when they're sleeping,
0:13:54 > 0:13:59get in, make ourselves known and use the element of surprise.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02The sheriffs are always willing to give the squatters
0:14:02 > 0:14:05a reasonable amount of time to pack their belongings.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08What they don't like is people dragging their feet.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10If you don't get on with packing your stuff,
0:14:10 > 0:14:12you're going to be removed without it.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14That's fine, and I have an issue with all these people
0:14:14 > 0:14:17standing here watching me like I've done something wrong.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Like I said, is there any need for it?
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Right, if you stay here, Angie, with the lady, OK?
0:14:22 > 0:14:24If you just move down a little bit
0:14:24 > 0:14:26and we'll just give you a little bit of space, yeah?
0:14:26 > 0:14:31You pack your stuff up, OK, and then we're out of here, yeah?
0:14:31 > 0:14:34- Absolute- BLEEP- joke.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Does my council tax or anything like that go on this, by any chance?
0:14:37 > 0:14:39- Just curious.- No.- No.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Now, there's a new one I've not come across before.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45A squatter that pays council tax.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47..standing here like we've done something wrong.
0:14:47 > 0:14:48Further down the corridor,
0:14:48 > 0:14:52another man is also questioning the sheriffs' authority.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55What is going on? You're all leaving.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00You're all going. It's not your property.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03The landlord has asked us to take it back for him, so we're...
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Doesn't matter to you who the landlord is.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08We have a High Court writ for you to vacate the property,
0:15:08 > 0:15:10so you need to vacate the property.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15It's none of your business who the landlord is,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18cos you're not in any kind of contract with the landlord, are you?
0:15:18 > 0:15:20You're squatting in his property, so I suggest you go and
0:15:20 > 0:15:23pack your stuff like everybody else is doing and leave.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Thankfully, most of the squatters
0:15:28 > 0:15:30are willing to leave without argument.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33- Have you got everything? - Yeah, I think...
0:15:33 > 0:15:35OK, but you've got everything, yeah?
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Cos once you go, you can't come back in.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Well, whilst they've brought in so many people, that might be kind of
0:15:40 > 0:15:43helpful because some of them can grab some bags for me, right?
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Apart from the woman, all of the squatters are eastern Europeans.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50Oi. Stop.
0:15:53 > 0:15:54Just carry on.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56They don't want any trouble,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59and although the building's being left in a bit of a state,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02it's still not as bad as many squats they've seen.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05We've seen a lot worse buildings than this one, to be fair.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07No holes knocked in walls or anything like that,
0:16:07 > 0:16:10which is always good for the landlord.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12While most of the squatters are now outside,
0:16:12 > 0:16:16one man is taking longer than others to gather his possessions.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20He seems to have quite a lot of stuff and is hoping
0:16:20 > 0:16:21to take it all with him.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27I can't help you take it apart, no.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30He's got a big old double bed in there that he wants to take apart
0:16:30 > 0:16:33and he wanted some help taking it apart.
0:16:33 > 0:16:34We're not going to do that.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37Before you know, you get accused of breaking it and then...
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Just, it's not worth it. It's not worth the aggravation.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42He wanted to take that bed, did he?
0:16:42 > 0:16:44Last male's on the way out now. No more rooms.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Once he's gone, Lawrence makes a suspicious discovery in the room.
0:16:51 > 0:16:57Halifax Visa debit, a Post Office card and a Capital One credit card.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59He's found a pile of bank cards.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04They all belong to different people with English-sounding names.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Lawrence thinks the most likely explanation
0:17:06 > 0:17:08is that they've been stolen.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11I think we'll have to hand those in to the local police.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17With all the squatters now out,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Andy the locksmith is busy securing the building.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23So they'll never get through that, ever.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26All right, let's lock it up.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28While Kev does a final check.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Over the years there has been times
0:17:30 > 0:17:33where people have been hiding in sort of sneaky locations,
0:17:33 > 0:17:36so we make sure it is entirely empty.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40It is, and Lawrence is satisfied it's a job well done.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Everybody's out of the building now
0:17:42 > 0:17:46and now it's just the last little bits. There's a few external doors.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48The last few locks are being changed.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50It's been a good day - no resistance, really.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53There was the young lady who had a bit of a moan,
0:17:53 > 0:17:55wanted to have her say.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58I think she's still saying a few things even now she's out.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Doesn't go much better than that, really,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02and it's all been done fairly quickly.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06It's taken just over an hour to get the squatters out and secure
0:18:06 > 0:18:09the building, which will now be handed back to its rightful owner.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18In the Midlands, Tommy and Craig are on the road, again chasing
0:18:18 > 0:18:23an outstanding debt owed by steel company Infinity Tubes Limited.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25It owes more than £2,000
0:18:25 > 0:18:28after being taken to court by former employee Paul Warren.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30The sheriffs have already visited
0:18:30 > 0:18:32the company's former business premises...
0:18:32 > 0:18:34There you go, Infinity Welding Limited.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36..and the director's home,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39but today they find themselves making a return visit.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42We're going to go and see Mr and Mrs Shilvock,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45who we've been to before. They said they'll pay.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49We gave them seven days to produce the payment,
0:18:49 > 0:18:52which Mr Shilvock said he would do the following day.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Our office have informed us that that hasn't happened,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59so we're off today to see why it hasn't happened.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02The sheriffs pull up at the address and head in.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06KNOCKING
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Hiya, Debbie.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Company director Debbie Shilvock has answered the door but
0:19:11 > 0:19:15she isn't happy about the sheriffs turning up here for a second time.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18The main bone of contention she's just mentioned then is because
0:19:18 > 0:19:21it's a limited company, we shouldn't be attending the home address.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23However, two factors in that -
0:19:23 > 0:19:26A, we haven't got the new company address because
0:19:26 > 0:19:28they've moved from the old address.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31And the second factor is, with a court order,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33we can go anywhere in England and Wales
0:19:33 > 0:19:35where we can find the assets of the defendant,
0:19:35 > 0:19:36in this particular case, a limited company.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Company assets like the office desk, computer, printer,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42laptop, it could all be in there.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Probably not because they've got another premises that
0:19:45 > 0:19:48they trade out of, but it doesn't stop us from coming here legally.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50The sheriffs can attend anywhere
0:19:50 > 0:19:54a debtor carries out a trade or business in order to get paid.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59With Debbie's husband and co-director Dean now apparently on his way,
0:19:59 > 0:20:01they're hoping that's what's about to happen.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04We're going to wait for her husband to come here and try and
0:20:04 > 0:20:07elicit the payment from the husband, who was quite keen last time to
0:20:07 > 0:20:12try and get it resolved, so I can't understand why they haven't paid it.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Ten minutes later, Dean pulls up.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Perhaps he can explain why more than four months after the court
0:20:20 > 0:20:22ruled against Infinity Tubes Limited,
0:20:22 > 0:20:24the company still hasn't settled its debt.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Hiya, Dean.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Mr Shilvock heads inside with the sheriffs, where he explains that
0:20:31 > 0:20:35he believes the court's decision was unfair and wants to challenge it.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Craig explains that while he can appeal, for now,
0:20:38 > 0:20:40the bill needs paying.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Soon, Tommy emerges with news.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Yeah, we've had a conversation with them. They're looking to pay.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49They are going back to court but we've explained it's not going to go away,
0:20:49 > 0:20:51hence we've come back for a second time now.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55So they've agreed to pay it, so he's getting a card machine, going to facilitate the payment.
0:20:55 > 0:21:00Tommy goes back inside, where sure enough the bill is settled in full.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03But while Tommy heads back to the van,
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Craig appears to have got distracted.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09I bet when it fires up, you wake all the neighbours up.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13Dean's Ford Mustang has caught his eye and its proud owner is
0:21:13 > 0:21:15more than happy to show it off.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Over looking at the car now.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Five-litre. Ooh, look, it's kicked in now, look, yeah.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24He wants to have a conversation, does our Craig.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Bet you want to book yourself into a track day!
0:21:26 > 0:21:29CRAIG LAUGHS
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Mustang's a nice bit of kit, a lovely bit of kit. I like my motors.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36Very, very nippy, and Dean quite likes it as well, obviously.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40As for the debt, Craig's satisfied with the day's outcome.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44They've done the decent and right thing by paying it in full.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48In fact, Infinity Tubes Limited never did go back to court.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53And in Blackburn, Paul Warren has finally got the money he's owed.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55The sheriffs have contacted us saying that they've recovered
0:21:55 > 0:21:59the full money from Infinity Tubes, which is fantastic for us.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01It's been a long journey in our eyes.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04We never thought that we'd get to this day but we are.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07It's a great result and a big, big weight off our minds.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08Fantastic.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19When debtors can't pay on the spot...
0:22:19 > 0:22:23I'm assuming that you haven't got £5,000. Oh, dear.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27..the sheriffs won't always remove assets to get your money.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Goods go for about a fifth of their true value at auction,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33and it's often better to agree to a payment plan.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35If you can come up with half of it today.
0:22:35 > 0:22:40- Do you reckon you can do 200 a week? - They'll make a list of assets...
0:22:40 > 0:22:44- Answering machine, bar chiller cabinets.- Television, PlayStation.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47..and a controlled goods agreement is signed,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50making it an offence for anyone else to remove them.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53If you sign the form, it acts as security.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57The sheriffs will only return to take the goods if the debtor
0:22:57 > 0:23:01- fails to make payments.- I've signed him up for £1,000 a month.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Providing you stick to that, you won't hear from us again.
0:23:10 > 0:23:11In the south-east,
0:23:11 > 0:23:15Lawrence and Kev are on their way to collect money owed by a car dealers.
0:23:16 > 0:23:22We are in Cranleigh in Surrey. We're going to Walton Motors.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26It's a four by four showroom, family-run business.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29This debt was incurred as a refund for
0:23:29 > 0:23:34a car that the claimant still has but wants to return it.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36The claimant wasn't happy with the vehicle they've bought from
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Walton Motors and so took them to court.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41When the dealership didn't defend the case,
0:23:41 > 0:23:45judgment was found against them and they were ordered to refund him.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47But two months on,
0:23:47 > 0:23:50they haven't done so, and Lawrence is fairly sure he knows why.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54You can pretty much guarantee the reason they haven't paid it is because they haven't got the car.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- That's going to be the argument, isn't it?- Yep.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59It's one they've heard plenty of times before
0:23:59 > 0:24:02but the car isn't the sheriffs' problem.
0:24:02 > 0:24:08- All that concerns them is the figure on their writ.- They owe £6,045.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14So we're going to go and get that.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17This won't be the first time Lawrence has been to the dealers.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20I bought a nice Isuzu Trooper off them years ago.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22To be fair, never had any trouble with it.
0:24:22 > 0:24:28- He's hoping today's visit will also be plain sailing.- Oh, look at that!
0:24:28 > 0:24:31They've obviously expanded, haven't they?
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Not only that, but they now seem to have
0:24:33 > 0:24:37a large stock of one of car buff Lawrence's favourite motors.
0:24:37 > 0:24:42- Obviously specialising in Land Rovers now.- God, you're going to love this as well, aren't you?
0:24:42 > 0:24:45- You look like you've died and gone to heaven.- Yeah.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47And there's another reason to be cheerful.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50The large number of cars bodes well for getting paid,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53but will it be without any argument?
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Morning. You're in charge at the moment, yeah?
0:24:56 > 0:25:00Well, you'll do. My name's Mr Grix. I'm an enforcement agent.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03We were ordered out today basically to take control of goods to clear a debt.
0:25:03 > 0:25:08The boss isn't here, but the staff quickly get him on the phone.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11- Morning, sir.- And Lawrence doesn't beat around the bush.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13My colleague and I are here today with
0:25:13 > 0:25:16a High Court writ against Walton Motors.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21We were ordered here to take control of goods to the value of £6,045.14,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24and the only way to prevent further action is paying in full.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27At first, it doesn't seem to be ringing any bells with the boss,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30so Lawrence tries to jog his memory.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32He bought a car from you, basically.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34And he's taken you to court.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37But, just as the sheriffs anticipated,
0:25:37 > 0:25:40the man wants to know if he's getting the car back.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44There's a note on my file that says he's still got the car and he wants to give it back but, obviously,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47he's not going to until you settle this judgment, sir.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49But that's not something we get involved with.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51We're ordered out because you haven't paid it.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Courts can demand the return of goods in exchange for
0:25:57 > 0:26:02a refund only, in this case, no such conditions were applied.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05But just as Lawrence thinks he might have a battle on his hands,
0:26:05 > 0:26:06the mood changes.
0:26:08 > 0:26:14- Yes, we are. Yeah.- The man has seen the sheriffs on the telly.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18I'm the fat bald one with the goatee beard and my colleague,
0:26:18 > 0:26:20who's always working with me, he's here as well.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22With the boss fully in the picture,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25conversation quickly turns to methods of payment.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28We've got a chip and pin machine here or you can go online and
0:26:28 > 0:26:30pay with the card.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33If you want to do that and then give us a buzz back here,
0:26:33 > 0:26:35and I'll get in touch with my office and just confirm the payment's
0:26:35 > 0:26:38in then I'll leave a receipt here and be on my way.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43All right. Cheers. Bye-bye. He's going to ring back in a minute.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Things are moving in the right direction.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Kev's sizing up the assets on the forecourt, just in case,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53but he's pretty confident of getting the matter resolved.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Sounds like he's just going to pay online and then try and get
0:26:56 > 0:26:59the vehicle back but, obviously, that's not why we're here.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02Sounds like our client wants to give the vehicle back - he doesn't want it.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Sure enough, a few minutes later, the boss is back on the phone.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Hello, sir.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11The payment's gone through so, with the bill settled,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Lawrence offers some friendly advice about retrieving the vehicle
0:27:14 > 0:27:16from the claimant.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18I would say, probably within about 48 hours, you'd be safe to give
0:27:18 > 0:27:24him a ring and say, look, it's been paid, what about having my car back?
0:27:25 > 0:27:26Cheers. Bye.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32Big fan of the show, really liked it, and he just said,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35I've made everything really simple for you, and I said, yeah,
0:27:35 > 0:27:41- thank you very much.- The man has paid the full £6,045 outstanding.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44The long drawn-out argument the sheriffs had feared never
0:27:44 > 0:27:47- materialised and they're soon on their way.- Thank you very much.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49- We'll leave you in peace.- Cheers.
0:27:49 > 0:27:50That went very smoothly.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52There were a few guys in there,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55none of them the owner of the business, but they got the owner
0:27:55 > 0:27:57on the phone, paid it on the card ten minutes later.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Job done.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Back in the van. Let's get some food.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Yep, it's already in the Sat Nav, mate.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09The claimant will now get back the money the court says he's owed.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11He'll have to come to an agreement with the garage about
0:28:11 > 0:28:12the return of the car.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Walton Motors told us they are a family-run business which has
0:28:17 > 0:28:22been trading for 36 years and this incident was very out of character.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25And they say they made numerous attempts to try to resolve
0:28:25 > 0:28:27the dispute with the claimant.