0:00:02 > 0:00:05- Meet the sheriffs.- My colleague and I are enforcement agents.
0:00:05 > 0:00:06Here with a High Court Order today.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10They work for the High Courts and if the judge says you're owed money,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13it's the sheriff's job to go and get it.
0:00:13 > 0:00:14Hey, all the keys!
0:00:14 > 0:00:16I'm going to be calling a locksmith.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19They can demand payment on the spot...
0:00:19 > 0:00:20What can you pay us now?
0:00:20 > 0:00:23- You're going to get the cash, are you?- Are you paying the bill?
0:00:23 > 0:00:24..or remove assets instead.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28- You got 30 minutes to make the payment.- I'm going to start removing stuff from the building.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31You have a week to pay in full before it gets sold at auction.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Obstructing their work can be a criminal offence.
0:00:34 > 0:00:35I wouldn't do that if I were you.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36Don't lie to me.
0:00:36 > 0:00:42- No messages.- Every year, sheriffs in England and Wales recover unpaid debts
0:00:42 > 0:00:44totalling more than £80 million.
0:00:49 > 0:00:54Coming up... Ian and Valerie paid thousands of pounds for a new bathroom,
0:00:54 > 0:00:55but the work was never done.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59We just fell into the trap that we trusted him.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04Rob and Gerald track down the man responsible and tell him it's finally
0:01:04 > 0:01:05time to pay up.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Tell her I will get that, I promise.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Yeah, but you're going to have to get that now.
0:01:09 > 0:01:14Georgiana started a new job, but wasn't paid for months on end.
0:01:14 > 0:01:19They owed me five months of my salary, I said enough is enough.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22It's down to Billy to get what she's owed.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24If you pay that now,
0:01:24 > 0:01:25that's as high as it's going to go
0:01:25 > 0:01:27and that's going to be the matter resolved.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30And when they visit a shop with a debt,
0:01:30 > 0:01:33everyone's counting on the sheriffs.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34We got 555.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38Yup. And here I've got 510.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48This morning, High Court enforcement agents Rob Foster and Gerald Anderson
0:01:48 > 0:01:51are on their way to a residential address in Kent.
0:01:52 > 0:01:58Looking for a Mr Adrian Hayes who's in debt of just over £3,500.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02It looks like he's a builder.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Rob knows from experience that enforcements are often more difficult at
0:02:06 > 0:02:09residential rather than commercial premises.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13Today hinges on finding enough assets to cover the debt.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17All we can hope on this occasion is that the defendant does have a vehicle
0:02:17 > 0:02:20of sufficient value or tools of sufficient value
0:02:20 > 0:02:24or even a garage next to his property full of building equipment.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28That would be our hope in order to get this matter rectified.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Schoolteacher Valerie Selby first came across Mr Hayes when she and her
0:02:35 > 0:02:39husband Ian decided they needed some work doing on their home.
0:02:39 > 0:02:45We were looking for somebody to do our bathroom, shower room and toilet.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48I'd had a few leaks in the shower room upstairs
0:02:48 > 0:02:53which I repaired a couple of times. It needed completely doing properly.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Ian and Valerie decided to get someone in to start the work as quickly as
0:02:57 > 0:03:02- possible.- Timescale, we wanted it done... This was October,
0:03:02 > 0:03:04we wanted it done by Christmas.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08A family friend had just had a new bathroom fitted and Ian and Valerie
0:03:08 > 0:03:10were impressed when they saw photos of the work.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12They contacted the fitter,
0:03:12 > 0:03:16a Mr Adrian Hayes, and he came round to quote for the job.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Total price, £8,145.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21It sounded fair enough to me.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26Bearing in mind he was recommended by a family friend and we'd seen
0:03:26 > 0:03:29his work, it all seemed a good deal, you know?
0:03:29 > 0:03:33He was a really friendly person, so seemed trustworthy.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37I contacted him again for him to come round and we'll give him...
0:03:39 > 0:03:42..a deposit as long as he could guarantee to us
0:03:42 > 0:03:45that he could do the job by Christmas.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Mr Hayes told the Selbys if they wanted the work doing quickly,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52he'd need 7,000 of £8,000 paid up front.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Both me and my husband thought it was quite excessive what he'd asked us
0:03:56 > 0:04:01for, but I think because our friend had been really happy with the work
0:04:01 > 0:04:02that he had done,
0:04:04 > 0:04:08we were sort of swayed to go with him.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12They took out a bank loan to cover the cost of the job and paid Mr Hayes
0:04:12 > 0:04:15the £7,000 he'd asked for.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18They expected work to start promptly, but it didn't.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20For weeks and weeks, we didn't hear anything.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24We were contacting him via e-mail, via text, via phone call.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27This just went on and on. Sometimes he'd answer the phone,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30sometimes he wouldn't. It was always one excuse after another.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33"I got too much work on at the moment, I can't start it yet",
0:04:33 > 0:04:34"When can you start it?"
0:04:34 > 0:04:36"When I know, you'll know..."
0:04:36 > 0:04:38They were the sort of answers we were getting.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42The Christmas deadline came and went.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46We were really disappointed that we weren't going to have our new
0:04:46 > 0:04:52bathrooms, but we didn't really know what to do or where to go.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54We were lost.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59Then they received a recorded delivery letter from Mr Hayes.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04About February, he sent us a letter apologising for the holdup,
0:05:04 > 0:05:09making lots of excuses, saying that he had other work on.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14By this stage, the Selbys had almost given up on Mr Hayes,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17but what happened next came as a complete surprise.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20One day, a lorry turned up outside
0:05:20 > 0:05:23with a pallet-load of bathroom goods.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25When it arrived, I thought to myself,
0:05:25 > 0:05:27"Well, at least we're starting to get somewhere."
0:05:27 > 0:05:30But any hopes were quickly dashed.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32Mr Hayes wrote again,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35this time saying he was considering closing down his business.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37It was the final straw.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42Somebody takes your money and then gives you nothing in return, um...
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- it's really stressful.- It's just constantly going through your mind,
0:05:46 > 0:05:50"He's walked away with hard-earned money for nothing."
0:05:50 > 0:05:54Ian and Valerie decided to keep the fittings and get the job
0:05:54 > 0:05:56done by someone else.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59So they wrote to Mr Hayes, demanding their deposit back,
0:05:59 > 0:06:03minus the £3,000 he'd paid out for the fittings.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07We're not stupid. We do know that you shouldn't give over that much
0:06:07 > 0:06:10money. We just desperately wanted it done.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13We just fell into the trap that we
0:06:13 > 0:06:15trusted him, and we shouldn't have.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19Mr Hayes didn't give them their money back, so they took the matter
0:06:19 > 0:06:23to the courts, and a judgment was made in their favour.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Mr Hayes was ordered to pay them back at the rate of £200 a month.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31The first few payments came through, but then they stopped.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34The County Court bailiffs pursued the debt.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37The bailiffs went back again and again and again, and he was never
0:06:37 > 0:06:41in. On one occasion, they did actually find him. He told them
0:06:41 > 0:06:44that he had paid us back the money in full...
0:06:45 > 0:06:47which he hadn't.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51The Selbys have now transferred the case to the High Court and called in
0:06:51 > 0:06:55- the sheriffs.- The sheriffs are our last hope of getting our money back,
0:06:55 > 0:06:57really.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59We've tried everything else,
0:06:59 > 0:07:03nothing's succeeded, so we've, yeah,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05gone with the sheriffs.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07The amount owed today,
0:07:07 > 0:07:10including fees, is £3,638.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18Rob and Gerald are about to pay Adrian Hayes a visit.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22By now he's had the Selbys' deposit for more than two years, and Gerald
0:07:22 > 0:07:25is determined to get their money back.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27I do feel for them about this.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31I will be going all-out today to see if I can rectify this for the
0:07:31 > 0:07:35- claimant.- The difficulty is going to be finding assets of sufficient
0:07:35 > 0:07:38value that Mr Hayes doesn't want to lose.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43As they approach, Gerald spots a van parked outside the debtor's home.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46There is an asset on the drive, there's a van on the drive.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50'04 plate, probably only worth
0:07:50 > 0:07:52in the hundreds and not the thousands.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Removing the van won't come close to clearing the debt.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00The sheriffs are expecting this to be a difficult enforcement.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04- Hello.- Hello, sir. Is it Mr Adrian Hayes?
0:08:04 > 0:08:07- Speaking.- Hello, Mr Hayes, my name's Mr Anderson.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Gerald explains that they're here to collect the money owed to Mr and Mrs
0:08:11 > 0:08:15- Selby.- That's been paid, Selby. This has been going on and on for weeks.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Gerald has no record of the debt
0:08:18 > 0:08:20being paid and will need to see evidence.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23You prove to me that it's been paid and I'll walk away from here, but at
0:08:23 > 0:08:25the moment, as far as we are
0:08:25 > 0:08:29concerned, you've got a debt of 3,638.96.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33- That's been paid.- Mr Hayes disappears inside to find the proof
0:08:33 > 0:08:37the sheriffs need. Because it's a residential address,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39the sheriffs can't force entry, but
0:08:39 > 0:08:42they can enter peaceably if there's a door left open.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46- Just bear with me two seconds.- Yup, yup, no problem at all.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Mr Hayes goes to his office, which is in the back garden, in search of
0:08:49 > 0:08:54paperwork. Rob and Gerald take the opportunity to size up any assets.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57I can see tool boxes. Do you want me to go down and have a look?
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- Yeah, crack on, yeah. - Yeah, I'll go and have a look. - ROB HUMS A MELODY
0:09:00 > 0:09:02- I'll wait here.- Yeah, no worries.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Rob goes to join Mr Hayes in his office.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08We have gained peaceful entry.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10He's gone down the back garden there,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12to look at some types of paperwork.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15He's got a shed at the back garden which seems to be an office of some
0:09:15 > 0:09:19kind. Rob has gone down there now and gained entry into there as well.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Mr Hayes tells Rob he gave the money
0:09:21 > 0:09:25to a financial advisor called John, and instructed him to contact the
0:09:25 > 0:09:28County Court and settle the debt.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Rob calls the court to check out his story.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Got a warrant number here.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37The court confirms it has received two cheques -
0:09:37 > 0:09:40one of them worth £1,500 has cleared,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- but the other has bounced... - Ah, right, OK.
0:09:43 > 0:09:49..which means Mr Hayes still owes Mr and Mrs Selby more than £2,000.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51Right, OK, well, we'll continue at the moment.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55- Thank you, bye-bye.- But Mr Hayes doesn't want to give the sheriffs
0:09:55 > 0:09:59any money at all. He says he's already given the money to John,
0:09:59 > 0:10:01so the debt should've been cleared.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03I've already paid it.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09I'm asking these sheriffs if they can, can they go away and I'll go
0:10:09 > 0:10:11and go and sort this John out.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14But the sheriffs aren't going anywhere.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18If need be, they'll start removing what assets there are, and that
0:10:18 > 0:10:20includes the van parked outside.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25I've taken, now, the van key off the bunch of keys.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27I'll keep hold of that for safekeeping, just in case I've got to
0:10:27 > 0:10:30- remove this vehicle.- Back inside,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Rob's on the phone to Mrs Selby, letting her know that some of the
0:10:33 > 0:10:36money she's owed has been paid to the County Court.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40She'll be getting that money in the next few days.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42I have spoken to the County Court,
0:10:42 > 0:10:44and they've confirmed there is £1,500 cleared payment due
0:10:44 > 0:10:46to come out. I'm happy it's there,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49the County Court have confirmed as such, so I'm happy with that as long
0:10:49 > 0:10:50as you're happy with that.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Please, Mrs Selby, I've... I paid this in April.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- Right, I...I can't hear... - I paid this all in April.- I can't
0:10:57 > 0:11:00hear what the claimant's saying if you're shouting, all right?
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Mrs Selby says she's happy to deduct £1,500 from the amount on
0:11:04 > 0:11:06the writ, but she still
0:11:06 > 0:11:12wants the rest of the money she's owed - a total of more than £2,000.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Yeah, I think the remainder of it is the cheque that didn't clear,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18it's the one that bounced. Yeah, I'll get that, tell her I will get
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- that, I promise.- Yeah, but you're going to have to get that now.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24The penny is finally starting to drop.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28It doesn't matter how many times he blames his financial advisor, John,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Mr Hayes will have to clear the outstanding balance today.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Brilliant. We'll give you an update later. All right, thank you,
0:11:34 > 0:11:36bye-bye. Bye-bye.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40Gerald does the maths and tells Mr Hayes exactly how much he needs
0:11:40 > 0:11:42to find.
0:11:42 > 0:11:47We're enforcing today for 3638.92 at enforcement stage one.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52I'm happy enough to deduct £1,500 off that, because we know it's sat
0:11:52 > 0:11:58there waiting, and enforce for you for 2,138.92.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01If you can make payment of that in the next 15, 20 minutes,
0:12:01 > 0:12:02we're finished. If not,
0:12:02 > 0:12:06that will then go up to the next stage and than the next stage.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09That needs to be sorted out now as the claimant has said. If not,
0:12:09 > 0:12:13they're happy that they want to enforce, because there's been long enough given.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16I've got no choice, otherwise you're going to take stuff.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19I'm going to pay this 2,100 now, I'll pay it now.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21- Yeah?- I'm going to have to pay anyway.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23And I'll go and get my money off him.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25He'll go and get his card machine and we'll just get it paid.
0:12:25 > 0:12:32It looks like they're about to get payment in full - a total of £2,138.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36He now does realise he has got to sort it.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40After much persuasion, he's now decided to make payment in full by
0:12:40 > 0:12:44debit cards, so I'm just about to go in now with my PDQ and receive it.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48Mr Hayes is still blaming his financial advisor, John, for not
0:12:48 > 0:12:53clearing the debt. He says he's not going to let him get away with it.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55I'm not happy.
0:12:55 > 0:12:56I'm not happy at all.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00I'll go and see him now.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02He's going to have to give me this money,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04otherwise there's going to be a murder in Welling.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Unfortunately, we have to take comments like that seriously.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09- Can I just confirm that you are joking?- I am joking.- Right, OK,
0:13:09 > 0:13:11that's fine, just need to confirm.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15Mr Hayes's grievance with his financial advisor is no concern of
0:13:15 > 0:13:19the sheriffs. Their job is to execute the writ and get Mr and Mrs
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Selby the money they're owed.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Put your PIN number in and then the green
0:13:24 > 0:13:27button, please.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30OK, that's gone through, Rob.
0:13:30 > 0:13:31Once he's paid up,
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Mr Hayes tells us he's had a change of career, which explains why he's
0:13:35 > 0:13:37so keen not to lose his van.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41I did kitchens and bathrooms, and I pulled away from it
0:13:41 > 0:13:43and I owed people money, you know,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46just got into trouble, and I've dealt with it now, but, well,
0:13:46 > 0:13:50I thought I'd dealt with it all. I'm a courier now, I deliver parcels.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Bye, Mr Hayes. Thank you very much.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Cheers, Mr Hayes. Thanks now. Ta-ra.
0:13:55 > 0:13:56As for Mr Hayes,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59he appears regretful, and says he took out a loan and paid it to his
0:13:59 > 0:14:03financial adviser with the intention of clearing his debts.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05I'm not a crook, I don't want to rob people, so I wanted to give them
0:14:05 > 0:14:09their money back. So we got advised to go and see this guy,
0:14:09 > 0:14:14and he sorted out a bridging loan to handle my affairs, which he
0:14:14 > 0:14:17obviously hasn't done. But I'll do what I have to do...
0:14:17 > 0:14:19John, I'll deal with John.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22It's been a complex case, but the sheriffs have secured the
0:14:22 > 0:14:24- outstanding balance.- All in all,
0:14:24 > 0:14:26this seemed to be a dead case asset-wise.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Payment in full, very good.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Ian and Valerie Selby will now
0:14:31 > 0:14:36finally get the money they've been owed for more than two years.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that we got the money.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42What a relief
0:14:42 > 0:14:44for it finally to be over.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48They did a marvellous job, really pleased with the sheriffs.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51- Yeah.- Well worth the money that we paid out.- Absolutely.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Using the County Courts to try and recover money you're owed isn't
0:14:58 > 0:15:02difficult. 1.5 million money claims are paid every year in
0:15:02 > 0:15:06England and Wales, involving anything from faulty goods or poor
0:15:06 > 0:15:09workmanship, to unpaid invoices.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Claims can be filed online or by post for a small fee.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Both parties in the case will be asked to submit evidence, and you
0:15:17 > 0:15:20may have to attend a court hearing. If you're successful,
0:15:20 > 0:15:25a County Court judgment, or CCJ, will be issued against the debtor.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29If they still don't pay, that's when you call the sheriffs.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36- Stonehenge.- It's nearly 3pm, and Rob and Gerald are on their way to
0:15:36 > 0:15:40Somerset, heading to a Polish grocer and deli.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43Today we're down in Yeovil,
0:15:43 > 0:15:47looking for a company called Maron-Shop Ltd.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49It's a tribunal case.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52At the moment we're looking for around about £1,300.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Gerald's expecting the shop to have some valuable stock.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00Asset-wise, you're going to the dry goods and the normal shop goods,
0:16:00 > 0:16:05but the things of value will be the spirits, alcohol, cigarettes, etc.
0:16:05 > 0:16:10So I would hope that the assets would cover this debt if it went
0:16:10 > 0:16:11that way.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14The debt is owed to a woman who worked at the shop.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16When her employment ended,
0:16:16 > 0:16:18she wasn't paid her outstanding holiday allowance.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22She won her case, but the shop didn't pay up.
0:16:22 > 0:16:28Today, Rob and Gerald have a writ for the £1,316 she's owed.
0:16:28 > 0:16:33I believe it's that shop there, the one with the yellow writing on it.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38As they head in to introduce themselves,
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Gerald notices the debtors have their name printed above the door.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Looking for the Maron-Shop Ltd.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49We've got a High Court writ for an outstanding balance owed to an
0:16:49 > 0:16:51ex-employee. There's my identification.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55Is the director about? Mr Rondos, isn't it?
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- He's in Poland, yeah?- Is he?
0:16:59 > 0:17:01The woman says Mr Rondos lives in Poland
0:17:01 > 0:17:04and hasn't been at the shop for ten days.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08But this is the company's registered address, and regardless of where he
0:17:08 > 0:17:11lives, it's the director's responsibility to read what the
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- court sends out.- Can you get hold of him on the phone?
0:17:14 > 0:17:20That's the balance - £1,316.23.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23He has to pay that today or we'll remove goods, OK?
0:17:24 > 0:17:28I'm going to have a little mosey and see what sort of stock's here.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Rob and Gerald are reluctant to
0:17:30 > 0:17:34remove perishable goods like these sausages, but there are plenty of
0:17:34 > 0:17:37items here to clear the debt, including the spirits
0:17:37 > 0:17:39they were hoping for.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41With so much stock available,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44the sheriffs aren't going to accept anything less than full payment.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49The boss is on the phone, and he says the debt is nothing to do with
0:17:49 > 0:17:50Maron-Shop Ltd.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54He says the woman worked for a company called Arabat, which used
0:17:54 > 0:17:57to trade from this address.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Right. Tell him I'm aware that Arabat is a dissolved company.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Dissolved 20th of June 2017...
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- Yep.- ..Arabat did.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Maron-Shop Ltd is the name on the writ, and that's the company
0:18:10 > 0:18:13responsible for paying the debt.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17But the boss is refusing to pay, and that's about to cost him.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20It's now going up a stage, all right?
0:18:20 > 0:18:23We've asked him a simple question, to pay it, and he saying that it's a
0:18:23 > 0:18:26different company. It's not, all right? So it's now going up to the
0:18:26 > 0:18:30next stage, so it's now 1,910.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38No, no, I know, but the problem is we're against Maron-Shop Ltd,
0:18:38 > 0:18:42- which are the ones that are trading here.- Mr Rondos,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45the director of Maron-Shop Ltd, was also a director of the dissolved
0:18:45 > 0:18:47company, Arabat Limited.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50There's a certificate showing that he's still the licensee of the
0:18:50 > 0:18:54- premises.- All the paperwork there proves that the company we're
0:18:54 > 0:18:56pursuing are the companies trading from here.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Whatever the boss says,
0:18:58 > 0:19:02Rob knows he's in the right place, and he's getting on with the job.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Actually, now I'm going to have a look in the tills.
0:19:05 > 0:19:10Sheriffs have the power to open shop tills and seize their contents.
0:19:11 > 0:19:1420, 40, 60, 80...
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Two, 250. Make a note of that, please.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20At that moment, a man arrives.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24He heads straight to the back of the shop and then to the front door.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29- Don't lock the door.- If you want to keep customers out,
0:19:29 > 0:19:31no problem, but leave the key in, OK?
0:19:31 > 0:19:35- Otherwise I feel like I'm being locked in. Thank you. - HE LAUGHS
0:19:35 > 0:19:39Their exit route secured, Rob's back on the hunt behind the counter,
0:19:39 > 0:19:42and he's found a woman's clutch bag.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Is that yours? OK, can you do me a favour and just open it?
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Just to show it's not company cash in there.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52It is, is it?
0:19:52 > 0:19:54There's 250 there, all right?
0:19:54 > 0:19:57There's some interesting paperwork in the bag.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00There's HM revenues letters in the name of Maron-Shop Ltd.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- Till receipts.- It's all Maron-Shop.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06There's also a lot more cash.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Rob and Gerald split it between them and start counting.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14- I've got 555.- Yeah.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18And here I've got 510, and 250 there.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22That gives us a total of 1,315.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26It's only a pound short of what they were initially looking for, but
0:20:26 > 0:20:30since then, the director has talked himself into a stage two fee, and
0:20:30 > 0:20:34- now the bill has gone up.- Is there any more cash on the premises?
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Otherwise we've got to remove stock.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Rob would much rather get the remainder paid then add further fees
0:20:40 > 0:20:44by taking the job to the removal stage.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Do you want to phone him again?
0:20:46 > 0:20:47That's it now, £594,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50that's all he needs to pay. Even if he's in Poland,
0:20:50 > 0:20:54we can send him a link to his phone and he can just make the payment.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57But Rob never gets to speak to Mr Rondos himself.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Instead, the director arranges with the manager that she'll pay the
0:21:00 > 0:21:02balance on his behalf.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06You're paying by card.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09If you could put your PIN number in and then the green button, please.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13And I will give you a receipt now for the cash.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16And with that, the sheriffs' job is done.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20- Thanks, sir. Cheers. Bye-bye. - Thank you. Ta-ra.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24All in all, very good results - in, dealt with,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27quite an easy one as there were assets there that would have covered
0:21:27 > 0:21:30the debts, but obviously we didn't want to remove,
0:21:30 > 0:21:33that would have escalated it even more. A cash payment was received
0:21:33 > 0:21:36and the debt has been paid in full. It's now complete.
0:21:36 > 0:21:41The director ended up paying in full, and costing himself an extra
0:21:41 > 0:21:45£594 because of his initial refusal to pay.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56High Court enforcement agent Billy Evans is in Harrow,
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Northwest London.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01We're off to see a PHC Care Home Ltd.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Had a little Google search and the address looks like it's going to be
0:22:04 > 0:22:07a shop front, but obviously, given the name, it sounds like it's going
0:22:07 > 0:22:11to be a carer service delivered to people's homes,
0:22:11 > 0:22:15so not 100% sure what to expect here.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17Might be a couple of computers,
0:22:17 > 0:22:19possibly cars if they've got any parking,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23but I don't think it's a care home as such, but we shall see what we
0:22:23 > 0:22:26can find when we get there.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30Billy is in pursuit of a debt owed to a former PHC employee.
0:22:33 > 0:22:38Georgiana Bana arrived in the UK from Romania, hoping to embark on a
0:22:38 > 0:22:43new career and a new life with her boyfriend Adrian.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46When I came, I searched for jobs.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51I was hoping to find a job in the finance, because I have a degree and
0:22:51 > 0:22:56I have a Masters in finance and economic science.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58She couldn't get the job she was looking for.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02But rather than do nothing, within a few weeks of arriving in the UK,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05she started working for PHC Home Care -
0:23:05 > 0:23:08an agency providing care for the elderly.
0:23:08 > 0:23:13I worked as a carer first, then after two weeks,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16I started working in their office doing administrations,
0:23:16 > 0:23:20and everything was all right at the beginning.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Georgiana enjoyed the caring side of the job,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26but her real interest lay in other areas.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Helping people, I felt...
0:23:28 > 0:23:32I felt very good, but my ambition
0:23:32 > 0:23:34was to get in the finance.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39They said to me, "We will have a big business, we will have shares,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42"I will give you 40% of my shares,
0:23:42 > 0:23:45"you will be a financial director."
0:23:45 > 0:23:49All these promises make me have trust in them.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53Georgiana worked hard, hoping to make a good impression.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57I was very busy from the morning up until the evening,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59doing both jobs.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03Usually I start at seven o'clock in the morning and finish about ten
0:24:03 > 0:24:05o'clock in the evening.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09So...that were really long hours,
0:24:09 > 0:24:13and obviously my salary was the minimum wage.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17At first she was paid regularly, at the end of every month,
0:24:17 > 0:24:21but as time went on, that started to change.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23I believed and they disappointed me.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27We were getting paid late, we were getting paid in instalments.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30I was very stressed at that time.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Without any money, you cannot go forward.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38So I was very lucky with my boyfriend,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40because he helped me to survive.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44He helped me to survive and to have food and everything you need in your
0:24:44 > 0:24:49life to... Because, without any money, obviously we were struggling.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53She decided to cut back her hours and work part-time, and she started
0:24:53 > 0:24:55looking for another job.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58That period, I was feeling very ill,
0:24:58 > 0:25:02all these things affected me in many ways.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05For five months, she didn't get paid at all.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09It put a strain on her finances and her relationship.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12I had arguments with my boyfriend because...
0:25:12 > 0:25:15"Why you don't do anything about that? Why you are still working
0:25:15 > 0:25:19there? Why you don't leave?" He told me from the beginning,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22"This is not right," and I did not want to listen.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27I just believed in them and helped them to have their business.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31After five months, promising me they will pay me, "Please bear with us,
0:25:31 > 0:25:36"I will pay you, next week, next week, next week and the next week,"
0:25:36 > 0:25:38and they still haven't paid me.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42My final message to him was, "If you don't pay me today in full,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45"all my money, I will leave."
0:25:45 > 0:25:47Despite the ultimatum,
0:25:47 > 0:25:49Georgiana still didn't get the money she was due.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53They owe me five months of my salary.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58I said. "Enough is enough," and I just left, I just left.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03She got a new job working in payroll in office management, and
0:26:03 > 0:26:06reluctantly took her former employer to court.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09I've got my judgment
0:26:09 > 0:26:14and still no money, so I waited and waited.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16I didn't know what to do any more.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18I'm really desperate.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21It's like no-one can get back my money.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24In a final attempt to get her unpaid wages,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Georgiana has called in the sheriffs.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30They are my last hope, to be honest.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32I don't want to do any more.
0:26:32 > 0:26:38The amount owed today, including fees, is £1,774.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44It's now up to Billy to try and get Georgiana the money she's owed.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48He's in Harrow and about to arrive at PHC Home Care.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Right, so it's apparently up here on the right-hand side.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58The address on the writ is Systems House.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01- System House. It's an empty shop. - HE CHUCKLES
0:27:01 > 0:27:05At first glance, it looks deserted.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07I've got 20/20 vision,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10and I can't see anything in the windows, but as I get
0:27:10 > 0:27:12closer, it may surprise me, may be different, but
0:27:12 > 0:27:15we'll go and have a look.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Billy's concerned this could be a wasted journey.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Hang on, it's open. PHC Home Care.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Wow! Well, what that's a shock. I thought I had 20/20 vision.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30It appears I don't. See, it looks like it's got PHC Home Care in
0:27:30 > 0:27:32it, so we'll go and see what we can do.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- Hello there, sir.- Hi, hi.- Hiya. I'm a High Court enforcement agent.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47It's this gentleman? Perfect.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51The man on the phone is company director Eric A-Kum.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Hello, sir, how are you doing? I'm a High Court enforcement agent.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57I've got a High Court writ here against PHC Home Care Ltd.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Okey-doke.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Billy is shown downstairs to a more private area.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11He tells Mr A-Kum that he's enforcing a writ in favour of
0:28:11 > 0:28:17- Georgiana Bana.- So, at the moment, the balance is 1,774.75.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21- Mm-hm.- If you pay that now, that's as high as it's going to go,
0:28:21 > 0:28:26- and that's going to be the matter resolved.- Yeah, and what...
0:28:26 > 0:28:28Sorry, and if it escalates?
0:28:28 > 0:28:31So, if that's not paid within, sort of 15,
0:28:31 > 0:28:3520 minutes, it will go up to that amount, and if that's still not paid
0:28:35 > 0:28:39because you're refusing to make that payment, it will then go to £3,000
0:28:39 > 0:28:42and we'll have to start unplugging assets and removing them.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46- Mm-hmm. One moment, just bear with me.- Yep, no worries.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49Mr A-Kum leaves the room, and a minute later he returns, clutching
0:28:49 > 0:28:51his wallet.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54It looks as if he's going to make payment in full.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59- Are you paying by card? - Yep.- Right, OK.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02We'll do it on our website. We have a payment line on our website which
0:29:02 > 0:29:04basically just works as the transaction.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07While he's putting in the case details,
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Billy tries to engage Mr A-Kum in conversation.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13What's the nature of the business? Are you carers?
0:29:13 > 0:29:17- It's home care, yeah.- Right, home care. Right, okey-doke.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20Right, so if you can fill out these details here.
0:29:20 > 0:29:21Small talk over,
0:29:21 > 0:29:26Mr A-Kum puts in his card details and completes the payment process.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28Right, OK, I'll just write down your reference.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30That's gone through fine.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33OK, sir, so that's the matter resolved.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37Debt is now paid in full, so we shall leave you in peace, all right?
0:29:37 > 0:29:40- OK.- Thank you very much, sir. Thanks for your help.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44With barely a word spoken,
0:29:44 > 0:29:47the payment's gone through and the debt's been cleared.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49Well, the gentleman wasn't very talkative,
0:29:49 > 0:29:51didn't really want to know much about the case,
0:29:51 > 0:29:54he just wanted to get this paid and get us gone.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57So, yeah, it's another paid in full.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01It's taken Billy just 15 minutes to get Georgiana the money she's
0:30:01 > 0:30:04been owed for almost a year.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08They were my only hope, and they have my money back.
0:30:08 > 0:30:13Massive, massive thanks, Billy, for all your help and support and, yeah,
0:30:13 > 0:30:16I'm very happy. Many thanks. Thank you very much.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28When debtors can't pay on the spot...
0:30:28 > 0:30:31- Are you going to pay the bill? - What do you mean, no?
0:30:31 > 0:30:33..the sheriffs won't always remove assets.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37Goods go for almost a fifth of their true value at auction, and it's
0:30:37 > 0:30:39often better to agree a payment plan.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Do you reckon you can do 200 a week?
0:30:42 > 0:30:44They'll make a list of assets...
0:30:44 > 0:30:47That's a nice motor.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49- Rice cookers.- Seven wrist bracelets.
0:30:49 > 0:30:53..and a controlled goods agreement is signed, making it an offence for
0:30:53 > 0:30:57- anyone else to remove them. - You sign it, I sign it.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01The sheriffs will only return to take the goods if the debtor fails
0:31:01 > 0:31:04- to make payments.- I've signed him up to £1,000 a month.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07Providing you stick to that, you won't hear from us again.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15Enforcement agents John Farley and Tommy Coyle are in Hampshire,
0:31:15 > 0:31:19with a High Court writ in hand, on their way to a car garage.
0:31:19 > 0:31:24Early morning in Southampton, heading to AM Mechanical.
0:31:24 > 0:31:29Outstanding balance we're looking for today is around £2,000.
0:31:29 > 0:31:33The debt relates to work AM Mechanical did on a customer's
0:31:33 > 0:31:37vehicle. The customer claimed a wheel bearing was poorly fitted and
0:31:37 > 0:31:40caused £1,200 of further damage.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44They took AM Mechanical to court, but the garage didn't attend.
0:31:44 > 0:31:49Today, the amount owed is £1,907.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56John's anticipating some valuable assets.
0:31:56 > 0:32:01We're hoping to find maybe a couple of vehicles and things at this one.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04They find the unit on an industrial estate.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06AM Mechanical.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08"Vehicle service and repair."
0:32:08 > 0:32:12It's exactly what they were hoping for - an asset.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15It's a sign-written vehicle worth more than the debt.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18- He's got to pay this.- Yeah.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Oh, I don't know if my clamp's big enough for that, you know.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24Confident that if the debtor doesn't want to pay, they can remove the
0:32:24 > 0:32:27vehicle to recover the debt, they head in.
0:32:28 > 0:32:29Hello.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33- All right?- Hi there, mate. AM Mechanical?
0:32:33 > 0:32:35That's you guys?
0:32:36 > 0:32:40Here in relation to a High Court writ that's been issued.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43You the owner or director?
0:32:44 > 0:32:48- Can you get a hold of him?- The mechanic calls Anthony Morris,
0:32:48 > 0:32:50the director, and he says he'll come down to the unit.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Do you know how long he'll be?
0:32:54 > 0:32:57That's ideal, thank you.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59There's just time for a quick look around.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02That's an expensive tool box there.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05Also there was the pick-up on the way in,
0:33:05 > 0:33:07so I might go and have a look at
0:33:07 > 0:33:09that shortly. Depends how the conversation goes.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11And that's not all -
0:33:11 > 0:33:14there's a vehicle key in a box on the wall.
0:33:16 > 0:33:17I'll put that in my pocket for now,
0:33:17 > 0:33:20see what he wants to do when he gets here, cos if he
0:33:20 > 0:33:22doesn't want to pay, it could be a possible asset that
0:33:22 > 0:33:24I'll be taking control of.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28Tommy is hoping it fits the branded vehicle they saw on the way in.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32There's also a couple of valuable four-post vehicle lifts -
0:33:32 > 0:33:35that's more than enough leverage to get payment in full, one way or
0:33:35 > 0:33:38another.
0:33:38 > 0:33:4215 minutes after they arrived, the company director turns up.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45- Is that him out there now, mate, in the yellow car?- Yes.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47Yeah. Hi, how you doing?
0:33:47 > 0:33:50Here collecting an outstanding judgment that's been issued.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53- You're aware of it?- Yeah, basically, the last I heard,
0:33:53 > 0:33:55basically got a letter from your office.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58- Yep.- I've been going through County Court, trying to get a monthly
0:33:58 > 0:34:01- payment sorted.- Yep.- It was meant to go in front of a judge.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03- My court down here is basically useless.- Yeah.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Ring them, ring them, "Yeah, we're going to get it up today,
0:34:05 > 0:34:08it may not be back till..." "Look, I need, you know..."
0:34:08 > 0:34:12- I know you guys are coming, I need to put it through.- The courts can take their time sometimes, though.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Yeah, it's just everything that seems to be going wrong.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17It's got to the point now where they've issued the writ, and the
0:34:17 > 0:34:20writ tells us to come here and look at removing goods or collect the
0:34:20 > 0:34:22- payment.- How much is the writ now?- It's 1907.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24All right, I'll just pay it, I'm sick of it.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27Mr Morris seems to want the debt cleared as much as the sheriffs,
0:34:27 > 0:34:31but he can't make the payment online from the garage.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34I would have to go to the bank for that, cos my bank only allow me to,
0:34:34 > 0:34:38- if I haven't ever paid one before, they'll get me to transfer £250...- How long would it take to do
0:34:38 > 0:34:41- that now?- I could run up to Shirley, which my bank's about ten minutes away from there.
0:34:41 > 0:34:46- We'll do that. You know we'll have to stay on site here until it's completed.- Yeah, yeah, no, it's not
0:34:46 > 0:34:50- a problem, it's not a problem.- Do you want to take that with you?- If it is easier for you to get the
0:34:50 > 0:34:52- cash, you can just get the cash as well.- Cash is even better.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55All right, I'll just go and get that.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59The boss leaves, and true to his word, he's back within ten minutes.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02He's clutching the one thing sheriffs like more than expensive
0:35:02 > 0:35:06goods - an envelope stuffed with cash.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09- You want me to have a count of that?- Yeah, you have a count of it
0:35:09 > 0:35:12and I'll get the receipt started.
0:35:12 > 0:35:17Mr Morris takes £7.04 from his office to add to the £1,900 he's
0:35:17 > 0:35:20already handed over.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22- Five...- Seven, four.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26Excellent. Can I just get you to sign there for me and print there?
0:35:26 > 0:35:29- Yeah.- And with that, the debt is settled to the penny.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32I'll give you this back as well - it's the key.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36- Obviously we're here to seize assets so...- Yeah, no, that's all right. - All right. You never know how it's
0:35:36 > 0:35:39- going to go.- Thanks very much. - Cheers, Anthony. You take care of yourself, mate.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42Immediately said they wanted to pay,
0:35:42 > 0:35:44didn't want to escalate any further than it needed to.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47Went off and got the cash and paid in full.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52- So, a good job.- AM Mechanical might be £1,907 down,
0:35:52 > 0:35:56but the director can be happy he's discharged the debt and dealt with
0:35:56 > 0:35:59the sheriffs in the best way possible.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10In South London,
0:36:10 > 0:36:13Rob and Gerald are battling their way through the traffic.
0:36:13 > 0:36:18Off to Croydon today, looking for London Borough of Croydon council.
0:36:18 > 0:36:22They're owing just over £1,900.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25The debt relates to unpaid legal costs.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29The total amount owed today is £1,909.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40Gerald has some experience of dealing with local government.
0:36:40 > 0:36:41With councils,
0:36:41 > 0:36:46what they do feel is that, "We'll do it, but we'll do it in our time."
0:36:46 > 0:36:48"Yep, no problem at all.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51"Leave us the paperwork and, in the next couple of days, we'll look at
0:36:51 > 0:36:54"the paperwork to try to get it sorted out for you."
0:36:54 > 0:36:57Well, in our job, that doesn't work. in our job, we're there now today,
0:36:57 > 0:36:59today it needs to be sorted.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02It's saying just don't here, so...
0:37:02 > 0:37:05It's not hard to find the address on the writ.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09- Well, there it is.- Where? - That big building in front of us.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12- What, Bernard Weatherill?- Yep.- Very big building for the Council.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16- Right, good to go.- Let's go.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18GERALD GROANS
0:37:18 > 0:37:20As they make their way towards the
0:37:20 > 0:37:23front entrance, they discuss strategy.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27You Mr Nice today, or me Mr Nice?
0:37:27 > 0:37:30- We'll see who they like. - See who they like.- Yeah.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34- Well, they're bound to like me, then, aren't they? - LAUGHTER
0:37:34 > 0:37:38- Yeah.- They head in and Gerald turns on the charm.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40Hello. Some ID first.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42My name's Mr Anderson.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44I have a writ here...
0:37:44 > 0:37:46to deal with, I'm afraid.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49Legal and democratic services...
0:37:49 > 0:37:53The receptionist makes a call.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55Thank you very much.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58As long as she comes down and sorts it, no problem at all.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01If she starts stalling when she comes down,
0:38:01 > 0:38:04whether there's security gates here or not,
0:38:04 > 0:38:07we will gain entry and we will go up to whatever floor,
0:38:07 > 0:38:09whatever level we need to go up to.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13Looking at the sign there, it's... they're dealing on floors two to
0:38:13 > 0:38:16seven. If it means us going through each one of them floors,
0:38:16 > 0:38:18then we will.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Sheriffs have the power to force entry to commercial premises in
0:38:21 > 0:38:23search of a debtor's goods.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25But today, there's no need,
0:38:25 > 0:38:29as three minutes later, someone arrives to speak to them.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31- Hello.- Hello.- All right?
0:38:31 > 0:38:33My name's Mr Anderson. I've got a writ here for an outstanding
0:38:33 > 0:38:37- debt that needs to be sorted today. - Can you tell me what it's regarding?
0:38:40 > 0:38:44- Right, OK.- Consent order, for costs? - Yeah, I know about it, I do know about it.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47It's been with our finance department. I'll take it upstairs and...
0:38:47 > 0:38:50If you can ask your finance department to make a payment of the
0:38:50 > 0:38:53- amount that I'm going to give you. - Well, I can do my best, that's all I can do.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56Well, if they don't, I'll be wandering around and then walking
0:38:56 > 0:39:00- out with chairs, tables and everything else.- Yeah, OK. - I'll give you the paperwork.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02- It's 9:25.- Yeah.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05As long as someone comes down to show me proof that everything's
0:39:05 > 0:39:10- been paid by 9:45...- Yeah. - ..then I won't go through here.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13- OK.- If it's not been...- Might be a little bit longer than that,
0:39:13 > 0:39:17cos I've got to find the person who's dealing with it.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20- 15 minutes, cos we are a huge organization.- Well, a huge organisation should have had it
0:39:20 > 0:39:23- sorted, then, shouldn't it really? - I hear what you say, but...
0:39:23 > 0:39:27- All right, I'll work with you. I'll give you till ten...- Thank you very much.- ..as long as somebody comes
0:39:27 > 0:39:30down and says, "There you go, there's proof that everything's
0:39:30 > 0:39:34- "been paid into the correct account, I'll give you all the details now..."- OK, all right.- ..then I'm
0:39:34 > 0:39:38out of here. Obviously, come ten o'clock, if it's not, then I'll go wandering.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40- OK, thank you very much. - OK, cheers.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43It sounds as if the Council knows about the debt, but for some
0:39:43 > 0:39:46reason, the finance department haven't paid it.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50Rob and Gerald can only wait to see whether the woman can get the matter
0:39:50 > 0:39:53resolved in the half an hour they've given her.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56I've given her a little bit of grace, bit of compassion,
0:39:56 > 0:39:58we'll see where it goes from there.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04Croydon Council's skyscraper opened in 2013,
0:40:04 > 0:40:08and cost a reported £144 million.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12Gerald and Rob haven't explored the internal winter garden or
0:40:12 > 0:40:14been up to the roof terrace, but there's plenty to admire
0:40:14 > 0:40:17in the lobby.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21- It looks almost like a military badge there, Rob.- It does. Nice little coat of arms.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24- What's that underneath it? Is it Latin?- That's Latin.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28"Ad summa nitamur."
0:40:28 > 0:40:29What does that mean?
0:40:29 > 0:40:33I reckon, being the Council, it'll probably mean something like,
0:40:33 > 0:40:37- "Strive for perfection."- Yeah. - LAUGHTER
0:40:37 > 0:40:41Not bad, Gerald. It actually means, "We strive for the highest."
0:40:41 > 0:40:43"Let's strive for perfection,
0:40:43 > 0:40:45"which we haven't quite reached yet,
0:40:45 > 0:40:48- "because we've got a writ against us." - LAUGHTER
0:40:51 > 0:40:55It may not be perfection, but Croydon Council is certainly doing
0:40:55 > 0:40:57all it can to get its debt cleared.
0:40:59 > 0:41:04It's 9:53, and the woman from legal is back just in time to
0:41:04 > 0:41:06beat Gerald's deadline.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08- Oh, there we are.- Oh, here we go.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12She's brought a colleague who she says will pay the bill.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14OK.
0:41:17 > 0:41:18Right.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Exactly what we want to see. There's been no fuss, no hassle.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25Put your PIN number in, please, and then the green button.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28I'm hoping, within the next sort of 20,
0:41:28 > 0:41:3130 seconds, the debt will be settled and we'll be on our way.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33No, it's declined.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38You can do it on a number of cards.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43- Yes, yeah. One receipt's easier, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:41:43 > 0:41:48As the Council try and find a way to pay the £1,909 they owe,
0:41:48 > 0:41:50we're asked to leave the lobby by security.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54We continue to film from outside.
0:41:54 > 0:41:55Ten minutes later,
0:41:55 > 0:41:59another council employee comes down to the lobby and makes the payment
0:41:59 > 0:42:01across a couple of cards.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05If you could put your PIN number in, please.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08OK, that's gone through, and I will give you a receipt now.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13It took a little longer than they'd have liked, but it's a job well done
0:42:13 > 0:42:15for Rob and Gerald. They've got
0:42:15 > 0:42:18their client the money they were rightfully owed.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20- Sorted, aren't we?- Yeah.- Eh?- Yep.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22Not a bad little result.
0:42:22 > 0:42:26- No, job done.- And all done in an hour and a half.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30- Yeah.- Quite quick for a council. - Yeah. There's you.
0:42:30 > 0:42:31Yeah, that's you all right.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36Oh, there's me, look. Top Cat.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40- Yeah. That's who you would like to be, Top Cat. - LAUGHTER
0:42:40 > 0:42:43Afraid not, though. That's probably you there.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46- Who's that? Popeye?- Looks a lot more like you - no hair!
0:42:46 > 0:42:48- Hmm.- A very aggressive-looking Popeye.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51Rob might have a point. GERALD GROANS
0:42:53 > 0:42:57Croydon Council told us it processes thousands of invoices on time every
0:42:57 > 0:42:59month. It accepts the payment was
0:42:59 > 0:43:03due and settled the balance immediately.