Reasons to Join
ARA exists...
to support and provide a voice for its members on issues that directly impact their businesses, such as safety, storage, forwarders, stagnant fees, services billed to the consumer at an inflated rate, and/or services not provided at all.
ARA adds a professional edge to an industry often viewed as a commodity by offering training and certifications, educating its members and the industry on changes that can affect them, and fostering relationships between the lending community and repossession agents.
We Advocate for Our Members and the Industry
Through regular meetings with lenders and forwarders regarding contracts and/or unfair business practices, ARA is able to drive industry standards from within, taking our members’ feedback straight to the people who matter.
ARA tracks state and federal regulatory changes and meets with regulators to advocate for those that enhance our members’ ability to do business. We conduct visits to Washington, D.C., to work with lobbyists to ensure our industry’s views are represented — efforts that are crucial to our future.
ARA hosts educational webinars, produces and distributes industry-relevant press releases, advocates at the national and state level, and provides opportunities to discuss issues in open forums. It also protects the industry from being targeted by predatory business models and advocates for agencies’ freedom of choice.
Training & Certifications
Both our Repossession and Repossession Associate memberships include all level one compliance training and testing through the Certified Collateral Recovery Specialist (CCRS) Certification.
Being an ARA member gives you the freedom of choice for your compliance platform so there is no need to pay for multiple platforms. ARA’s CCRS compliance training program is now accepted and recognized by RISC/MBSI and its lender/forwarder users. Recovery professionals who use either the RISC or the CCRS compliance programs now have the freedom to choose for themselves which compliance program works best for them.
The CCRS compliance program is accepted and qualified to work with RISC and MBSi. Users of the CCRS training program can log onto RISC and enter their CCRS ID and begin working assignments via the MBSi platform.
More Reasons to Join
Compliance Monitoring Program
ARA’s highly customizable software platform monitors the exact parameters based on what our lenders choose. Our system has a built-in employee compliance testing module. Compliance Auditing utilizes the services of an independent CPA compliance auditing company to perform audits and provide reports. The ARA Compliance Monitoring System is being used nationally by lenders to benefit their organizations and vendor networks. It is the only fully customizable system designed to fit the needs of every client and also allows recovery business owners the freedom to utilize their preferred training platform.
Member Discounts
ARA has partnered with numerous businesses to secure member-only discounts on a variety of products and services — discounts on auto parts, travel, insurance, vehicle cameras, safety equipment such as body cameras, and much more.
Lower Insurance Premiums
When ARA partnered with Harding Brooks Insurance Agency and Northern Star Management in 2014, we gave our members better access to the industry’s best programs for health and life insurance. The significant discounts our partnership created can offset large portions of our membership fees, if not doing so completely.
The life insurance program we unlocked has allowed each member to benefit from $10,000 worth of life insurance, with reduced rates available for your consideration.
More Business
Hundreds of recovery assignments come through ARA’s assignment portal on its website each month, providing members with ample opportunity to grow their businesses.
ARA University
Access to ARA University provides tools to improve your business — policy, procedures, manuals, additional training, and support for your business.
Annual Convention
The ARA annual convention offers members the opportunity to network exclusively with other ARA members, sharing insights and collaborating to help resolve internal company issues, training, and the chance to meet with lenders one-on-one. New board positions are voted on at the convention.
NARS
The North American Repossessors Summit™ (NARS) is a 3-day annual conference for nationwide recovery professionals, hosted by ARA, that provides a forum for industry networking and world-class education and training. ARA members receive discounted pricing to attend NARS.
Trade Show Representation
Did you know representatives from ARA (either board members and/or ARA members) attend more than 12 trade shows annually to represent ARA and its members? Exhibiting and participating at industry trade shows is just one of the many ways ARA positions its members at the forefront of clients looking for reputable recovery agents.
ARA Board/Committee Representation
Representation: The purpose of the ARA Board and committees is to ensure the association thrives and continues to stay focused on serving its membership. ARA has many committees working for you. Below are some of the committees and an explanation of their function.
Contract & Insurance: Establishes industry-standard contract norms, reviews and revises contracts and insurance policies to enhance member protection, clarifies liability parameters, educates members, and sets new benchmarks in contract language.
Mentorship: Provides guidance and valuable lessons learned from a select group of veteran industry professionals.
Technology: Uses technology to ensure the most state of the art, streamlined, and seamless user experience.
LPR: Ensures LPR providers operate in the best interests of our members. Make LPR transparent because there are things affecting our sector and people just don’t know.
Membership/Benefits: Negotiates discounts for services and products.
Compliance and Government Relations: To keep track of any governmental regulations that will impact our membership. Ensures anything compliant-related is passed on to our members to make sure they remain compliant, as laws and regulations change throughout the year.
PR and Client Relations Committee: To ensure ongoing, high-quality marketing and public relations for the association and its members. Cultivate and nurture client relationships.
