There are two simple steps to making the unfortunate acquaintance of Debra Haynes. First, think you can afford it. Second, be wrong.
“I’ve been called every name under the sun,” Haynes said. “Except, I guess, the child of God. I don’t think you can print some of the names I’ve been called.”
The printable definition of Haynes is “repossession agent” – that breed of person who doesn’t take no for an answer and is rumored to carry firearms, neither of which are qualities you want knocking on your door.
Haynes has owned Greenwood’s H&H Auto Recovery for the past six years and, frankly, business has never been better. While the sinking economy has many businesses scrambling to stay afloat, Haynes scrambles to keep up.
“People simply can’t afford it,” said Haynes, 48. “Between gas prices and people getting laid off and food prices rising, the economy’s hard on everybody. And we’re rocking and rolling because of it.”
She sets out each day wanting to educate people, but inevitably ends up disappointing them.
“You try to explain to people that you’ve got to pay your bill,” Haynes said. “But they don’t listen. They just beg.”
The strangest excuse she’s heard involves a dog, its tail getting run over in the street and the subsequent vet bill.
Of course, sometimes she tries to avoid excuses: “I roll during the day and night.”
Michael Stanley is a repossession agent for Mike Turner Auto Sales. In 24 years in the business, he’s heard enough excuses to “write a book.”
Stanley says everyone who is having a vehicle repossessed has a heartbreaking story: a sister has died; a trip to Chicago set them back; their employer only granted them 20 work hours; they were laid off recently; they just left Memphis and haven’t yet acquired a job; or they’re in the process of “getting it re-financed.”
“Sure, you feel sorry for them,” said Stanley. “Because a lot of the time it’s your cousin or your sister or your neighbor. But I’ve got a job to do.”
And lately, he’s had quite a few. Stanley, 41, says he’s never been busier.
“We’re picking up 20 or 30 cars a week,” he said. “Rich, poor, black or white, it don’t discriminate.”
As far as the economy goes, Haynes expects things to get worse before they get better.
“I’m standing here looking at $3.59 for a gallon of gas, and that’s for regular unleaded,” she said during a recent telephone interview. “And earlier I passed signs saying $3.79. We always see where we’re sending food to these third world countries, well I’m telling you, we’re gonna end up just like them.”
With no relief in sight, Haynes offers people struggling to make loan payments some simple advice.
“Call. If you know you can’t make a payment, call your co-signer or the person you bought your car from. It helps if you just call and give a heads up.”
