Repossession
Serving Lawrenceville & Atlanta, GALawrenceville GA Car Repossession Defense Lawyer
Experienced Legal Guidance in Atlanta Metro Area
If you are behind on your auto loan payments, you are probably weighing your options. You may be worried about when or where the repossession will take place and if you’ll be stranded afterward, unable to get to work or conduct other daily activities. You may even think that if you do nothing and let your car get repossessed that you will no longer be obligated to your creditor. The truth is that your creditor is entitled to the full amount that you agreed to pay according to your loan contract.
Repossession doesn’t automatically settle your debt. When a car is repossessed at work or at home, it can be very embarrassing and overwhelming. It may not seem fair that creditors can take back your property and still demand money from you, but it is legal. If your repossessed vehicle fails to sell at auction for the exact amount you owe, you will continue to be liable for that remaining debt’s balance.
To understand your legal options related to repossession, we advise that you talk to our Lawrenceville car repossession lawyer at The Ballard Law Group. Get your questions answered about customized debt resolution, including all of the possibilities for keeping your vehicle.
Call The Ballard Law Group at (404) 800-9939 or contact us online to set up your free, initial consultation with our team today.
Understanding Vehicle Repossession in Georgia
In Georgia, a creditor can use “self-help” (repossession) to recover property if the buyer defaults on the contract. Secured debt is different from unsecured debt like credit cards or personal loans because the debt is attached to (or “secured” by) the property you purchased with the loan. It is the loan’s collateral and it can be your car, jewelry, or furniture.
Typically, vehicle repossession can take place without direct access to your home. If you default on your payments, the creditor hires a recovery (or “repo”) company to repossess the vehicle from your home, job, the mall, or any other place your vehicle can be located.
After your vehicle is towed to a storage lot, you will receive a notice informing you that you have 10 days to “cure the default.” This means you must pay the debt or your car will be sold at auction. Usually, the lender will demand the entire balance owed on the contract.
If your car has already been repossessed, you have a very limited window within which to get it back. Aside from paying off the car completely, bankruptcy is usually the only option for recovering your repossessed vehicle.
Filing for Bankruptcy Allows You to Keep Your Car
Besides stopping repossession, Chapter 13 bankruptcy offers the added benefit of lowering your car payments if you qualify. Depending upon your specific circumstances, we may be able to lower your interest rate and reduce your entire balance as well.
Hiding Your Vehicle
Hiding your car only temporarily alleviates repossession and is not recommended. If you attempt to hide your car, your lender will most likely file a Complaint for Personal Property Foreclosure and obtain a court order requiring you to turn over the vehicle. Because it’s collateral on a secured debt, they have a right to repossess it if you don’t pay the car note on time. So, hiding your vehicle to prevent Georgia repossession is not a good idea.
Even a few days without your car can cause you serious consequences, including losing your job, difficulty getting around, responding to emergencies, and other challenges. If you are behind on your auto loan payments, you need to seriously consider how not having a car will affect you and your family and act quickly.
Contact The Ballard Law Group
End Financial Stress & ThreatsWhen facing the potential loss of your car, action is needed. At The Ballard Law Group, we can explain how the bankruptcy process works and how it can help you keep your car while reducing or eliminating other debt so that you can regain control of your finances. Arrange for your free, initial consultation today.