When it’s time to repossess a car from a borrower who has failed to continue his car payment, repossession companies are hired to do the job.
Repo companies are third-party agents hired by financial institutions or lenders to retrieve a vehicle from a defaulter. The company usually sends agents to reclaim the vehicle.
The timeframe when repo agents work differs. They are known to come for car repossession when they believe it’s the appropriate time to do so without breaching the peace, but the question is, do repo companies work on weekends?
Yes, repo companies work on weekends, holidays, Sundays, mornings, afternoons, and nights. They work on weekends because weekends provide increased visibility and access to the car. Also, the vehicle is likely to be present at residences during weekends, making it easier for them to locate and repossess discreetly without attracting attention
Do Repo Companies Work on Weekends?
Yes, repo (repossession) companies work on weekends if they find it better to easily repossess the car without breaching the peace. The fact that it is the weekend does not stop them from doing their job.
This is because, the repossession industry is usually driven by the need to recover assets as efficiently as possible, which may require working outside of regular business hours.
Therefore, some repo companies may have staff on call or working on weekends to carry out repossessions, if they feel it’s the appropriate time to do it.
For example, before a repo man comes to repossess your car, he must have monitored your movement and the availability of the car.
He’s already fully aware of when you’re at home and when you’re not. The idea of the search is to get the best possible time to come for the repossession.
If after the investigation, he gathered that the car is always readily available on weekends, he will come on weekends for the repossession.
According to a repo agent, Marissa Anneke-Collins, he repossessed a car on a weekend in a church parking lot where the defaulter was a maid of honor at a wedding. While the car was parked in the church parking lot, he repossessed it.
So, repo agents under repo companies work on weekends especially if that’s the best time to repossess the car.
Furthermore, repo agents can work on holidays as well as Sundays. They work in the morning, afternoon, and night provided it enables them to repossess the car without breaching the peace.
Why Do Repo Companies Work on Weekends?
Here’s why repo companies work on weekends:
1. Weekends Increases Visibility and Access to the Car
One of the primary reasons repo companies/agents work on weekends is the increased visibility and access it gives to the targeted vehicle.
Cars are often parked at residences during weekends, making it easier for repo agents to locate and discreetly repossess without attracting unnecessary attention.
Since repossession agents often aim to recover vehicles discreetly and with minimal confrontation, the weekends offer an advantage in terms of tracking down cars that might be elusive during the busy weekdays.
2. Because of Occupancy
Occupancy is another important factor that influences repo agents’ weekend work schedules. Weekends are a time when individuals are more likely to be at home, especially during daylight hours.
Repo agents capitalize on this, increasing the chances of finding the target car and successfully repossessing it while it is not occupied, which minimizes the risk of asset relocation or concealment.
3. Because of Avoidance Tactics
Avoidance tactics are not uncommon among individuals facing the possibility of repossession. Some may attempt to outsmart repo agents by moving or hiding their cars during weekdays when they anticipate repossession activity.
Some even go to the extent of hiding the car in their friend’s private property, garage, or driveway.
Therefore, working on weekends allows repo agents to catch individuals off guard, making it harder for them to employ these avoidance tactics effectively.
4. Because of Employment Schedules
Employment schedules also contribute to the decision of repo man to work on weekends. Many individuals targeted for repossession may be away from home during weekdays due to work commitments.
Weekends present repo agents with an opportunity to locate and repossess the car when the individuals are more likely to be present, increasing the chances of a successful operation.
5. Because of Efficiency and Timeliness
Efficiency and timeliness are paramount in the repossession industry. Vehicles that are up for repossession are often at risk of being moved, damaged, or sold, making immediate action important.
Therefore, working on weekends allows repo agents to act swiftly, securing the vehicle before it becomes more challenging to recover.
This urgency is often driven by the demands of clients, such as financial institutions, lenders, or creditors, who have a vested interest in the timely recovery of their vehicles.
6. Client Requirements
Client requirements in the context of repo companies refer to the needs, expectations, and instructions that financial institutions, lenders, or creditors have when they hire repo agents to recover assets.
These requirements are important in guiding the repossession process and ensuring that it aligns with the client’s goals and legal obligations.
However, since repo agents work on behalf of financial institutions, lenders, or creditors who have a vested interest in recovering their vehicle or other assets, these clients may require repossession activities to be conducted as soon as possible, even if it means working on weekends.
Moreover, repo agents are required to operate within the bounds of the law and adhere to ethical standards. They must not breach the peace and must balance the urgency of asset recovery with the rights and privacy of individuals.
Therefore, do not hesitate to contact a lawyer if your rights are violated during the repossession process.
Irrespective of the fact that repossession laws vary from one place to another, repo agents are well aware of these laws as well as the consequences if violated. Therefore, they are always careful and law-abiding when repossessing cars to avoid anything that can lead to legal action.
The repossession rules regarding breaching the peace are:
- The repo agent cannot break a locked garage to repo a car
- He cannot enter your private property to repo a car without your permission
- He cannot threaten, harass, or use force on you
- He cannot repossess the car while you’re inside the car
- He is not a lawyer and cannot give you legal advice
- He can quietly follow you to monitor your movement without you knowing but cannot chase you
- He cannot block your driveway
- He cannot enter into a locked private property with the owner’s permission
Conclusion
Indeed, repo companies work on weekends to repossess a car because weekends are influenced by strategic advantages. Weekends provide repo agents with increased visibility and access to the assets, especially vehicles, that are more likely to be present at residences during this time.
