Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away!

Refreshing take on repo guys. Seen a couple of this type of programming based in America. These guys seem kind and patient compared to USA versions.

Sorry that people end up in these situations but the guys are doing their jobs as professionally as possible. Over there they try to be civil about it, whereas over here it often gets violent and leads to usually vulgar verbal exchanges.

As usual, a tasteful UK example of an unpleasant topic. People sometimes over extend their financial obligations and companies are entitled to try and recoup their losses if possible. Unlike in America the British repo men seem to emphasize with those they are repossessing items from. Several episodes show them showing extreme patience by allowing hours for their clients to try to rectify the problem.

It's unreasonable to blame these folks for the delinquency of the debtors. Not saying each debtor is equal. Some have fallen on hard times due to health, loss of job etc. But others simply bought too much too fast and thought they'd get away with it.

The episode with the race car comes to mind. Seriously dude, a race car? Pay for it already. Lots of luxury items mixed in with the decent folks who are just struggling. Not every episode is the same. Some of the wealthier people shocked be at what they financed and then had the nerve to be hateful when they were finally caught.

Caught the first 2 seasons of this on Netflix. Most of the other reviewers have it plain WRONG as they're critiquing the job, not the show, to which I'd respond "Don't hate the player, hate the game!".

The show follows various different 'high court enforcement officers' in carrying out their daily jobs. Sadly, their job involves repossessing houses, apartments, cars and property from down-on-their- luck members of society, usually with either Sad, Pathetic, Hilarious, or sometimes Violent consequences.

The people they meet come from across the wealth spectrum in the UK, poor, middle class, and also wealthy. What they have in common is they didn't pay their bills; full Stop. If they'd paid, they would never have been in the situation, hence the show's title. Most times their predicament is their own fault (not paying rent for 8 months, house sitting in a mansion and then refusing to leave), but occasionally there's a tale that tugs at the heartstrings.

What people lose sight of is that there's always a 2nd party being wronged...it's not just the tenant being kicked out that's losing something. Several episodes discussed the landlords, who've often bought the property as a long term investment, like the seniors on a pension who can barely make ends meet as their tenant hasn't paid rent in 6 months and who leaves the apartment in a trashed condition to boot! Is it fair to have a system that doesn't have a recourse for them? No. Hence why this job (and the show) exist.

Overall it's a poignant, realistic look at a job that appears both tough and heartless, but plays an INTEGRAL part in keeping the gears of modern society in motion. 7/10.

ps. Would rate higher except the editing is crap...typical repetitive techniques of 'what's coming later' and 'what's already happened' really slow many episodes down.

I found this a very good show,unlike one of the other reviewers i am looking at it in a more realistic light. Many people end up in debt, the ideal solution is to obviously come to some sort of arrangement but Most of the people in this show come up with such stupid excuses and say so many stupid lies thinking that they will get away with it,i honestly find the people are dealt with in a very reasonable manner considering they have already done the wrong thing. It amazes me to see some of the stupid reactions that the people show when confronted with the debt collectors,treating them as idiots,of course they are not,and they are going to deal with you in a harder way if you treat them like idiots. I would find it very hard to deal with a job like theirs,my hats off to them. And once again it is a great show.

Each episode is split between four cases, usually. The last is typically the quickest and easiest for the agents. They are instructed by the high court to collect debt, seize assets, or evict tenants. Every case begins with a summary of how much is owed and why, while the agents are driving to the location written on the high court writ. The beginning of each case is usually the best bit, as people aren't aware of the bailiffs' powers and think they're trespassing. The initial attitude of the debtor is also how they'll usually act for the remainder of the case, so if they're angry at the start then they'll most likely be angry for the entire case.

The best episodes are those with debtors/evictees that are extremely angry and aggressive. In the earlier seasons, the cases were more varied than later, as they didn't just collect debt, they also evicted people and moved travellers. In season 5 for example, the vast majority of cases are a simple debt collection which adds to the repetition factor. I'm guessing this is down to the show being criticised as classist and morally bankrupt for showing people at their low points; however, the show does have people from all walks of life and the agents are polite, respectful, and neutral. I'll admit that there are more working-class people on this show, but I don't think it takes a genius to figure out that someone with money, privilege, and an increased likelihood of financial sense will be more likely to pay a debt than those who lack it.

This show is repetitive. It was made for a traditional TV channel which means it's chock-full of summaries of what's to come and what already occurred before and after every ad break. The length of these recounts are asinine. I believe some editing to fit every case within a single segment would've been preferable, to be honest. To add to the fatigue, the show highlights and narrates a relevant factoid as an interim between each case. I'm pretty sure a lot of them are repeated, but I wouldn't know as I skip over them every time. God, I don't miss cable TV at all.

Due to the professionalism required and the impersonal structure of the show, all the agents are very similar to each other. However, some have more coloured personalities than others, especially in the initial seasons. Paul Bohill and Steven Pinner are seen as the mascots of the show, due to their empathetic dialogues in the earlier seasons. Thankfully, this is one aspect they reduce in later seasons of which I'm a fan of. It's not that I disagree with them, I just disagree with the repetitive nature of it. Again, my biggest gripe with this show is its repetitiveness. Any reduction in that department is preferable, even if it removes some personality from the agents. You'll notice small differences in the agents' personalities, like how Stuart McCracken is stern and prefers to get crackin' on the job rather than playing the empathy game; or how Gary Ball has as much personality as a thumb. Thankfully his partner is one of my favourites, so his segments aren't so bad.

My advice is to watch season one and if you're really enjoying it then keep going, but eventually around season four-to-five you'll start to get bored and notice how safe they're playing it. It's not a bad show, but it went on too long and diminished in quality.

I love this show! I live in the U.S. and am SHOCKED that the "high court" can just show up at your door and put you out IMMEDIATELY! There is nothing similar in the states. Although we do have evictions the courts DO give you a final move-out date. There are no surprises at your door.

Also being able to immediately take your possessions to absolve the debt is CRAZY to me!

I love the show and have visited the U.K. on one occasion and really enjoyed myself (my husband and I took a 2-week holiday). I had no idea stuff like this was going on. It's mind boggling.