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Friday, August 20, 2010

Repo Girl or A Brush With Danger for Theme Thursday

I've had lots of brushes with danger in my life. Just this afternoon I cleaned the refrigerator! Any food item so old that you cannot properly identify it is certainly dangerous! LOL! But the most interesting brush with danger would have to be my day job in the 80's as a repo girl....
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Over the past couple of weeks the subject of my having been in the repo business has surfaced several times. I have mentioned it in passing before, but I thought I'd share my unique job experience with you in a little more detail.

I got married right out of college and landed a job with General Motors back in 1984. I worked there for 10 years, doing anything from recording credit applications , running credit reports, processing refinancing agreements and yes, I even did 18 months out 'in the field,' repossessing cars!

Now normally, when people cannot pay their car payments, they call and work something out. But that small percentage that refused to communicate, refused to pay and actually hid from us....well, they got assigned to people like me! This was before the Internet and we did a lot of foot work...visiting their homes, nearest relatives, neighbors, making lots of phone calls, visiting them at work and looking for the car!
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I learned all the makes and models of GM cars...able to identify them just from little things like their tail lights. Did you know that the brake light shown in the rear window began in 1991? :) I learned how to sweet talk friends and neighbors into giving me the information I needed. And I could even sweet talk delinquent customers into peacefully handing over the money or their car......sometimes. :)

The few customers who refused to pay and actually hid were the real challenge. I learned to cut keys so I could drive a car away when it was spotted. Let me tell you, there is nothing more thrilling than finding a car that is incredibly past due, especially if you have searched the entire city for weeks and your boss is breathing down your neck! There is also nothing more terrifying than actually getting in the car and driving away! You pray that the keys you cut actually unlock the door and fit in the ignition so you can go! And you pray that nobody is watching you that could run outside and cause a scene! This was before cell phones...at least supplied by GM...so after driving away...and breathing again, I'd find a pay phone. First call was to the police so the customer wouldn't think it was stolen. Second call was to the boss, telling him "Yes! I'm actually sitting in it right now!"

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There were those times when the keys didn't work! Or the key codes weren't available to cut keys in the first place. In those cases we called a tow truck. Certain towing services were familiar with working with us and I became friends with at least a couple of guys from each towing agency we used in various cities. I should probably mention that this wasn't exclusive to one city, but our region was about a quarter of the state of Ohio, so not only did I do a lot of driving, but I formed connections with a lot of places and people over a large area. Always nice to have those people to trade favors with! .

The least favorite part of the job was dealing with the car after we took it. Most of them were in terrible shape...some having been lived in for a while. Part of our job was to clean out the car and trunk. This meant itemizing all of the personal belongings, packing them up and shipping them back to the customer. All the garbage was thrown out and a detailed inspection of the car had to be made, noting the overall condition and any damage. Summer, of course, was the worst season for spending the day in a impound lot with your head stuck in a car! I literally saw everything imaginable from guns, rotting food, dead mice, used condoms, dirty laundry, drug paraphernalia, and dirty diapers!

The most interesting part of the job was the people! Yes, it could be dangerous and I did run into some trouble. If I felt it was going to be dangerous, I could call for police backup beforehand, which I did a few times. Only once did I actually get hurt, which was only a bruise the shape of a man's hand on my arm. One time someone pulled a knife on me, but fortunately he decided not to use it! LOL! I'm sure my guardian angel called in the reserves to follow me around! :)

. But the weirdest experience was this one.... I had been out to visit a woman and remember sitting in her kitchen explaining all the options available to bring her account up to date. She was odd, to say the least, but I didn't think too much about it. The next day she called my boss, saying that she wouldn't be paying or giving up the car! And in passing, she added that she had made a voodoo doll of me..complete with long brown hair and a red raincoat...which I had been wearing the day before! Needless to say, the company didn't want me to go out to her house again! LOL! I wonder what ever happened to that doll!?

And of course, don't get 'repossessed' confused with 'possessed', which I'm convinced was the trouble with my old van! Remember the wipers that would run when the key was out of the ignition? Oh yea..THAT is possessed! LOL!

all photos from googleimages.com

75 comments:

  1. That was fascinating, and so out-of-character with the Betsy that your readers have come to know, I wonder how many of your followers will be reading it asking themselves, "Hey... Did I click on the wrong blog? Who really wrote this?"

    And I don't suppose you still have the name and address of that s.o.b who left the bruise on your arm, do you?

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  2. Very interesting - I enjoyed reading this. Nice to have an image of someone sweet to think of rather than the repo lady on T.V.! Can't imagine having to deal with the characters they show on the show - nor your voodoo episode!

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  3. Wow! That was an interesting post. You sure don't look like a repo girl! I'm glad you survived 18 months with only some bruises and verbal abuse. I found your blog thru Heathers. I just have to see what other fascinating things that you've been up to :o) God bless.

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  4. You have to write a book!
    This could be chapter 15.

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  5. Jack ~ hey, thanks for visiting! I don't look like a repo girl? LOL! I'm certainly going to take that as a compliment! :)

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  6. Christine ~ funny you mention book as someone just approached me with that exact idea last week and offered to help! I'm seriously considering it! :)

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  7. Very interesting...with your sweet face you could talk Jay Leno out of all his cars! ;D

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  8. Well, I swan....I would have never thought of you as a repo girl. lol What an interesting part of your life!!

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  9. Oh Betsy, what a interesting read, How fun to back-track into your life. I really could picture you in that red raincoat, and long brown hair, sweet talking some big bully.

    You are such an amazing woman. Write that book, dear. And I want a signed copy!

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  10. Betsy, you are just amazing. I think your biography could be titled "Never a Dull Moment"

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  11. Rhonda ~ So true! I'll add that to the possible title list! ha. :)

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  12. What a hoot! I'm with the Fox. It doesn't sound like the Betsy we hear from on a daily basis. What interesting lives many folks lead and it's fun to get a glimpse. You have guts. I couldn't do it. Too scary but I related to the rush or "thrilling" part. I also admire the "sweet talking" part because that takes skill.

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  13. Wow!! That was so interesting to read. I can not imagine having that job and all that was involved to find those cars! I think you are one brave woman!!

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  14. oh betsy..is that REALLY your fence? just so beautiful and summery...

    are you pie baking?
    i bought caramel apple wrappers today..those ones you just peel off the paper...

    might have to make them tonight..which is taco night around here
    :-)

    sending love,
    kary and teddy
    xxx

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  15. Kary ~ it really is my fence! I grow the morning glories from seed...they do great with lots of water!

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  16. haha a voodoo doll! omg. i worked repo before as well...best one was a door opening to a kid (maybe 4) with a rotweiler on a leash...when asked if mom was home he said sick em...i jumped the rail and that dog chased my partner up on top of the car...i was dying...lol.

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  17. Brian ~ oh my! I got chased by a few dogs, too..but never had to climb to the top of a car! LOL!

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  18. that is indeed truly fascinating! whoa. I knew you had mentioned being a Repo Gril before but hadn't thought of the gross aspects of it--the used "items", drugs, diapers, etc. Ewww. I wonder how much easier it would be now with the advent of cell phones and mapquest etc? I really think you must watch Jude Law in Repo man and tell us if he is even remotely like anyone you met in the business? Hmmm..somehow I doubt it.

    Haha. I have to laugh though thinking of mild mannered, sweet Betsy getting touch and driving away with cars, etc. Whoa. Oh and yeah, your old van was definitely possessed--nothing like your slick smooth riding commander. Bet you don't miss the old one much.

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  19. Dear One Tough Cookie - I'm glad you're on my side!
    Love Millie ^_^

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  20. How interesting!

    The whole time I was reading, the song by Michelle Shocked about the repo man (I think it's called Come A Long Way) kept playing in my brain.

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  21. Kathy G ~ LOL! I should have included a youtube post with that, too! ;)

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  22. I can think of at least four obscure references to "possessed" autos...

    The Car
    Christine
    Maximum Overdrive
    Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang...

    ...okay, five...

    Herbie

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  23. Such an interesting life you've lived and are still living. I think a book is just the thing!

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  24. @Subby: If you're including cars like Herbie, can we stretch it a bit to include K.I.T.T. (and its evil "twin," K.A.R.R.) on Knight Rider?

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  25. I would never have guessed you were a "repo girl" in a million years. Amazing. I hope the voodoo doll had angel wings and a halo...that's the Betsy we have come to know!
    Start writing the book!

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  26. You've got my respect Betsy, even more than ever. I KNOW what it's like trying to reason with some of those folks. I also know the high you get when you find someone who has been hiding from you. Unfortunately, with a job like that it is hard not to think the worst of people sometimes.

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  27. oh wow Betsy! that was interesting and enjoyable read! it reads like a suspense :-) I guess the book would be a big hit! :-) happy Wednesday and thanks for sharing :-)

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  28. Betsy, nah...that was strictly via remote controlle...

    Maybe the Gnome Mobile was? Then there was th' old Chevy in "Repo-man" with the glowing...er...whatever, in th' boot... :P

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  29. Holy mackeral Betsy! Who knew!!

    I would never have pegged you for that kind of work. But sweet smiles can be deceiving. And it sounds like you used it to your advantage to get the job done. Thank goodness you never got hurt.

    Maybe you can find a second career as a private eye.

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  30. Matty ~ pretty amazing, huh. One time a guy opened the door and I told him who I was, and he said "Damn! I wouldn't have answered the door if I knew! I thought you were selling Avon or something!" LOL!

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  31. Not many can say they have a voodoo doll of themselves lying around. Can't say I'm jealous, though.
    You go, girl! You always seem to amaze. :) That is one scary job, I'm sure.

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  32. I would have NEVER imagines you being a Repo Girl!
    How fascinating.....
    I watch that show on TV and my mind boggles to see what they have to contend with, so dangerous.
    We're you packin'..... lol

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  33. Jo ~ No, haha...although it would have nice at times! LOL!

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  34. That was so interesting to read...thanks for sharing that part of your life with us!
    Sounds like a scary job to me....I mean people shoot repo man/lady (too much tv for me)
    I'll bet you were very good at your job.
    I worked for a Chevrolet Dealership years ago and I enjoyed learning tidbits about Chevy!!!
    Hey the voodo doll must have been working on your van!!!

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  35. Oh my!! You caught me off guard here. I'm SO impressed - and you look so gentle. :))
    You are, obviously, one fearless woman. I agree - you ought to write a book! (add pictures if you do) Loved, loved, loved this post! Spread it around. This knowledge does a woman good.

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  36. Debi ~ LOL! I am gentle...really! I only get tough when I have to. Like one of my dearest friends keeps telling me...an iron bar wrapped in velvet. ;)

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  37. Betsey - Thanks so much for checking up on me... been thinking about you as I need to make your fantastic granola.
    Glad all is well, and as always, I enjoy your posts, you are truly an amazing and inspiring lady!

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  38. Hi Yvonne! I think it's about time for me to make my granola, too! Yum! It's been a while! :) Glad you're doing alright!

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  39. Oh wow I can't place your beautiful face with being tough to some "not so good people" around. I enjoyed reading your post very well said. Thanks for sharing and happy Wednesday!
    ABC Wednesday~E

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  40. Enjoyed this recounting, Betsy. Not sure that I could go and reclaim the cars, and definitely know I would be challenged when cleaning them out. Thanks for this take on the theme.

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  41. What an interesting job! The stories you have to tell. :) Glad you made out ok with only a bruise and the crazy doll. lol

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  42. Heavens to Besty... YOU were a repo girl! Hard for me to imagine. Maybe you have bounty hunting in your future!

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  43. ha, nice brush up of this to fit the theme...it was worth the second chuckle...

    another one of our repo guys was met at teh door by a 90 year old lady...buck naked...and she seemed not to mind as she was ready to deiscuss terms...he had to remind her to go get a robe...just shaking my head...

    you have all these old repo stories running through my mind now...

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  44. Brian ~ oh, that is a hilarious story! You really should share more of them! We could start a "Repo Story Saturday" or some such weekly blog thing. haha.

    I had a man open the door only in his underwear once. I think it was an intimidation tactic. It didn't work. LOL!

    And you know, I really don't think it fair that you had a partner! I had to go it alone! What's up with that? ha.

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  45. I was scared for you just reading this post!!! Oh my! So out of character from what I had imagined! Wow! You must be one tough cookie! :):)

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  46. Repo girl takes on a whole new meaning with this post. Fascinating. I suppose you deal with a lot of trailer (vehicle) trash?

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  47. This was a truly fascinating read. Totally loved this Theme Thursday.

    My TT will be up this evening.

    PG

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  48. Good grief, girl. You coudl have been killed. I'm glad you no longer do this. Dead mice? Oh my.

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  49. wow! gutsy lady...i'd be too nervous to get into that line of work!

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  50. you are amazing, i would not have lasted ten minutes.

    brave. very brave.

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  51. Wow. That's amazing. I've heard stories from the people who've had their vehicles repossessed - I've seen Repo Man - but Repo Girl?! So cool. I would not have lasted more than a day. Happy Theme Thursday.

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  52. What a great story to read, although I never would have pegged you for a repo girl. Never. The voodoo doll...weird!

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  53. Hi Betsy,
    I can relate, my brother in law used to own a repo business and he had many stories.....He passed away and my niece took it over. I went with her once, its an adventure I have to say. I give anyone credit who can do that for a living. Once my brother in law got all the way back to his shop before he realized there was a sleeping baby in the back of the car he repo'd, he had to take the car back of course......so many stories. I bet you have many more. Ronda :)

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  54. What a fascinating tale Betsy. I am sure you must have kept dinner guests entertained for years on the stories you could tell. And you working in such a job is a difficult idea to get my mind round. As I have always thought, you're a very interesting person indeed.

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  55. Now that was interesting. Great post.

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  56. this sounds like an adventure trip and not just a job...you must have felt like James Bond some days...smiles

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  57. A truly amazing post. What a job!! you will really have stories to tell your grandchildren.

    Thanks for sharing such refreshing TT

    loveNlight
    Gabi

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  58. who'd of thunk betsy was a repo girl!!!

    a job that actually gets someone to make a voodoo doll - that is brushing with danger!

    one of my all time favorite movies is repo man - the original 1984 version with harry dean stanton and emilio estevez, certainly you've seen it. heard a rumor that hollywood made (or will make) another film with the same title

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  59. SO FUNNY Betsy! I remember those days when you held this job...your little, petite, cute self out jumping into cars and taking off! A VISION!

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  60. Claudia ~ some days, yes...that was the thrill of it..never a dull moment! I enjoyed the detective work part of it the best.

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  61. Thanks for sharing you GM work experiences....you're a stout little lady for sure! :) The Bach

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  62. Loved the stories! My favorite part is buying repossessed cars from the local bank. We got some pretty good deals and the cars were all cleaned up and ready to go by the time we picked them up. My favorite was the little blue Toyota Corolla we had for several years. I miss that car!

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  63. what an interesting life you've lived - I've never been crazy about cleaning refrigerators, but hey, maybe I'll be content to stick with that kind of danger for now ;)

    love the cartoon too

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  64. Excellent post, Betsy. I agree with Jack. You look nothing like a repo girl. You have way more courage than I would have had. Of course, I watch way too much television too. Based on TV, I'm surprised you never found a body. (Got the shivers just thinking about it!)

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  65. PattiKen ~ there was one time I expected to find a body in the trunk! Someone had been missing a very long time and I finally found the car...obviously abandoned and in a bad area of town. I have never lifted the lid of a trunk so slowly! ha!

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  66. That's kinda cool.

    Don't be surprised if some of this makes its way into a fiction piece at my place eventually...

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  67. Wow! Thank heavens for guardian angels. That made really interesting reading, Betsy. Very cool.

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  68. OMG! You really are a superwoman! I wouldn't have the nerve to do that job. I would get stomach cramps! Plus cleaning out that car would be disgusting!

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  69. Jeffscape ~ glad to be your muse there. If it's me in the story, make be beautiful, ok? LOL!

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  70. Otin ~ I got stomach cramps before...nerves and stress! LOL! You could do it! You look more like a repo man than I do! And I mean that as a compliment! ;)

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  71. Ah don't let Jeff steal it, write it yourself, you can't make this shit up! I had no idea, sweet Betsy a repo girl. Beats being chained to a desk. Loved it.

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  72. Baino ~ thank you. Well, jeff can have the idea for a short story if he likes. I'm good with that! :)

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  73. My oh my this does take me back to the good old repo days and reading everything Betsy said I completely relate to. I reposessessed cars in the San Francisco/Oakland Bay area for 20 years and occasionally had accounts from GMAC which were paid only as rewards if we got them as GMAC had already worked them hard and exhausted all known leads before assigning them out. I found most all accounts that were assigned to me. I too loved the skip tracing part of the job. Always an adrenaline rush to drive up and see the car sitting right where you traced it to. One time I traced a Cadillac to the guys ex-wifes apartment in Vallejo and as I was slim jimming the door I noticed what looked like an afro hair do on the seat and sure enough the guy was sleeping on the front seat. After checking with the local police turned out he had an arrest warrant so they came out and made my job easier that night. That was a tough assignment I did not want to let go. Btw I found this site as I google repo girl, the movie. Reading the posts here has been interesting. Seems like a gret bunch. ~tips hat to all~ Good day

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  74. hisjulie ~ hey, thanks so much for commenting! I agree...such a fascinating and thrilling job. Never a dull moment. :)

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