Self-help repossession means a repossession without the courts being involved.
In self-help repossession, if a lender decides you’ve defaulted on your loan, they can seize your car and sell it without even getting permission from the court or police.
This type of repossession is completely legal in most states, including Tennessee; but it can lead to a LOT of problems.
- Without the courts involved, these repo agents don’t have to prove they have a right to your car. They just take it, which can look a lot like stealing.
- Plus these repo agents don’t need any sort of certification or licensing. A lot of companies will hire hardened criminals to do the job, which prevents most people from trying to fight them or defend their cars. When people do fight back, it can get violent.
- If you think your car was taken wrongfully, you have to bring a claim to court. Many people in this situation can’t easily afford a lawyer, so a lot of wrongful repos go unreported.
The obvious solution to all of these problems is to require court approval before repossessing a car. At the very least, companies should warn the person and alert law enforcement so the repossession is recorded and looks a little less like theft.
But these changes aren’t going to come soon, so if you’re worried about repossession you need to handle it yourself today.
Our Memphis bankruptcy lawyers can help you stop repossession. We do this for clients all the time. We know how important your car is to you, and we’ll work quickly to help you save it so you don’t have to worry anymore. A bankruptcy law firm Memphis, TN trusts, like the team at Darrell Castle & Associates, can help manage the best timing for your case.
Contact us today to get started. The conversation is free.