Repo America with J. Patrick Altes

Sure, we've got our creditors-rights attorneys like Bassford Remele. What about someone who represents the other side...the consumer who wants to sue us? Pat talks with pro-consumer attorney Nathan DeLadurantey about ways we can avoid facing him in a court of law. 

Unity in the repossession business? Is that even possible? Or can we be one big happy family?  Bryanna interviews Pat Altes, winner of the Art Christensen Award, along with discussions with Kelly McGivern about family histories and friendships in the repossession industry, and Pat closes with a short discussion with the man himself, Art Christensen. 

What if you could speak with an industry expert who's area of expertise is opposing repossessors and creditors in a court of law? Couldn't you learn about areas where repossessors habitually screw up, and work to avoid those? How about suggestions in how to best protect yourself in the event you get sued over handling a repossession? And how might forwarders be a major detriment in handling a legal repossession?  Pat speaks with Atty Nathan DeLadurantey of Milwaukee Wisconsin, with a followup podcast with Nathan next week. 

Tired of providing insured storage for free? Having weird, unknown locksmiths wandering around your secured lot? Tired of getting stiffed over handling AWD vehicles? Yeah, us too. 

Pat talks with Jenny Liagre at the recent NARS event, the owner and operator of Rockwood Recovery in Michigan, and is currently the president of the Michigan Association of Repossession Agencies who are ramping up to deal with some of these troublesome issues. 

This is a short chat with Mike Peplinski from Harding Brooks about changes in the industry, how we might have a slight upper hand in negotiating prices and beating back adverse legislation, but continue to be thrown under the proverbial lawsuit bus due to language in our contracts. 

We thought LPR technology would spell the end of old-school skip tracing, that cameras would find virtually all the cars wanted for repossession. Not so, as it turns out. Pat talks with the legendary Alex "SkipGuru" Price about the hybrid approach to locating skips in 2023. 

Whether its Jeremy Cross, Corey & Bryanna Cox, Kevin Wilson, Brandon Pineiro, Brennan Hamilton, or dozens of others, there's a new wave of intelligent, thoughtful, and fully professional repossessors out there. Repo America had a chance to sit down and discuss things with Austin's James Waldron. 

Florida has a long history of having a state association for the repossession industry, sometimes marked with division and politics in the past. With a wave of new and restructured state organizations, the new FALR has another chance to really get it right. Pat interviews Suzanne Chartier with the Florida Association Of Licensed Repossessors at the recent NARS event in Orlando, Florida. 

You've heard on previous podcasts about the tools required "back in the day" to repossess a car...a hot wire, or later on, a dent puller; a slim jim; a heavy duty chain; and most of all, nerves of steel. Nerves of steel are still a requirement, but now the industry relies on $100k trucks specifically designed for repossession, equipped with LPR cameras, laptop computers, cameras recording surrounding environments...in other words, a highly complex and an insanely expensive piece of equipment. And the human element remains...the ability to make contact when necessary, or handle a confrontation in the field. Pat goes to NARS and talks with Recovery Master's Chris Kelly about their training school for men and women wanting to level up their working knowledge of a modern repo truck. 

Listen to this, and send to your drivers...the #1 area of legal exposure in the repossession industry isn't CFPB violations or even claims of damage to repossessed vehicles...its auto collisions involving your repo truck. What to do to best protect yourself from the upcoming lawsuit filed by Morgan & Morgan? Pat caught up with Harding Brook's award winning  Renee Low at the recent NARS event to talk about it.