The American Recovery Association recently formed another committee. President Vaughn Clemmons said this one “was established to tackle one of the greatest challenges in our profession: ensuring the safety and protection of repossession agents.”

ARA said its Recovery Agent Protection Committee (RAPC) is being led by Wade Argo, president of Argo Management in Illinois, and Amy Bednar, president of Relentless Recovery in Ohio.

Clemmons highlighted this new committee has three immediate goals, including:

—Evaluate current protections in key states to understand where recovery agents stand today.

—Create a universal protection framework that ARA and its members can carry forward nationwide, setting consistent standards for agent safety.

—Collect and report incidents of violence against agents to bring visibility to the very real dangers our members face.

Clemmons mentioned the committee will also work toward other actions, including:

—Promote training programs in situational awareness, recognizing pre-fight indicators, and safe exit strategies, giving agents the tools they need to protect themselves.

—Educate lenders, forwarders, and company owners on how current business models and fee structures can unintentionally place agents in harm’s way.

—Encourage participation and collaboration across our industry, from state associations to independent owners to include all groups operating in this sector, because protecting agents requires a united front.

“Every day, our agents step into unpredictable and dangerous situations. Too often, these risks go unnoticed or unaddressed, leaving agents vulnerable to threats of violence. RAPC’s mission is clear — to unite our industry in building safeguards that protect agents, raise awareness, and promote fairness across the recovery space,” Clemmons said in an industry message.

“The current model, where agents are often pressured to choose between recovering collateral or not getting paid, pushes people to take risks that can escalate into violent encounters. That is unacceptable. The bottom line is simple: no fee structure or business practice should ever put an agent’s life on the line,” he continued.

Clemmons mentioned the committee will be contacting ARA members in the coming weeks and months to collect more information, experiences and feedback to share the group’s activities.

“This is not an overnight project, but it is an essential one. With unity, focus, and determination, we can build meaningful protections that will safeguard agents today and for generations to come,” Clemmons said.

“Please join me in supporting Wade, Amy, and the Recovery Agent Protection Committee as they begin this vital mission. Together, we can show that ARA stands firmly for the safety, dignity, and protection of every recovery agent,” Clemmons went on to say.