Repo reality show is a fake, but the true dangers of car reposession is Real.

Yea sure, whatever. Do you believe this nonsense.  The show is bogus.  Yes like wrestling bogus, like Jerry Springer and Maury Povich bogus.  Scripted reenactments of real events.  Are you kidding me?  Is this the garbage we are being served, fooled on what is supposed to be reality  Tru TV? Give me a break! I am appalled at the atrocity this show displays and the fact that the network that boasts "actuality not reality" would air it. 

The dangers of repossessions are real. Not this tongue in cheek,  pre-planned mess the networks want you to believe. People are killed and injured every day in this dangerous line of work.  It's sad really on both sides. 

On one hand you have to empathize a little with the poor guy who is late on his payments and too afraid to pick up the phone and talk to the  finance company so he sends the calls to voicemail and parks the car 5 blocks from his house because he hopes to  catch up soon and be able to call the finance company once he has all the money together to pay. (sigh) If only it really worked that way.  Sadly people who are affected by repossession are not the crazy lunatics that the show likes to portray but ordinary everyday people who are down on their luck and seriously afraid of losing their vehicles.  With the recent economic down turn more and more people are defaulting on loans and losing their cars.  The fine prints in contracting has gotten even finer, allowing repossessions to happen when the payment is just 1 day late.  

So imagine the surprise anyone might have when they are suddenly awakened at 3am to what sounds like a person attempting to steal their car. Would you reach for a weapon?  Or what about the guy who wakes up ready for work only to find the car missing and calls the police, not even suspecting that because he is 3 days late on his payment that the finance company has come to get their property. 

What really angers me is companies like Narc that Car, that perpetuate a help for society by paying people to build networks of people who write down license plates for a living. Are you serious? Shouldn't this be left to the professionals? Are we creating a secret society of big brothers who are watching our every move. People who are writing  & recording with video down license plates, then entering them in a database, hoping to make a buck as we shop in Walmart? This is insane. I am only sure that those same people may one day be affected and  trapped by they same system they have helped to create. I'm against it, I have been in every MLM you can think of and they all suck. If you get in on top you win big,; that's just economics.  Had I got in when Bill gates created Windows I would have won big too. Anyway the BBB gives the company an F. Yes F for failure, False, Fraudulent.

I agree, I mean don't these people need permission of store managers to record plate numbers on private property?  Will this person become a witness in court if litigation ensues? How much information is this system providing ? Dates the car was scene, times, who was driving? 

The repo business is hard enough as it is without some jerks trying to make a commodity out of it. I worked in the car business, so please don't get the impression that I am OK with people not paying on their loans. Personally I'm also disappointed with those ( typically the same one's that can't afford it) who spend money on cars that are out of their budgets, and then find the cars being picked up,  before they even receive there next insurance bill.  

Self -help repossession means the finance company can help themselves get your car back in an effort to secure their investment on a defaulted loan. Self-help repossession  makes auto loans dangerous for low income families who buy cars from buy here pay here dealerships who may resort to extreme measure to recover their property when borrower's don't or can't pay.  Some finance companies and, banks and dealers often seize cars without having to prove or even substantiate their claims that the customer is late, leaving the customer with no vehicle, no money and no way to prove otherwise.  The current system is unfair to families subject to repossession, it drastically endangers repo agents, other car owners, their families and even innocent bystanders.  And the police in most cases do nothing, as they were not involved with the process in the first place, and by the time they are called often times it is too late.  Sad but true. True, unlike the Tru versions of repo stories gone wrong unjustly marketed as a reality show.  Makes me wonder how many other "reality" shows are staged. Reenactments of real stories. Please. 

Dozens of  "real" stories exist right here in GA of people killed during loan default recoveries.  Not only have the tow truck drivers been killed but the automobile owners have been killed as well.  All over a debt and a paycheck?  Ludicrous.  Want to hear something even more outrageous?  What about the fact that babies and children have been towed away by over zealous repo guys trying to make a dollar. How about this lady who threw her baby in the window just so the repo man wouldn't take the car! Or a tow driver  killed one guy who was not late on his payments after they accidentally picked up the wrong car.  The sad part is the guy called the police and asked for help and they ignored the call because they felt it was just an other repossession call, now the guy is dead.  Are you kidding me? 

 With GPS and tracking devices I only see that the problem can become even more confusing.  Cars will be electronically shut off, owners will be left stranded, the courts will be full of even more cases that will clog the justice system. When will it all end? It's Ludicrous, and no I am not talking about the rapper, Ludacris.  But speaking of rappers Lil Kim's 250,000 Bently was repo'd after she stopped making payments (wonder what her car note looked like), so even celebrities are feeling the squeeze.  High end borrowers are losing, yachts, planes and even private jets to repossessions.  The repossession business is hard and not to be taken as a joke, but shows like operation repo make it look like its just about tough guys going after "crooks" who don't pay.  When will the madness end? 

It may never in the mean time my advice is this.  Stop watching the repo show, it is junk. There is much better quality tv out there.  And if you are ever in a situation where you are late on your car payments then call the finance company immediately. Waiting only delays the headache.  Often they will be open to working out payment arrangements with you if you are honest and forthright, if you agent is rude or threatening ask to speak with a manger or call the corporate office, No one has the right o disrespect you.  Whatever you do not hide from them.  If you do, you might find your story being the reenactment of a very unflattering reality show.  Or you may come out of Walmart looking for your car, only to find one of the Narc stalkers have reported it "found".  Whatever you do, be safe and don't put your life at risk for a car it's just not worth it. 

And by the way if you are one of those Narc that Car reps you better stay away from license plate.  How will you know its my car.  Easy, I'm the Valley Girl with the Cali tag.

The California Peach,

For more information or car buying advice from Adam Goldfein click here

To find out about the reposession law in GA click here

Want to make sure you car note will be affordable before going to the dealer?  Read more about Adam's advice on how to calculate a car note so that you don't get caught not being able to pay click here.

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