AFA Applauds AIR in Passage of Privacy Law

Due to the ever changing and advancement of technology most modern-day vehicles contain personal information within the vehicle’s entertainment system and other onboard devices. That personal information could contain the consumers’ frequently dialed phone numbers including friends and families phone numbers and addresses, along with the consumer’s address. There could also be personal banking information, pin numbers, garage door access codes as well as the debtors’ children’s information.

In a landmark move, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law an important addition to the already in place Illinois Collateral Recovery Act, Senate Bill SB0800. This bill is designed to protect the personal information that consumers input and store within their vehicles entertainment systems.

Read the New Law Here!

This addition to the Collateral Recovery Act put into place in January of 2012 is to ensure that Repossession Agencies protect the debtors from possible harm in association with the personal data their vehicles hold should their collateral be released to any third party such as an auction or transport company.

Personal information means information that is associated with an owner, driver, or passenger of the collateral that is collected and stored by electronic means or systems contained within the collateral during the course of its use by the consumer.

With the signing of this new law any licensed repossession agency in Illinois must as soon as practicable and prior to the release of the vehicle to someone other than the actual owner clear, erase, delete, or otherwise eliminate the personal information collected and stored within the vehicle’s electronics. Such methods can be achieved by using programs such as Privacy for Cars as well as following the vehicles own protocol for data removal. However, it is important to know that it might be wise to be able to document the removal of that data.

Allied Finance Adjusters has been a long-time supporter of state associations and as an owner of a repossession company within the state of Illinois I am proud to say that the members of the Alliance of Illinois Repossessors were instrumental in getting this important addition to the Illinois Recovery Act. Their efforts working with Illinois law makers played a major part in protecting the consumer.

As President of Allied, I am looking forward to working closely with the members of the Illinois association as well as other states in their efforts to bring a higher level of service to clients and consumers alike.

Wade S. Argo

President,

Allied Finance Adjusters

AFA Applauds AIR in Passage of Privacy Law