The American Repossessor

Nothing stands still and neither are we.   WE ARE CHANGING.  Yes, the www.theamericanrepossessor.com will be launching a completely new website 1 August 2009.  It will contain many new features that are specific to the repossession industry…so watch this space.

Last month, I was pleased to be asked to be a guest speaker at the RSIG Conference in Connecticut, and I presented a section on Marketing Your Business, which was totally geared to repossession companies.  (See Editor’s Column for more information).

During the Conference, much to my surprise, my name was called out as an Award Winner of the RSIG Humanitarian Award. I joined 29 other Award Winners to receive this honor (see the “SPOTLIGHT” column  and the photograph relating to the RSIG Recovery Agents Memorial Fund).  All these people donated money to help fellow repossessors and their families  in their time of need.

This was a humbling experience for me and confirms to me that we should care about our fellow man/woman, not be judgmental of them if they fall on hard times regardless what their situation is.  We should remember ..”There, but for the grace of God, go I”… (John Bradford 1510-1555  an English Reformer and Martyr).

Some things never seem to change.  In this instance I am referring to the news stories that constantly appear in the media in relation to the negativity of the people within our industry, namely field agents.  The responsibility for this lies with the owners of the repossession companies as it is they that introduce poorly trained field agents onto our streets.  Unfortunately, for those repossession company owners, with professional and quality driven services and mindsets, we are all tarnished with the  actions of morons that think it is ‘cool’ to repossess vehicles in a way that often contravenes the debtor’s rights, and often breaking laws to do it.  It does not matter how good we are, we will always be recognized by the weakest links of our industry.

As they say in Hungary, “lappozunk” and that means to turn the page, meaning changing the subject….and that is what I am doing as I want to remind you that there is not much time left for you to be in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Red Flag Rules Identity Theft Program, as the 1 August deadline is fast approaching.

This new law  comes into effect for those companies that are suppliers to the financial institutions, in relation to dealing with Identity Theft and this means all repossession companies!

Have a great holiday week end.  Happy 4th July!