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Archive for the ‘Tools & Insights’ Category

ARA Compliance System: How-To

Nov 14, 2018 • News, Tools & InsightsComments Off on ARA Compliance System: How-To

It’s important you understand how to access the ARA Compliance System, as this is your portal into the critical documents, policies, and procedures you need as a repossession agent. Once inside the company or individual test portal, it’s important to review the study materials available, as each test is crafted to ensure your knowledge of the material. For your convenience, we put together a step-by-step guide to help you navigate your way through the compliance portal.

Step 1. Login Information

Do you have a login and password in order to gain access? If you don’t already have this information, please contact John Morgan by email at john@americanrecoveryassn.org or call him at (469)-212-0247. If you don’t remember your password, and yet remember the e-mail address associated with your account, you can still access your company profile.

Step 2. Gaining Access

You have one of two ways to enter your company’s compliance portal.

  1. Go to www.Repo.org. Find the top banner that reads “Compliance System”. Click the red tab to be taken to the login page.
  2. Go to www.aramembercompliance.com this will take you directly to your login page. If you previously had a login and password and have forgotten your password, simply hit the “Request Password” box. You will be directed to a second page. You will be asked for either your User ID or e-mail address. Once you provide that information, you will be emailed instructions for resetting your password to gain access.

If you still have not obtained access into your Member Dashboard, please contact John.

Step 3. Review Your Information

Before you start taking your tests, we recommend you review all of your available documents. Please ensure you have all of your needed compliance documents. Also, you may want to simply add items like your company policies and procedures manual, clean desk policy, or your W9 information.

If you need to enter more documents, please look at the top right-hand side of the member dashboard for the Document Upload box. You can pull documents from your computer and send them directly to John. No need to clip and paste.

Step 4. Review Training Topics

In the “Training” area, you will receive a comprehensive look at not only your training status, but you can review your entire company’s base of employees to see what tests they have taken. In the “Training Status” search filter, you can filter by vendor or training progress. When filtering by “training,” this will display the training you have yet to complete. When filtering by “Training log,” this will display the tests you have already taken. As an administrator who represents your company, we encourage you to take all available tests.

Step 5. View Study Guide

Let’s pretend you need to take the test on Bankruptcy, as shown above. You can start reviewing the information provided in the resources shown above. This is the same information you will be tested on later, so start by clicking “View Study Guide“. This will take you to another page, where you will see a PDF document that lays out important information.

Step 6. Watch Topic Webinar

Another helpful resource are the instructional videos that go in-depth and provide additional information on each topic. By clicking, “View Webinar” you will be taken to a new web page where you can watch the webinar.

Step 7. Start Taking the Test

Once you feel prepared, you can begin testing. Once you have answered all 10 questions, you can submit your answers. You must correctly answer 8 out of 10 questions to pass each test. You may take the test as many times as you need, but on the third failure, you’ll be logged out of the CCRS system for a 24-hour period.

We hope this information was helpful. Please reach out to us if you have any further questions on the ARA Compliance System or the CCRS certification.

Harding Brooks Insurance

Apr 5, 2016 • Tools & InsightsComments Off on Harding Brooks Insurance

HB
Harding Brooks Insurance Agency
is excited to be the 2016 Headline Sponsor for the second consecutive NARS! At NARS 2015, we were able to meet many new ARA members, and discuss the questions and concerns facing the industry today. Harding Brooks is committed to the success of the repossession industry. Our goal has been, and will remain to be, the leader in providing expert advice on insurance and industry standards. (more…)

Skip Tracing: The Lost Art of Conversation

Sep 26, 2014 • Recovery Industry News, Tools & InsightsComments Off on Skip Tracing: The Lost Art of Conversation

ARA friend and colleague, Alex Price, recently wrote a guest blog for BellesLink regarding the art of communication in the skip tracing field. The original version can be found HERE

For years I have used my writings to advocate the power of networking, and have gone so far as to acknowledge that most of the success I have had in life is due to my ability to network. I have never thrown a business card away. I even carry a small recorder with me at all times to record some simple highlights of a conversation so that I can document it at a later time, as the old memory is not what it once was, and the gems gleaned from impromptu conversations are sometimes the most valuable. (more…)

ARA April Webinar Registration Is Now Available

Apr 15, 2014 • ARA News and Events, Tools & InsightsComments Off on ARA April Webinar Registration Is Now Available

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Join us for this month’s webinar focusing on: The Importance of Compliance & ARA Member Resources Overview presented by Joan Hudson, ARA Member Benefits Committee Chairman. Register now for our upcoming webinar sessions:

Wednesday, April 16, 11:30 a.m. CST / 12:30 p.m. EST

Thursday, April 17, 2:30 p.m. CST / 3:30 p.m. EST

ARA members must register online for the webinar with individual email addresses to receive a certificate of completion. If computer sharing is necessary, please provide a list of employee names and email addresses in an excel spreadsheet to tricia@americanrecoveryassn.org.

American Recovery Association provides a free continuing education webinar series for recovery and remarketing professionals. The one-hour webinar offers education about the latest recovery laws and regulations, compliance policies and industry issues.

This webinar is reserved for business owners and managers only. 

If you have any questions or feedback about our continuing education webinar series, please contact ARA Home Office at 972-755-4755 or homeoffice@americanrecoveryassn.org.

Business Tip Spotlight: Background Checks

Feb 4, 2014 • Tools & InsightsComments Off on Business Tip Spotlight: Background Checks

The following is a guest post by Doug Duncan, President of TalentValue.

Every job applicant will not be completely honest and disclose all requested information on his or her application. In fact over 50% of every resume has an error – either they falsified the information or left something off. Unfortunately, some applicants are not entirely forthcoming, and this is where background checks from Veriproved, the official ARA background checking company, becomes valuable. While some employers conduct background checks on several applicants before a job offer is made, others wait until after they’ve made a job offer. Both are viable options, but there are advantages and disadvantages on both sides. (more…)

Utilize ARA’s Recovery Management Software

Oct 2, 2013 • Tools & InsightsComments Off on Utilize ARA’s Recovery Management Software

Our new website features our integration with PRIOS that uses zip codes as one of the agent locating methods. With this new feature, you will now have the zip code of every refer-to included in the ARA Assignment Management Software and the ARA website agent search function. Learn more about the software HERE.

Tips To Enhance Your Website

Oct 1, 2013 • Tools & InsightsComments Off on Tips To Enhance Your Website

Dawn Psaromatis and Annie Gerson of Wellington Group, a marketing, public relations and social media firm that delivers creative and strategic communications programs, presented at ARA’s 2013 Convention about how to enhance your website. Here are some of their suggested tips:

Things to Consider:

  • The shelf life of a website is 3-5 years – expectations and functions change quickly; It’s a worthwhile investment to stay on top of it.
  • Strong design = more credibility; When trying to change the perception of your industry, having a professionally designed site will help. (more…)

Improving Your Online Presence

Jun 17, 2013 • Tools & Insights, UncategorizedComments Off on Improving Your Online Presence

As we are putting the final design touches on our new website, I thought it was important to share this our members. Chris was a vendor at NARS and asked about getting on our member resource page as a preferred vendor. Since we are working to repair the resource page, I am publishing this for your review.

No matter who is doing your website, it is more important than ever to get it up to speed technologically. I am told that once our new site is finished that, when combined with our members’ personal sites, we will be able to take advantage of the search engines’ process and elevate the relevance and standing of all of our sites.

Here is the breakdown: Search engine ranking is pulled from various factors. One of the largest of these factors is link building. The more fresh, popular, and relevant a website is, the more valuable it is to link to and, therefore, the higher your website appears on organic searches. In other words, with the launch of the new repo.org, by linking to your website from ours, the higher your ranking will be. And, if you work to keep your website in top shape, not only will your search engine popularity grow higher, but ARA will also reap the same link-building benefit.

Please see Chris’s note below, and have a great day.

Les McCook
Executive Director
American Recovery Association

Hello ARA Members,

Do you want to improve your online presence? A strong web presence in today’s digital realm is more important than ever before. Does your website reflect the professionalism your company is known for? Does it offer a client friendly layout?

We, at Repo Solutions, support and admire the goals of the ARA in its pursuit of professionalism and seek to extend our services to all ARA members to assist you with your professional digital presence. We are currently offering ARA members sharply discounted rates. Whether you need just a logo, or complete website creation, we have the skill and ability to deliver what you need. With 15 years of combined repossession industry experience, we can assure you that we provide a truly functional solution for your repo business.

We offer the following services:

· Website Design
· Website Redesign
· Website Maintenance
· Website Hosting
· Email Hosting (POP/IMAP & Exchange available)
· Domain Name Registration
· Search Engine Optimization
· Website Security
· Brand Identity (Graphic Design, Logos, Letterheads, Business Cards, and more)
· Dynamic Forms, both Online and in Print
· And much more!

Call us today and let us help you find the solution your business deserves!

Chris Lewis – Web & Graphic Designer | Repo Solutions

Real Solutions, Real Results | http://www.reposolutions.net

Toll Free: 877-994-7376 | Phone: 724-252-7376

Introducing SkipGuru.com

Oct 5, 2012 • Recovery Industry News, Tools & InsightsComments Off on Introducing SkipGuru.com

The following announcement is from Alex Price, an expert in skip-tracing. (more…)

New National Skip-Tracers Certification Program by Alex Price

In our continuing efforts to bring a higher level of professionalism to the industries we serve, we are proud to introduce the Skip-Tracers National Certification Program. (more…)

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