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How technology has redefined the job of the repo man

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Re: How technology has redefined the job of the repo man

#71

Post by Ntrails »

lsc wrote: post #52
stale2002 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, if people start buying the cheaper cars, it seems like a win for society, as there will be less people getting into debt. Seems like a win win to me.

On a societal level, we externalize most of the costs associated with auto crashes. I suspect that if we better rolled the true cost of injuries into the cost of car ownership (say, by increasing the minimum liability insurance to the cost of several statistical lives) the cheapest cars to own would be small and fairly new.

> say, by increasing the minimum liability insurance to the cost of several statistical lives

I still remember arguing with some people on the internet about how irrelevant what insurance someone bought was if you got hit by them. After all, you'd have to get into quite the accident to exceed the liability limits on car insurance.

I was so sure I was right. Then they introduced me to the idea you can drive in the US with insurance that wouldn't even cover the costs of a new medium sized sedan.

Re: How technology has redefined the job of the repo man

#72

Post by Bromskloss »

nimbius wrote: post #3

I work as an automotive mechanic, and while I maintain a relatively neutral opinion on repo men, sometimes the amateurs that crawl out of the weeds are absurd. Ive had repo agents posing as customers looking to "get their car," which is pretty funny, but ive also seen agents harassing the front office staff with demands for a vehicle being worked on. Sometimes a driver will park their car to suddenly find theyve been…

> Ive had repo agents posing as customers looking to "get their car," which is pretty funny, but ive also seen agents harassing the front office staff with demands for a vehicle being worked on. Sometimes a driver will park their car to suddenly find theyve been "hitched up" to a seedy looking tow apparatus on the back of an often ironically leased light duty truck. Repo agents in this case show up as "innocent" middle men while a driver pleads and begs over the phone with a lender to not tow their car for any number of humiliating excuses.

So, are these not actual repo men, but just people trying to steal a car?

Re: How technology has redefined the job of the repo man

#73

Post by Bromskloss »

EmployedRussian wrote: post #27
wallflower wrote: post #23

At least 10 years ago, a friend forgot where he parked his car in the Airport parking lot after a long trip. When he went to the booth embarrassed to tell them this, they said it was no big deal and did a quick tap-tap-tap on the keyboard using his license plate number to determine its exact location. They apparently scanned all the license plates in all their lots twice a day.

In 2001 my car was towed from LAX parking lot because they checked the plate (they told me they scan all plates daily) and it came back as registered to a different make. Turns out the dealer made a single-letter mistake in VIN when registering the car with DMV, and there is no check digit to reject invalid VINs.

In whose interest is it to scan and tow such cars?

Re: How technology has redefined the job of the repo man

#74

Post by Bromskloss »

graeme wrote: post #48
djrogers wrote: post #29

I honestly don’t get why anyone goes in to debt to buy a car in this day and age. You can buy a car (or truck) for $3000 that will last several years without requiring any huge mechanic bills or exotic maintenance - heck, I’ve done it. I would much rather take the bus/bike/walk and save up $500/mo for 6 months to be a free man than buy or lease a car for $500/mo and be a space to my creditors. Besides, hoopties can b…

On a societal scale, those $3000 cars likely only exist because others are frivolous and buy new cars on debt. Some strategies work for individuals but not universally.

OK, then the question just becomes why people don't settle for older cars until that drives the prices into a new equilibrium where the choice isn't as obvious any longer.

Re: How technology has redefined the job of the repo man

#77

Post by lazerpants »

nimbius wrote: post #3

I work as an automotive mechanic, and while I maintain a relatively neutral opinion on repo men, sometimes the amateurs that crawl out of the weeds are absurd. Ive had repo agents posing as customers looking to "get their car," which is pretty funny, but ive also seen agents harassing the front office staff with demands for a vehicle being worked on. Sometimes a driver will park their car to suddenly find theyve been…

> automotive dealerships typically install an ECU interlock

Is there somewhere where I can learn more about this? My quick Google search didn't lead to much, mostly people talking about ignition interlock devices for DUIs...

Re: How technology has redefined the job of the repo man

#78

Post by nkrisc »

Bromskloss wrote: post #75
alexpotato wrote: post #28

Good time to point out that all cars entering or exiting New York City via a bridge or tunnel are scanned.

Why tunnels and bridges, specifically?

Wild speculation: Bridges and tunnels are more sensitive infrastructure, this is done for security reason. In case of some kind of emergency they could tell how many people/who might be in there. Collect data on usage that might be relevant to the unique maintenance needs of bridges and tunnels. On an island like Manhattan, for example, bridges and tunnels represent many of the ways in and out, so would be natural places to surveil for various reason.

Re: How technology has redefined the job of the repo man

#79

Post by alexpotato »

Bromskloss wrote: post #75
alexpotato wrote: post #28

Good time to point out that all cars entering or exiting New York City via a bridge or tunnel are scanned.

Why tunnels and bridges, specifically?

They act as natural choke points since Manhattan is an island.

In turn, that means that you know who entered or exited Manhattan and can therefore deduce who is currently still there.

I would imagine in the event of an incident related to a vehicle, you could start with the list of recent entrants and use it to start building a timeline.

Re: How technology has redefined the job of the repo man

#80

Post by lsc »

walshemj wrote: post #67
lsc wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On a societal level, we externalize most of the costs associated with auto crashes. I suspect that if we better rolled the true cost of injuries into the cost of car ownership (say, by increasing the minimum liability insurance to the cost of several statistical lives) the cheapest cars to own would be small and fairly new.

And have much worse outcomes in crashes (which increase the cost to society) - that's the reason why for example the new Mini's Fiat 500's are larger and are much more survivable. Would you rather crash in a smart car or a small SUV

Outcomes for you? or for the person you hit? If we could all agree to use smaller cars, we'd all be better off.

Even within the 'bigger is better' arms-race limits, (you are better off in a vehicle that is heavier than your victim) you are dramatically better off in a minivan than in a similarly sized truck or other body-on-frame vehicle.

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