business focus problem is. Usually we are able to offer a solution to resolve the issue through our different services. For example, extending them a loan so they can make an urgent payment and buy them some time to find their feet.” This company philosophy came into play early on, when Hector was asked by the court to act as bailiff to repossess property from people defaulting on their hire purchase agreements. On one occasion he visited a client to discover they owed just £800 and were about to lose their property because of the debt. He personally lent them the money and what could have been a disaster situation from the hirees point of view, was amicably resolved. Hector saw the potential to help people in these dire situations, applied for a money lending licence and added the service to the company’s portfolio. Today the company successfully helps both individuals and companies re-finance when the need arises.
“We are extremely client orientated, and although sometimes we have no option but to go down the last-resort route, we make every effort to find a way to help. Unfortunately, many people only hear about the hard handed side to the business — like clamping!” Hector told me with a glint in his eye. “Well, if you park on private land when you know you’re not supposed to, you can’t really expect to be rewarded for it, can you?” As Hector jokingly took a call from someone code-named ‘009’, I wondered how the company handles situations which don’t have a solution and repossession is the only option. “We do try to avoid that scenario at all costs, but it inevitably happens,” Hector mused. “But even so, we don’t go about our job in a nasty way. We’ve had several situations where a home has been repossessed and we have offered our garage so they could temporarily store their possessions while
“We are extremely client orientated, and although sometimes we have no option but to go down the last-resort route, we make every effort to find a way to help”
Hector Payas, Director of Group 5
they found somewhere permanent to live. So, even in these cases we’ll try to go the extra mile to help. “Obviously it is a traumatic situation for many people and we do have to deal with some quite aggressive people. I’ve had people in the past threaten to kill me, but I just ask them to get in the queue — it wouldn’t be fair on all the others who have been waiting longer!”
The key to Group 5’s success seems to be in its approach to not just giving a service, but in adapting that service to the client. So just remember, if you do get a knock on your door from a security guard handing you a court or other document, those same people might just be able to give you some professional guidance and help, backed up with over 25 years of experience. n
24hr Vault - Security Boxes. 24hr Central Security Section. 24hr Alarm Monitoring Service. Provision of Security Guards. Protection of Persons and Properties. Clamping Service - Private Property. Cash and Valuables in Transit. CCTV and Alarm Installations. Investigations. Solicitors Enquiry Agents.
DETECTIVES & SECURITY INTERNATIONAL LTD G R O U P
5
C
SECURITY
IT CENTRE RED
Ground Floor, Leon House 1 Secretary’s Lane Tel: 200 73377 Fax: 200 77856 Email: detectives@gibtelecom.net
5
FIRE SECURITY ELECTRICAL
Gib Eye GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • MAY 2009
Credit Centre. Loan Facilities and Debt Collection.
25 CELEBR
AT I N G
YEARS
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