Bordering on Contentious  

Please forgive me while I take an opposing view to a few issues. I will most likely contravene my own opinion several times in this article. This will lead you to question what I really believe or whether or not my writing style is not only less than obtuse but possibly totally absurd. Fact is there are two sides to a lot of serious issues. The right side tends to land somewhere in the middle. Having willingness to compromise does not affirm weakness or a lack of commitment to opinion. Sometimes we have to trust the majority and go along. 

I am encouraged that I am not the first person involved in the Florida Association that didn’t agree with immediate direction. I was told recently of a late 1980’s FALR board member that didn’t want Florida to have licensing requirements at all. I am sure he wasn’t the only recovery agency owner that didn’t want the legislation but this person made several trips to Tallahassee with his peers to help convince the state to create what became chapter 493. Whether or not we would be better off without regulation could be open for debate. The point is that this person helped spearhead an effort to create a law that he didn’t agree with or want. At this time it is pointless to argue against having licensing requirements, but knowing that there are several operators of real and sometimes large repossession businesses that would rather 493 requirements did not exist is an important way to open this article. This issue could be debated for hours at a time…  

The changes to 493 in this year’s legislative session apparently would have been a huge victory and would have fueled debate to a new level.  

Do you understand the impact the changes to 493 would have had on the liabilities of un-licensed activity? All self help repossessions done in the state of Florida by anyone not properly licensed through chapter 493 would have automatically been a breach of peace because there would have been a violation of the law. But would that have caused dozens if not hundreds of new licensees to enlist? Would this have eventually watered down an already weak industry? 

Continuing education was a hot topic at the 2003 Agency Owner’s Meeting. It was very nearly unanimous among the attendees that continuing education should exist. The majority also concluded that continuing education should be mandated by the state. The fact of the matter is that the majority of agents and agencies don’t participate in formal continuing education. The agencies that showed up at this meeting to vote… do. Mandatory continuing education almost became a reality in this year’s legislative session. I feel we need to create ways to teach recovery agents about a variety of topics. But having the state approve and monitor this as a requirement of license renewal is troubling. You can bet this issue will be revisited next year.

Do you want mandatory continuing education requirements? I do not and I would feel like less of a fool if I had some support to my opposing view. Either way you should make your voice be heard.  

I fully understand that it can be difficult to take time off and travel to where ever a meeting may be held. The answer to this is to have your own meetings in your own area. Gather the recovery agents you know in your home, at the Waffle House or at the nearest sports bar. Write down who is there and document how you feel as a group on important issues and forward that information to the FLACARS officers. Go a step further and elect someone to represent your area at board meetings. Oh, and make sure everyone joins FLACARS too! 

Changing the name of FALR to FLACARS didn’t really suit my fancy. FALR was the original Florida Association. FALR became FALRA and moved forward to do a lot of good things for the industry in many arenas. In the meantime FLACARS was created to fill the void that was created by a lack of funding being provided for legislative oversight. Now that the association’s focus is back on funding legislative issues I was proud that FALR(A) had made her way back to providing this important service to the members and the industry. There was a vote. The majority decided that FLACARS should be the name at the top of the letterhead of the State Association. I understand the logic of taking up the name that has been represented in Tallahassee for the last ten years. I certainly feel it was long overdue for Florida to only have one Association. It was also high time that Joe and Elizabeth Taylor got a break. Most importantly I stand comfortable with the voice of the majority. What I am uncomfortable with is any perception that FALR(A) was a bad thing, or was a failure, or had to be destroyed or put down like a horse with a broken leg…. FALR(A) is very much alive and well so long as Florida has a viable state association. FLACARS is certainly not what FALRA was. FLACARS is also nowhere near the same as it has been. What is FLACARS today? FLACARS is pretty dang close to being exactly what it needs to be. All that may be missing is your support.  

It costs very little to be a member of FLACARS. By being a member you are listed on the website and will be a part of the exchange of information. If you are reading this newsletter you are most likely tuned in. Help us spread the word and get more voices involved.                                           
                                                            Dan Meeks

Dan Meeks is currently an assistant FLACARS manager co-handling production of the Feb 2005 convention, operator of Executive Auto Recovery in Tampa, and administrator of Repoman.com, was formerly FALRA board member and has been working in and around the repossession industry since 1987.