0:00:02 > 0:00:03Meet the sheriffs.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05My name's Mr Grix. My colleague and I are enforcement agents.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08- It's do with a High Court order. - They 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 > 0:00:22How are you going to pay it?
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Or remove assets instead.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26The car will be going unless you can pay it.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29You'll have a week to pay in full before it gets sold at auction.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Obstructing their work can be a criminal offence.
0:00:33 > 0:00:34I wouldn't do that if I were you.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36The door needs to stay open.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Every 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.
0:00:48 > 0:00:54Coming up, a repair to Tony Grace's pride and joy wasn't up to scratch.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I felt angry that they'd not done the job properly.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00But will the sheriffs be able to find enough assets
0:01:00 > 0:01:02to get his money back?
0:01:02 > 0:01:04This is a remapping device.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06About £3,000 or £4,000 brand-new.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09And the sheriffs face resistance on a factory floor.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11- Can you move? - On a commercial property,
0:01:11 > 0:01:13we can force entry if we need to, sir.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15- It's a court order, sir. - But you ain't got to come in.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25Enforcement agents Lawrence Grix and Kev McNally are on the road.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28They're heading to Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire
0:01:28 > 0:01:29with a writ against a car garage.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33There is no doubt that the motoring trade is a common cause
0:01:33 > 0:01:34of disputes, and, as a result,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37it provides a steady stream of work for the sheriffs.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42Today's debtor though is not the normal, run-of-the-mill garage
0:01:42 > 0:01:47and the vehicle at the centre of the dispute is no everyday car.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49We're going to see Porsche Dynamics Ltd.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52The money they owe is £1,658
0:01:52 > 0:01:56and the debt is relating to some work they did.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00It's actually for a gearbox gasket replacement.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06The claimant in the case is heating engineer Tony Grace,
0:02:06 > 0:02:08a lifelong Porsche enthusiast,
0:02:08 > 0:02:11and the proud owner of a dolphin grey model.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13I've always had Porsches.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15I've always had a passion for them.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17I like the engine in the back and the sound of them.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22They're not overstated, the Porsches,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26but the 996 Turbo, it's the best one out of all of them.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29It's such a fast car and good fun, you know.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32But even the finest engineering isn't without its flaws,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36and one day, Tony discovered his beloved car
0:02:36 > 0:02:38had sprung a leak in its gearbox.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42I noticed patches of oil on my drive and I thought, you know,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45I don't want to leave it because, obviously,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47it would damage the gearbox.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51So he looked around for a suitable specialist and someone he knew
0:02:51 > 0:02:53recommended Porsche Dynamics Ltd.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00The man said the garage could fix the problem and charged Tony £700,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02but it didn't seem to make any difference.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04I kept taking it back and forward.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06I don't know whether they misdiagnosed it,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09but every time I got it back, it was leaking.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11So, in the end, I took it to a garage.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13I got it up on the ramp, and when I looked,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17they'd used a sealant on it and it was probably about six inches long,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and I thought, you can't do that on a car like that!
0:03:20 > 0:03:25Tony's final confirmation that he hadn't got the service he'd paid for
0:03:25 > 0:03:29came when the second garage made the repair he'd requested all along.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31He changed the gasket within five hours.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33He'd done a really good job and, touch wood,
0:03:33 > 0:03:35I've never had a problem with it.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Tony got in touch with Porsche Dynamics Ltd to complain,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41and initially, it sounded like they were keen
0:03:41 > 0:03:43to get the matter resolved.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46He said, "Oh, yeah. We'll give you your money back."
0:03:46 > 0:03:47So he didn't argue at first.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49But this went on for weeks and weeks.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53In the end, I had no alternative but to sort of take it further.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Tony took the company to court
0:03:55 > 0:03:58and won his case when they didn't offer a defence.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59They haven't paid.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Now he's escalated the case to the sheriffs.
0:04:02 > 0:04:07Yes. It's been over a year now, and the sheriffs are my last resort.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11If they don't get nowhere, I'll just have to accept it.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Lawrence and Kev are on their way to the debtor garage
0:04:18 > 0:04:22and it seems they and Tony have a lot in common.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23Rather than tactics,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27the top conversational topic is the finer points of Porsche.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29I had one a few years ago, now.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31I had it for a long time. I loved it.
0:04:31 > 0:04:32Never had any drama with it.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Did everything pretty well.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36It was a good car. I enjoyed it.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38If I had had the money, I would have had one when I was younger.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40I probably wouldn't now, to be honest.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43I'm getting to the time of life where I don't want to be
0:04:43 > 0:04:45getting down onto the level of a tea tray to get into my car.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49The sheriffs arrive at the industrial estate
0:04:49 > 0:04:54they're looking for and the debtor company isn't hard to spot.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56- There it is.- The Porsche was a bit of a giveaway.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57That's how I roll.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Like a ninja.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04The sheriffs head inside in search of £1,600.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07Morning.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- Are you the guvnor? - No, I'm not. He's in there.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12- Oh, is he?- Yeah.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Morning, sir.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20My name's Mr Grix. My colleague and I are enforcement agents.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23We're here with a High Court writ of control against Porsche Dynamics Ltd
0:05:23 > 0:05:25in favour of Mr AJ Grace.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- Right.- We're ordered here today by the court to take control
0:05:28 > 0:05:33of goods to the value of £1,658.02 to clear this debt.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36The only way to prevent further action is to pay in full.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40At this point, the man asks our cameraman to leave,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42while the conversation continues inside.
0:05:42 > 0:05:43Do you know about this?
0:05:43 > 0:05:48The boss said he does and that he'd sent the sheriffs an e-mail,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50but a cheque would have been better.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53The sheriff's writ demands that they seek payment for Tony
0:05:53 > 0:05:55and they plan to get it,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58but while the line of Porsches outside suggests that,
0:05:58 > 0:06:00on the face of it, the business is doing well,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04it soon transpires that the situation might not be that simple.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Well, we were chatting to the owner in there.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08He hasn't got the money to pay it. That's the problem.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12The money he's actually offering to pay right now is very minimal.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17The debtor says he's got plenty of work but cash flow's a problem
0:06:17 > 0:06:19and so he can only raise £400,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22with the remainder to be paid over a period of weeks.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24But to go on a payment arrangement,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Lawrence wants at least half the debt cleared today,
0:06:27 > 0:06:31and he'd need to take control of goods on the premises as security,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33and that's where there's a problem.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37It seems Porsche Dynamics Ltd has another unpaid debt,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40and a different enforcement agent has already called
0:06:40 > 0:06:43and had first dibs on everything here.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46They've actually listed and got an inventory of goods
0:06:46 > 0:06:49they've taken down into their possession.
0:06:49 > 0:06:55So, we've got to find other assets that they haven't taken control of.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58So, while the boss calls around to see if he can raise any more money,
0:06:58 > 0:07:03the sheriffs are on a treasure hunt for any assets that are left.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Predictably, the cars are all owned by customers,
0:07:05 > 0:07:10so Lawrence and Kev are focusing on the garage equipment.
0:07:10 > 0:07:1445 minutes later, they are out the door with goods in hand.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18This is a remapping device,
0:07:18 > 0:07:24so you can remap the engine's ECU to give better performance,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26better economy.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29I would guess about £3,000 or £4,000, brand-new.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32This is a snap-on bit of diagnostic kit,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35and it basically communicates with
0:07:35 > 0:07:39the car's computer system to read faults, reset faults.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Brand-new, this would probably be £3,000 or £4,000,
0:07:42 > 0:07:46but again, at auction, you'd probably get half of that.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48It may not be the Crown Jewels,
0:07:48 > 0:07:50but it should raise enough at auction
0:07:50 > 0:07:52to cover Porsche Dynamics' debt.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55That's if the man doesn't come up with the money first
0:07:55 > 0:07:56and within seven days.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58I think he'll potentially buy it back.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01I think he'll try and get the money together to buy it back
0:08:01 > 0:08:03before it gets sold. Hopefully.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06In fact, the boss never did make any payment at all
0:08:06 > 0:08:09and his equipment has been listed for auction.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12The claimant, Tony Grace, should get his money back any day now
0:08:12 > 0:08:16and is delighted to see the matter finally coming to an end.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Yeah. Good news. Probably, with the money,
0:08:19 > 0:08:23I'll probably end up spending it on the dog.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25She's got a bad foot.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28It's nice to have it come to an end and put it to bed,
0:08:28 > 0:08:30and then forget about it and move on.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Life's for living.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Porsche Dynamics Ltd told us that...
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Using the county courts to try to recover money you're owed
0:09:07 > 0:09:09isn't difficult.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12One and a half million money claims are made every year
0:09:12 > 0:09:15in England and Wales, involving anything from faulty goods,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18or poor workmanship, to unpaid invoices.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23Claims can be filed by post or online for a small fee.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Both parties in the case will be asked to submit evidence
0:09:26 > 0:09:29and you may have to attend a court hearing.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33If you're successful, a County Court Judgment, or CCJ,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36will be issued against the debtor, and if they still don't pay,
0:09:36 > 0:09:38that's when you call the sheriffs.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45When the sheriffs turn up at a debtor's premises demanding money
0:09:45 > 0:09:48unsurprisingly it doesn't always go down well.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Many debtors don't want to pay the original court judgment
0:09:52 > 0:09:55against them, let alone the extra fees incurred
0:09:55 > 0:09:57by High Court enforcement.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01The sheriffs are used to debtors being angry or uncooperative.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04In the North West, enforcement agent Alan Pennington
0:10:04 > 0:10:09is about to meet a debtor who's come up with an original way of making their point.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13We're off to Oldham today to Abbey Coaches.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17I gather it is to do with an employment tribunal case.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22The sheriffs haven't been given any details.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25All Alan knows is that Abbey Coaches Darwen Limited
0:10:25 > 0:10:28was successfully taken to an employment tribunal by a worker.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33After failing to pay the award, made two months ago,
0:10:33 > 0:10:38they now owe £1,865 including costs.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43But, as Alan reaches the address he's been given,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46he can't see any sign of the company.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48I can't even see a coach anywhere.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53Although there is another business that catches his eye.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Er, what's that there?
0:10:55 > 0:10:57S&S Travel.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Minibus hire and so on.
0:10:59 > 0:11:00I'll go and ask them.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03It's possible the debtor's trading under more than one name
0:11:03 > 0:11:06and it sounds like a similar business,
0:11:06 > 0:11:08so Alan tries his luck.
0:11:10 > 0:11:11- Hello.- Hello.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13I've got a High Court writ for Abbey Coaches.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19It seems Alan is in the right place, after all.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Abbey Coaches Darwen Limited is based here.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27S&S Travel Services Limited is another company run by the same directors.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31But there seems to be some confusion over the debt itself.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37All right, that won't make any difference.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41No, it's employment tribunal,
0:11:41 > 0:11:43it's nothing to do with a vehicle.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45As Alan has a High Court writ,
0:11:45 > 0:11:49it makes little difference what the insurance company may or may not
0:11:49 > 0:11:50be trying to do.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Either way, the writ needs paying today.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55And when the staff call their insurance company
0:11:55 > 0:11:57they seem to agree.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00The insurance company has told them to pay
0:12:00 > 0:12:02because the insurance company haven't dealt with
0:12:02 > 0:12:05the issue to start with.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08They will claim it back off the insurance company, I believe.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12But, if it comes to it, Alan thinks he might have found the leverage he needs.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16There's no assets in the property because it's S&S Travel's
0:12:16 > 0:12:19assets which they've already shown me.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21But I do believe across the way there, there are
0:12:21 > 0:12:23there are some coaches that belong to Abbey but I don't think
0:12:23 > 0:12:26it's going to come to the situation where we take a coach away.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29It looks like he's right
0:12:29 > 0:12:31as one of the staff members soon comes asking for clarification.
0:12:33 > 0:12:34How much again, was it?
0:12:34 > 0:12:37- £1,865.- Yeah.- And 36p.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40£1,865 and?
0:12:40 > 0:12:42- 36p.- 36p.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45The man says they're going to get the money from the bank.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47And, indeed, they do.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51But when they come back there's a catch.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Rather than the wodge of banknotes Alan is used to,
0:12:55 > 0:12:57they've brought large sacks full of coins.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01- Where do you want it? - Put it in the boot.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Alan will have to count them all.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12£1,300.
0:13:12 > 0:13:1414...
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Luckily, all the bags are all standard sizes
0:13:16 > 0:13:17and it doesn't take long
0:13:17 > 0:13:19to add it all up
0:13:19 > 0:13:21and realise that it's not quite the full amount.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25£1,800, so I'll just go and speak to the man.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30OK, £65.36 short.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35The staff produce the outstanding money and Alan's work is done.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39As promised, £1,800 in coins,
0:13:39 > 0:13:44£65.40 pence in notes.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Thank you to the wonderful uncooperative gentleman
0:13:46 > 0:13:48who's paid in full today
0:13:48 > 0:13:51and then told me to do one in the shop.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53So I've done one, I'm going.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Alan isn't bothered by the man's insults.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59All that matters is he's been paid in full.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05The claimant who won his employment tribunal has now got the money he was owed.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21It's mid-morning and Tommy and Craig are on the outskirts
0:14:21 > 0:14:22of Birmingham.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25They're looking for a man who runs a sandwich business
0:14:25 > 0:14:28and who owes thousands of pounds to a former worker.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32We're off to go and see Mr Trevor Johnson.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35He trades as TJ's Sandwiches.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37This one's an employment tribunal case,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41so it's clearly a dispute between employer and employee.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46The claimant says she'd worked for Mr Johnson for ten years
0:14:46 > 0:14:48before he made her redundant without notice.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52He also made unauthorised deductions from her wages
0:14:52 > 0:14:53and owes her holiday pay.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Mr Johnson didn't attend the hearing
0:14:56 > 0:15:00and the tribunal ruled against him by default.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04He still hasn't paid and owes £4,036.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10As the address on the writ appears to be
0:15:10 > 0:15:15for some kind of industrial unit, rather than Mr Johnson's home address,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18the sheriffs are hopeful of finding suitable assets.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22I think this is actually where they prep and make the sandwiches,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25so we'll be looking for the prep tables
0:15:25 > 0:15:28and actual machinery that may make the sandwiches,
0:15:28 > 0:15:32and refrigerated vehicles is always a good one in places like this,
0:15:32 > 0:15:33we'll be looking for them.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Hopefully, we'll get the employee the money
0:15:36 > 0:15:38that the court has said that she deserves.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43But all this talk of sandwiches is making Tommy hungry.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48Oh, I do like a good sandwich, two slices of granary bread, no butter,
0:15:48 > 0:15:50some Mexican-style chicken,
0:15:50 > 0:15:54some green and black olives with some salsa,
0:15:54 > 0:15:58a bit of avocado and some crispy bacon.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00That's a lovely sandwich.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05It's also unlikely to be on offer today,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08but he will happily settle for payment instead.
0:16:08 > 0:16:13The sheriffs reach their destination and head in in search of Mr Johnson.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Hello.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17- Hello.- Is Mr Johnson about?
0:16:19 > 0:16:20Can he be contacted at all?
0:16:23 > 0:16:25Has anybody got his number?
0:16:25 > 0:16:28No? Who's in charge whilst he's not here?
0:16:31 > 0:16:35So, there's no-one in charge and no-one can contact the boss.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Craig is sceptical.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Nobody has got his telephone number at all?
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Who would you phone in an emergency?
0:16:44 > 0:16:45You just deal with it yourselves?
0:16:47 > 0:16:48I'll explain who I am.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51My name is Mr Wild and we are High Court enforcement agents.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57We are here today to execute a court order, a High Court writ of control.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01So we need to get in contact with Mr Johnson.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03As a matter of urgency.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07But just then a man emerges from the back.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Hello, sir. Are you Mr Johnson?
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Hello, Mr Johnson.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14My name's Mr Wild.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17It seems Mr Johnson was here all along.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21And he now excuses himself momentarily to switch off a machine.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26When Mr Johnson returns, he asks our cameraman to leave.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Inside, Tommy and Craig explain they're here on behalf
0:17:38 > 0:17:41of his former employee and their writ empowers them
0:17:41 > 0:17:44to collect just over £4,000.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Otherwise, they'll have to remove goods to cover the value instead.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Thankfully, Mr Johnson knows all about the debt
0:17:50 > 0:17:53and the sheriffs are spared the task of working out
0:17:53 > 0:17:56whether any of the vehicles outside belong to him
0:17:56 > 0:17:59or weighing up the auction value of a whole lot of lettuce
0:17:59 > 0:18:01and bread rolls.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04He agrees to pay, and half an hour later, Tommy and Craig are leaving,
0:18:04 > 0:18:07slightly surprised about how straightforward it was
0:18:07 > 0:18:11considering the reception they got when they arrived.
0:18:11 > 0:18:12We've gained peaceable access,
0:18:12 > 0:18:17met the workers who initially said that our guy wasn't there.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19A bit like the Scarlet Pimpernel, he appeared from the back.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22His wife was actually in the office at the front of the building,
0:18:22 > 0:18:26so explained the situation and ultimately we got paid in full.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Normally, that would be the end of the matter, but in this case,
0:18:30 > 0:18:32today's enforcement is only half the story.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35The debt itself was an employment tribunal case,
0:18:35 > 0:18:37it appears to be one of two employees.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40He's expecting another one to come through quite quickly,
0:18:40 > 0:18:44so Tommy explained to him if he can get that resolved before we turn up
0:18:44 > 0:18:47it's going to be more financially viable for him to do that.
0:18:50 > 0:18:51Following the sheriffs' visit,
0:18:51 > 0:18:55Mr Johnson also paid the second tribunal award,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58meaning that both of his former employees have now got the money
0:18:58 > 0:19:01the employment tribunal said they were owed.
0:19:06 > 0:19:07Back in the south-east,
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Lawrence and Kev are also looking for a businessmen with a debt to pay.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14But this is a very different kind of business
0:19:14 > 0:19:16and an unusual case for them.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19We are in Epsom in Surrey today.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21We are going to see Kieran Midwinter,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23trading as Epsom Rocks Tanning.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26So, as you probably can guess, it's a tanning salon.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28It's for sale of sunbed tubes.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30They didn't pay for them.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36Mr Midwinter has been taken to court by the supplier of the sunbed tubes.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40He didn't defend the case and judgment has been made by default.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44He now owes £3,373.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Neither Lawrence nor Kev are especially familiar
0:19:50 > 0:19:52with what goes on in a tanning salon.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Not really into sunbeds, to be honest.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57I like going on holiday and getting a bit of tan.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59I know Lawrence is a fan of that, as well.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Yeah, because there's quite a lot of me to get tanned, really.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04I'm pretty sure I remember him telling me he's got yellow Speedos,
0:20:04 > 0:20:06I think. I think it is. Is that right?
0:20:06 > 0:20:09No, I haven't got any budgie smugglers.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13But a holiday seems a million miles away
0:20:13 > 0:20:15as they slog through the Epsom traffic.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Yeah, go on.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Lawrence does manage to bag what he thinks is a good spot.
0:20:21 > 0:20:22Only to be disappointed.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Permit holders only.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27- I'll stay here if you want. Just give us a shout if you need us. - Yeah. All right, mate.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Let me know if them beauty technicians give you any grief.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33Right, if they jump me and, like, pin me to the floor, you mean?
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Yeah, them sunbed assistants.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37So Lawrence heads to the debtors on foot,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40while Kev does the decent thing and minds the van.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44The sheriffs are banking on the tanning salon
0:20:44 > 0:20:46being a fairly unthreatening environment.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49They obviously hadn't factored in the soundtrack.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53LOUD DANCE MUSIC
0:20:53 > 0:20:54Hello!
0:20:59 > 0:21:01Hello, I'm looking for Kieran Midwinter.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Would that be yourself, sir?
0:21:05 > 0:21:08It is indeed the man named on the High Court writ.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Lawrence tells him he's got an unpaid debt
0:21:10 > 0:21:12and that's he's here to collect.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14MUSIC VOLUME DECREASES
0:21:14 > 0:21:16That's better. I'm here today to take control of goods
0:21:16 > 0:21:19to the value of £3,373.41.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23The only way to prevent further action is to pay in full, sir.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Overdue invoices.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30So that's what the debt is.
0:21:30 > 0:21:31No, sure.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36While they do, our cameraman has to step outside.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Mr Midwinter tells Lawrence he didn't know about the debt,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43but he doesn't dispute it and wants to pay,
0:21:43 > 0:21:44only he doesn't have the money.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49The gentleman didn't appear to know anything about it.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51He knew there was an original small debt
0:21:51 > 0:21:55but he didn't realise it had gone to a debt collection company, etc, etc.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58He hasn't been running the salon himself for quite a while.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00He's only just gone back in there,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03so it looks like any of the post that went there
0:22:03 > 0:22:05with regards to this he didn't actually get.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Whether the staff threw it away or whatever, I don't know.
0:22:10 > 0:22:11Lawrence has explained to Mr Midwinter
0:22:11 > 0:22:14that if he doesn't come up with the money
0:22:14 > 0:22:15then he'll remove his sunbeds,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18and soon the pair agree to a creative solution
0:22:18 > 0:22:21to the problem, as a slightly bemused Kev
0:22:21 > 0:22:23explains from the comfort of the van.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26OK, so I got an update from Lawrence.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30The debtor, he has sold his car recently.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33The money for that is actually at another premises
0:22:33 > 0:22:35which is about 20 miles from here.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38That would cover the debt that we're after.
0:22:38 > 0:22:4020 miles from here, maybe,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42but just a few miles from the sheriffs' office
0:22:42 > 0:22:44and their colleague Tommy.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47It's a bit long-winded and round the houses
0:22:47 > 0:22:50but hopefully Tommy can go and collect this money,
0:22:50 > 0:22:52give us a call that he's collected it
0:22:52 > 0:22:55and we can be off from here without removing goods.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Tommy may not be used to playing the role of Lawrence's courier,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01but his help will save the sheriffs hours of time
0:23:01 > 0:23:04and possibly get their client paid quicker.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Half an hour later, his efforts have paid off
0:23:07 > 0:23:11and Lawrence explains his tactics.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14He's paid £2,810 off the debt today
0:23:14 > 0:23:17and I've got a controlled goods agreement in place
0:23:17 > 0:23:21and he's got to pay just under £600 in two weeks' time
0:23:21 > 0:23:25to clear the debt, so I'm quite happy with that.
0:23:25 > 0:23:26Thank you, Tommy.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Today, enforcement agents Tommy and Craig
0:23:44 > 0:23:48have been working in the Midlands, and in the middle of the afternoon,
0:23:48 > 0:23:51their third call of the day leads them into the city.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55We are in the centre of Birmingham more or less today,
0:23:55 > 0:24:00off to a limited company called Zebra Worldwide Machinery Ltd.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03It's run by a Simon Graham Wintermore.
0:24:03 > 0:24:08We believe it's in relation to a machine that he supplied.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12The claimant is a customer who wasn't happy with a lathe he bought.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16He took the matter to court and won a judgment against the company,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18but he didn't receive his money.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Two months down the line,
0:24:20 > 0:24:24the sheriffs are hoping to collect £5,834.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29But as they approach, it doesn't look promising.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31It's all locked up, mate.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33That doesn't look good, does it?
0:24:35 > 0:24:37The sheriffs park up and ring the bell.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40DOORBELL RINGS
0:24:40 > 0:24:42Big, old place, isn't it?
0:24:42 > 0:24:45It's a huge unit, but the shutters are down
0:24:45 > 0:24:49and there's no sight or sound of heavy machinery.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51I can't hear any noise.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Just when they're beginning to suspect this visit is a lost cause,
0:24:57 > 0:24:59the door opens.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Hello, sir. Trying to get in contact with Mr Simon Graham Wintermore.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08My name's Mr Wilde, I'm a High Court enforcement agent.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12OK, so I need to leave the door open.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Yes, I have to. No, sir.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18It's a commercial property. We can force entry if we need to.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23- Yes, we have.- We've got a court order to come in.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Are you Mr Wintermore?
0:25:26 > 0:25:27I'll wait here.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30The door needs to stay open, we need to speak to him.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Otherwise, we'll have to force entry and get the police.
0:25:33 > 0:25:34No way, sir.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36We'll stay here until he comes down.
0:25:36 > 0:25:37That's fine.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40The last thing the sheriffs want is to get locked out.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Although they could legally force entry if they needed to,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46it's a situation they'd rather avoid.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49We weren't going to let the door be shut on us.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52We'll be polite to these people as much as we can,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55but we are here with the authority of the courts to do our job.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57For now, they are happy to wait at the entrance
0:25:57 > 0:26:01where they've got a decent view of the assets.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03This lot, they are lathes, aren't they?
0:26:03 > 0:26:04They are pillar drills.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06That looks like a guillotine cutter.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09That's a scrubber, a floor polisher thing.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Hmm.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14The machines might be a challenge to remove,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16but they definitely have value.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Meanwhile, a man emerges from the office upstairs.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22What do you think? Is that the same guy?
0:26:22 > 0:26:23No, it's a different guy.
0:26:25 > 0:26:26- Hello, sir.- Hello, sir.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29- Mr Wintermore?- Can I help you? Hold on, that's a camera crew.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31It is indeed the company boss,
0:26:31 > 0:26:35but on spotting our camera he is less than pleased.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38We are asked to leave and it's left to Tommy and Craig inside
0:26:38 > 0:26:42to explain that it's time for Zebra to pay its debts.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45The answer isn't exactly what they expected.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49The boss says he's already paid and produces proof
0:26:49 > 0:26:50of a recent bank transfer.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54On closer inspection, it appears he's made a payment
0:26:54 > 0:26:56direct to the claimant's solicitor,
0:26:56 > 0:26:58but it's only for the amount owed
0:26:58 > 0:27:01before the case was transferred to the High Court.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03The director is not happy at all because he's saying
0:27:03 > 0:27:07the payment he made, he thought it was going to resolve the case.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Because he didn't pay to begin with,
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Mr Wintermore now owes another £868.
0:27:16 > 0:27:17He's not happy.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Nevertheless, he reaches for his credit card,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22and the sheriffs are soon on their way,
0:27:22 > 0:27:26satisfied they have carried out the Court's wishes.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Got a bit fruity on the door with one of the employees.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32We managed to put the foot in the door, secured the access.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36The director produced evidence that he's paid direct
0:27:36 > 0:27:40to the claimant's legal representation, just under £5,000.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42So we've checked that out, that's come off the bill
0:27:42 > 0:27:44leaving a short balance outstanding
0:27:44 > 0:27:46which we have just collected in full.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50It didn't come to listing down the company's goods,
0:27:50 > 0:27:54but aside from the valuable machines they first saw,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57there was one asset inside that made quite an impression.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Oh, yeah, the zebra head.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02There was a zebra head mounted in his office.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04- Huge.- Quite impressive.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07But for now, the boss's machines and taxidermy are safe.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10The sheriffs are leaving with payment in full
0:28:10 > 0:28:12and the claimant has got their money back.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18Mr Wintermore told us he did offer the claimant who bought the lathe
0:28:18 > 0:28:22an alternative machine and says he wasn't aware he owed any fees
0:28:22 > 0:28:24at the time he made the payment.