OK, it was Black v Garnock, and the purchasers did ultimately get clear title without paying the creditor (an accountant), but had to go to the High Court to do so.I have heard of a famous case - lawyers could probably tell us which one it was - in which a couple bought a (quite expensive from memory) property, and it had clear title when the conveyancer/solicitor checked on the day before settlement, but a creditor of the vendor managed to slap on a caveat on settlement day, a few hours before settlement.
I think the poor buyers ended up having to pay out the vendor's debtor.