0:00:02 > 0:00:03- Meet the sheriffs. - My name's Mr Grix.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05My colleague and I are enforcement agents.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07We came with a high court order today.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08They work for the High Court.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10And if a judge says you're owed money,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13it's the sheriffs' job to go and get it.
0:00:13 > 0:00:14Where are the keys?
0:00:14 > 0:00:17I'm going to be calling a locksmith.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19They can demand payment on the spot...
0:00:19 > 0:00:22- What can you pay us now? - You're going to get the cash, are you?- Are you paying the bill?
0:00:22 > 0:00:24..or remove assets instead.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28- You've got 30 minutes to make the payment...- or we start removing stuff from the building.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30You'll have a week to pay in full before it gets sold at auction.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34Obstructing their work can be a criminal offence.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36- I wouldn't do that if I were you. - Don't lie to me.
0:00:36 > 0:00:37No messing?
0:00:37 > 0:00:41Every year, sheriffs in England and Wales recover unpaid debts
0:00:41 > 0:00:44totalling more than £80 million.
0:00:48 > 0:00:49Coming up...
0:00:49 > 0:00:53these women were sacked and didn't get the money they were due.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Financially, that pressure now, suddenly, was just there.
0:00:59 > 0:01:00Sorry...
0:01:01 > 0:01:05When Rob and Gerald track down the women's boss, they give him an ultimatum.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07He's got another five minutes to make a payment,
0:01:07 > 0:01:11otherwise we're going to phone up the recovery and start removal.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Tommy is on the trail of a debt that dates back five years.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18He's aware of the court order. It wouldn't just go away.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20And today's sort of crunch time.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24And Mike clamps down on a landlord who hasn't returned a tenant's deposit.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27We're going to immobilise the Volvo,
0:01:27 > 0:01:29hoping he turns up in his Mercedes-Benz,
0:01:29 > 0:01:31and we'll immobilise his Merc as well.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40On average, we spend more than £33,000
0:01:40 > 0:01:45over the course of a lifetime on cosmetics and skincare products.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49Taking care of how we look is now a multi-billion pound industry.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Today, High Court enforcement agents Rob Foster and Gerald Anderson
0:01:56 > 0:02:01are on their way to skincare company, Sesderma UK Limited.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Gerald's no beauty expert,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06but he is hopeful there'll be plenty of assets on site.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09We've had a little bit of information that the company has
0:02:09 > 0:02:16expensive serums, a skincare line, fillers, chemical peels, etc.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Rob and Gerald are pursuing a debt on behalf of four ex-employees,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24who each took their case to an employment tribunal and won.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29They didn't get the money so their cases were transferred to the High Court for enforcement.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33I've got four writs against the same company.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35All of them are tribunals.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40All of them are to do with nonpayment of holiday pay,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43unpaid wages and unpaid expenses.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Hopefully, we can get all four of them sorted.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Christine Dunnington is one of the four claimants
0:02:51 > 0:02:55pinning her hopes on the sheriffs.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Christine was delighted when she landed her dream job,
0:02:58 > 0:02:59heading up the UK sales team
0:02:59 > 0:03:03for leading Spanish skincare company Sesderma.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06It was skincare, which I'm quite passionate about and it was sales,
0:03:06 > 0:03:10which I'm very passionate about, as well.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15Christine was based at the Sesderma UK head office in Oxted, Surrey.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Her brief, to help establish the company's products in the UK market.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24I knew it was a big brand out in Spain and very successful in the UK.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29It had only been launched for six months but I saw it as a challenge.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33I thought, you know, I can help launch this product in the UK.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37I can see it working, because, you know, the product is great.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40The science is great behind the product.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44Christine was joined by head of marketing Kamal Watson
0:03:44 > 0:03:48and her own sales team, including product specialist Charlotte Smith.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52I thought the company was an ambitious company
0:03:52 > 0:03:55and they had a lot of prospect for growth.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00I was absolutely ecstatic when I was offered the job with Sesderma.
0:04:00 > 0:04:01It was a fabulous opportunity
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and it was something I was really looking forward to.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07As far as Christine was concerned,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10she'd put together a strong team and everything was moving in the right direction.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12It was going really well.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15People were hitting sales targets. The sales were growing.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20We were up over 300% from where I'd started when I joined.
0:04:20 > 0:04:26Christine's position leading the sales team at Sesderma UK seemed secure.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30I thought it was my dream. I thought it was, you know, where my future was going to be.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32I was going to grow with the company
0:04:32 > 0:04:34and bring it to the success that it has in Spain.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39But, yeah, my dream was cut short.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Eight months into her job, and with no apparent warning,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Christine was dismissed.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50I was told to go immediately, leave my laptop, leave my phone.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54I could take my personal photos off of the laptop but that was it.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Go. I didn't know what I'd done wrong.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58You know, I was dumbfounded as to what had happened.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00With rumours of budget cuts and restructures,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04Christine's dismissal wasn't the only shock.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08At around the same time, Charlotte and Kamal were also sacked.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12I received a week's notice and was just told, it's not working out.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14It really did impact my confidence.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19You take it very personally and I did get stressed.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22A week's notice is not very long to find something else.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25So it was a really stressful time.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29For Kamal in particular, the news was a shattering blow.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Her husband had a serious health problem and was unable to work.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35I was really devastated at the time.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38My husband had just suffered a heart attack,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40so the timing was just not great.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Knowing that you've had a place you've been going to every day,
0:05:46 > 0:05:49you've invested everything, committed everything and then suddenly,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52for it to just go and you lose your sense of routine and...
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Sorry...
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Yeah, it was just really, really hard.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01Hard to deal with.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05Christine, Charlotte and Kamal,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08along with a fourth employee who'd also been sacked,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11were unhappy about the way they'd been treated.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15They decided to take their case to ACAS, the conciliation service.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17All four claimed they were owed money
0:06:17 > 0:06:20and two of them accused the company of breach of contract.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24We'd all lost our jobs very close together and we were owed money
0:06:24 > 0:06:29as in salary and expenses, holidays and we thought if we all joined together,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33then we're going to have more chance of receiving what's owed to us.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36A lot of money was owed to the four of us and, you know,
0:06:36 > 0:06:40everyone's circumstances are different and I know some of them were really
0:06:40 > 0:06:42struggling with not having pay, having to sell cars,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45having to move out of where they were living, you know.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50It's devastating for people to find themselves in this position.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54For Kamal, losing her family's only source of income hit hard.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Knowing where the next penny was coming in was crucial.
0:06:57 > 0:07:02Financially, that pressure now suddenly was just there
0:07:02 > 0:07:06and it was just a lot to... a lot to deal with, you know.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09I was expected to be the breadwinner and support my husband emotionally
0:07:09 > 0:07:13and financially, and with the redundancy, I wasn't able to do that,
0:07:13 > 0:07:15so I felt very helpless.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18A settlement couldn't be agreed at ACAS,
0:07:18 > 0:07:20so the women went to an employment tribunal.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23When Sesderma UK didn't contest the case,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26an award was made in favour of the four ex-employees
0:07:26 > 0:07:29but they still didn't get their money, so their case was transferred
0:07:29 > 0:07:32to the High Court for enforcement.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34I've heard about the sheriffs from my uncle.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37That's the best chance that we have,
0:07:37 > 0:07:41I would say, to try to get some of the money that is owed to us.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44We've called in the sheriffs as a last resort.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47We've got to the point where we have tried everything now
0:07:47 > 0:07:52and we're really hoping that the sheriffs can resolve and just put this...
0:07:52 > 0:07:55this case to a close and just get us the money that we're owed.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02The amount owed, including fees, is £15,927.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Rob and Gerald are on their way to Sesderma UK's head office
0:08:10 > 0:08:11in Oxted, Surrey,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14but there's an immediate potential problem.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17The only way into the office is through a shared access doorway
0:08:17 > 0:08:20and that means, if the door's locked and no-one lets them in,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23they won't be able force entry.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27If nobody opens it, legally, we could have a problem.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Even though it's commercial,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32we could have a problem forcing entry and it's a shared access.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Luckily, the door is unlocked and they can walk straight in.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Oh! Diamond!
0:08:39 > 0:08:44There is a second internal door but that's also unlocked.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46- Two times lucky.- Two times lucky.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50Finally, the sheriffs reach the Sesderma UK offices.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55Oh, we have three.
0:08:55 > 0:08:56Hello.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58You all right? We're looking for the owner or director
0:08:58 > 0:09:01of Sesderma UK Ltd.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03- Is that yourself? - No.- No? Is the director... ?
0:09:03 > 0:09:06The directors of the parent company, Sesderma,
0:09:06 > 0:09:07are based in Spain.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11So Rob and Gerald want to speak to Alberto Sarmiento,
0:09:11 > 0:09:15the project manager and company secretary for Sesderma UK.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18But Mr Sarmiento is out on business.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Yeah, if you can give him a call. If you let him know that
0:09:20 > 0:09:23- agents from the Sheriff's office are here.- Yeah.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27And we need to speak to him regarding Mrs C Smith and others.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32The employee goes to call her boss while Rob and Gerald size up the stock.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- Very well stocked. - Very well-stocked, yes.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38But to what... to what value?
0:09:38 > 0:09:41I wouldn't know if that there
0:09:41 > 0:09:44is worth 50p or five quid.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48What sort of price is all this stuff, do you know?
0:09:48 > 0:09:51What would I have to pay for something like that?
0:09:51 > 0:09:53It would be £30, £40.
0:09:53 > 0:09:5530, 40 quid for that?
0:09:55 > 0:09:56Whoo!
0:09:56 > 0:09:59The cost of skincare products may be an eye-opener for Gerald
0:09:59 > 0:10:02but it's good news for the sheriffs, because the value of the stock
0:10:02 > 0:10:05may be sufficient to cover the debt.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09Gerald finds an order boxed up and ready to go out.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12This box here is to be delivered.
0:10:12 > 0:10:1613 times, two, four, six, eight, 12, 13.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19The 13 is £400.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23There's everything from foot creams to face cleansers and it all adds up.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26There's thousands of pounds' worth of stuff here.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28And there's one product in particular that catches
0:10:28 > 0:10:31the ever youthful Gerald's eye.
0:10:31 > 0:10:37I'd probably pick this one, which is an anti-ageing facial.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41I'd use this one, because it's my birthday at the end of this month
0:10:41 > 0:10:42and I'm 21 again.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45And this will confirm it!
0:10:45 > 0:10:49The employee's finally managed to get Mr Sarmiento on the phone.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51It's Mr Foster from the Sheriff's office.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54We have four High Court writs.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57Mr Sarmiento says he won't make a payment in full because the amount
0:10:57 > 0:11:00in each of the four writs is wrong.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04He tells Rob he's already paid some of the money direct to the four claimants.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09But despite this, the sheriffs are obliged to execute the writs.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Regardless of what you claim to have paid at the moment,
0:11:11 > 0:11:13we haven't received any proof of that,
0:11:13 > 0:11:17so all we can go on is the outstanding balances that we've got on the four writs.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20Rob explains that the sheriffs hold the money for 14 days
0:11:20 > 0:11:25so if it turns out Mr Sarmiento has paid too much, he can claim it back.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27I can send you links to pay each one,
0:11:27 > 0:11:30or I can send you our bank details for you to make payments on each one.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33But Mr Sarmiento is still refusing to pay.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Well, you're going to lose your stock, then.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38It's as simple as that. I'm not beating around the bush with it.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40You either pay it or we remove.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Mr Sarmiento says he's on his way back to the office
0:11:43 > 0:11:45but he's over an hour away.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48He's... I don't think he's not going to pay it but there is plentiful
0:11:48 > 0:11:51supply of assets here so we'll call a recovery contract and we'll have them away.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54But within a few minutes, Mr Sarmiento is back on the phone
0:11:54 > 0:11:56and he's changed his tune.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Hello, sir. My name's Mr Anderson for the Sheriff's office.
0:11:59 > 0:12:00He now says he will pay
0:12:00 > 0:12:04but he doesn't have sufficient company funds in the UK.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07So he'll have to contact Sesderma's head office in Spain.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11I can send the details to this person in Spain and he can pay it
0:12:11 > 0:12:13directly into our account from Spain.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15The sheriffs are going to start listing assets
0:12:15 > 0:12:18but decide to hold off actually removing stock
0:12:18 > 0:12:21to give Mr Sarmiento the chance to pay in full.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23We're starting the inventory now.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Now I'm happy enough not to start walking out with all your stuff
0:12:27 > 0:12:28until you get here.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32All I need to know, sir, is when you get back there,
0:12:32 > 0:12:34are your intentions to get this paid
0:12:34 > 0:12:37or am I sitting here wasting my time?
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Mr Sarmiento says he will pay but still maintains the amount
0:12:41 > 0:12:43on the writs is wrong.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46About an hour, is it? OK. Cheers.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Gerald briefs Rob on the debtor's claims that a part payment
0:12:51 > 0:12:53has already been made.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56He says he has proof by e-mails that he's paid 50% to each one
0:12:56 > 0:13:00- of them.- Yeah.- He's got proof of the payments being made.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02If they have had payments, and they confirm it,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05- then we can adjust the figures likewise.- Yeah.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07There's only one way to clear this up
0:13:07 > 0:13:10and that's to talk directly to the claimants.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Gerald gives Christine, one of the four claimants, a call.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15Is that Christine Dunnington? Yeah, how are you doing?
0:13:15 > 0:13:17My name's Mr Anderson from the Sheriff's office.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22How do? All right? I've just been on the blower
0:13:22 > 0:13:24talking to the chappy.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26He reckons that he's paid 50% of this debt already.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Now, I can't see whether he's paid anything or not.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33Christine explains that they had received some money from Sesderma UK.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37But that was several months before the employment tribunal.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41So the amount they were awarded and the amount on each of the writs is correct.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- Them figures are correct, then? - Yep. The figures are absolutely correct.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Mr Sarmiento will need to pay the full amount,
0:13:46 > 0:13:49a combined total of nearly £16,000,
0:13:49 > 0:13:53to prevent his stock being removed by the sheriffs.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Later, Mr Sarmiento arrives in the office
0:13:56 > 0:13:58to put the sheriffs in the picture.
0:14:07 > 0:14:12Using the County Courts to try and recover money you're owed isn't difficult.
0:14:12 > 0:14:161.5 million money claims are paid every year in England and Wales,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20involving anything from faulty goods or poor workmanship
0:14:20 > 0:14:22to unpaid invoices.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Claims can be filed online or by post for a small fee.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Both parties in the case will be asked to submit evidence
0:14:29 > 0:14:32and you may have to attend a court hearing.
0:14:32 > 0:14:38If you're successful, a County Court judgment or CCJ will be issued against the debtor.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41If they still don't pay, that's when you call the sheriffs.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49If you're owed money and have a County Court judgment in your favour,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52you have six years in which to enforce the debt.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Wait any longer than that, and you can still enforce
0:14:55 > 0:14:59but you'll need special permission from the court first.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02It's early morning and High Court enforcement agents
0:15:02 > 0:15:06- Tommy Coyle and Mike Perkins are passing Wembley Stadium...- Wembley!
0:15:06 > 0:15:10..pursuing a debt that dates back five years.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13This morning, we're looking for Xenon Builders Ltd.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16The debt's for around £59,000.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19The claimant is a subcontractor who is owed the money for work
0:15:19 > 0:15:22carried out and materials supplied.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25The original court judgment dates back to 2012,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27but the claimant didn't get his money,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30and only now has the case been transferred to the High Court
0:15:30 > 0:15:32for enforcement.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37The total amount owed today, £59,204.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44We're going to be looking for assets such as building vans,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47any high-value building equipment.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49Tommy and Mike find the address on the writ easily enough
0:15:49 > 0:15:53but there's no sign of any builders' vans.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55It's quite a small commercial property.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58What we can see at the moment, there's no external assets.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Not the best, not the best. But you never know.
0:16:01 > 0:16:06We might go in there and they could have thousands of pounds' worth
0:16:06 > 0:16:08of stuff in there.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10But what's even more worrying is the signage.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14There are signs for several different limited companies,
0:16:14 > 0:16:16including Zen Builders Ltd.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18But the writ is against Zenon,
0:16:18 > 0:16:25so the sheriffs won't be able to remove assets if they're owned by Zen.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Zenon Builders Ltd. It's this house?
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Is the boss about? Director?
0:16:30 > 0:16:34Good news. It sounds like Zenon Builders is trading from here.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36- Yes, I am manager. - You're the manager.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38My English is a little bit...
0:16:38 > 0:16:42We'll go and talk in private somewhere and I'll explain everything.
0:16:42 > 0:16:43High Court enforcement agent.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48We're here with a High Court writ today, for Zenon Builders Ltd.
0:16:48 > 0:16:53We're here to collect an amount, £59,204.56.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56I don't know how you'd like to get that paid.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59News of the writ comes as a shock to the manager.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01He says it's a matter for his boss.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03- Can you ring your boss up? - OK.- So we can speak to him.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Get him on the phone. I'll explain it all to him.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08The manager goes off to make a phone call,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11giving Tommy time to assess the situation.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13In a minute, I'm thinking, there's going to be
0:17:13 > 0:17:15a few limited entities here,
0:17:15 > 0:17:19due to different signs of limited companies that are up on the front.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22That's clearly one challenge here.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Asset-wise, there is a lot of machines here.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Some of them are of decent value.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29It'd be down to find out who they belong to.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34If they're the property of Zenon Builders Ltd and not Zen Builders Ltd,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Tommy and Mike will be able to remove them.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40But that will bring its own challenge.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41It's quite hard to uplift,
0:17:41 > 0:17:46so we'll probably need specialist contractors in to do this
0:17:46 > 0:17:49but there is value in all of this kind of machinery.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53Because, like I'm saying, it's vital to a business like this. They wouldn't want it going.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Minutes later, the manager reappears.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58- My boss.- Is it?- He has the boss on the phone.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59My name's Tom Coyle.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03I'm from the Sheriff's office, High Court enforcement agent.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06We have a High Court order here today to execute.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09The boss claims he has no knowledge of the court order
0:18:09 > 0:18:11or the £59,000 debt.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14They have sent a notice of enforcement out here.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16I'm here just to execute the court order.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20The man asked Tommy when that notice of enforcement was sent out.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22I can get you a date when it was sent in.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26It would have given you seven days but it's not just that, sir.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29You must know this is a large sum of money.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31He continues to plead ignorance.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34You have no idea about it, basically, someone taking you to court?
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Initially, it was £38,000.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38If I was running a company,
0:18:38 > 0:18:43I'd know if someone was getting a court order against me for £38,000.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Since then, court costs, enforcement fees
0:18:45 > 0:18:47and interest has been added to the debt.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Eventually, the man does remember.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54And Tommy's keen to get on with the business of enforcement.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56We're just here to execute it today.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58We're not here to discuss it.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03We need £59,000, or we need to take goods of the company.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06The boss tells Tommy he'll be there in 20 minutes.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08I'll see you then. Bye-bye, sir. Bye-bye.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15At the moment, he says he's in shock. He remembers the case.
0:19:15 > 0:19:16It's from 2012.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19He thought it was all sorted out via his lawyer.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22He said he wants to resolve the matter.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Whether he means we get that resolved by payment
0:19:25 > 0:19:27or I'll have to resolve it for him
0:19:27 > 0:19:29by taking goods away today, we don't know.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32With Mike starting to make an inventory of assets,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34the company book-keeper turns up.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36She's been briefed by her boss.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39We haven't received any paperwork whatsoever.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42You should have received some paperwork.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Then again, it's irrelevant if he's saying he's had the information or not.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48He was aware of the court order from 2012 so he knew all about it.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50It wouldn't just go away.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53And it's today, it's sort of crunch time.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56At the moment, we need £59,234.
0:19:58 > 0:19:59The quicker we get it sorted...
0:19:59 > 0:20:02- You want to go up, sir, to the office?- That would be better.
0:20:02 > 0:20:03- Yes.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05The bookkeeper ushers the sheriffs into the boardroom
0:20:05 > 0:20:08and while they're waiting for the boss to arrive,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Tommy checks out the frame certificates on the window ledge.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13It's all in the name.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Zen Builders Ltd.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19We have Zenon Builders Ltd.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23Seems a very small difference but it can be vital.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28The sheriffs are entitled to carry out a diligent search of the debtor's premises,
0:20:28 > 0:20:30so Mike starts sifting through paperwork,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33looking for anything that will prove Zenon Builders Ltd
0:20:33 > 0:20:37is an active company and is trading from these premises.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41We've got health and safety at work, legislation for Zenon Builders Ltd.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44If he can find an invoice or receipt in Zenon's name,
0:20:44 > 0:20:47it could make the difference between securing payment in full
0:20:47 > 0:20:49and walking away empty-handed.
0:20:49 > 0:20:54This is a rates refund application for Zenon Builders Ltd.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56It helps. Yeah, there's more stuff here.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58I've got HM Revenue and Customs.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01It adds to the bigger, bigger picture.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Can't beat a diligent search.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07There's plenty of paperwork relating to Zenon, the debtor company.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10- Loads.- If the boss says Zenon Builders is no longer active,
0:21:10 > 0:21:14this paperwork could prove invaluable.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16- Just take a picture of all of that. - Yeah.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Mike photographs the evidence and a few minutes later,
0:21:19 > 0:21:21the boss arrives.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24Zenon Builders Ltd.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Just show some of the application.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28The boss, Mr Zenon Kaczmarczyk,
0:21:28 > 0:21:32is denying Zenon Builders Ltd is trading here.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36So what are you saying exactly?
0:21:36 > 0:21:38You're saying Zenon Builders is not trading?
0:21:38 > 0:21:40I beg to differ,
0:21:40 > 0:21:44because you've got business rates there that you've been paying for Zenon Builders.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47If the sheriffs end up removing assets today,
0:21:47 > 0:21:51the onus will be on the debtor to prove which assets belong to Zenon,
0:21:51 > 0:21:52and which to Zen.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56You need to prove to us everything with who it belongs to here,
0:21:56 > 0:22:00so it'll be tables, chairs, the machinery, and what name's all that in.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Zen Builders?
0:22:04 > 0:22:06At this point, our camera is asked to leave.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13Inside, the boss is still saying Zenon Builders Ltd is no longer active,
0:22:13 > 0:22:17but Mike is continuing his diligent search of the offices and he finally
0:22:17 > 0:22:20discovers some vital evidence.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25I went to the side offices and I found invoices for last month.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29He told us that the company had stopped trading here seven years ago.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33He is now saying that all the assets belong to Zen Builders,
0:22:33 > 0:22:34not Zenon Builders.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36I'm hoping he makes the payment.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39If he doesn't, it's going to be a long day.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43Finally, after nearly an hour, the sheriffs emerge.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46But has Mike and Tommy's persistence paid off?
0:22:46 > 0:22:50And have they managed to come away with the claimant's money?
0:22:50 > 0:22:52We enforced it thoroughly
0:22:52 > 0:22:56and that produced a full payment of £59,204.56.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Payment in full,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03thanks to Mike's diligent search and the vital evidence he uncovered.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06When I found up-to-date invoices for the last two months, at that point,
0:23:06 > 0:23:12he started to change his whole attitude towards the, obviously, the debt.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15It's a good result for the sheriffs and for the claimant who's been
0:23:15 > 0:23:16waiting five years for his money.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24Zenon Kaczmarczyk told us that Zenon Builders Ltd is not a trading company
0:23:24 > 0:23:26and that he has started legal proceedings
0:23:26 > 0:23:28to recover the money paid to the sheriffs,
0:23:28 > 0:23:30which he says was paid under duress.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45Back in Oxted in Surrey,
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Rob and Gerald are enforcing four separate writs
0:23:48 > 0:23:52with a combined total of nearly £16,000.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55I'm not beating around the bush with it. You either pay it or we remove.
0:23:55 > 0:23:56It's as simple as.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01But Sesderma UK Project manager Mr Sarmiento has been disputing
0:24:01 > 0:24:05the size of the debt, saying he's already made a part payment.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08- Them figures are correct, then? - Yeah, the figures are absolutely correct.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11But he's wrong. Rob's back on the phone to Mr Sarmiento,
0:24:11 > 0:24:15breaking the news to him that the writs are right and he does owe the full amount.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17We've spoken to the claimants in the matter.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20The balances that we've got on the paperwork now
0:24:20 > 0:24:23include the remainder of unpaid wages, car allowances,
0:24:23 > 0:24:26expenses and whatnot, so the balances that we have are correct.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30If he's to prevent stock being removed, he'll have to come up with the cash.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33We've had instructions from the client. It's either paid in full
0:24:33 > 0:24:36on all four cases or we remove assets.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Every single item that we can find will be taken.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42While they wait for Mr Sarmiento,
0:24:42 > 0:24:46the sheriffs list assets and prepare stock for removal.
0:24:46 > 0:24:5040 minutes later, Mr Sarmiento finally arrives.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53All right, sir? All right. Mr Anderson.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56- I'm Mr Foster. I spoke to you earlier.- Yeah.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59He's not too keen on our camera and invites us to leave.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04But ten minutes later, he invites us back inside.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07He wants to show his bosses in Spain that there really are
0:25:07 > 0:25:12High Court enforcement agents and a BBC film crew in his office.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14So he's sending them a photo.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17He wants to show them that, look, this is happening.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20He hopes the photographic evidence will help persuade them to send him
0:25:20 > 0:25:24sufficient funds to clear the debt today.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28He's been on the phone to the directors in Spain.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30He's just trying to get them to make payment in full at the moment.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33As you can hear, he's on the phone at the moment.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37But it sounds as if head office isn't prepared to bail him out.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Mr Sarmiento says he can only afford to pay half the debt
0:25:41 > 0:25:43but after several months of being patient,
0:25:43 > 0:25:45Christine, Charlotte and Kamal
0:25:45 > 0:25:49aren't prepared to wait any longer for the money they're owed.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52He's prepared to make a payment of £8,000 now and then he wants
0:25:52 > 0:25:55to go on to an arrangement for the remainder.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00However, we've got four claimants that are all refusing to accept any instalments.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02They feel they've been messed around.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06It's going to have to be paid in full today, or removal.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Mr Sarmiento is back on the phone to Spain but the boss isn't available.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Mm-hm.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28The sheriffs have been at Sesderma UK for nearly three hours
0:26:28 > 0:26:32and time is running out for Mr Sarmiento.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35I can't believe just people are washing their hands.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37He's got another five minutes to make payment,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41otherwise we're going to phone up the recovery and start removal.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45And once that happens, extra costs are inevitable.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Once we phone them, they'll charge as either way, whether they're here,
0:26:48 > 0:26:50on their way, or just left their depot,
0:26:50 > 0:26:54they will charge us, so you will pick that charge up as well.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56With removal just minutes away,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Mr Sarmiento finally decides to pay in full,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02making up the shortfall from his own personal account.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05- Card?- Well, let's start doing the payments.
0:27:05 > 0:27:06All right. Debit card?
0:27:07 > 0:27:10- No, we have to go online. - Transfers online?- Yes.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13No probs. I'll give you all the details now.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17That'll do nicely for Gerald but each writ will have to be processed
0:27:17 > 0:27:19and the amount on it paid individually.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23So it's four separate transactions we'll have to do.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27It's a long process but Rob and Gerald are happy with the outcome.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29It literally got to zero hour.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31But I think he's hoping to clear these debts
0:27:31 > 0:27:34and make a success of this company and keep going.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39I might be the only one who believes that eventually, this will pay off.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43With Gerald processing the payments, Rob reflects on a job well done.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47He thinks the key to today's enforcement was the threat of removal.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49A lot of the time, you can find these individuals will stall
0:27:49 > 0:27:53and stall and stall and stall and continue stalling
0:27:53 > 0:27:54until you apply pressure.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58In this line of work, that application of pressure is the removal of goods.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Until we start that process,
0:28:00 > 0:28:02a lot of the time, they don't take it seriously.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Sometimes, they have to actually see that you are deadly serious
0:28:05 > 0:28:08before they will start to cough up.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Account number, four, one...
0:28:11 > 0:28:13With each payment now complete,
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Rob checks the money has arrived safely in the Sheriff's account.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21The next one is six, five, nine, one and 66p.
0:28:21 > 0:28:22That's in there. OK.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26It's been a long enforcement but the outcome for the four claimants
0:28:26 > 0:28:28couldn't have been better.
0:28:28 > 0:28:35Payment in full of the four debts totalling just short of £16,000,
0:28:35 > 0:28:37so a very good result.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Christine, Kamal and Charlotte are delighted to finally get the money
0:28:44 > 0:28:48they're owed and they have a special toast for the sheriffs.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Well, cheers, everybody.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53We won. Yay!
0:28:53 > 0:28:57So we just would like to say to Rob and Gerald, thank you so much.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00- Thank you very much.- From all of us. Thank you very much.- Thank you. - Thank you so much.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02We really, really appreciate it.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05- Couldn't have done it without you. - Yeah.- Absolutely.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08It was just an amazing feeling to know that we've been paid,
0:29:08 > 0:29:11justice has been done, and that we can now sort of move on
0:29:11 > 0:29:13and put a closure to that story.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16When Rob rang me and they had left the building,
0:29:16 > 0:29:21to say we've got the money, I was just ecstatic.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23I actually did scream down the phone.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27I never thought we were going to get there but, yeah, great news.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30For Kamal the money is a welcome relief.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33But there's some even more important news to celebrate.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35My husband is doing a lot better now,
0:29:35 > 0:29:39both emotionally and mentally. He's back out working,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42so he's really positive and we're very optimistic about what the future will hold.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53If you've won a County Court judgment and haven't been paid,
0:29:53 > 0:29:57for £66, you can get the case transferred up to the High Court,
0:29:57 > 0:30:00which will issue a writ for enforcement by the sheriffs.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Hello. I'm an enforcing agent.
0:30:03 > 0:30:04I'm enforcing a High Court writ.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06I'm here just to execute the court order.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09They've got more powers than County Court bailiffs.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12We're going to force entry into the shop in about the next 10-15 minutes.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16I have the right under the writ to investigate.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19If you obstruct myself or my colleague, it is a criminal offence.
0:30:19 > 0:30:24And there's no limit to the size of the debts they can pursue.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27£14 million. It's the largest job I've ever done.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30He can pay it directly into our account from Spain.
0:30:30 > 0:30:34If they're successful, they will recover your money and costs from the debtor...
0:30:34 > 0:30:37- Thanks.- Thank you.- ..as well as their own fees that are set
0:30:37 > 0:30:39by the government.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41It was that amount there, until half past five.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45I don't stand here for three hours for nothing.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47If the sheriffs can't get your money,
0:30:47 > 0:30:50they'll ask you to pay a fee of £75 plus VAT.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59It's just before 10am and High Court enforcement agents Tracy Lee
0:30:59 > 0:31:02and Adam Crossley are in the north-west.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05We're in Oldham, this morning, Adam and I.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07It's Adam's patch, this, not mine.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10They're on their way to double glazing company Glowarm.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14The claimant has paid a deposit for glazing on two residential premises
0:31:14 > 0:31:16and obviously, the work's not been done.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20They took the matter to court and when Glowarm didn't respond,
0:31:20 > 0:31:22a judgment was made in the claimant's favour.
0:31:22 > 0:31:26But the money still wasn't forthcoming so it was transferred
0:31:26 > 0:31:29to the High Court and now the sheriffs are on the case.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33They sent Glowarm a notice of enforcement,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36giving them a minimum of seven days to clear the debt
0:31:36 > 0:31:39before the sheriffs turn up on their doorstep.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42There's been no contact after the notice of enforcement,
0:31:42 > 0:31:44so we're hoping obviously, that there's assets at this address.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47We're unsure whether they're actually trading and manufacturing
0:31:47 > 0:31:51from this address or it's merely a sales office.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54The amount owed today is £1,861.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01Glowarm's offices are in a converted cotton mill.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05Multiple offices, isn't it? So it's going to be sales.
0:32:05 > 0:32:10They're going to be just doing telephone sales, I'm guessing from here.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13It's unlikely there'll be much here in the way of assets,
0:32:13 > 0:32:17which will make today's enforcement all the more challenging.
0:32:17 > 0:32:21All right, there? Looking for Glowarm.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23It's Mr Cross, sir. I'm in enforcement agent.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27The man on reception says he'll give them a call.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29Hi! Are they in this building?
0:32:29 > 0:32:30They're in this building.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33Right.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37Ten minutes later, there is no sign of anyone from Glowarm.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40Yeah, I don't like to be kept waiting. Do you?
0:32:40 > 0:32:42Patience is a virtue, Tracy.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45I'm working on it!
0:32:45 > 0:32:47Just then, a woman walks through the door.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49She is from Glowarm.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51There's a writ to enforce.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54A writ of control that was issued in court.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58The woman knows about the debt but claims the case is still ongoing.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00Unfortunately, we're here to recover the money in full.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02- Yeah, yeah.- Or remove assets.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06The woman claims Glowarm didn't receive the Sheriff's notice of enforcement.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09She goes to reception to check if there's any mail from them.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14And there it is. The notice of enforcement.
0:33:17 > 0:33:18It was sent a full two weeks ago.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22They've not obviously checked their mail. They've not collected mail for a few days,
0:33:22 > 0:33:25otherwise they would have picked up the notice and known about this.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29They've now incurred enforcement costs, which they could have avoided if they'd have actioned it sooner.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33The woman disappears, to give Glowarm's director Mr Ali a call.
0:33:33 > 0:33:39She comes back a few minutes later, and takes Adam and Tracy to the Glowarm office.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41There is a male colleague in the office
0:33:41 > 0:33:43but apparently, he's not Mr Ali.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47Director or no director, Adam gets straight down to business.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49So what are we doing about getting it paid?
0:33:49 > 0:33:51Are we paying it now?
0:33:53 > 0:33:56That letter's dated. You can quite clearly see it's dated
0:33:56 > 0:33:58the 24th of August.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02- Right, well...- Yeah, but that's your responsibility
0:34:02 > 0:34:04for not getting it out of the pigeonhole, isn't it?
0:34:04 > 0:34:07The choice is yours. Have you got a card you can pay it on?
0:34:07 > 0:34:10It's decision time for the double glazing company.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16That leaves a balance of £361.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20At first, the two Glowarm employees say they'll clear the debt in
0:34:20 > 0:34:23instalments but then, they seem to have a change of heart.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28We'll remove your goods now.
0:34:28 > 0:34:29Yeah.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31The problem, as far as the sheriffs are concerned,
0:34:31 > 0:34:34is that the assets here aren't worth a great deal and certainly
0:34:34 > 0:34:36won't clear the debt.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38To make matters even more difficult,
0:34:38 > 0:34:40the woman seems to have taken a dislike to Tracy.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45We're not interested in issues about personality.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47We're just here to do our job.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Tracy decides a change of subject is required.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52Is Mr Ali not willing to pay it?
0:34:53 > 0:34:55But I thought you'd just spoken to him on the phone?
0:34:58 > 0:35:00Are we able to speak to Mr Ali?
0:35:00 > 0:35:04The woman says they'll have to come back later if they want to speak
0:35:04 > 0:35:08to the boss, but the sheriffs are going nowhere, and out of the blue,
0:35:08 > 0:35:11the Glowarm employees offer to clear the debt in two instalments.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15Yeah.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18The sheriffs accept the offer
0:35:18 > 0:35:21and start to draw up a controlled goods agreement.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24The agreement means the sheriffs can seize Glowarm's assets
0:35:24 > 0:35:27if the debt isn't cleared within 48 hours.
0:35:27 > 0:35:31With the deal as good as done, our cameraman is asked to leave,
0:35:31 > 0:35:34so we wait outside for Tracy and Adam to emerge,
0:35:34 > 0:35:37clutching the cash and counting their good fortune.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40There weren't a great deal of assets in there. We could have ended up
0:35:40 > 0:35:42with a couple of boxes of telephones, couldn't we?
0:35:42 > 0:35:47We know that the filing cabinets and the telephone system had little or no value,
0:35:47 > 0:35:51so I took the decision there to take the cash and give them 48 hours to pay the balance.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53It would be stupid for them not to pay it
0:35:53 > 0:35:55because it will increase the debt if we have to return.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59Glowarm did pay the balance on time and in full
0:35:59 > 0:36:02and the claimant finally got the money they're owed.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04As for Tracy, her eight years as a sheriff
0:36:04 > 0:36:08have given her the experience and thick skin required
0:36:08 > 0:36:10to take most things in her stride.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14The female that we've dealt with referred to me as a snotty cow.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16It's all part and parcel of the job, isn't it?
0:36:16 > 0:36:19- You've been called worse, Trace. - I've been called a lot worse.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22- Do you think I'm a snotty cow? - Yes.- Yes?
0:36:31 > 0:36:36This morning, High Court enforcement agents Mike Perkins and Billy Evans
0:36:36 > 0:36:38are up bright and early and on their way to Reading.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41We're going to a bakery.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44The defendant is a Mr Jitsu Mir.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47Mr Mir runs the bakery but is also a private landlord
0:36:47 > 0:36:50and owes the money to a former tenant.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53The total amount owed is £6,663.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58Mike is a big fan of bakeries.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01I like a bit of pastry but obviously, I've got to watch my figure,
0:37:01 > 0:37:04not like Billy. Little Belgian bun, yeah, I like!
0:37:05 > 0:37:07Not a fan of Belgian buns.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11But sweet tooth or no, the reason for today's visit
0:37:11 > 0:37:13is unlikely to go down well with Mr Mir.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17The sheriffs expect payment in full and if he can't raise the dough,
0:37:17 > 0:37:20they may be removing a lot more than a couple of Belgian buns.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22Could be a nice big kitchen at the back,
0:37:22 > 0:37:25where he's got a lot of cooking equipment in there.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27Ovens. Hopefully, they'll be owned by the debtor.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33It doesn't take the sheriffs long to find the bakery.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35Here it is.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41But it doesn't look like there's much baking going on.
0:37:41 > 0:37:42Er, 10 am.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44What time are we on now?
0:37:44 > 0:37:46About half an hour.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48We can knock anyway.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55Mike takes a look around the back of the premises while Billy looks
0:37:55 > 0:37:58through the window for potential assets.
0:37:58 > 0:37:59It doesn't look hopeful.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03The assets within that I can see are quite low value, unfortunately.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08Meanwhile, Mike's been doing a bit of detective work
0:38:08 > 0:38:11and he's discovered an asset that will help give the sheriffs
0:38:11 > 0:38:13the leverage they need.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15- That vehicle, is it?- Yeah.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19Apparently, the Volvo parked directly outside the bakery belongs to Mr Mir.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22So Mike's going to do what Mike does best.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25- Go on, then. I suppose I'll be clamping it, won't I?- Yeah.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28We're going to immobilise the Volvo.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31We're going to sit back in the van for a while.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Come 10 o'clock,
0:38:34 > 0:38:37hoping he turns up in his Mercedes-Benz.
0:38:37 > 0:38:42We've already got the Volvo clamped and we'll immobilise his Merc as well.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47It may be an effective way of immobilising a vehicle
0:38:47 > 0:38:51but crawling around in the gutter is hardly the high point of a Sheriff's day.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53I love the clamp, I do.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56He likes to get dirty.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00With the Volvo immobilised, Mr Mir suddenly appears.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04Not in his Mercedes, but from inside the shop.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06It seems he's living in the flat upstairs
0:39:06 > 0:39:09and has just come down to start the day.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Hello, there. My name's Mr Evans, sir. I'm an enforcement agent, enforcing a High Court writ.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15- Are you Mr Jitsu Mir? - I am, I am, yes.- Right, OK.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18Billy tells Mr Mir exactly how much he owes.
0:39:18 > 0:39:23Currently, the bill is at £6,663.11.
0:39:23 > 0:39:24How do you intend to pay it off?
0:39:24 > 0:39:27But Mr Mir has no intention of paying it off today.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31He says the dispute with his former tenant is still ongoing.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34- I have defended it, yes? - Right.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36My solicitor has deal with it
0:39:36 > 0:39:41and he has sent in an application to the court.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43If you'd like me to show you the letter and everything...
0:39:43 > 0:39:47Yeah, yeah. The application, sir, doesn't stop us actually enforcing on the debt.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49Today, we've got a High Court writ, and it's live.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52The only way you're going to stop enforcement today is by paying in full.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Yeah, well, I'm not in a position to pay that money.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58Mr Mir says he needs time to call his solicitor.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02The sheriffs give him half an hour but tell him he will have to pay
0:40:02 > 0:40:04in full or the amount he owes will go up.
0:40:04 > 0:40:10- At the moment, the balance is sitting at...- £6,663.11.
0:40:10 > 0:40:11If you don't get that together, sir, OK,
0:40:11 > 0:40:13we're going to go to the next stage.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15We'll incur an extra...
0:40:15 > 0:40:18- Six, er, 594.- £594 on it.
0:40:18 > 0:40:19If you can't make that payment,
0:40:19 > 0:40:23we then go to removal stage and you will incur...
0:40:23 > 0:40:25- £1,072...- on top of the bill as well.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28I recommend that you take your half an hour to try and raise those funds,
0:40:28 > 0:40:30because we are going to further enforce.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33Mr Mir asks our camera to leave the shop,
0:40:33 > 0:40:36so we move outside while he checks through his paperwork.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Mike and Billy start listing assets for removal.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41There's quite a large kitchen at the back,
0:40:41 > 0:40:45a lot of cooking equipment, possibly enough to clear the debt.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48The one place where the sheriffs haven't so far been able to check
0:40:48 > 0:40:51for assets is Mr Mir's flat above the shop.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53It's a residential property,
0:40:53 > 0:40:57so they can't force entry but they can gain peaceable entry
0:40:57 > 0:40:59through an open or unlocked door.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01Or, of course, the debtor could invite them in.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06It looks like Mike's got upstairs into the debtor's flat now so, yeah.
0:41:06 > 0:41:11I'm going to go and see what else we can list down.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14A few minutes later, Mike emerges.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16He's found exactly what he's been looking for.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18The keys to Mr Mir's Volvo.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24That's even better when the vehicle starts up as well.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27That'll be staying in my pocket.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30If the sheriffs do end up removing the Volvo and selling it at auction,
0:41:30 > 0:41:34it'll be worth a lot more if it has a set of keys.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37They're confident the car, along with the kitchen equipment inside,
0:41:37 > 0:41:41will go a long way towards covering the debt, if it comes to that.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44I've also got the shop keys as well.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Just in case.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48Finally, there's news from Mr Mir.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52He tells the Sheriff he's spoken to his solicitor and he's been advised
0:41:52 > 0:41:53to pay the full amount.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55As Mike unclamps the car,
0:41:55 > 0:42:00Mr Meer invites us back inside to explain how the writ came about.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03He says he didn't return his former tenant's deposit,
0:42:03 > 0:42:05partly because he didn't have a forwarding address.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08And partly because of the state of the property.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10I went to see the property.
0:42:10 > 0:42:11It wasn't in a good state.
0:42:11 > 0:42:17I made that mention to him. I had to have the place refurbished again,
0:42:17 > 0:42:21which I had a proper invoice for.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24The money has been spent on that.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26In fact, more than his deposit.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29Mr Meer says he was wrongly accused of not putting the money in a
0:42:29 > 0:42:33government-backed deposit scheme as the law requires.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35The sheriffs will hold onto his money for 14 days,
0:42:35 > 0:42:39giving him an opportunity to appeal, should he wish.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43Meanwhile, Mike checks Mr Mir's online payment has gone through.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46Yeah, that's the correct balance.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48Brilliant, thank you very much.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50Brilliant. Thank you. Bye.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54This account cleared on stage one, without having to do a removal.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57I'm going to go and let the defendant know
0:42:57 > 0:43:01that the money's in the account and we'll be leaving.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03It's a good result for the sheriffs.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06Payment in full, all £6,663.