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.

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"! 

Why join a state trade association for the repossession industry? What's in it for you? Pat and Bryanna talk with Gerry Hall Weir, the president of the new Recovery Agents of The Carolinas for some answers. Bryanna shares some of her thoughts as a former association-hater, and thoughts about the hopes of a new future working together in this crazy business. 

Bry and Pat talk with Harding Brook's Mike Peplinkski about the insanity of our struggling industry providing millions of dollars of free insurance to America's richest auto lenders. 

Pat talks with ARA's new director, Joel Kennedy, about the end of juvenile politics for the repossession industry....hopefully. Also the Wells Fargo Bonus, firebombs and insurance, and the need to change to survive in this struggling industry.

Based on an article on CU Collector, Pat talks with Scott about the possibility of one major lender ceasing self-help repossessions...a movement which could end the repossession industry. Is it possible? 

Pat and Bryanna speak with the new president of the American Recovery Association, Vaughn Clemmons, and its new director Joel Kennedy. Joel is the former president of the National Automotive Finance Association. Is ARA sleeping with the enemy via roundtables with forwarders? What can a trade association do to benefit your business?  Pat and Bryanna intend to find out. 

Competition is good, right?  Well, another entity is entering the LPR market...Location Services, launching their insightLPR division. How will it be better/worse/different than the current leader in the LPR marketplace? Bryanna and Pat are going to find out!

Repossessors are an intriguing and colorful lot. Kevin's book, "Repo Blood" documents the history of the repossession industry, outlining warring trade associations, murders, family tragedies, and stellar successes in this crazy business. Stories about industry legends, stolen blimps, and Steve Job's father, just to name a few. Pat Altes and Bryanna Cox interview author Kevin Armstrong about this latest book on the repossession business. 

Yessir, the CFPB has it out for lenders, repossessors, or collectors overstepping the lines with consumers in the US military.  Nissan, Wells Fargo, Santander have all been busted by feds for improper handling of military-related repo's. What's a repossessor to do? We speak with SCRA expert Jarrett Carson about how to keep ourselves out of hot water. 

Over 30+ stakeholders in the repossession process here in America agreed to sit down in Dallas, Texas, to discuss pain points, inefficiencies, and growth areas for everyone's mutual benefit. Pat talks with ARA Director Les McCook and ARA board member Jeremy Cross about how it went, and what we might expect in the future. 

Some clients employ incentives are producing poor results that are far worse than they ever imagined. Forcing a repossession vendor to work assignments on a contingent basis have tanked repossession recovery ratios. Clients are losing countless $20k vehicles by lowballing the very people that could recover them. 

A full 32% of all lawsuits against repossessors are for wrongdoing not by them or their employees...its wrongdoing by the auto lender themselves, and the repossession agent is left twisting in the wind due to bad, unfair language found in the contracts they are forced to sign in order to get the work. What can be done? Industry expert Mike Peplinski is involved in the fight along with others in pushing back against this fatal situation. 

Washington Post article from 3/7/2022 passed along their version of the messaging from CFPB Director Rohit Chopra to auto lenders, and their repossessors:  "Don't illegally repo people's vehicles.  We are watching".  CFPB's recent bulletin is the strongest message ever concerning auto repossessions. Patrick Altes discusses with Atty Patrick D Newman from Bassford Remele exactly what the bureau is saying to us...and our clients. 

LPR technology was going to be the future of the repossession industry. A great tool to collect data for your own agency, and a way to get repossession accounts from major clients using the platform. Over the years, the goalposts have been moved, and many repossessors no longer want to be part of the game.  Florida's VInnie Payne explains why his cameras are going to sit on the shelf. 

The repossession industry is bone-weary from the endless beat-downs by SOME of America's forwarders. Silly excuses to disallow invoices...not passing along fees they collect for services intended to pay field agent...the list goes on and on. Considering inflation, repossessors are getting a fraction of what they were paid 25 years ago. In response, some repossessors in the State of Florida decided to boycott by turning off the LPR cameras that feed data into the system. DRN was caught in the middle, and Jeremiah Wheeler has some thoughts how to best attain the desired results. 

Mike is a former president of National Finance Adjusters, a national repossession trade association. He recently sold his business to a national forwarding firm, and now standing outside the industry, offers some unique...and a little troubling...insights into its future. 

Great discussion with Patrick D Newman with the law firm of Bassford Remele, with Stephanie Findley with Texas Accredited Repossession Professionals (Texas ARP), with Mark Zane with Nevada Association of Licensed Repossessors (NALR) and the ever helpful Mike Peplinski with our industry's major insurance agency Harding Brooks.  Why do we keep doing this? Signing contracts that reach far, far outside the scope of our insurance, setting ourselves for a "six figure" legal defense that few of us could survive.   

The girls are back in town! Bryanna talked with Kristen, Emily and Starr about what happened at this years' Used Car Week. And a lot is happening!

Is the repossession industry having a "moment"? Some slim chance of our getting our act together, and stand side-by-side in this dark hour of the industry? The answer is clear....maybe. Pat and Bryanna talk with thought leaders Jeremy Cross and Vaughn Clemmons. 

Pat interviews longtime industry agency owner Lauren Dewitt, and ARA director Les McCook about MBSi's requirement for using another of their offerings, CARS certification, to access their management platform. Discussion revolves around the adverse financial impact to an agency owner, the rationale behind ignoring other nationally-accepted compliance programs. 

Over the next couple of weeks, Pat will be talking with various players as to why these repo agency consolidations aren't flying. 

Love him or hate him, Scott Jackson knows the repossession industry. From a small start-up repossession agency to eventually forming a multi-million dollar LPR company (MVTRAC), Scott has a unique perspective on the repossession industry and what it might need to do to succeed. 

There used to be a short-cut to success in the repossession industry, one that exists no more. Now it takes persistence, grit, and a good reputation to built a regional repossession business. The name Richard Grosvenor consistently came up when asking who has done this. Pat gets a chance to talk with Richard as to how he did this, and some of the roadblocks he sees in our path. 

Body cameras have proven to be hugely effective in providing evidence to clear law enforcement officers in cases of false allegations of police brutality or wrongful deaths...being a key factor in clearing the accused in 80% of cases. Both creditors-rights attorneys at Bassford Remele, and the industry's largest insurer at Harding Brooks agree that it might be time for us civilians to employ these game changing devices.  Pat Altes, Bryanna Cox with Repo America; Patrick D Newman, Tal Bakke, Gilian Gilbert with Bass Remele; and Mike Peplinski with Harding Brooks talk cameras. 

Pat was walking his dog, Tank, one morning and thought of a few more questions to ask DRN's Jeremiah Wheeler. Thanks, Jeremiah, for taking the call. 

Would you unlock your phone, and permanently give it to a stranger? Reading your emails and text messages, checking out your browsing history, looking through your contact lists? That is essentially what is happening when a car gets repossessed and the "infotainment system" is loaded with the consumers private information off their phones. Nationwide rent-a-car companies are engaged in class action suits for failing to "scrub" this information. And why the repo industry should be concerned. 

LPR technology's success in America is based on their efforts and good will of their agents in the field....and DRN knows it. DRN's Jeremiah Wheeler talks with Pat about their efforts to build the strongest agent network possible, and how they intend to do that through revenue sharing, cooperation....and a sense of fair play. 

There's a lot of bad contracts being presented to our industry, especially recently. So a client pushes a contract across the proverbial table with a "take it or leave it" attitude.  What language should you look for? What can you do if the contract places your business at risk?  Bryanna and Pat Altes speak with Atty Tal Bakke and Patrick D. Newman of Bassford Remele LLC about the impact of these contracts. 

Interesting conversation with Paul Machin in helping see how the used-car market, COVID-19, the home mortgage market, and new car sales all connect downstream to us in the repossession industry. 

Let's face it; for the most if its history, the repossession business has traditionally been a male-domintated industry. Things are changing......Bryanna talks with Kristen Ithurburu, Starr Haynes-Sawalqah, Darcy Case, and Wendy Camara, all women finding unprecedented success in this crazy business. 

Its great when a client can tell you where the car is located. GPS tracking technology has come a long way, and is generally a benefit to the repo industry...until it becomes a way to "beat the price" of our services.  Pat, Joel, and Kevin discuss how this technology can help those in financial need secure auto loans, and how it intersects with the repossession business.