A Recovery Agent’s First Step
A Repo Man’s job is to make off with your vehicle if you are unable to pay for it in full or if you have put it up as collateral against debts that you are unable to pay. Recovery agents are quick on the draw when it comes to getting your vehicle and towing it away, but the first thing a recovery agent has to do before he can take the vehicle is double check the VIN number on the vehicle to make sure he is taking the right one.
A recovery agent will check for the VIN number through the repo cars windshield, but, if it is hidden from view and he can not see it from there then he will need to open the driver’s side of the car; the VIN is also on the door frame inside the door. Naturally it is more difficult for a recovery agent to open your car door to find the VIN than to see it in your windshield.
As a recovery agent he is not allowed under any circumstances to take the vehicle without checking the VIN number to make sure it matches with the one on his records. If a recovery agent were to take the wrong vehicle by mistake, he could be tried for car theft, be held liable for any inconvenience to the owner or damage done to the vehicle in the process of moving it, or a claim could be made against him and his business and the bank that has hired him to take the vehicle.
However, if the repo man finds that the VIN number has been taken off or make illegible, both of which are illegal actions, then the recovery agent will call the police and tell them that the vehicle in question has no VIN number and the police will help him to verify if it is the right vehicle or not. To learn more about what a repo man is allowed and not allowed to do check out the the repo cars guide, learn your rights and learn how to protect your wheels.
