A Flash player error has occured, please make sure you have the latest Adobe Flash Player. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tools

Bad economy means more business for repo men

By WINK News

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - The hood ornaments on the car may express a certain lifestyle. But from his driver's seat, Bill Glover sees something different. When owners don't pay, no matter if the car is a Mercedes, a Hummer or a Honda, Bill and his brother, Dave Glover, will come to collect.

But the men, who run Richardson Detective Agency, say collecting rarely comes this easy.

"That's the 8th address we've run for this particular account," Dave Glover told WINK NEWS after he and Bill located a white Ford Pickup Truck.

Sometimes the car repossession business gets personal.

Bill Glover told WINK, "They (the car owners) have run out of their financial lifelines. They've got nobody to turn to."

Lately, more corporations and even people in gated communities, have hit hard times.

At one address, they found they weren't the only people collecting.

"Under the management of company listed...this would be a foreclosure," Bill Glover read off a sign on the door.

Sometimes Bill and Dave strike out, and so the two men hunt without a tow truck to save gas and stay hidden.

Dave told WINK, "It's less conspicuous in a car. They don't think anything about it. But you show up in a tow truck, they know you're gonna do something right away."

The brothers located a Ford Explorer at the owners workplace. After pushing it out of the parking space, Dave notifies the sheriff's department and calls the owner for the keys.

The tow truck quickly loads the explorer, but before the driver can pull away, the owner comes back and tries to get his things.

That's when the owner's co-worker throws orange soda at our camera before giving us a friendly wave goodbye.

"Those are the ones i don't want," Bill explained, "I want the 10 second no confrontation-- the first time I see them is in my rear view mirror."

Most owners give up their cars without a fight. But another pitfall comes with this line of business, they can't help but feel for the people they're collecting cars from.

Bill recalled one such instance, "A mother having a birthday party for her 3-year-old. All her friends are over. A single mother, back into her driveway pick up the car just as the kids start walking outside because they're going to beat on a pinata. Some days the job actually sucks."

Still, Bill and his brother keep doing the job, thankful for the business. Even they have bills to pay.

So far this year, the Richardson Detective Agency has recovered 2000 cars, trucks and RVs. For all of 2007 they collected just 1677 vehicles.

Thursday, Aug 21 at 8:33 AM betsy wrote ...

It is not true that the bank's wait 90 day's and or 3 month's. I had a car repoed several year's ago and I had made my payment that evening via Western Union, which would have made me only at that time 30 day's past due, and they came to get the vehicle around 3:00 am, so be aware.

Tuesday, Aug 5 at 4:23 PM jay wrote ...

My husband lost his job of 20 years. We got rid of every bill we could. we were upside down when we got our last car. The bank (credit union)was willing to loan us the money even though the car was not worth what they loaned us. But now the car is even worth less. I called the credit union and asked if they could refinance at a lower interest rate. This way we could afford the payment and they would get their money in the long run. they would not do it. i don't understand.

Friday, Jul 18 at 1:08 AM Repo Man wrote ...

A note about hiding cars, If you hide a car it's a criminal offense in most states and if they go legal and go through the courts all of those fees will be added to the loan. We are talking up to $10,000 or more. They don't need the car to send the Sheriff to your house. I would call them and see where they are legal wise before you get yourself arrested.

Friday, Jul 18 at 1:04 AM always the same story wrote ...

So tired of hearing people say, "You're not working with me". You have 3 to 4 months to make one car payment that's more then enough time. Every loan I have ever got I made sure I was able to pay for it even if something happened and I lost income. Company's loose an average of about 6 grand on repo's the last thing they want to do is go after a car. You need to keep in mind even the big company's like Chase, COAF, etc borrow money and have bills to pay every month.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 11:03 AM Big Dave wrote ...

Theve been looking for my car fot months. I have it very well hidden. I hope that soon I'll have the money to pay it off but I'll keep it till I'm sure one way or the other. Just cant afford to lose it rite now. Besides it gives the repo guys something to do lol

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 8:03 AM Sunflower wrote ...

These times are hard on all of us.You never know if you lose your job you don't have money to pay your car-payment you never know it could be anyone.Things happens and more then ever we are living at one of those times.WE ARE IN A RECESSION WE NEED TO FACE IT.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 10:05 AM Paula Lake Placid wrote ...

I can't believe that anyone would be mad at the repo man....he is doing his job. I see no greed here. The lenders need there money or the property back. They were able to give you the loan you owe it!! The repo person doesn't come until the person at fault is 3 months behind. Yes I agree times are TOUGH and it is going to get worse. Don't blame Wink they are bringing you reality! Theft and other crimes will be on the rise as well due to the poor economic situation.

Friday, Jul 4 at 7:15 PM Karin wrote ...

Please keep in mind that those of us who have had vehicles repossessed are not all losers. My husband and I both lost our jobs and it took us over 9 months to find work. The loan companies refused to work with us, so we gave the cars back voluntarily and the repo guys were very nice. Get the facts before you start making judgments.

Friday, Jul 4 at 11:33 AM Dave wrote ...

People forget that when financial institutions are unable to collect what is owed to them, the people who do have loans, credit cards and pay their bills are the ones who end up paying in higher interest rates and fees to make up for the losses of the debtor that won't pay or work out a new payment shedule with the bank.

Friday, Jul 4 at 11:18 AM dave wrote ...

Consumer ignorance Barbara. Major finance co's work very hard with the debtor and are happy to get something paid on the past due acct. But when a debtor refuses to accept phone calls or work with the finance co,they have no other choice.On average most repossessions occur after 2-3 missed payments. Barbara these people signed a legal contract,knowing full well what the conseqeunces would be for not making their ageed apon payments.I guess you would rather them keep the car with no payment due.

Friday, Jul 4 at 7:07 AM Barbara wrote ...

Why on earth would WINK do a story about these two scum bags. They thrive on others misfortune and don't give a &^%$ about it. Their arrogance was evident in the story. What goes around comes around. I am glad your camerman got soda thrown at him. You should have shown that on camera. Greed will get these two scum bags misfortune some day. Hopefully you will do a story in that! Just another right wing TV station/nearly as bad as Fox News Channel

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

WINK News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.