[harlee71]

I have been a stay home day for about a year and a half and want to do something at night. I was looking at jobs that were mostly evening work and came across this line of work. I found a "recovery company" in my area and went and applied and got hired and start training next week. It is not all night work, but I can work nights if I want.

Anyone have insight into this line of work?

[harlee71]

My wife is not to keen on this idea though. We are not hurting for money, but I just want to do something different and interesting. I am not a corporate or worker bee type of guy. I have owned my own business in the past and worked for myself or atleast worked with minimal supervision. I am not good with micro managers.

She also mentioned how is she going to explain to others what I do. LOL

[pavyracer]

Too many weirdos in this economy. Everyone owns a gun and if you try to steal someone's car from the garage you are most likely be shot at.

[cappinthepigs]

I think it would be a "neat" experience, just as long as you don't get shot. If you do get shot, you can transfer me your 6 SBR points!

[in2thethickofit]

Dangerous line of work from all I hear. People get too attached to their cars/trucks and are willing to sometimes kill for them. I own an older vehicle that is paid for...so I don't have to threaten anyone at 2am in my driveway

[Kav]

[wal66]

I have not worked for a repo company but I have tagged along with my buddy who owned a repo service. I can say without a doubt there is something both fun and sad at the same time in doing this. First you kind of feel like you are stealing and that has a certain appeal about it. On the other hand you are taking away from sometimes good people who simply are in a jam and this can be troubling to the heartstrings.

Now my buddy who owned the repo service was a complete idiot. He was always gungho which wasn't exactly the right mindset for what you can get into. One time we were out in the boonies tracking down a vehicle. My buddy was certain of this one truck and as we creep up to the vehicle and I roll out to set the bumper arms the first shot rings out in the dead of the night. Now if you have never been shot at it does multiple things to you. First it scares the living shit out of you. Secondly though it is an adrenalin rush like you won't believe. So I run back in the cab and no sooner then I hit the seat the second shot strikes. My buddy raises the bumper arms and starts down the driveway. At about a 100 yards from the the place the third and final shot hits. We are racing down the road and about three miles down there are headlights in our rearview. My buddy tells me to get look in the glovebox and give him the 9. I pull out this gun and I am holding it and wondering what the hell. There is noway I can shoot at someone. He snatches the gun and starts firing it out the driverside window. Now he has no idea if this is the guy who's truck we just snatched or if it is Grandpa on his way homw from church but he is capping off rounds anyways. The vehicle turns off eventually and we head back to the compound to inventory the vehicle. Once we get there the repo truck is running hot and upon inspectiong we discover two of the rounds have hit the truck just below the side mirro in a 6 inch pattern. Now remember it was pitch dark and at least one of the shots was at 100 yards minimum. The third shot had struck the radiator and this is why the truck was rinning hot obviously. As we are inventoring the vehicle my buddy makes a very profound discovery. The VIN number doesn't match the paperwork. My idiot friend has taken the wrong vehicle.

[harlee71]

Originally Posted by pavyracer

Too many weirdos in this economy. Everyone owns a gun and if you try to steal someone's car from the garage you are most likely be shot at.

If you dont make your car payments, then you are the one stealing.

Originally Posted by wal66

I have not worked for a repo company but I have tagged along with my buddy who owned a repo service. I can say without a doubt there is something both fun and sad at the same time in doing this. First you kind of feel like you are stealing and that has a certain appeal about it. On the other hand you are taking away from sometimes good people who simply are in a jam and this can be troubling to the heartstrings.

Now my buddy who owned the repo service was a complete idiot. He was always gungho which wasn't exactly the right mindset for what you can get into. One time we were out in the boonies tracking down a vehicle. My buddy was certain of this one truck and as we creep up to the vehicle and I roll out to set the bumper arms the first shot rings out in the dead of the night. Now if you have never been shot at it does multiple things to you. First it scares the living shit out of you. Secondly though it is an adrenalin rush like you won't believe. So I run back in the cab and no sooner then I hit the seat the second shot strikes. My buddy raises the bumper arms and starts down the driveway. At about a 100 yards from the the place the third and final shot hits. We are racing down the road and about three miles down there are headlights in our rearview. My buddy tells me to get look in the glovebox and give him the 9. I pull out this gun and I am holding it and wondering what the hell. There is noway I can shoot at someone. He snatches the gun and starts firing it out the driverside window. Now he has no idea if this is the guy who's truck we just snatched or if it is Grandpa on his way homw from church but he is capping off rounds anyways. The vehicle turns off eventually and we head back to the compound to inventory the vehicle. Once we get there the repo truck is running hot and upon inspectiong we discover two of the rounds have hit the truck just below the side mirro in a 6 inch pattern. Now remember it was pitch dark and at least one of the shots was at 100 yards minimum. The third shot had struck the radiator and this is why the truck was rinning hot obviously. As we are inventoring the vehicle my buddy makes a very profound discovery. The VIN number doesn't match the paperwork. My idiot friend has taken the wrong vehicle.

Great story Wal! Thanks!

[AMBlai01]

Originally Posted by wal66

I have not worked for a repo company but I have tagged along with my buddy who owned a repo service. I can say without a doubt there is something both fun and sad at the same time in doing this. First you kind of feel like you are stealing and that has a certain appeal about it. On the other hand you are taking away from sometimes good people who simply are in a jam and this can be troubling to the heartstrings.

Now my buddy who owned the repo service was a complete idiot. He was always gungho which wasn't exactly the right mindset for what you can get into. One time we were out in the boonies tracking down a vehicle. My buddy was certain of this one truck and as we creep up to the vehicle and I roll out to set the bumper arms the first shot rings out in the dead of the night. Now if you have never been shot at it does multiple things to you. First it scares the living shit out of you. Secondly though it is an adrenalin rush like you won't believe. So I run back in the cab and no sooner then I hit the seat the second shot strikes. My buddy raises the bumper arms and starts down the driveway. At about a 100 yards from the the place the third and final shot hits. We are racing down the road and about three miles down there are headlights in our rearview. My buddy tells me to get look in the glovebox and give him the 9. I pull out this gun and I am holding it and wondering what the hell. There is noway I can shoot at someone. He snatches the gun and starts firing it out the driverside window. Now he has no idea if this is the guy who's truck we just snatched or if it is Grandpa on his way homw from church but he is capping off rounds anyways. The vehicle turns off eventually and we head back to the compound to inventory the vehicle. Once we get there the repo truck is running hot and upon inspectiong we discover two of the rounds have hit the truck just below the side mirro in a 6 inch pattern. Now remember it was pitch dark and at least one of the shots was at 100 yards minimum. The third shot had struck the radiator and this is why the truck was rinning hot obviously. As we are inventoring the vehicle my buddy makes a very profound discovery. The VIN number doesn't match the paperwork. My idiot friend has taken the wrong vehicle.

That has to be a lawsuit waiting to happen on both ends. Your buddy for being idiot enough to take the wrong car...and one on the guy for shooting like that.

[Shortstop]

Very dangerous and exciting from what I hear. There used to be a pretty good show on either A&E or Discovery, or one of those cable channels about this.

It was like Dog The Bounty Hunter except it was focused on Repo Men.

[wal66]

Ambi, true story here. At the end of the night what eventually happened was my buddy called the police and another repo man who he was friends with. The police escorted the repo guy back to the owner and ultimately both parties agreed it was best to drop the whole thing. there could have been charges brought by both.

Needless to say bmy buddy wasn't in the repo business very long as this wasn't his only goof along the way. Before he was a repo man he was a deputy sheriff in which he wasn't much better at that either.

[lyon804]

What an amazing story Wall. The ignorance of both parties is troubling and quite dangerous. Unfortunately it is those types in America doing most of the reproducing. Thanks for sharing with us as it was thouroughly entertaining.

[Brock Landers]

interesting, how do cars get repoed if you keep it in a garage?

[pavyracer]

Wal,

I just have a question for your buddy. Do the repo men have a magic wand that bypasses car alarms? How can you take the wrong car, even the right one, without the car alarm going off at 3 am from someone's house?

[wal66]

Brock, technically if there is ANYTHING obstructing your vehicle on your property the repo service is not allowed to touch it. At least in the state of Florida. For instance if you placed a garbage can behind your vehicle and they moved it and you could proved they touched ANYTHINg on your property that was not listed to be seezed they would have to return it. It still happens but how many people have a camera set up to prove it happened?


Pavy, on another occassion a car alarm did go off. It was 3:30 in the morning and he was repoing from a prison guard at the prison and the alarm goes off on the vehicle. It was a crazy scene. I wasn't with him that time but I was there one night as he was attempting to slim jim the door and an alarm goes off on a totally different vehicle across the parking lot of an apartment complex. He couldn't jimmy the window and lights are coming on in some of the apartments and he freaks out hooks up the bumper hitch to the car anyways and drags the car tires locked and all right out of there. As disfunctional as he was as a repoman he was worse as a cop.

[THE PROFIT]

I worked as a bail bondsman for a while. Same thing except it's easier sneaking up on cars than people! I know several people in the industry and have helped them out alot of times.

It's simple. You take their car. If they start givin you lip you be nice but explain that you have no control over it. They will try to pay you alot of times. You have to explain that you are not the bank and can't accept the payment that you have been hired by the bank to seize the property & they can work it out with the bank in the morning & pick up their vehicle.

Just be nice is the main thing. Next big thing is people will dodge you! They know they are late with payments & have been through this before. They now know how long it takes for their bank to send repo men so they start hiding their car. Parking it in neigbors garages. Parking it at relatives houses for a month until they think they can get the money. You have to outsmart these dumbasses & get info about everyone they know. It's best done at night. I love taking their car while they are drunk in a bar. They come out & think they are just too drunk to remember where they parked!

[THE PROFIT]

yeah, you have to have a good working knowledge of car alarms & what cars can be broken into easily. Get in good with a locksmith who will cut you a break also

[pavyracer]

They will never get my Mercedes. Not only it has car alarms but it is booby trapped with explosives if my thumb print is not on the steering wheel when it starts.

[THE PROFIT]

Don't forget & tell the old lady to jump in it & go get smokes

[in2thethickofit]

Originally Posted by pavyracer

they will never get my mercedes. Not only it has car alarms but it is booby trapped with explosives if my thumb print is not on the steering wheel when it starts.

[harlee71]

I am looking forward to it. I am lucky to have been a stay home dad for the last year and a half, but I miss working. I never thought I would say that. I have the luxury that if I dont feel comfortable or safe at the job I can just walk away. I used be part owner of a pawn shop, and an investor in a buy here pay here car lot. So, I am familiar with the the people I will be dealing with and have an idea what I will be getting into. Never worked in the field on something like this though.

[harlee71]

First two weeks repo'd about 20 cars. Only had one knife pulled on me, and still got the car! LOL So my share of 20 cars was little over $1k cash. I will be making more when I get in the drivers seat after 30 days. The worst part of the job are the long ass hours and running a lot of skip tracing accounts. It is hard to stay home on my off nights though. The job is pretty fun and lots of adrenaline. It is not hard stealing these cars and the money is good. I make between $35-75 per car in the right seat, but will make $75-150 when driving. Two weeks in and I already have a few good stories.

[daneblazer]

[Brock Landers]

This is a classic thread!

[harlee71]

Originally Posted by pavyracer

Wal,

I just have a question for your buddy. Do the repo men have a magic wand that bypasses car alarms? How can you take the wrong car, even the right one, without the car alarm going off at 3 am from someone's house?

Sometime the alarm goes off as we are dragging it out of the drive way. Once it is in the street it is mine. Depending on the type of car and how your parked the alarm will never go off.

[Brock Landers]

Harlee, how do you repo the car if its in a person's garage? I'd think when people drive it to work, it would be easy pickins there.

[harlee71]

Originally Posted by pavyracer

Too many weirdos in this economy. Everyone owns a gun and if you try to steal someone's car from the garage you are most likely be shot at.

I think about guns in the country. In the city its not a big deal. Pavy I am in your area quite often. If you ever want to ride along let me know.

[Extra Innings]

Very Nice

[harlee71]

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

Harlee, how do you repo the car if its in a person's garage? I'd think when people drive it to work, it would be easy pickins there.

The garage is a fine line. By law if the garage is open I can, but you would not believe how many people that owe and are hiding the car dont lock their garage. I am just sayin...

[Brock Landers]

Originally Posted by harlee71

The garage is a fine line. By law if the garage is open I can, but you would not believe how many people that owe and are hiding the car dont lock their garage. I am just sayin...

only way in mine is with the remote...i no door for it except the front door of the house. I guess you mean a door on the garage itself not being locked.

Since you are on this side of the discussion, you must know what works best to keep your car from being repoed....

[harlee71]

Originally Posted by Shortstop

Very dangerous and exciting from what I hear. There used to be a pretty good show on either A&E or Discovery, or one of those cable channels about this.

It was like Dog The Bounty Hunter except it was focused on Repo Men.

From what I hear that show is pretty much staged for TV. Think reenactments.

[harlee71]

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

only way in mine is with the remote...i no door for it except the front door of the house. I guess you mean a door on the garage itself not being locked.

Since you are on this side of the discussion, you must know what works best to keep your car from being repoed....

Pay your car note!

You can hide the car, but whats the use? You have a car to drive. We actually followed one lady to walmart to do a ********** to capital one to pay her car note. While she was inside, we took her car. LOL

[Brock Landers]

Originally Posted by harlee71

Pay your car note! You can hide the car, but whats the use? You have a car to drive. We actually followed one lady to walmart to do a ********** to capital one to pay her car note. While she was inside, we took her car. LOL

[harlee71]

Originally Posted by THE PROFIT

I worked as a bail bondsman for a while. Same thing except it's easier sneaking up on cars than people! I know several people in the industry and have helped them out alot of times.

It's simple. You take their car. If they start givin you lip you be nice but explain that you have no control over it. They will try to pay you alot of times. You have to explain that you are not the bank and can't accept the payment that you have been hired by the bank to seize the property & they can work it out with the bank in the morning & pick up their vehicle.

Just be nice is the main thing. Next big thing is people will dodge you! They know they are late with payments & have been through this before. They now know how long it takes for their bank to send repo men so they start hiding their car. Parking it in neigbors garages. Parking it at relatives houses for a month until they think they can get the money. You have to outsmart these dumbasses & get info about everyone they know. It's best done at night. I love taking their car while they are drunk in a bar. They come out & think they are just too drunk to remember where they parked!

100% correct!

[ronjon619]

they can get any car they want with or without keys.......


Funny story I have about repo cars. The finance company will have a secure yard to store all their repos. They then call a carhauler in to ship 9-10 of their repos to an auto auction. I back hauled a load of repos for HSBC to the auto auction in Los Angeles from Freemont, CA. I was leaving the HSBC yard and a Ford F-150 pulls along side of me and starts honking their horn trying to get my attention. After about 5 miles I pull over thinking one of my cars are on fire or falling off the trailer. This dude offers me $500 for the Ford Explorer I have on my trailer. It turns out it was his and they repoed it from his work and he thought I could sell it back to him. I told him to fu(k off and kept rolling.