0:00:02 > 0:00:03- Meet the Sheriffs. - My name's Mr Grix,
0:00:03 > 0:00:05my colleague and I are enforcement agents.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07- It's to do with a High Court order. - They work for the High Court,
0:00:07 > 0:00:12and if it says you are owed money, it's their job to go and get it.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16I am 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 > 0:00:24..or remove assets instead.
0:00:24 > 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 > 0:00:35- I wouldn't do that, if I were you. - The door needs to stay open.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Every year in England and Wales,
0:00:40 > 0:00:42unpaid debts totalling more than £80 million
0:00:42 > 0:00:44are recovered by the sheriffs.
0:00:49 > 0:00:54Coming up - Kieron Kelly discovered his new car had been in a crash.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56I was stunned, shocked, angry.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58I didn't drive the car any more.
0:00:58 > 0:01:03When the dealer responsible says he can't pay, Lawrence has other ideas.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06West Car Sales have got all the cars that are here.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08- Yes.- Unfortunately, that's who we're here for.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Ken won't take no for an answer at a hotel with a debt to pay.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Please start making these phone calls now
0:01:16 > 0:01:18to get this money to me now, OK? I'll wait.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23And Lawrence gets tired of being messed around by a beautician.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Half hour later, she's still on her way.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27I don't like being told one thing, then another.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36In Kent, enforcement agents Lawrence Grix and Kev McNally
0:01:36 > 0:01:39are on the road. They've got a High Court writ
0:01:39 > 0:01:41to collect a debt owed by a car dealer.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Right, today we're in Sittingbourne.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47We're going to West Car Sales.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50We're looking for £1,452.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54I presume the debt is relating to the sale of a second-hand vehicle.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59The claimant in the case is Kieron Kelly.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03He first came across West Car Sales when he was looking for
0:02:03 > 0:02:05a cheap second-hand car and checked out the stock
0:02:05 > 0:02:07at a few of his local dealers.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12I saw a car that was appealing to me, it was within my price range.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14The car was a Renault Megane.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18It was black, it was a five-door car.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20We have four grandchildren,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23so of course, from time to time we pick the children up from school.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27So what we needed was a car that would be able to accommodate
0:02:27 > 0:02:29both myself and my partner and the grandkids.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36Kieron went to the dealers and met the salesman there, a Mr Jeff Lee.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38He was quite an amenable chap, he was quite friendly,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41he seemed quite trustworthy, so I took the car out on a test drive
0:02:41 > 0:02:46for about ten minutes or so and then brought it back.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50It wasn't great, but, at the end of the day, for £850, you know,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53you are not going to get a great, great car.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55But it seemed to be good value for money.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Kieron may not have been looking for a top-of-the-range car,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01but there was one thing he was adamant about.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05He didn't want anything that had previously been in an accident
0:03:05 > 0:03:09- or written off.- I had had a bad experience with a previous car,
0:03:09 > 0:03:11so I asked the dealer specifically,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14"Was the car that I was buying subject to a write-off?"
0:03:14 > 0:03:15He just quite simply said no.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20So Kieron bought it and drove it happily for several months,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23until one day he scraped the front of the car
0:03:23 > 0:03:24on the curb while parking
0:03:24 > 0:03:28and was surprised by the amount of damage it caused.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31The whole front end, ie the whole bumper,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34was detached and it was hanging.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36When Kieron got home he called the AA,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38and when they took a look they found
0:03:38 > 0:03:41clues that the car had in fact been in a previous accident after all.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43They knocked the door and said,
0:03:43 > 0:03:45"Look, I think you need to get your logbook."
0:03:45 > 0:03:47So I came back into my home,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49got the logbook and clearly on the logbook
0:03:49 > 0:03:53it had stated that the car was subject to a write-off.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57I was stunned, absolutely stunned.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Stunned, shocked, angry, annoyed.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05The obvious thing to do was get in touch with West Car Sales.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07I rang on four or five occasions,
0:04:07 > 0:04:09couldn't get a response, so I decided
0:04:09 > 0:04:11to ping him an e-mail to let him know
0:04:11 > 0:04:15of my concerns and that it had been mis-sold to myself.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19And therefore I wanted to reject the vehicle and seek a full refund.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25For some weeks Kieron chased for a refund, but it wasn't forthcoming.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28The car, meanwhile, was marooned on the driveway,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30where it still remains.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Having been told that this car was potentially dangerous,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36I didn't drive the car any more.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Kieron took the company to court.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43On the day of the hearing, he was feeling upbeat.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47I supplied 15-19 pages' worth of correspondence,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50together with text messages and all the communication.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53So I was extremely confident of the outcome.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55No concerns.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58But just moments before the hearing, Mr Lee arrived,
0:04:58 > 0:05:02wanting to make a deal to pay Kieron back in instalments.
0:05:02 > 0:05:07Kieron accepted, and the agreement was rubber-stamped by the judge.
0:05:07 > 0:05:12His first payment was due to myself of £100 on the 1st of December.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15He failed to pay it, and he said he had family issues.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19So I decided to extend that for a week to give him a bit of grace,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21and, lo and behold, he failed again.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Kieron has now had enough of being messed about and has transferred
0:05:25 > 0:05:27his case up to the High Court.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Having seen the programme on the TV
0:05:29 > 0:05:32it makes me feel that they can achieve something
0:05:32 > 0:05:34that clearly I can't,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37and I'm just really hopeful that they get the outcome I need.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Lawrence and Kev are about to arrive at West Car Sales
0:05:46 > 0:05:50and, ever the optimist, Kev is hopeful of getting Mr Kelly's money.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54I've had a look at the site online while I was doing my research,
0:05:54 > 0:05:58and there's quite a few cars on the front here, cars and vans.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02So hopefully they'll be owned by our debtor company
0:06:02 > 0:06:06and we'll be able to get this debt paid.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11And as they pull into the garage, it seems Kev's research was spot on.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13There are a lot of vehicles here.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15It goes a way back, doesn't it?
0:06:15 > 0:06:17And before they even manage to park,
0:06:17 > 0:06:22a man pulls up alongside wanting to know why the sheriffs are here.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- West Car Sales, we're here for.- Yeah.
0:06:25 > 0:06:26It is you, is it?
0:06:29 > 0:06:31- It's you we're dealing with, is it? - Yeah.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Do you want to park yourself up and we'll hop out?
0:06:35 > 0:06:37It's the man who sold Kieron his car,
0:06:37 > 0:06:41and it seems he doesn't dispute he owes the money.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43In fact, he says he wants to pay.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52The problem is, you've got assets.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54We're not ordered out to collect your money,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57we're ordered by the writ to take control of your goods.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01All you can do is pay in full, because you've got the stock.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Although Mr Lee admits he sold Mr Kelly a car,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12he's now saying he sold it under his own name,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15not the garage's, where he's just an employee.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18But that's not what it says on Mr Kelly's receipt -
0:07:18 > 0:07:21nor on Lawrence's writ.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24West Car Sales have got all the cars that are here?
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Unfortunately, that's who we're here for.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29The owner of West Car Sales is away, is he?
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Mr Lee might not want his employer's cars to be taken,
0:07:33 > 0:07:37but the sheriffs can't just ignore the paperwork from the courts.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Fair play to you for sticking your hands up and saying,
0:07:39 > 0:07:41"Right, it should actually be me,"
0:07:41 > 0:07:43but we can't deal with it as being you.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46So if you want to pay it on their behalf, again, fair play to you.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49While Mr Lee is cooperating,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51so far he still isn't showing any indication
0:07:51 > 0:07:54that he's about to come up with the money.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56So Lawrence ups the ante.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59If it comes to removal, there's another 1,300 quid going on it.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02It's going to virtually double.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04No, we don't want that. So that's what I'm saying,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07I can give you a little bit of time to get this money together.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Yeah, we're not talking days.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Not talking hours, either, really.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Because obviously we're busy guys.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18Lawrence's strategy works.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Mr Lee suddenly produces the company's card
0:08:21 > 0:08:24and offers to make a payment.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Right, let's see if we've got a signal.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30You have to know your PIN number or you can't do it.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Unless you can go do it online. Have you got online facilities here?
0:08:33 > 0:08:37Mr Lee can't use the card and heads into his office,
0:08:37 > 0:08:40leaving Lawrence and Kev to ponder their next move.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Yeah, it's a bit of a shame he hasn't got the PIN number to
0:08:44 > 0:08:48the account here, otherwise we would have had a big part of it paid off.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50So we'll just see what developments there are now.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53The development is that Mr Lee immediately returns,
0:08:53 > 0:08:55and this time he's brought cash.
0:09:02 > 0:09:03I think he's got the full amount.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- 1,000, yeah?- All good.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Do you want to hop in the other side and count this, Kev,
0:09:08 > 0:09:10while I start writing the receipt?
0:09:12 > 0:09:14- What's there?- 1,500.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28- 1,500, yeah?- Yeah.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Mr Lee has settled the balance in full
0:09:31 > 0:09:33and he gives his side of the story.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36I sold a car to a chap, it must have been about eight or nine months ago.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Chap had it for six months.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40It had been involved in an accident, I wasn't aware of this.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42The chap then came back and saw us,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45and obviously gave us the point of view that he wanted a refund.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Wasn't in a position to do so at the time because obviously we wanted
0:09:48 > 0:09:49to have the car checked.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52He didn't allow us to do so, and here we are today.
0:09:52 > 0:09:53Thank you.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55We tried to make an arrangement with the guy
0:09:55 > 0:09:57but obviously it was unaccepted.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00So if you've done wrong, you've got to pay for it.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02That's yours.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03That went very well, really.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06There was a point where we didn't think he was going to be able to come up with the money
0:10:06 > 0:10:09cos he didn't have the PIN number for the credit card he had,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11but then he went off and appeared with cash.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14So...happy days. Another job done.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25And Lawrence isn't the only one who's pleased.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Excellent result, it's been a great day.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31It's a shame that I've had to go to the extremes that I've had to.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34However, I'm just pleased to say it's all done, it's all dusted.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38We can now just move on and enjoy the rest of our lives.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Using the County Courts to try
0:10:43 > 0:10:46and recover money you're owed isn't difficult.
0:10:46 > 0:10:501.5 million money claims are made every year in England and Wales,
0:10:50 > 0:10:54involving anything from faulty goods or poor workmanship
0:10:54 > 0:10:56to unpaid invoices.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00Claims can be filed by post or online for a small fee.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Both parties in the case will be asked to submit evidence
0:11:04 > 0:11:07and you may have to attend a court hearing.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10If you're successful, a County Court judgment, or CCJ,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12will be issued against the debtor.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16And if they still don't pay, that's when you call the sheriffs.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24Sheriffs typically enforce over 1,000 writs every year.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26And while everyone is different,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29enforcement agents often find diplomacy is more effective
0:11:29 > 0:11:32than simply threatening to remove everything in sight.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39If it's necessary to play the long game, Ken Warby is happy to do so.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41He just wants his clients' money back.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46We're going to visit a hotel called the Stuart Hotel in Luton.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49It's a sizeable hotel, by all accounts.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53The hotel has been taken to court by a linen company
0:11:53 > 0:11:56over unpaid invoices.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00I'd imagine it's for tablecloths and bed linen, et cetera.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Dry cleaning.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05The hotel didn't defend the case in court
0:12:05 > 0:12:07so a default judgment was issued against it.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11But more than three months later it remains unpaid,
0:12:11 > 0:12:16and now Ken needs to collect £6,276.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22From the outside, the hotel does indeed seem sizeable,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25and so looks promising for a payment.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27I would imagined there's quite a few assets in there -
0:12:27 > 0:12:29bar area, wet stock.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34There's always an office, PC equipment, TVs in each room.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37So, hopefully, we'll get somewhere.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42Ken heads in to tell them those assets are in jeopardy
0:12:42 > 0:12:44unless they can pay up.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48Hello. I'd like to speak to the MD. Person in charge? If possible.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51He's not available at the moment.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53- Would you like to come back later on?- Not really.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56- Is he in the building? - No, he's not. He just left.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00- He will be here in one hour, probably.- About an hour?- Yeah.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04Is there any chance you can get him on the phone? It's quite important.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06The receptionist does just that,
0:13:06 > 0:13:10and moments later she's back with the manager on the line.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12What it's about...
0:13:13 > 0:13:15You're two minutes away? Brilliant.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17All right, I'll see you face to face.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18Thank you. Cheers, sir.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21With the manager on the way,
0:13:21 > 0:13:25Ken takes the opportunity to size up the assets on show.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Good-quality dining furniture.
0:13:28 > 0:13:34All proper heavy metal, chrome. Leather-backed.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36They've got some good equipment down here.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39It's always nice to see some assets as soon as you walk in.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45True to his word, the manager arrives moments later.
0:13:46 > 0:13:47Hello.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49And Ken follows him into the office.
0:13:51 > 0:13:52Right, sir...
0:13:52 > 0:13:54You know exactly what this is about, do you?
0:14:00 > 0:14:03The manager said the hotel is under new management
0:14:03 > 0:14:06and the debt was incurred by the previous owner.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10As the debt in the business's name, it still needs paying,
0:14:10 > 0:14:11and luckily the new owners agree.
0:14:16 > 0:14:17Wonderful.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Oh, I was hoping you wouldn't say that.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24I was hoping you would say, "Right now."
0:14:24 > 0:14:26The court order was issued months ago,
0:14:26 > 0:14:30so it's Ken's job to get it paid as soon as possible.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32- We could...- What can you get me now?
0:14:37 > 0:14:40That's fine. What can you pay tomorrow?
0:14:40 > 0:14:42You can pay £1,000 tomorrow?
0:14:47 > 0:14:50It's a bit of a letdown for Ken.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53But given that they acknowledge the debt and seem to have a plan for its
0:14:53 > 0:14:56repayment, he doesn't feel the need to threaten to empty the rooms
0:14:56 > 0:15:00and force the hotel to close its doors.
0:15:00 > 0:15:05Your total due, including charges, £6,276.
0:15:05 > 0:15:10- What I need to do is I need to list the assets here.- OK.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14- Because you can't pay right now. - Right.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18So what do you have other than what I've seen in the reception area?
0:15:18 > 0:15:20On the ground floor.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23- 60 bedrooms?- Yeah.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Kitchen area? There's a kitchen area.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28When a debtor can't pay,
0:15:28 > 0:15:30sheriffs have the option of agreeing a repayment plan
0:15:30 > 0:15:33and taking control of their assets.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36As this is a sizeable debt, Ken's list needs to be long.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40But luckily there's no shortage of items here.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Glass washer, ice machine.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Bar chiller cabinets.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49His comprehensive list is also designed to make sure
0:15:49 > 0:15:52the manager knows he really does mean business.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56And now I'm just going to do the kitchen and then I'll do
0:15:56 > 0:16:00a rough guesstimate as to how much value we've got there,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03before making a decision of whether or not to go to the rooms
0:16:03 > 0:16:05and maybe look for the TV sets.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09But by the time he's been through the hotel's kitchen,
0:16:09 > 0:16:13he's has already got page after page of assets listed.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Satisfied it's enough, he completes the paperwork.
0:16:17 > 0:16:24That's £1,000 tomorrow, followed by 5,276.56 next Wednesday.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26And he's on his way.
0:16:26 > 0:16:27Thanks very much.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29I'm sure you'll get it done.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31I look forward to it. Cheers.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34He's promised me £1,000 tomorrow,
0:16:34 > 0:16:38and the balance is going to be paid in six days' time.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41He's pretty confident of that, I'm confident that he's confident.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43Everyone's happy. I am for now.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Ken's taken the man at his word,
0:16:48 > 0:16:53but later he's forced to visit the business for a second time.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56You've broken the controlled goods agreement.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01So the reason we're here now is for full payment
0:17:01 > 0:17:04or removal of goods.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06It's as black and as white as that.
0:17:16 > 0:17:17Back in the South East,
0:17:17 > 0:17:21Lawrence is in the van, on his way to enforce another debt.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23He's looking for a businesswoman,
0:17:23 > 0:17:27who it seems hasn't paid some of her invoices.
0:17:27 > 0:17:28We're in West London,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31we've got a writ against a lady called Nara Simonyan,
0:17:31 > 0:17:33trading as Nara Health And Beauty,
0:17:33 > 0:17:35so we're off to a beauty parlour. It looks quite big.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39The lady owes £2,200.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Or thereabouts. And it's for multimedia marketing
0:17:42 > 0:17:43which she hasn't paid for.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49The marketing firm has taken Ms Simonyan to court,
0:17:49 > 0:17:50and when she didn't defend the case,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53awarded a judgment against her by default.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57She now owes a grand total of £2,201.
0:18:05 > 0:18:10Lawrence pulls up outside the salon and goes in.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Hello, good morning. I'm looking for Nara Simonyan.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22She's not in yet? Are you able to get her on the phone at all?
0:18:23 > 0:18:26I'll show you some identification as well. My name's Mr Grix.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28I'm an enforcement agent.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31I've got a High Court writ to execute against Nara,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34so it's vital that I speak to her.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39The staff member manages to get through to Ms Simonyan straightaway
0:18:39 > 0:18:41and Lawrence is handed the phone.
0:18:41 > 0:18:42Thank you.
0:18:44 > 0:18:45Hello there.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48I've got a High Court writ today against you. I believe it's
0:18:48 > 0:18:50for unpaid multimedia marketing.
0:18:52 > 0:18:58OK, I'm here today to take control of goods to the value of £2,201.10.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Yes.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Goods which can be removed and sold at auction.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07You're going to do that now, yeah?
0:19:07 > 0:19:11OK. Thank you.
0:19:11 > 0:19:12Bye-bye.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15So far, so good.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18She immediately said, "Don't take anything, I'll pay."
0:19:19 > 0:19:21She said it might take about half an hour,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23and then she's going to let them know she's made the payment.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28- She said she's going to contact you when she's done it.- OK.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30And I'll be able to check with my office.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32It looks like a textbook job,
0:19:32 > 0:19:37but several minutes later, there seems to be a change of plan.
0:19:37 > 0:19:38Is she coming here now, is she?
0:19:38 > 0:19:40So, how far...?
0:19:40 > 0:19:41Oh, she's very close, is she?
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Not as far as I'm concerned, I've got a High Court writ.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Ms Simonyan's belief that the matter is still in court
0:19:52 > 0:19:54is a worrying development for Lawrence,
0:19:54 > 0:19:58especially when, after another 30 minutes waiting around,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01there's no sign of either the debtor or the money.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Half hour later, she's still on her way. It's going to be 15 minutes.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07And the case is back in court.
0:20:09 > 0:20:10It doesn't bode well.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14I don't like being told one thing and then another.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16And soon, the staff weighed in,
0:20:16 > 0:20:18saying the matter is still in dispute
0:20:18 > 0:20:21and they don't think their boss should have to pay.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Lawrence tries to set them straight.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26The judgment was ended, she didn't pay it,
0:20:26 > 0:20:29so they've transferred it to the High Court for enforcement purposes.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35It's not still in the court. It's not still in the court.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39There is a High Court writ.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41She may have a hearing at the Court.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44But whatever she's done to get that hearing
0:20:44 > 0:20:46hasn't affected the writ.
0:20:46 > 0:20:47Lawrence is beginning to wonder
0:20:47 > 0:20:50whether Ms Simonyan really is going to pay
0:20:50 > 0:20:53and starts to consider his options in case she doesn't.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Yeah, no, I'm just having a look round,
0:20:59 > 0:21:00I'm not removing anything yet.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05But she said initially she was making the payment,
0:21:05 > 0:21:06now she's coming here.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14In an effort to lighten the mood,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17the staff offered to do Lawrence's nails while he waits.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20But he's not convinced he needs their help.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22I cut me fingernails regularly, with me teeth.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Besides, there may not be time to rectify the damage done by
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Lawrence's hand care techniques.
0:21:32 > 0:21:33Oh.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Apparently, the debtor's actually in the bank now.
0:21:40 > 0:21:41So...
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Hopefully, she's making the payment.
0:21:44 > 0:21:45She is.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48And soon confirmation comes through
0:21:48 > 0:21:50in the form of a photo of the paying-in slip.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55It looks clear enough. Are you able to text that to me?
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Ms Simonyan has paid the £2,200 owing,
0:21:59 > 0:22:02and Lawrence makes a hasty retreat...
0:22:02 > 0:22:04- Thank you.- Thank you.- Bye-bye.- Bye.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07..before anyone can suggest a facial.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09That went quite smoothly in the end, really.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12There was a phone call saying she was on her way,
0:22:12 > 0:22:14and the case was back in court, etc, etc,
0:22:14 > 0:22:16so for a while,
0:22:16 > 0:22:19I thought she was coming down to have an argument rather than pay.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22But then it turns out she was in the bank all along,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25texted over a photo of the paying-in slip to one of her friends in there.
0:22:25 > 0:22:26Then the payment was in.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29The marketing company whose invoices went unpaid
0:22:29 > 0:22:32will now get the money they're owed.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Ken Warby is back in Luton.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42He's on his way once again to the Stuart Hotel,
0:22:42 > 0:22:47which owes more than £6,000 after failing to pay a linen company.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51Last time the manager told Ken he couldn't pay there and then,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53and promised to do so within the week.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56But the money hasn't arrived.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58The original payment plan was
0:22:58 > 0:23:02that he was going to pay me £1,000 the day after -
0:23:02 > 0:23:04which he never did, that took about a week -
0:23:04 > 0:23:07and the balance within six days.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Well, we are where we are now.
0:23:09 > 0:23:1414 days later, he has only paid the £1,000.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Previously, Ken gave the manager the benefit of the doubt,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20but this time Ken won't compromise.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24The leverage we've got is that he's signed a controlled goods
0:23:24 > 0:23:30agreement, and the list we've made is quite a large list.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34If he doesn't pay, it's my intention to remove the items.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38When a CGA is broken,
0:23:38 > 0:23:42the sheriffs can return at any time to remove the assets -
0:23:42 > 0:23:44no ifs, no buts.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48So, one way or another, Ken won't be leaving empty-handed.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54- Hello.- Hello, again.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Once again, he's led into the office where, to his surprise,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02the manager hands him a payment receipt.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05- This is a receipt you've got for online payment.- Yeah.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08You made yesterday, for £1,000.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Right. The problem is...
0:24:10 > 0:24:15The reason we're here now is for full payment
0:24:15 > 0:24:17or removal of goods.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20As black and as white as that.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23And that's not the only bad news for the manager.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27The problem you've also got is that because I'm here now
0:24:27 > 0:24:30to remove goods, it's gone up.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36So with the £2,000 you've already paid,
0:24:36 > 0:24:42the amount you owe now is £5,901.09.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44High Court costs. Very expensive.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49But the manager says he doesn't have £5,000
0:24:49 > 0:24:52and hands his phone over to Ken.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55The man on the phone says the hotel is trying to come to an arrangement
0:24:55 > 0:24:58with the claimant to clear the debt.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03I understand that. Let me just stop you there, all right?
0:25:03 > 0:25:09The last contact we had with the claimant was that he had given it
0:25:09 > 0:25:10to us to deal with.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13It's in our hands and, as far as he's concerned,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16he wants his payment.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18But the man is still hoping to do a deal
0:25:18 > 0:25:21and says they can clear the debt in a couple of months.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24No, it's not acceptable, sir.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28No, sir. No, sir. We require payment in full now.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30With a long list of hotel assets
0:25:30 > 0:25:32that now technically belong to the court,
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Ken wants full payment, and it's not up for negotiation.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39I'm here now to remove goods now.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43So rather than us waste any more time, please start making these
0:25:43 > 0:25:46phone calls now to get this money to me now.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47OK? I'll wait.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54No, I'm not going to go away and come back again, I'm here now.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Sir, I've got a few hours,
0:26:00 > 0:26:02so please start making the phone calls,
0:26:02 > 0:26:06I'll wait here for the payments.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Believe me, the last thing I want to do
0:26:08 > 0:26:10is start removing goods from here.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13But that's exactly what will happen if he doesn't pay.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16And Ken reckons the threat is working.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19It's gone from two months to four hours.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23So if he can get the money that quick,
0:26:23 > 0:26:26I'm pretty confident we're going to get paid on this.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29We'll wait around. He's going to make a few phone calls.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Ken makes himself comfortable in the dining room.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35And just ten minutes later,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38it seems things are moving in the right direction.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42You've got three grand coming, you've got a grand in your pocket,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45so you want just shy of two grand now.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47- You are waiting for.- Yeah.- OK.
0:26:47 > 0:26:52The problem is, that's not going to arrive for another few hours.
0:26:58 > 0:27:03Ken's heard this man's promises before and is understandably wary.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09What he's saying to me is he's got £1,000 in his back pocket,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12which I didn't know he had when I first got in here.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16He's also contacted someone that is just about to transfer
0:27:16 > 0:27:18£3,000 into his account.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22So, in effect, he's got around about four.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25He needs another £1,900,
0:27:25 > 0:27:30and he's going to get someone else to help him out,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32transfer it into his account.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35However, that person is not going to be able to get that sorted
0:27:35 > 0:27:36for a few hours yet,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40so I'm going to stay around and have a coffee, I think.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46But in the end, Ken doesn't even get the chance to enjoy a cappuccino.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50A few minutes later, the manager calls him back into the office
0:27:50 > 0:27:54once more to tell him he has raised the full amount.
0:27:54 > 0:27:55That didn't take long, did it?
0:27:57 > 0:27:58Thank you very much.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01When he arrived this morning, it didn't look like the hotel
0:28:01 > 0:28:04was going to be able to come up with the money today.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07But Ken's tough stance has been rewarded,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10and he's leaving with payment in full.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14It's gone from £2,000 tomorrow, and the balance in a couple of months,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17to immediate payment on a debit card.
0:28:17 > 0:28:18I thought I'd get paid.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21I didn't quite think I'd get paid as quick as that.