Episode 4 The Sheriffs Are Coming


Episode 4

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Transcript


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-Meet the sheriffs.

-My name's Mr Grix, my colleague and I are enforcement agents.

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It's to do with a High Court order...

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They work for the High Court, and if it says you're owed money,

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it's their job to go and get it.

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I'm here for £6,072.18.

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They can demand payment on the spot...

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I'm here for the full balance.

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How are you going to pay it?

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..or remove assets instead.

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The car will be going unless you can pay it.

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You'll have a week to pay in full, before it gets sold at auction.

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Obstructing their work can be a criminal offence.

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I wouldn't do that if I were you.

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The door needs to stay open.

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Every year in England and Wales,

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unpaid debts totalling more than £80 million

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are recovered by the sheriffs.

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Coming up...

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Mark Parsons bought a duff Alfa Romeo.

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It was pushing water out the expansion tank, it was misfiring.

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The thing was, that he didn't want to pay up.

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Lawrence visits the car dealer and lays down the law.

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As it stands at the moment, it's still an active company,

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you're still the director of it,

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so it's 100% your responsibility to deal with it.

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The sheriffs take on a group of squatters

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in the heart of central London.

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-Devil worship!

-THEY ALL SHOUT

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Devil worship!

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In 30 minutes' time, you are going to be leaving this property.

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Lawrence and Kev chase an insurance pay-out

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for a family involved in a car crash.

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Just as I was approaching a roundabout,

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the guy came out from the left and there was no way I could get out the way.

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And Tommy and Craig track down a vet who owes money to a former employee.

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Here we go. Mrs Mulvey? She's still living here, isn't she?

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While most of their workload involves unpaid debts,

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High Court enforcement agents can also act

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in cases of unlawful occupation of land or property,

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commonly known as squatting.

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And early this morning the sheriffs

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are gathering in a car park in Camden, in central London,

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to enforce one of these jobs.

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We've got a double gate roughly there, yeah?

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A single gate there, the double gate is where we're going to go in.

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Under the guidance of team leader Mark King,

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they're here to evict a group of squatters

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who've set up camp on a nearby plot of land.

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Not sure what it was originally -

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maybe a garden centre or something like that.

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I believe the people were allowed in to stay there first off, but,

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for whatever reason, the client now wants the land back.

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The squatters are thought to have been there for at least two years.

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The owner of the land has been unable to persuade them to leave

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peacefully, and so now has obtained a writ of possession,

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authorising the sheriffs to get the site back for him.

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We're looking at about 30, possibly 40 people in there.

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Not sure until we get there, to be honest.

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I had a look past this morning,

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the gate isn't even locked.

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It could be that they've all gone.

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We'll see when we get round there.

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The squat's a short drive away, and it has a number of entrances,

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so the sheriffs are splitting up.

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Andrew, give me an update, mate. Are you by gate three?

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Right, everybody ready, yeah?

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And once they're all in position...

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-Right, we all fit?

-..it's time to go in.

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Right, let's go.

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As expected, they have no problem getting past the gate,

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but before they rouse the occupants,

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they want to be sure they've got the whole ground covered.

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The tent's going to be over the other side there,

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so you go and sort that.

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Give us a shout once you're round there.

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Once the site's secure,

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they issue the wake-up call that's every squatter's worst nightmare.

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High Court enforcement.

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High Court enforcement. Time to wake up!

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High Court enforcement.

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-Morning, mate.

-High Court enforcement.

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All right?

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You need to pack your stuff up, you need to vacate, OK?

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Quick as you can, please. Thank you.

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The dazed occupants have been caught off-guard.

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Pack your stuff up as quick as you can.

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And at first glance,

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it doesn't look like they're planning to cause any trouble,

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but the sheriffs aren't going to be letting their guard down until they

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know exactly what they're dealing with.

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How many have we, do you think?

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I don't know yet, but they're all over the place.

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They're up in the attic on this bit.

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The site is littered with makeshift structures,

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so it's hard to know where people might be,

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and the last thing the sheriffs want is any surprises.

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Open the door, mate.

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Yeah, I'm on that.

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-I'm packing up, brother.

-OK, all right, OK.

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If you can just leave the door open.

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-Yeah.

-This fella here, he's going to stay with you,

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just make sure you're getting on with it, OK?

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-How long do we have, brother?

-We're going to give you about an hour.

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-OK?

-OK.

-All right, thank you.

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At first, it seems the squatters are cooperative, if a little eccentric.

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They're quite happy, aren't they, most of them?

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They're sort of free spirits, aren't they, I suppose?

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I suppose that's what you call them.

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But Mark might have spoken too soon,

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as one occupant seems to be dragging his heels.

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Have you got all your stuff?

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I've got it here somewhere, but I'm not very happy about it.

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Well, I'm sorry I've upset you, but get on with it.

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Have you got a family home?

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-Yeah, they're all in bed at the moment.

-Yeah?

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-Just get on with it, mate.

-Don't touch my arm. I'm going.

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Right, you need to start packing your stuff up.

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Yeah, I've done it already.

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-I don't care...

-You were given two ears and one mouth for a reason. Please listen.

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I said I've packed it up already and I'm going to pick it up and leave.

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Rather than standing around arguing, can you actually show me you're doing that?

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-I'm not arguing, I'm just telling you friendly.

-If you carry on, you'll be removed from the site.

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No-one was expecting the squatters to be pleased,

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but the sheriffs need to be on the lookout for tempers running out of control.

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There's an element of wounded pride, so you can almost expect them to

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push back a little bit, but it's just how far.

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One man, who's been living in a tent in the yard,

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is refusing to pack his things

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and is claiming the eviction isn't legal.

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I'd love to speak to you in truth and honour,

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because I know that this documentation is unlawful.

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I've studied law for three decades,

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and I unfortunately know that the entire legal system

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of your country is now in such gross fraud that we've stood away from it.

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Take a breath, mate, take a breath. It's a High Court writ, OK?

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Stamped by the court.

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The man claims that the squat has declared itself

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an independent country, so he isn't bound by English law.

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You want to kill me,

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you want to exile me from the land I've built for the last three years,

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which we found abandoned.

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-It's not your...

-..and brought back to life.

-The land doesn't belong to you.

-The land is God's.

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But a philosophical debate isn't on the sheriffs' agenda.

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-At ten to six...

-No-one wants to hear.

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..that's in 30 minutes' time, OK,

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you are going to be leaving this property.

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If you want to take your stuff with you...

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-How do I live?

-..you need to start to pack it up.

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-You've got 30 minutes.

-How do I live?

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The sheriffs can use reasonable force if necessary,

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but it's a situation they'd rather avoid,

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so Mark is hoping his ultimatum will have the desired effect.

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I've explained to him what he needs to do.

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He's not really listening, so I think...

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I've given him 30 minutes to start to pack up.

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If he's starting to pack up within those 30 minutes, fine.

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We'll see at ten to six, see what happens.

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Later, can the sheriffs persuade the man to leave peacefully?

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The projected image that this man's sending to me

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is absolutely despicable.

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You know I read minds, don't you? And I read yours,

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and it's not pleasant. Please, take it away.

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In the south-east, enforcement agents

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Lawrence Grix and Kev McNally are on the road.

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They're on the outskirts of London,

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heading to what looks like a bread-and-butter job,

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but which is about to become much more complicated

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than they might imagine.

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We're in Croydon today.

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We're going to Pinewood Used Cars Limited.

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We're looking for £3,424 today.

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We believe this is to do with the sale of a second-hand car.

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The claimant in the case is Mark Parsons,

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a garage worker from Luton with a passion for Italian cars.

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His involvement with Pinewood Used Cars Limited

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began when he was looking to buy an Alfa Romeo

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and found them advertising one for sale.

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The car was going to be a second car.

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It was just for, like, going out at the weekends or, you know,

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if we needed it. From the picture in their advert it looked like a very

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nice car, and they gave a very good write up of it.

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It was a red Alfa, so who doesn't like red Alfas?

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Mark made the trip down to Croydon,

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where he met the garage's boss, Adam Neave,

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and a salesman called Ryan, who showed him the car.

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It was in very good condition.

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I work in a garage, so I've got a generally good idea of cars.

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I checked it through quite thoroughly,

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but everything seemed to be all right.

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They said, "Do you want to test drive it?"

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but the thing was that there wasn't much fuel in it,

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it was right on empty, so you couldn't really take it anywhere.

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So I just took it 500 yards down the road,

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turned round and came back again.

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Mark liked what he'd seen, paid £4,000 for the car

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and drove it home.

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The car drove OK, but when I got here, outside my house,

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I stopped and there was steam coming out the bonnet.

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Straightaway, Mark phoned up Pinewood Used Cars Limited.

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I told them what had happened, and they said,

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"Oh, it's just a twisted hose or whatever".

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I said, "No, I think the head gasket's gone on this car".

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They said "No, it's just a twisted hose. Take it to your local garage".

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Mark did exactly that.

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His local garage agreed it was a head gasket

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and said it would cost £1,300 to fix.

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But when Mark phoned Pinewood they said they could

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get it done cheaper, and collected the car.

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They had the car for two weeks and brought it back,

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but the car was still exactly the same.

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It was pushing water out the expansion tank, it was misfiring,

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it was just doing exactly the same things as what it was before.

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When he complained, Pinewood Used Cars Limited did offer him a refund,

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but minus £500.

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He was saying that he'd had costs involved,

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that he'd had to come and pick the car up from here.

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I was quite annoyed, because the car wasn't fit for purpose,

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so they are supposed to pay you

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the exact price that you paid for the car, not knock £500 off it.

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Mark decided to get a second opinion

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and took the car to an Alfa specialist.

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They said that the head gasket had gone, which I knew already,

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and they said, "No, you can't take the car away,

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"because if you drive the car,

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"the water will get into the oxygen sensors and it will ruin the engine.

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"So you've got to keep the car here".

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Three or four days later they rang me up to say the car was done

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and the bill to fix the car was £2,260,

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and I tried to get in contact with Pinewood but they just ignored me.

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For months, Mark tried to get the matter resolved

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with the help of the Citizens Advice Bureau,

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but he couldn't get the company to agree to pay for the repair,

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leaving him more than £2,000 out of pocket.

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I found it quite hard, because it was upsetting.

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You know, you work in garages,

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your professional pride is sort of upset,

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and it affected my, sort of, family life.

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I felt really depressed, I was really down,

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I had a few sleepless nights over it, yeah, yeah.

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In the end, Mark decided to sell the car and file a money claim against

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Pinewood Used Cars Limited.

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The company attended court and defended the case,

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but it was to be Mark's day.

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The judge decided that I was right,

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I won the case and this Adam Neave and Ryan

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would have to pay me the money that I'd paid out, plus costs.

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But they haven't, leaving Mark with only one option.

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The sheriffs are my last hope of getting the money.

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In Croydon, Lawrence and Kev are on the way

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to Pinewood Used Cars Limited.

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From the brief details they've been given,

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they're not sure what lies ahead.

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The address we're going to could possibly not be a commercial site,

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it could be a house,

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but we're hoping it's not going to be.

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Sheriffs have fewer powers of entry at residential premises,

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and it's unlikely there'd be much in the way of company assets

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at someone's home.

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As they approach their destination, it doesn't look good.

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443.

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-445 on the corner, isn't it?

-There it is, down there.

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They park outside a row of houses and head in.

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But to their surprise, the address leads them through an alley...

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..into a yard...

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..with a cabin and several cars.

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For our sheriffs, things are looking up.

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All right, gents.

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My name is Mr Grix,

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my colleague and I are enforcement agents.

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We've got a High Court writ to execute against Pinewood Used Cars Limited.

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Mark Parsons.

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Right, so you're not Pinewood Used Cars?

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It sounds like the company they're looking for has moved out.

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If so, this will have been a wasted trip.

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But Lawrence wants to know more.

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So you weren't anything to do with Pinewood?

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Right, but you weren't the director?

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So you're Adam Neave, are you?

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So Lawrence is talking to the man who sold Mark his car after all.

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He says the company is no longer trading and has been liquidated.

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If so, then the writ wouldn't be enforceable,

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but when Lawrence looked it up earlier in the week,

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the company was still active.

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So he calls his office to check.

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Can you just do a check on Creditsafe for me, please?

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Pinewood Used Cars, is it showing anything about liquidation?

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It isn't.

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Right, cheers.

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Company liquidation doesn't happen overnight,

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so it could just be that the process hasn't been completed.

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Whether Lawrence can enforce today will depend on how far it's got.

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Mr Neave doesn't know, and say it's with his accountant.

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It's no good telling me the accountants are dealing with it.

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We need to have evidence that the company's in liquidation.

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As it stands at the moment, it's still an active company,

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you're still the director of it,

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so it's 100% your responsibility to deal with it.

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It's you that needs to provide whatever paperwork you've got,

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so whatever you've got, if you can dig that out for us.

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It quickly becomes clear that none of the paperwork is here.

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One of the men is on the phone,

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trying to get something e-mailed through from their accountant,

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who's apparently out for lunch.

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HE LAUGHS

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In the meantime, Lawrence ups the ante.

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Right, what we need to do at the moment, then,

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until that paperwork comes through,

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is just establish ownership of the vehicles out there.

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There are several cars outside,

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and if any of them belong to Pinewood Used Cars Limited,

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Lawrence could be onto a winner,

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but Mr Neave says they don't.

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So whose is the Skoda?

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According to Mr Neave, every vehicle here belongs to someone else.

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So who's bought the van?

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Mr Neave seems to have all the answers,

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but there's something bugging Lawrence.

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It doesn't ring that true, when you turn up to a business,

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there's cars out there,

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none of them are for sale

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but there's three of you sitting in the sales office, you know?

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Mr Neave says Pinewood Used Cars Limited is wound up

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and their new company isn't yet in business.

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Lawrence isn't just going to take his word for it

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and begins making his own investigation.

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I've just been looking to see if any of the cars here

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are actually on Auto Trader, and they're not,

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which is where most car dealers sell their vehicles.

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Kev, meanwhile, is shown Pinewood Used Cars Limited's bank account,

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and it's overdrawn.

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So you're 800 and...

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Yeah, OK, it's all overdrawn, yeah, no balance.

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Lawrence turns his attention to the filing cabinet.

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I just have to keep looking for any relevant paperwork that might show

0:16:260:16:29

that you're still trading at the moment as Pinewood.

0:16:290:16:32

Everything you're saying adds up,

0:16:360:16:38

but the fact is we've got, you know, half a dozen cars out there.

0:16:380:16:42

No, so we have to assume they are.

0:16:450:16:47

Later, while the search goes on to try to find the paperwork...

0:16:470:16:50

PHONE RINGS

0:16:500:16:52

..Lawrence gets word from their accountant.

0:16:520:16:54

Have you paid for the liquidation, have you paid the fee?

0:16:540:16:57

You haven't.

0:16:580:16:59

Using the County Courts to try to recover money you're owed isn't difficult.

0:17:080:17:13

1.5 million money claims are made every year in England and Wales,

0:17:130:17:16

involving anything from faulty goods or poor workmanship,

0:17:160:17:20

to unpaid invoices.

0:17:200:17:21

Claims can be filed by post or online for a small fee.

0:17:230:17:26

Both parties in the case will be asked to submit evidence,

0:17:260:17:30

and you may have to attend a court hearing.

0:17:300:17:33

If you're successful,

0:17:330:17:34

a County Court judgment - or CCJ - will be issued against the debtor,

0:17:340:17:39

and if they still don't pay, that's when you call the sheriffs.

0:17:390:17:42

In London, the sheriffs are at a squat in Camden Town.

0:17:450:17:49

-Morning.

-The man who owns the land originally allowed the squatters

0:17:490:17:52

to stay, but now wants it back.

0:17:520:17:54

He couldn't persuade the squatters to leave of their own accord,

0:17:540:17:57

so he's got a writ of possession

0:17:570:17:59

which empowers the sheriffs to evict them.

0:17:590:18:01

As expected, they're not best pleased.

0:18:010:18:04

We try to love this world, and,

0:18:040:18:09

of course, the "good fellas" kick us out.

0:18:090:18:15

But for the most part, the squatters appear to be leaving peacefully,

0:18:150:18:19

with a couple of exceptions.

0:18:190:18:21

You'll be removed.

0:18:240:18:25

Physically.

0:18:260:18:27

Right, I have a bit of paper here - it's a High Court writ.

0:18:300:18:33

It commands me to come onto this land...

0:18:330:18:36

Right, I've told you, mate, what's happening.

0:18:360:18:39

OK...

0:18:390:18:40

I'm a free person and I have the right to live and be on this planet.

0:18:410:18:46

And outside, another man isn't cooperating, either.

0:18:460:18:49

-Sorry?

-The projected image and energy

0:18:490:18:51

that this man's sending to me is absolutely despicable.

0:18:510:18:54

Can you please ask him to stand at least 12 feet away from me?

0:18:540:18:56

If you were inside packing up,

0:18:560:18:58

I wouldn't be anywhere near you, would I?

0:18:580:19:00

Cos I will remain out here. I won't come inside.

0:19:000:19:02

You know I read minds, don't you? And I read yours, and it's not pleasant.

0:19:020:19:05

Please, take it away.

0:19:050:19:06

The man previously told the sheriffs he doesn't recognise English law.

0:19:060:19:10

Now he says he won't leave until he finds his pet cat.

0:19:100:19:13

Somewhere I have a very, very small kitten, it's tiny,

0:19:130:19:18

and I need to find it.

0:19:180:19:19

I can't even find it here.

0:19:190:19:21

As soon as these people came on-site, she ran away.

0:19:210:19:23

But kitten or no kitten,

0:19:230:19:25

the man needs to pack his belongings if he wants to take them,

0:19:250:19:28

and has so far refused to do so.

0:19:280:19:30

The sheriffs' patience is running out.

0:19:300:19:33

We'll keep hanging in with him, you know.

0:19:330:19:35

We can keep playing his game for a little while,

0:19:350:19:37

and eventually enough will be enough, where

0:19:370:19:39

he may have to be helped off-site.

0:19:390:19:41

And he's not the only squatter sailing close to the wind.

0:19:410:19:44

-If you touch me, sir...

-Yeah.

0:19:440:19:46

..and you want to remove me...

0:19:460:19:47

-Yeah.

-..I don't know if that's the best thing to do,

0:19:470:19:50

because obviously you don't have any powers.

0:19:500:19:52

I do have power to do that.

0:19:520:19:53

I don't think so.

0:19:530:19:55

You don't think so, I'm telling you I have.

0:19:550:19:57

You haven't gave me birth, sir, I'm really sorry,

0:19:570:19:59

I have to ask my mum and my dad.

0:19:590:20:00

But the sheriffs don't need his parents' permission.

0:20:000:20:03

And as the man continues to be obstructive, enough is enough.

0:20:030:20:07

I don't respond to you.

0:20:070:20:08

Don't touch me, don't touch me.

0:20:090:20:11

Come on, mate. You go and get your stuff...

0:20:110:20:13

Don't touch me!

0:20:150:20:16

I haven't said anything, I haven't done anything to you.

0:20:160:20:19

-Come on.

-What are you doing?

0:20:190:20:21

You're going, mate. You're too gobby.

0:20:210:20:23

I'm not too gobby. Hey, what's going on there?

0:20:230:20:25

-You've had the opportunity.

-What do you mean?

0:20:250:20:27

He's not complying with what he should be doing

0:20:270:20:29

and he's just standing around, being an issue.

0:20:290:20:31

If he just carries on like that,

0:20:340:20:35

the others are going to start sort of going along with his view.

0:20:350:20:40

The man is convinced the sheriffs don't have any authority,

0:20:420:20:46

and once outside, he calls the police.

0:20:460:20:49

We have some people literally harassing us and attacking us.

0:20:490:20:53

They're very dangerous. They pretend to have... They have some uniforms,

0:20:530:20:56

you know, they pretend to be bailiffs or sheriffs or something,

0:20:560:21:00

and it's a little bit of an illegal situation here,

0:21:000:21:02

so we need to have some police here.

0:21:020:21:05

Meanwhile, back inside the squat,

0:21:060:21:08

the sheriffs are still battling with the man in the tent,

0:21:080:21:10

who now says he's ill.

0:21:100:21:12

-Are you unwell?

-Yes, I am, seriously unwell.

0:21:140:21:16

-OK.

-I really have been for the last three years.

0:21:160:21:18

-All right.

-I'm suffering from consumption.

0:21:180:21:20

I've only got 10% of my lung capacity left.

0:21:200:21:22

I'm very, very hard pushed to breathe and when stressed,

0:21:220:21:25

it makes it worse.

0:21:250:21:26

Take this man away from me, he's really upsetting me.

0:21:260:21:29

-All right.

-He's really upsetting me!

0:21:290:21:31

-He's gone now.

-No, he hasn't!

0:21:310:21:33

Right, he has now, OK?

0:21:330:21:34

-Get him away from me.

-All right, listen...

0:21:340:21:36

-I mean, seriously.

-Do you need medical assistance?

0:21:360:21:38

I would love it,

0:21:380:21:39

but it's not a case that your medical people could help me.

0:21:390:21:42

I haven't got a name, they won't treat me,

0:21:420:21:43

-so it's not going to help.

-Are you refusing...?

-I don't have a name.

0:21:430:21:46

Do you want me to get you an ambulance?

0:21:460:21:47

-Yes or no?

-I don't know what's going to happen, you may as well get me a hearse.

0:21:470:21:50

-Do you want me to get you an ambulance?

-You may as well get me a hearse, I promise you.

0:21:500:21:54

Later, patience runs out with the man in the tent.

0:21:540:21:57

I haven't done nothing to these people,

0:21:570:21:59

they are now depriving me from any ability to live.

0:21:590:22:02

And tempers flare as the site is secured.

0:22:020:22:05

THEY CHANT

0:22:050:22:07

Why are you destroying our garden?!

0:22:070:22:09

In the Midlands, sheriffs Tommy Coyle

0:22:150:22:18

and Craig Wild are heading into the Oxfordshire countryside

0:22:180:22:21

to visit a residential address.

0:22:210:22:23

This morning, it's an early one.

0:22:250:22:27

We're off to go and see a Mrs Susan Mulvey,

0:22:270:22:31

who is a vet.

0:22:310:22:34

The debt itself is just short of £4,000.

0:22:340:22:40

The debt is for wages owed to a former employee,

0:22:400:22:43

and it's not the first time Mrs Mulvey

0:22:430:22:45

has been in trouble over the treatment of her staff.

0:22:450:22:49

In 2013,

0:22:490:22:50

an employment tribunal awarded nearly £10,000 in compensation

0:22:500:22:55

to another former worker, who was unfairly dismissed.

0:22:550:22:58

Mrs Mulvey didn't defend either case,

0:22:580:23:01

and in this latest incident currently owes £3,943.

0:23:010:23:06

We've been to the vets before,

0:23:100:23:11

to the actual shop and the address where she trades from,

0:23:110:23:14

left a notification because she was actually operating

0:23:140:23:17

on an animal at the time, so we couldn't get to see her personally.

0:23:170:23:20

Since then she's never been in touch with us at all,

0:23:200:23:23

so our office has done some background checks,

0:23:230:23:26

to find out where her home address is,

0:23:260:23:28

and that's where we're off to now.

0:23:280:23:30

As the claimant sued Mrs Mulvey personally,

0:23:310:23:34

rather than her business,

0:23:340:23:35

catching her at home could be a good way to get the debt paid.

0:23:350:23:40

That's the one.

0:23:400:23:41

-In there, then.

-In there.

0:23:410:23:42

The sheriffs approach the house,

0:23:430:23:45

first checking out the car on the driveway,

0:23:450:23:47

but it's not that promising.

0:23:470:23:49

That hasn't been moved for ages, mate, that hasn't.

0:23:490:23:52

The sheriffs will need to find some other way

0:23:520:23:55

of persuading the debtor to pay.

0:23:550:23:57

If she's in.

0:23:580:23:59

Got milk here, so think someone's still here?

0:24:020:24:05

Yeah.

0:24:050:24:06

Here we go.

0:24:090:24:10

Good morning. Mrs Mulvey?

0:24:110:24:14

Is she available?

0:24:140:24:15

It's Mrs Mulvey's husband,

0:24:190:24:21

and it seems like the vet has already left for work.

0:24:210:24:24

She's still living here, isn't she? Could you get her on the phone? Because we've been given this

0:24:240:24:28

as an enforcement address for her.

0:24:280:24:31

I can wait here, yeah.

0:24:310:24:33

It's not ideal that Mrs Mulvey's not here,

0:24:330:24:36

but the sheriffs know all too well that their presence

0:24:360:24:38

on the doorstep is often enough.

0:24:380:24:40

He's going to get her on the phone now,

0:24:400:24:42

and hopefully Tommy can have a chat with her over the phone

0:24:420:24:44

and explain the situation to her.

0:24:440:24:46

Sure enough, the man returns with Mrs Mulvey on the line,

0:24:460:24:49

and the sheriffs are invited in.

0:24:490:24:51

Thank you.

0:24:510:24:53

Now that they're inside,

0:24:530:24:54

they can't be told to leave and could seize assets,

0:24:540:24:57

but hopefully it won't come to that.

0:24:570:24:59

Tommy's explaining the situation to her on the phone.

0:24:590:25:02

They're trying to arrange the money as we speak.

0:25:020:25:05

I don't think they've got the money themselves in one account,

0:25:050:25:09

it may have to come from two or three accounts.

0:25:090:25:11

Mrs Mulvey needs to come up with close to £4,000 now,

0:25:120:25:16

and it's not uncommon for debtors to struggle to raise

0:25:160:25:19

enough funds on the spot.

0:25:190:25:22

If she can't, then the sheriffs will have to decide whether to accept

0:25:220:25:25

a part-payment for the time being, or stand their ground.

0:25:250:25:29

But this time, that scenario is avoided.

0:25:290:25:32

Fantastic news for the claimant.

0:25:320:25:34

He's transferred the money into one account

0:25:340:25:36

and they paid on a debit card in full.

0:25:360:25:38

Ten months after winning their case in court,

0:25:380:25:41

Mrs Mulvey's former employee has finally got the wages they're owed.

0:25:410:25:45

If you've won a County Court judgment and haven't been paid,

0:25:470:25:51

for £66 you can get the case transferred up to the High Court,

0:25:510:25:55

which will issue a writ for enforcement by the sheriffs.

0:25:550:25:58

My job is to collect in full or remove goods.

0:25:580:26:02

They've got special powers of entry.

0:26:020:26:05

We don't have to take any notice of your security protocol, I'm afraid.

0:26:050:26:08

And there's no limit on the size of the debts they can pursue.

0:26:080:26:11

£1.6 million.

0:26:110:26:13

If they're successful,

0:26:140:26:16

they'll recover your money and costs from the debtor...

0:26:160:26:19

Have you got the cash now, then?

0:26:190:26:20

..as well as their own fees, which are set by the Government.

0:26:200:26:23

She's paid, the judgment is settled.

0:26:230:26:25

Thank you very much.

0:26:250:26:27

If the sheriffs can't get your money,

0:26:270:26:29

they'll ask you to pay a fee of £75 plus VAT.

0:26:290:26:33

Lawrence and Kev are in Croydon,

0:26:390:26:41

at a company called Pinewood Used Cars Limited, which owes £3,424.

0:26:410:26:47

Lawrence has been eyeing up the cars outside,

0:26:480:26:51

but the director claims they don't belong to the company,

0:26:510:26:54

which he says is in liquidation anyway.

0:26:540:26:57

Now Lawrence is being handed their accountant on the phone.

0:26:570:27:00

Hello, sir.

0:27:010:27:02

Right, how far down the road is this liquidation?

0:27:030:27:05

Have you paid for the liquidation, have you paid the fee?

0:27:070:27:09

You haven't?

0:27:100:27:12

Yeah, well filing it in a week's time

0:27:120:27:14

isn't going to help the gentleman here today.

0:27:140:27:16

I don't know when you were instructed to liquidate the company,

0:27:160:27:19

but obviously it hasn't happened.

0:27:190:27:20

As far as we're concerned, and as far as the law's concerned,

0:27:200:27:23

the process for liquidation hasn't even started.

0:27:230:27:25

Thank you, bye-bye.

0:27:270:27:28

Right, we're back to the cars.

0:27:290:27:30

With Pinewood Used Cars Limited still officially trading,

0:27:310:27:35

Mr Neave and his colleagues will now have to prove the cars outside

0:27:350:27:39

don't belong to the company.

0:27:390:27:40

Yeah.

0:27:440:27:45

But it's not going to be that straightforward.

0:27:450:27:47

Apparently, some vehicles were bought by individuals,

0:27:470:27:51

including Mr Neave and his father.

0:27:510:27:53

Does he not keep his paperwork here, no?

0:27:530:27:57

Other cars belong to friends and relatives,

0:27:570:28:00

so the men begin the painful process of trying to come up with all

0:28:000:28:03

the paperwork Lawrence wants to see.

0:28:030:28:05

Yeah.

0:28:100:28:11

Gradually, with a combination of receipts,

0:28:140:28:17

logbooks and bank statements, they begin to piece it together.

0:28:170:28:20

2005, that's fine.

0:28:210:28:23

It clearly hasn't been bought for stock.

0:28:230:28:25

But their paperwork's all over the place.

0:28:250:28:27

And making head or tail of it months down the line isn't easy.

0:28:350:28:39

Nevertheless, despite the confusion, one by one,

0:28:490:28:53

the cars begin to be ruled out.

0:28:530:28:55

-Is that the one?

-3363.

-3363, that's that one.

0:28:550:28:59

So we discard that one.

0:28:590:29:00

Yeah, that's fine. That's that one off the list.

0:29:070:29:09

The latest is, we've established all but one of the vehicles are nothing

0:29:090:29:14

to do with the company we're after,

0:29:140:29:16

and we're 99.9% sure the remaining vehicle is nothing to do with

0:29:160:29:22

the company we're after,

0:29:220:29:23

but Lawrence, being as he is,

0:29:230:29:26

is waiting out, just for total confirmation.

0:29:260:29:30

So we'll be leaving soon, hopefully.

0:29:330:29:36

We've got 15, yeah? 15.08.

0:29:360:29:38

It's the final bit of paperwork they need.

0:29:440:29:47

Satisfied he's applied his full diligence to the job,

0:29:470:29:50

Lawrence finally calls it quits.

0:29:500:29:52

Cheers. It was a bit complicated,

0:29:520:29:54

but eventually we managed to tie all the receipts together for the cars

0:29:540:29:58

that were there of any value,

0:29:580:29:59

and basically the director's father owns them.

0:29:590:30:02

He bought them personally, with his personal money,

0:30:020:30:05

out of his bank account.

0:30:050:30:07

We've got bank statements, card slips, so there's no assets,

0:30:070:30:11

and within probably a couple of weeks,

0:30:110:30:14

the company will be wound up anyway.

0:30:140:30:15

If you'd seen the company bank account,

0:30:150:30:17

which was overdrawn by £860 or something,

0:30:170:30:20

which is part of the money they gave to the accountant to wind them up.

0:30:200:30:23

So no money, no assets, nothing we can do.

0:30:230:30:25

It's a disappointing result, not least for Mark Parsons,

0:30:260:30:30

but while he's not happy about the outcome,

0:30:300:30:33

he has no regrets about pursuing Pinewood Used Cars Limited

0:30:330:30:36

through the courts.

0:30:360:30:37

I'm glad I've gone through the process.

0:30:390:30:41

I've won the case, I've seen the way the legal system works,

0:30:410:30:44

I've seen what can happen.

0:30:440:30:45

Yes, it was an experience.

0:30:450:30:47

I just know now that I'm not going to get my money back,

0:30:470:30:49

and I've just got to move on.

0:30:490:30:52

Pinewood Used Cars Limited told us

0:30:520:30:53

that after Mr Parsons was unhappy with their repair of his car,

0:30:530:30:57

the company did offer him a refund, but he declined.

0:30:570:31:00

They say they lost in court because a year had passed

0:31:000:31:03

and so they had no evidence to support their case.

0:31:030:31:06

They say they didn't pay the court judgment

0:31:060:31:08

because they were no longer trading.

0:31:080:31:11

Back in Camden,

0:31:190:31:20

the sheriffs are still trying to evict a group of illegal squatters.

0:31:200:31:24

What's happening if we don't want to go?

0:31:240:31:26

You'll be removed.

0:31:260:31:28

While most are cooperating,

0:31:280:31:29

one man has had to be removed by force.

0:31:290:31:31

-You're going, mate, you're too gobby.

-I'm not too gobby.

0:31:310:31:34

Wait, what's going on here?

0:31:340:31:36

And a second is continuing to cause problems.

0:31:360:31:39

He's been refusing to pack his belongings,

0:31:390:31:41

and is now claiming to be unwell.

0:31:410:31:43

Two hernias, two dislocated shoulders and untold back pain.

0:31:430:31:47

-OK.

-I live in a tent in a garden,

0:31:470:31:49

not out of choice but out of force,

0:31:490:31:51

because you people threw me out of my last life

0:31:510:31:53

because I challenged the system and refused to wear a name.

0:31:530:31:57

The system has been trying to deprive,

0:31:570:31:58

deny and delay me any rights to live on this planet.

0:31:580:32:01

But the sheriffs have heard it all now,

0:32:010:32:03

so after 45 minutes of arguing and endless excuses,

0:32:030:32:07

the man is given some assistance.

0:32:070:32:09

I haven't done nothing to these people.

0:32:090:32:11

They are now depriving me from any ability to live.

0:32:110:32:15

Put him down gently, Steve.

0:32:150:32:16

I have my rights.

0:32:180:32:20

-Keep going.

-I have my rights.

0:32:200:32:21

-Legs down.

-I have my rights.

0:32:210:32:23

-I have my rights.

-Thank you very much.

0:32:230:32:26

Brother, I need my property, my kitten, I need my kitten.

0:32:260:32:30

-His cat's inside there, his baby cat.

-My children, my child is in there.

0:32:300:32:35

The man needn't worry, as Vader the kitten is soon found.

0:32:350:32:39

-Here's your cat.

-That's Vader, what about the rest of my stuff?

0:32:390:32:42

Now he's been removed, he wants his stuff, yeah?

0:32:420:32:46

At the moment,

0:32:460:32:48

I'm not going to let him get that.

0:32:480:32:50

I'm going to clear the site and then I'll get a couple of our officers

0:32:500:32:53

to pack his stuff up and just bring it out to him.

0:32:530:32:56

MAN SHOUTS With the troublemakers now off the site,

0:32:560:32:59

the sheriffs need to chivvy the rest of the squatters along.

0:32:590:33:02

I can see you've got your breakfast, have you got everything else?

0:33:020:33:05

-Are you taking the bike?

-It's mine, yeah.

0:33:050:33:07

After being on the site for three years,

0:33:070:33:10

some of the squatters have a lot of possessions.

0:33:100:33:12

Luckily, they've also got a couple of vans,

0:33:120:33:15

which is making the process a bit easier.

0:33:150:33:18

I think we've got about half out at the moment.

0:33:180:33:20

The majority of them have been OK,

0:33:200:33:22

it's just a couple who have had to be removed because they're not...

0:33:220:33:25

They're not doing what we've asked them to do.

0:33:250:33:28

Sorry.

0:33:310:33:32

Meanwhile, the police have arrived,

0:33:340:33:35

at the request of one of the squatters,

0:33:350:33:38

who is convinced that the eviction is illegal.

0:33:380:33:40

But once the police see the sheriffs' paperwork,

0:33:400:33:43

it becomes clear to them it's the squatters

0:33:430:33:45

who are on the wrong side of the law.

0:33:450:33:47

OK, we'll go hang out front

0:33:470:33:48

and just make sure no-one's getting all uppity.

0:33:480:33:51

-Thank you.

-OK.

0:33:510:33:53

As the final squatters gather their belongings and leave,

0:33:530:33:56

the temperature again starts to rise.

0:33:560:33:59

MAN SHOUTS

0:33:590:34:02

Garden community, garden community, garden community...

0:34:020:34:06

The squatters are gathering outside and making themselves heard.

0:34:060:34:09

Get a job, get a job!

0:34:090:34:13

Not that the sheriffs are worried.

0:34:130:34:15

I think it's a case of much sound and fury doth signify nothing.

0:34:150:34:18

Before the sheriffs can leave,

0:34:200:34:22

they have to be certain that none of the squatters have been left behind.

0:34:220:34:25

Search every nook and cranny, roof spaces,

0:34:250:34:28

outbuildings, shrubbery, tents,

0:34:280:34:31

everything, yeah? Leave no stone unturned, yeah?

0:34:310:34:34

Even if you think someone's checked it already, just double-check it, please.

0:34:340:34:37

And as the search of the building progresses,

0:34:370:34:40

Mark comes across something a bit odd.

0:34:400:34:42

I found a hatch or something in the floor, not sure where it goes.

0:34:420:34:45

Probably nothing, but I need to check it.

0:34:450:34:48

No, just the floor. That's fine, cool.

0:34:500:34:53

It turns out to be nothing.

0:34:530:34:55

And with the site confirmed as clear of squatters,

0:34:560:34:58

attention turns to making sure they don't get back in,

0:34:580:35:02

and securing the site for the owner.

0:35:020:35:04

It's going to be difficult place to secure up.

0:35:040:35:06

Ideally they're going to want security guards here,

0:35:060:35:09

but whether he chooses that or not...

0:35:090:35:11

If he doesn't, they'll probably be back in straightaway.

0:35:110:35:14

The other thing the sheriffs can do is make sure there's nothing much

0:35:140:35:17

to come back to.

0:35:170:35:18

As long as their makeshift homes are still standing,

0:35:180:35:21

this site will continue to be a draw for the squatters,

0:35:210:35:24

so the owner has asked the sheriffs to remove them.

0:35:240:35:27

Unsurprisingly, it only winds the squatters up more.

0:35:290:35:32

Please stop destroying my home.

0:35:320:35:37

My belongings are inside.

0:35:370:35:40

Devil worship!

0:35:400:35:42

Why are you destroying our garden?

0:35:420:35:45

Why are you destroying our beautiful garden?!

0:35:450:35:48

But the time has now come for the squatters to move on,

0:35:480:35:51

and Mark is confident they will.

0:35:510:35:53

There's still people coming back and forwards who've got stuff in there,

0:35:530:35:57

which we are letting them on to get, escorting them on,

0:35:570:36:00

and they're all outside still, all being very verbal,

0:36:000:36:04

but as the day goes on,

0:36:040:36:07

they'll peter out.

0:36:070:36:09

Thanks to the sheriffs,

0:36:090:36:11

the land is back in the hands of its rightful owner.

0:36:110:36:13

Every year 3.9 million motor insurance claims

0:36:190:36:22

are made in the UK as a result of accidents, theft or damage.

0:36:220:36:27

99% of these claims are accepted and subsequently paid out,

0:36:270:36:32

but occasionally claimants find themselves

0:36:320:36:34

unable to get the money they're owed.

0:36:340:36:36

Lawrence and Kev are heading towards the Sussex coast,

0:36:370:36:41

to deal with one of these cases.

0:36:410:36:42

We're off to Hastings Insurance Services Limited.

0:36:440:36:47

We are looking for £4,575.

0:36:470:36:53

The claimant is Bill Young from Ashington in Northumberland.

0:36:550:36:59

It all began with an outing to the local takeaway

0:36:590:37:01

with wife Christine and their kids.

0:37:010:37:05

We got in the car, headed down the road,

0:37:050:37:07

and just as I was approaching the roundabout,

0:37:070:37:09

the guy came out from the left.

0:37:090:37:11

I did see it coming,

0:37:110:37:12

but it was right at the last second and there was no way I could get out of the way.

0:37:120:37:16

The other driver smashed into the side of Bill's car,

0:37:160:37:19

writing it off and leaving the family shaken and hurt.

0:37:190:37:23

I can remember getting out of the vehicle and tried opening the door,

0:37:230:37:26

couldn't get out.

0:37:260:37:28

I had to climb out of the driver's seat and I actually

0:37:280:37:31

did go to hospital and got checked over because...

0:37:310:37:34

because of my injuries.

0:37:340:37:36

Christine suffered whiplash,

0:37:360:37:38

and it soon became clear that so did their 15-year-old daughter, Elise.

0:37:380:37:43

My daughter realised at school when she was sitting

0:37:430:37:46

on the high chairs in the science lab,

0:37:460:37:49

cos she had no back support,

0:37:490:37:51

and that's when she realised she was uncomfortable with it.

0:37:510:37:55

So she had to actually tell the teacher she needed a special chair.

0:37:550:37:59

She had to go through physio and stuff like that.

0:37:590:38:02

But good news was that the Youngs' insurance policy was supportive.

0:38:020:38:06

They said they would claim costs and compensation

0:38:060:38:09

from the other driver's insurers,

0:38:090:38:11

Hastings, and seemed confident of a result.

0:38:110:38:14

They got in touch to say that the driver had said it was his fault,

0:38:140:38:18

so we had nothing really to worry about.

0:38:180:38:21

We had a courtesy car.

0:38:210:38:22

But as it went on, it started to drag on and drag on.

0:38:220:38:25

It seemed that Hastings wasn't going to pay out just like that.

0:38:250:38:29

I was quite surprised

0:38:290:38:30

because it's quite a big insurance company

0:38:300:38:32

and I thought it would just be... they would pay up straightaway, sort of thing.

0:38:320:38:35

Especially when the guy who's hit you is admitting fault straightaway.

0:38:350:38:39

Basically an open and shut case, really.

0:38:390:38:42

Weeks became months,

0:38:420:38:43

and the situation was becoming increasingly worrying for the family.

0:38:430:38:47

I was just stressed all the time,

0:38:470:38:49

ringing up the insurance company just about every other day.

0:38:490:38:53

I would send one thing and then they would say,

0:38:530:38:55

"We need something else."

0:38:550:38:56

Well, I thought, "Well why didn't you say that in the first place?"

0:38:560:38:59

It just went on and on.

0:38:590:39:02

At the back of your mind you're always thinking,

0:39:020:39:03

"Am I going to get the money?" You know,

0:39:030:39:05

"Is it going to end up me paying for something that's not my fault?"

0:39:050:39:09

A few months after the accident,

0:39:110:39:13

the Youngs did receive the pay-out for their written-off car,

0:39:130:39:16

but it took a year before Christine got compensation for her injuries,

0:39:160:39:20

and Elise's whiplash was even less straightforward.

0:39:200:39:24

It turned out she'd have to go to court.

0:39:240:39:26

You don't really want your daughter going into a court.

0:39:260:39:28

She seemed to take it in her stride, but it was worrying for us.

0:39:280:39:32

And after the hearing, they were more confused than ever.

0:39:320:39:35

The guy who was representing the other company,

0:39:350:39:39

he basically just agreed they would pay out.

0:39:390:39:41

There was no questions asked.

0:39:410:39:43

It just seemed to be a waste of time.

0:39:430:39:45

The Youngs could at least expect the matter to finally be resolved.

0:39:470:39:51

But 18 months after the accident, they're still waiting.

0:39:510:39:54

Now the Youngs' insurers have decided to take the final step.

0:39:550:39:59

They've obtained a High Court writ against Hastings Insurance

0:39:590:40:03

and engaged the sheriffs.

0:40:030:40:04

We've been informed that the sheriffs are going to go into

0:40:040:40:07

the offices of the insurance company...

0:40:070:40:10

Basically bang on their door.

0:40:100:40:12

..and actually physically take the money.

0:40:120:40:14

We didn't expect this, so we'll see what happens from here,

0:40:140:40:17

but hopefully we'll finally get what...

0:40:170:40:19

-What we deserve.

-..what we need.

0:40:190:40:21

Lawrence and Kev are soon to arrive

0:40:270:40:29

at Hastings Insurance Services Limited.

0:40:290:40:32

It should be straightforward,

0:40:320:40:33

but Kev's taking nothing for granted.

0:40:330:40:36

You'd have thought a job like this is a relatively easy payment,

0:40:360:40:40

but you can never guarantee it.

0:40:400:40:43

It's up this road somewhere, I believe.

0:40:430:40:46

There it is, Conquest House, Hastings Direct.

0:40:460:40:49

It's not quite the name on the writ,

0:40:490:40:51

but it's more than likely to be just a trading name for the debtor company.

0:40:510:40:55

Unperturbed, Lawrence and Kev park up and head into the building.

0:40:550:40:59

-Hi there.

-They'll rumble you, Pete, straight away.

0:40:590:41:02

But our cameraman doesn't get far.

0:41:020:41:04

Morning, yeah.

0:41:040:41:06

We wait outside, while Lawrence explains.

0:41:060:41:08

My name's Mr Grix. My colleague and I are enforcement agents.

0:41:080:41:11

We've got a High Court writ against Hastings Insurance Services Limited.

0:41:110:41:14

The sheriffs' unannounced arrival causes some confusion.

0:41:180:41:22

Lawrence and Kev don't know any of the specifics of the case,

0:41:220:41:25

all they've got is a writ against the company

0:41:250:41:28

with Mr Young's name on it, and no-one here knows who he is.

0:41:280:41:31

After an hour, they've made little progress.

0:41:330:41:35

One of the issues they've got at the moment is looking for the person

0:41:370:41:41

in the claim.

0:41:410:41:42

Once they find out who that is,

0:41:420:41:43

they'll be back down and sorting out.

0:41:430:41:45

They're familiar with these scenarios.

0:41:450:41:48

I think with such a big company,

0:41:480:41:49

they must get a few of these things sort of slip through the net.

0:41:490:41:53

The sheriffs can demand the writ is paid regardless,

0:41:540:41:56

but companies are usually reluctant to reach for their credit cards

0:41:560:42:00

until they know what they're paying for.

0:42:000:42:03

So Lawrence is prepared to give them a bit of time,

0:42:030:42:06

rather than threatening to remove assets from the office.

0:42:060:42:08

Another 45 minutes passes before, eventually, he's out.

0:42:100:42:15

And all the waiting around hasn't dampened his spirits.

0:42:150:42:18

That went very well, really.

0:42:190:42:21

Eventually they found who should be dealing with the claim.

0:42:210:42:25

Apparently they'd already agreed a settlement and the solicitor should

0:42:250:42:28

have paid it, so it's actually the solicitors that have paid it now.

0:42:280:42:32

It took a bit longer than we would've liked, really,

0:42:320:42:34

but sometimes it does.

0:42:340:42:36

They've been paid the full £4,575.

0:42:400:42:44

18 months after their car accident,

0:42:440:42:47

the Youngs have finally got the compensation they were owed.

0:42:470:42:50

Well, we finally heard from the sheriffs.

0:42:520:42:55

It's good news.

0:42:550:42:56

They're getting the money, so that's great.

0:42:560:42:59

We would have preferred that we didn't need to claim

0:42:590:43:01

and we didn't need it, but that's what these things are for.

0:43:010:43:04

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