Repo America with J. Patrick Altes

The North American Repo Summit (NARS) has always been a hot-button issue, in that all are invited to come. Your friends, your competitors, your favorite friend, or your most-hated enemy. Should "forwarders" be viewed as unwelcome interlopers, or is this the platform that keeps us in conversation with them? Are they a permanent part of the repossession eco-system?

Pat and co-host Bryanna Cox talk with ARA President Vaughn Clemmons and ARA Director Joel Kennedy and see their goals, hopes, and expectations for this years huge NARS conference in April 2023 in Orlando, Florida.

Tired of having to provide free storage? Tired of being told "no" to getting paid for legitimately- incurred personal property storage expenses? Most of all, surprised to discover that third party forwarders are getting paid huge fees for their services and paying the actual service provider around a 1/3rd? Yes, we all are. One state association is making some noise about that.

I always wondered why a massively profitable lender would feel the need squeeze their repo vendors for a few dollars to accept or report on repossessions. Imagine paying to accept hundreds of repo accounts that wind up being closed with no fees to the agent as contingent deals. Plus all the different platforms for various lenders. I talk with industry entrepreneur Cort Dehart about MBSi's latest move to get at least one client to pick up the tab.

Yeah, its going to be a little nerdy and technical, but the Patricks talk about CFPB slamming Credit Acceptance, Wells Fargo, and others, as well as self-repossessing cars, sloppy information handling, and and the need for repossessors to get along with America's auto lenders.

This is the audio from a hugely successful YouTube channel called ATI Auto Business that focuses on auto transportation, auto auction, and auto repossession agencies..the whole chain of custody in the repossession process. The host is a Jay Werzberger, and the guy really is a trip, in a good way, lots of fun, really digs into these businesses at all levels. This show was called the Repo Bunch, and the screen layout on the YouTube show was just like the Brady Bunch with all the little screens and smiling faces. And what a crew he had. Kevin Armstrong from SafeAMERICA CREDIT UNION AS WELL AS BEING publisher of the CU Collector website and noted author of the book "REPO BLOOD", Vaughn Clemmons, a repossession agency owner and president of the American Recovery Association, Bryanna Cox who wears many hats as president of Texas ARP, the state repossession association besides being a cohost of Repo America, Ty Thomas from Cars on the Move, a transportation network; Joel Kennedy from ARA as well a podcast host of the ConsumerFI podcast , Renee Low the education coordinator at Harding Brooks Insurance; Darcy Case of Indiana Recovery Services, Ryan Miller of Northwest Repossessions of Chicago, Illinois. Its a pretty fun show. Thanks ATI for letting me rip off your content (with your permission of course).

Pat did a podcast back in October with another dealer group about what we wished THEY knew about our crazy business. Repo America's Bryanna Cox is interviewed by Dealer Refresh, who speaks to another huge segment of the used-car industry about Lizard Lick, near-fatal bullets, nasty personal property, restrictive federal laws, and how it really does take a professional to handle this crazy process with safety and expertise.

We hear everyone complain about fees at repo events, online, and at conventions. But now someone is doing something about it. Pat talks with David Johns of Done Rite Recovery Services, and Santino "Sonny" Datoli of Armor Recovery Solutions about their involvement with the Alliance of Illinois Repossessors and their intentions to raise the bar....and change a few policies...in the repossession industry.

Repo America talks a lot about repo trade associations...there's a reason for that. Only collectively will we have any hope of making any changes in this once-thriving business. Today we talk with former auto lending executive Joel Kennedy is finding some inner peace now leading the charge for making changes in the repossession industry.

Whether it's taking cars....or making chocolate....Kevin Richards knows his stuff. How does the Canadian bailiff system work? How are repossessions different, or the same, as here in the States? Are Canadians really all that polite? Pat talks with Canada's colorful Kevin Richards in this week's episode.

So, what would you tell BHPH or used-car dealers about the repossession business? Should GPS-related repossessions be cheaper? What about personal property? LPR hits? Why are repossessions even allowed in America any more? Pat does his best representing the repossession industry in this interesting show on the Independent Dealer Podcast.

And sorry they used the phrase "repo guy"....so much of the industry are now "repo girls"!