From the Editor
Well, I think I have seen many things in my lifetime and definitely a great many things whilst working within the Repossession Industry, but seeing the trailers for the new movie “Repo Men” gives a truly new meaning to what the repossession industry could be in the future.
This movie is about the repossession of human organs.
‘Set in the near future when artificial organs can be bought on credit, it revolves around a man who struggles to make the payments on a heart he has purchased. He must therefore go on the run before his heart is repossessed’.
Of course, as the heart is an integral organ, this means that its removal means death! The contract signed for the purchase of the organ has not been met, payments have not been made. So the ‘Repo Men’ have a repossession order to retrieve their company’s collateral.
Armed with slightly different tools for the job than we are today. No truck payments, no fuel costs, no insurance, instead they have guns, knives and surgical tools to retrieve the asset that enables the debtor to live.
They track down the debtor and inevitably he or she is carved up and the collateral removed.
Makes for a lovely horror story, does it not? I wonder how far removed it really is?. Is this an insight of what the future may bring?
On that note, I swiftly move on to a future event that is just around the corner. In less than two weeks time, hopefully many of you will be attending the 2010 North American Repossessors Summit in Texas, where a variety of subject areas will take light that impact the future of the Repossession Industry.
The Repossession Industry has to move forward and work to become what it truly deserves to be recognized as – a professional, quality service that is second-to-none in any other service industry sector, and one that we can ALL be proud of – and that includes our clients!
Take a look at the advert below, give it a click and there you will find all the information you need. So what are you waiting for?
See you in a couple of weeks!
Susan
Columns and Features
“It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the CUSTOMER who pays the wages”. HENRY FORD (1863-1947), FORD MOTORS
“Every day were saying, “How can we keep this CUSTOMER happy? How can we get ahead in innovation by doing this, because if we don’t, somebody else will”. Bill Gates, MICROSOFT
“There is only one boss – THE CUSTOMER. And he can fire everybody in the company from the Chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else”. SAM WALTON, WAL-MART
There is no doubt, that running a business subsumes most of our time and because it does, sometimes we forget that our whole existence is predominantly due to our customers. And if you think any different, you are so wrong!
No-one is owed a living and by that I mean, just because we are in the repossession industry or any industry for that matter, and we may do a good job at providing the services we do, that we should automatically be given more work. That is not how business works. We have to earn that work.
I have been in earshot, many times, of company owners comments, feeling that it is their right that clients give them work, just because they are there. NO! That philosophy is a dangerous one to have. You have to compete for that work, and even more so today, as there are so many repossession companies in the market place that are more than ready to step in and take your business, because you are not providing the client with what they need.
Many companies see the customer as a ‘thing’ that buys our services and that ‘thing’ also as numbers that give us our income. We are so busy making plans to keep our customers away from our competitors, that do we really invest enough time and effort in finding out who is our customer, a fellow human being that also plans and has expectations and needs that need to be fulfilled. …more…
www.theamericanrepossessor.com is an advocate of progression, change, quality and professionalism for the future of our repossession industry. It supports the 2nd Annual North American Repossessors Summit – THE FUTURE OF THE RECOVERY INDUSTRY: 2010 AND BEYOND.
THIS IS AN EVENT YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS – so click on the advert above the ‘COLUMNS AND FEATURES’ section and register NOW!
Santander CEO to Keynote 2nd Annual North American Repossessors Summit
Summit Focuses on The Future of the Recovery Industry: 2010 and Beyond …more…
The by-line, “Out of the Chat room into the Court room,” is an attempt to match recent internet discussions or issues with recent case law decisions.
Police involvement in self-help repossession is a recurring theme of on-line discussions. Some of the contributors to these chats claim to be ex-police officers who provide their opinions based on their criminal law experience. Unfortunately criminal law experience does not translate particularly well to the civil law self-help as a police officer learned in a case filed in federal court, which was decided in November 2009.
Before we look at the facts lets identify the parties.
Eric——owns a used car lot and works as a full time employee of the City Police Department.
David—-manages Eric’s used car lot.
Shayla—purchased a Honda for Eric’s used car lot and is the Debtor.
Ray——-works as a full time employee of the City Police Department. …more…
Leading Online Auction Site Offers Online Remarketing Services to Recovery Agents Saving Time and Costs
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jan. 26, 2010 – OPENLANE, Inc., a leading online auction company in North America for automotive dealers to buy and sell wholesale vehicles, and American Recovery Association (ARA), the world’s largest association of recovery agents, today announced a joint program that allows ARA members to sell lender vehicles through OPENLANE’s online auction site at www.openlane.com. Through the OPENLANE/ARA Recovery Remarketing Program, recovery agents can now auction recovered vehicles online for lenders directly from their lots, rather than having to send the vehicles to physical auctions. By auctioning recovered vehicles directly from the lot, lenders are able to realize significant cost savings as well as reduced time to sale. This innovative approach also provides greater control and transparency throughout the recovery and remarketing process. …more…
Last March, more than 200 collateral recovery specialists from across the country joined forces to address the most important issues facing the collateral recovery industry in a first-of-it’s-kind forum. As the American Recovery Association prepares to host the second annual North American Repossessors Summit, it’s important to look at what was learned from the first event, how the industry has changed in just a short 12 months and what we can expect from the 2010 North American Repossessors Summit.
The 2009 North American Repossessors Summit provided an open, collaborative environment for all recovery professionals – regardless of location or whether or not you’re affiliated with any associations. Recovery agents of all levels of experience were able to unite as professionals and learn from one another. What we saw at the 2009 Summit was an intense passion for our industry, a desire to learn from one another and a call to action for our industry to come together. More than 75 percent of attendees surveyed said the 2009 Summit met their expectations. More importantly, an overwhelming number of attendees commented on the importance of industry and association unity and felt the Summit was a step in the right direction. …more…
ConnecTGo, Inc. IS PROUD TO ANNOUCE ITS NEW ISO 9001:2008 STATUS
OHIO, 1 DECEMBER 2009: ConnecTGo, Inc. is proud to announce that it is now an independently accredited ISO 9001:2008 certified company and all the services it provides, which includes training at all levels within repossession companies, ranging from Field Agents, to office staff to senior management, consulting and advisory services that help companies to develop and grow profitably plus others, and they have the ISO 9001 tag attached to it and that includes www.theamericanrepossessor.com. …more…
In 2002, Recovery Specialist Insurance Group (RSIG) donated the funds to open a bank account at The Fauquier Bank to establish the Recovery Agent Benefits Fund (RABF) and started the lengthy process of becoming a non-profit. …more…
Susan Marston
“It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the CUSTOMER who pays the wages”. HENRY FORD (1863-1947), FORD MOTORS
“Every day were saying, “How can we keep this CUSTOMER happy? How can we get ahead in innovation by doing this, because if we don’t, somebody else will”. Bill Gates, MICROSOFT
“There is only one boss – THE CUSTOMER. And he can fire everybody in the company from the Chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else”. SAM WALTON, WAL-MART
There is no doubt, that running a business subsumes most of our time and because it does, sometimes we forget that our whole existence is predominantly due to our customers. And if you think any different, you are so wrong!
No-one is owed a living and by that I mean, just because we are in the repossession industry or any industry for that matter, and we may do a good job at providing the services we do, that we should automatically be given more work. That is not how business works. We have to earn that work.
I have been in earshot, many times, of company owners comments, feeling that it is their right that clients give them work, just because they are there. NO! That philosophy is a dangerous one to have. You have to compete for that work, and even more so today, as there are so many repossession companies in the market place that are more than ready to step in and take your business, because you are not providing the client with what they need.
Many companies see the customer as a ‘thing’ that buys our services and that ‘thing’ also as numbers that give us our income. We are so busy making plans to keep our customers away from our competitors, that do we really invest enough time and effort in finding out who is our customer, a fellow human being that also plans and has expectations and needs that need to be fulfilled. …more…
Susan Marston
March 13th Conference & March 14th Education & Training Classes
Hosted by American Recovery Association
Omni Mandalay Hotel, Las Colinas
AGENDA
Theme: The Future of the Recovery Industry: 2010 and Beyond …more…
Susan Marston
I want to start the new decade by reaching out to those people that are interested in joining the Repossession Industry and in and amongst their research have tried asking questions on other websites and of people within the industry. I have had so many comments and feedback from positive people that are in disbelief of the arrogant and ignorant behavior of some of our industry related ‘colleagues’ (and I use that word very loosely!). Unfortunately, I am embarrassed to say that many fellow repossessors have shunned, belittled, ridiculed and humiliated them to the point that some have not followed their dream.
Please do not judge our industry by the minority, as the majority of people within the repossession industry do not act that way. They are good, honest and hard working and usually will help others.
Don’t be disheartened if you have been a victim of this unprofessional and childish behavior, because there truly are people out there that will help you. Take a look at this video on YouTube. Although totally unrelated to the Repossession Industry, it can be interpreted to anyone, anywhere and in any lifestyle etc. It illustrates the points I am making well. ‘Just make sure you watch it all – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related.
This woman ‘Dreamed a Dream’ and she finally got a chance to prove what she could do, against many judgmental and arrogant people’s opinions. It’s never too late and don’t let anyone deter you from your goals in life. With respect to her, if she can do it, so can you! Against all the odds she ‘Dreamed Her Dream’ and made it come true! …more…
Cliff - you can register directly at www.reposummit.com. See you in Dallas!
I agree with James Mcduffie. I have repode in Richmond Va for 10 years and here in West Va for the past 10 years and ...more...
Cody Please e-mail me directly at salmarston@theamericanrepossessor.com and I will help you with the information you...more...
Joe Please e-mail me directly at salmarston@theamericanrepossessor.com and I will help you with the information you ...more...
Jeff Please e-mail me directly on salmarston@theamericanrepossessor.com and I will help you with the information tha...more...