State Associations Thank American Recovery Service for Agent Safety Initiative Policy

The State Associations extend their appreciation to American Recovery Service (ARS) for their recent implementation of a new policy aimed at addressing repossession violence and prioritizing agent safety within the industry. They are the first national servicing organization to formally implement this program and this step reaffirms their commitment to their vendor partners.

Chief Executive Officer Dave Copeland stated: “It is the intent of this policy to promote the singular ideology that no collateral is ever worth a life or any risk of injury to our recovery agent partners, the customer, or a third party. We encourage field agents to put individual safety above all else. When properly reported to ARS, ARS will assess the totality of circumstances and engage in a good-faith effort in support of the agent to ensure that the repossession fee is paid in any situation where a repossession had to be stopped to avoid actual violence or perceived threats of violence.”

This policy plays a vital role in fostering responsible and safe conduct among recovery agents, discouraging them from taking unnecessary risks to recover units. By taking this initiative in the industry, agents are encouraged to prioritize peaceful resolutions, thereby minimizing conflicts, potential litigation, and ensuring their protection.

In response to recent proactive leadership from lenders and forwarders, state leaders are collaborating to develop best practices and recommended guidelines for the industry concerning documentation and reporting of threats to agent safety. The forthcoming guidelines will serve as a valuable resource for the industry, emphasizing the importance of prompt and accurate reporting while ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards.

We commend ARS for prioritizing agent safety and look forward to advancing this most important initiative.

Sincerely,

Alliance of Illinois Repossessors – President Santino Datoli

California Association of Licensed Repossessors – President Marcelle Egley

Florida Association of Licensed Repossessors – President Suzanne Chartier Burns

Georgia Association of Licensed Repossessors – President John Newberry

Indiana Professional Repossessors Association – President Todd Case

Michigan Association of Repossession Agencies – President Brian Tolstedt

Minnesota Association of Repossession Professionals – President Kayihan Seran

Nevada Association of Licensed Repossessors – President Mark Zane

New York Professional Repossessors Association – President Salvatore LoDico

Ohio Association of Repossessors – President Amy Bednar