Debt Relief Information

Hide That Car! Fighting the Repo Man


Vehicle repossession may appear justified in circumstances where a person is generally being irresponsible and otherwise able to meet this financial obligation. However, what about that hardworking guy or gal who paid their automobile note dutifully for three years, and missed one payment? Why should their car be repossessed?

Basically, the lender owns your car until it is paid in full. Therefore, one missed payment is considered a breech of your agreement. It gets worse. After they take your car, they can sue you for what is called deficiency. Deficiency is any amount still owed on your contract AFTER your lessor sells your repossessed vehicle at--let's say--an auction. Often they sell the car for less than they expected you to pay to get your car back. What do they care if they are going to sue you for the difference anyway?

I'll explain it this way: Imagine paying $18,000 for a vehicle over time with maybe $5,000 left before the car is yours. You lose your job and fall behind a couple of months with the payments. Your vehicle gets repossessed. Now you must pay triple the amount of the two months you were delinquent because of added repossession and storage costs. You cannot come up with the money, so your car is sold at an auction for $1,500. The worst part: you are sued for the remaining balance of $3,500, plus the repo costs! What is the point of this? If they are going to sue you for the unpaid balance anyway, why not just give you the opportunity to pay the bill? Wouldn't they come out better in the long run? Duh!

The repo man doesn't care that your finances are in limbo because you have recently divorced or that your employer informed you in the eleventh hour that you were being laid-off. The repo man only cares about the fees that they will receive once they recover your vehicle. So, you must protect yourself.

Here's an old fashion remedy for fighting the Repo man: If you know you will be able to come up with the money needed to pay your outstanding car note in a couple of months or so, switch cars with a friend until you get your finances straight. Better yet, HIDE IT in someone else's garage for a while. Make sure it is someone you did not list as a reference on the credit application because the Repo man will definitely check their addresses in search of your vehicle.

I know a guy who switched cars with his brother who lived in a different state. Within three months, he straighten out his finances and paid his three month delinquent car note to date, plus late fees. He saved himself the high cost of repossession and storage fees, deficiency costs, and the embarrassment of having his car repossessed (neighbors do watch).

The trick is to stay a step ahead of the repo man. Know their moves before they strike. This will help you prevent repossession, and the expense that goes along with it.

A. M. Harris is the author of The Broke Man's Survival Guide: 50 Clever Strategies to Use When You Are Unemployed, Underpaid or Just Dead Broke and Can't Pay Your Bills. For more information visit http://www.brokemansurvivalguide.com or call 1-888-340-4433.


MORE RESOURCES:

Response to "Unconditional Debt Relief is Not the Answer for ...
Ghana Dot, Ghana - Jul 7, 2008
Further, the Jubilee Act recognizes and works to end the unsustainable ‘lend and forgive cycle’ that has brought on the need for debt relief. ...
US Jubilee Act rewards past African leaders reckless behavior Ghana Dot
all 2 news articles


Nigeria: G8, Poverty And Africa
AllAfrica.com, Washington - 23 hours ago
We have some aid, but not enough, some debt relief but not enough and virtually nothing on trade. Once again Africa's people have been short-changed. ...


NDTV.com

Debt relief Waiving, not drowning
Economist, UK - Jul 3, 2008
A KNOT of farmers points in anticipation and dread at the spreadsheets posted on the walls of a bank in Sikandrabad, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, ...
Banks in JK identify 34000 beneficiaries for debt relief GreaterKashmir.com (press release)
Himachal government urges to Centre to look into debt relief ... myHimachal
SyndBank to waive Rs 1063 cr farm loan Business Standard
Chandigarh Newsline - Livemint
all 81 news articles


Dhumal writes to FinMin for debt relief anomalies
Business Standard, India - Jul 3, 2008
... has sought removal of numerous anomalies in the Union government's debt relief scheme so that majority of farmers of the hill state could be benefitted. ...


Telegraph.co.uk

Hard issues hit G8
Joy Online, Ghana - 19 hours ago
Loans were approved for countries that already qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative. ...
Developing Economies Get A Boost Peace fm Online
Editorial: Why we are sceptical about G8 meeting Business Daily Africa
G-8 summit opens with spotlight on aid for Africa Boston Globe
Independent Online - Bloomberg
all 492 news articles


BBC News

$7bn debt relief
Gulf Daily News, Bahrain - Jul 6, 2008
ABU DHABI: The UAE yesterday waived Iraq's debt of nearly seven billion dollars and named an envoy to Baghdad, in a twin boost timed with a visit by Iraq's ...
UAE Vows To Forgive $7B In Iraqi Debt Evening Bulletin
UAE retires Iraqi debt Hot Air
Wave of attacks kill 16 in Iraq Seattle Times
Aljazeera.net - CNN International
all 518 news articles


CARICOM advised on strategy for debt relief requests
Caribbean360.com, Barbados - Jul 4, 2008
They do not have the instruments available to them to give debt-relief to middle-income countries," he said at the 29th Heads of Government Summit in ...


Obama Donors Aren’t Rushing to Aid Clinton
New York Times, United States - 5 hours ago
... but what I think the sensible elements of good will are trying to achieve is debt relief for Hillary consistent with getting Barack elected president,” ...


Jamaica Gleaner

Obama's promise of debt relief a $29b opportunity for Jamaica
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - Jun 27, 2008
Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, is promising 100 per cent debt relief for the Caribbean if he becomes the next leader of the United ...


99 Thousand Himachal Farmers To Get Rs 260 Cr Debt Relief Under ...
myHimachal, India - Jul 3, 2008
He added that 3789 other farmers had been provided a debt relief of Rs 16.83 Crores. Murgai said that all banks in the state had completed the ...

Debt-Relief - Google News

Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating
© 2006