Posted: March 1, 2010 10:55 PM
Updated: March 1, 2010 11:00 PM
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By Danielle Grant, Local News 8 Reporter
In good times and in bad, it's an industry that never fails.
The Repo Man keeps collecting collateral.
Even though the economy is at a stand-still, local recovery businesses are cashing in on the banks' recent surge in repossessions.
We talked with several repossession companies who say they're up about 20-percent compared to last year.
And their business isn't coming from the kind of people you may think.
It's a job that'll survive no matter the economic conditions.
But there are many misconceptions about the industry and how the job gets done.
Mission: travel trailer in Idaho Falls.
Their trucks roar to life and out the gates they go.
"There's always going to be a percentage, always. That's what keeps us in business," explained Brad of Recovery International.
In the good times, people live above their means.
In the bad, sometimes they just can't keep up.
And that's where Brad comes in.
"Just because we're there and at you're door doesn't mean that you have to be ashamed. This happens to everyone," said
He says it's not just the drug dealers and alcoholics he deals with but good-upstanding citizens.
And no matter who you are, he treats everyone with the same respect and dignity they deserve.
"In order to get into trouble, I've got to cause the problem because we make sure people know what's going on and diffuse the situation before it even gets out of hand," Brad said.
Brad believes shows like "Operation Repo" dramatize what really goes on while they're picking up cars.
"We're good guys in a bad industry," he said.
The travel trailer wasn't home.
So now to the Blackfoot area to repo a truck and Jaguar.
They find the truck, back in and get ready to grab and go.
Soon later, the man parted with his 1961 Jaguar too.
Down the road, they haul both to the East Idaho Auto Auction where inside the auctioneer hollers prices and car dealers throw out bids.
"Last week, we ran 62 repos and that's double the number of repos we typically run in a week. And out of those 62 repos, we sold 59 of the repos. You can see not only was the supply increased but the demand was right there to support it," Cade Rindfleisch, owner of East Idaho Auto Auction.
Although it comes down to strictly business, picking 'em up and getting 'em sold, a little bit of compassion comes along too.
"It breaks my heart when there's a vehicle I have to pick up and there are three car seats in it. It absolutely breaks my heart. People say, "How do you do that?" Because I have to. That's my job," Brad explained.
Feeding his family, making ends meet and just doing his job.
That mission: is accomplished.
Brad reminds folks if you're trying to avoid your car being repossessed you're just prolonging the inevitable.
And someone, somewhere down the line will eventually pick it up.
Brad says it can take 5 minutes, 5 months or even years to track down a repo.
But no matter the time it takes, they get paid the same flat rate every time.
In good times and in bad, it's an industry that never fails.
The Repo Man keeps collecting collateral.
Even though the economy is at a stand-still, local recovery businesses are cashing in on the banks' recent surge in repossessions.
We talked with several repossession companies who say they're up about 20-percent compared to last year.
And their business isn't coming from the kind of people you may think.
It's a job that'll survive no matter the economic conditions.
But there are many misconceptions about the industry and how the job gets done.
Mission: travel trailer in Idaho Falls.
Their trucks roar to life and out the gates they go.
"There's always going to be a percentage, always. That's what keeps us in business," explained Brad of Recovery International.
In the good times, people live above their means.
In the bad, sometimes they just can't keep up.
And that's where Brad comes in.
"Just because we're there and at you're door doesn't mean that you have to be ashamed. This happens to everyone," said
He says it's not just the drug dealers and alcoholics he deals with but good-upstanding citizens.
And no matter who you are, he treats everyone with the same respect and dignity they deserve.
"In order to get into trouble, I've got to cause the problem because we make sure people know what's going on and diffuse the situation before it even gets out of hand," Brad said.
Brad believes shows like "Operation Repo" dramatize what really goes on while they're picking up cars.
"We're good guys in a bad industry," he said.
The travel trailer wasn't home.
So now to the Blackfoot area to repo a truck and Jaguar.
They find the truck, back in and get ready to grab and go.
Soon later, the man parted with his 1961 Jaguar too.
Down the road, they haul both to the East Idaho Auto Auction where inside the auctioneer hollers prices and car dealers throw out bids.
"Last week, we ran 62 repos and that's double the number of repos we typically run in a week. And out of those 62 repos, we sold 59 of the repos. You can see not only was the supply increased but the demand was right there to support it," Cade Rindfleisch, owner of East Idaho Auto Auction.
Although it comes down to strictly business, picking 'em up and getting 'em sold, a little bit of compassion comes along too.
"It breaks my heart when there's a vehicle I have to pick up and there are three car seats in it. It absolutely breaks my heart. People say, "How do you do that?" Because I have to. That's my job," Brad explained.
Feeding his family, making ends meet and just doing his job.
That mission: is accomplished.
Brad reminds folks if you're trying to avoid your car being repossessed you're just prolonging the inevitable.
And someone, somewhere down the line will eventually pick it up.
Brad says it can take 5 minutes, 5 months or even years to track down a repo.
But no matter the time it takes, they get paid the same flat rate every time.
