Unity in the Asset Recovery Industry?

As defined by the Cambridge Dictionary: UNITY, noun – juː.nə.ti/ /ˈjuː.nɪ.ti/ US /ˈjuː.nə.t̬i/ – “The state of being joined together or in agreement:”

For the last 10 years “UNITY” has been a catch word in the asset recovery industry and the cry for “UNITY” continues to echo through the various industry blogs.

It is my conception that many people in our industry do not understand the actual meaning of unity and have overlooked how much unity has already occurred and is visibly evident within the industry.

As we can see from the Cambridge Dictionary definition unity is the” … joining together or in agreement”. I could find no place where it is stated that unity had to be “only one” but rather that there could be numerous groups who unite as separate entities in mutual agreement regarding various or specific issues.

A classic example of this this principle is the “United States of America”. Fifty separate states with their own laws and governing bodies, united for the common good of all. Fifty separate states brought together in unity with common causes. The UNITED STATES.

There was a time, as the younger generation would say, “Back in the day”, when there were numerous trade associations in our industry, American Recovery Association, Time Finance Adjusters, National Finance Adjusters, Allied Finance Adjusters, and American Lenders, all competing for membership. Many agencies were members of two, three, or more associations and paid dearly for those multiple memberships.

This scenario created an air of competition and each association strived to offer their members more than the other associations. Each association provided a “Bond” and the amount of the bond was a point of competition. What association could offer the largest bond, what association had the most attractive directory, what association printed the most directories, and what association had the best conference. This competition benefitted the members of the associations.

Members of the industry could spend a lot of money on association memberships and conference attendance if they desired but they saw a positive return on their investment.

Then came a time of change and the disappearance of two major associations and two major icons in the industry.

The first to go was National Finance Adjusters, spearheaded by a man of unsurpassed personality, Jack Barnes (NFA) had a highly ranked position on the playing board but when merged with ARA it ceased to exist and was soon a ghost of the past.

Then, with the passing of another industry icon, Harvey Altes TFA was the second association to be absorbed by ARA and it joined the ranks of the “good old days agencies” and ceased to exist except in dated directories and the memories of the “old timers”. Then finally with the passing of Jim Golden ALSCO shut its doors and then there were two.

The two remaining national trade associations, ARA and AFA were the last two standing and once again there was a call for “UNITY”. A call for AFA to merge with ARA allowing there to be only “ONE NATIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATION” and this move would be good for the members of the industry.

Really… would it?

If there was only one trade association, members of the industry would be left with no ability to make a choice. The one association could set their dues at whatever price they chose and if a client required your agency to be a member of a national trade association you would have no alternative but to pay the dictated fees and jump through the hoops set by that association. Hoops that could let you join or prohibit your membership.

The one trade association could advertise as they saw fit as there would be no competition and directories, which are still utilized by many smaller lenders, would become a thing of the past ( as I write this missive I just heard that one of the remaining associations would no longer publish a directory), and finally that one trade association would have complete control as to what type of entities would be allowed to join, forwarders, lenders, and possibly even non-industry related entities.

Does this one association concept appeal to you?

The two remaining associations, although they both agree on numerous issues, are diametrically opposed in many of their basic concepts and beliefs, one catering to the large forwarders and the other shunning the forwarders. One holding a basic structure and simple dues structure, while cutting annual dues and one with a complicated and changing dues system while increasing dues. One cutting publication of their printed directory and one publishing a quarterly updated directory along with an industry related periodical.

But back to the “UNITY” concept.

In the last few years, we have witnessed the formation of numerous “State Associations” who have stood side by side, united with each other on major client issues… that is “UNITY” in its purest form.

You want to talk “UNITY”? We have seen RSIG, Allied Finance Adjusters and the members of the only trade “20 Group”, Eagle Group XX/USA unite not only at trade conferences but in the areas of education and compliance as AFA offers at no cost to any member of the industry the Eagle Group XX Educational Modules, Field Agent Compliance Training (FACT), Support Employee Compliance Training (SECT), the life saving and highly acclaimed Situational Awareness and Confrontational Avoidance Techniques (SACAT) on their web site.

You want to see “UNITY”?

RSIG and Harding Brooks, the two major providers and competitors in the asset recovery insurance arena unite and attend the “Annual Gathering of the Eagles” and bring the members up to date information on insurance trends and how to decrease premiums and run a safe agency.

Allied Finance Adjusters, RSIG, and Eagle Group XX/USA stand together, side by side, united in their efforts to create a more professional image of the recovery industry by providing education, compliance, and providing a safe environment for all members of the asset recovery industry.

Have I put the matter too strongly? Possibly I have; but when I continue to hear the cries for “UNITY” when the underlying meaning is “JUST ONE ASSOCIATION” I feel I must speak out.

You see my friends in the industry, I am just an old cowboy who still believes that “Right is right, wrong is wrong, and there ain’t no in between”.