Repo Men Prosper As Economy Sputters

[The Straight Story]

Repo Men Prosper As Economy Sputters

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- It's hard to break Alex Allen.

He's a 260-pound, Marlboro chain-smoking, tell 'em like it is kind of guy, which is why he's so good at his job helping to take belongings from people who don't want to let them go.

It used to be Allen dealt mostly with low-income families surviving on small paychecks. But lately his clientele has changed. They are people in nice houses with pets and lawns, young families and parents with children in college all living beyond their means.


As the economy takes a nose dive, the recovery business soars. Nationwide, 1.6 million cars were repossessed last year, and that number is expected to increase by at least 15 percent this year.

The business is so popular that Florida officials have granted 95 recovery licenses in the past nine months, giving Florida 777 licensed recovery agents. Of those, Palm Beach County has 103.

http://www.local6.com/news/16607494/detail.html

[bbernardini]

1. Funny you should post this now...

I think there's a repo man at a house across the street from me.

[ret5hd]

2. Did you notice how his job didn't start bothering him till...

he started having to repossess from working and middle class people?

The poor, not so much.

[Systematic Chaos]

3. I'm thinking there may come a day soon when even this won't be profitable.

What happens when nobody wants to buy all these repo'ed vehicles? :shrug:

[zanne]

4. Sounds like a real nice guy.

:sarcasm: