Do Repo Men Go Too Far?

Thanks to the sluggish economy of the past few years, the auto repossession industry seems to be at its strongest. As more and more people struggle to find employment and make ends meet, they fall behind on their car payments, and next thing you know, the repo man tracks down the vehicle under the authority of the lender.

In fact, the repossession industry has become so hot, that there’s even a hit reality show on TruTv called Operation Repo. At the beginning of each episode of this show, there’s a disclaimer stating the footage shown is reenactments based off actual events they’re experienced.

If these truly are based on their real life repossessions, you have to ask: Do repo men go too far? Every episode involves the repo men getting into pushing and punching fights with their targets.

But even if this show is completely fake, there are many reports of real life repo men getting themselves into trouble. Just last month, a repo man pulled a gun when fighting with the owner of the vehicle they were repossessing. When he pulled the gun, he accidentally shot himself and his partner.

Or what about the repo man who was arrested for impersonating a cop? He called the woman whose car he was trying to possess, telling her he was a deputy from the local police station. He then got into an altercation with her during the repossession, and ended up dragging her about 90 feet with the car.

Then you have this Ohio repo man who was arrested on menacing charges. The repo man, Steven Wilson, went inside the workplace of a woman who was driving the car he needed to repossess and screamed at her in front of all her coworkers and customers. He then followed her after she got in her car until she pulled into the police station and he was arrested.

Need more proof that repo men go too far? How about this Alabama repo man who used his company’s tow truck to steal cars?

I could go on and on, but you get the point. The auto repossession industry has a known history of flaunting the law and making life hell for those who have defaulted on their loans.

What can Repo Men Legally Do?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a cut and dry answer to this because repossession laws vary by state. However, no matter where you live, you do have rights. And here are some rights that no repo man can violate.

• Repo men cannot forcibly remove you from your vehicle
• Repo men cannot pull you over on the street like an officer
• Repo men cannot pose as an officer of the law
• Repo men cannot create a fight (if you swing first though, they do have the right to protect themselves)
• Repo men cannot break into your home
• Repo men cannot threaten you

The other specifics of repossession law (e.g. how many days late on payment you need to be to qualify for repossession, how long you have to redeem the property, etc.). If you’re unsure of your repossession rights, try using the Avvo Ask a Lawyer feature to get expert advice on the laws in your area.

Quick Tips for Avoiding Repossession

Times are tough, and if you don’t take action soon, you could find yourself dealing with the repo men. Here are a few quick tips that can help you overcome payment problems

• Refinance the loan
• Modify the terms of the loan
• Adjust the payment due date
• Ask for a waiving of late charges on past due payments
• Request an extension in really tough times

Note: This is not intended to serve as professional financial advice. These are just basic tips you may be able to benefit from.

 

What do you think about repo men? Do they go too far?