CERTIFIED COLLATERAL RECOVERY SPECIALISTS

Designates members who have completed a course of learning to further raise their standards of excellence

To the credit grantor and collection specialist, the designation CCRS will distinguish that person as one who has attained a high level of professionalism in the collateral recovery business.

The "CCRS" (CERTIFIED COLLATERAL RECOVERY SPECIALIST) program was developed by, is directed by, and is owned by the industry professionals in the program. The CCRS designation was the first Certification recognized and published in any of the major repossession organizations and is today the only certification recognized by all of the big three associations, ARA, NFA and TFA.

In 1991, a growing concern for the future of the collateral recovery business prompted the establishment of the CCRS (Certified Collateral Recovery Specialist) program. The object was to provide a course of information and education within the industry, elevate the professional image of the participants, and add credibility to the true professional in the industry.

The Society of Certified Recovery Specialists was formed to administer the certifying rules and standards for the CCRS program. The original “Society” members were appointed by the major repossession associations. Their first meeting was in New York in 1992.

The "Society" is now Society of Certified Recovery Specialists Inc., a "not for profit" corporation. The Board of Trustees consists of four members, one member from each of the following associations: National Finance Adjusters, American Recovery Association and Time Finance Adjusters, These three Board of Trustees elected the President/Administrator (Jack Barnes) who also serves on the Board. The Board establishes the certifying rules and standards for being certified as a recovery specialist. The Board may require additional requirements at any time to maintain certification as a recovery specialist.

The initial requirements to become a CCRS are: Three years in the profession as owner of a recovery business, licensed in their state (if required) a minimum of $1,000,000 Bond, four references from financial institutions for which the applicant has done recovery work, no unresolved grievances with a recovery association, the completion of the “Society” course on repossession laws, and satisfactory completion of a written test on that course.

CRA (Certified Recovery Agent) is a new certification program developed for the field representatives working for a CCRS. The CRA must complete on-the-job-training from the CCRS, take a course on repossession laws and procedures (provided by the “Society”) and pass a written test on the subject.

CCRS designations can be found in the directories of ARA, NFA, TFA or other media. For specific information, contact the administrator, Jack Barnes @ 800 331-5518.

The Certified Asset Recovery Specialist™ (C.A.R.S.), National Certification program is the first comprehensive national educational program developed for professionals within the collateral recovery industry. The C.A.R.S. Program was designed to greatly enhance the educational standards within the collateral recovery profession.

In any industry or profession, certification of competency is the primary element in elevating one's level of professionalism and assists in reducing the potential for risks and liability. The C.A.R.S. Program accomplishes this for the collateral recovery profession. Our clients (lenders) and our peers now have a criteria for measuring our abilities and professionalism.

The C.A.R.S. Program was developed for both the collateral recovery agency owner and the field recovery specialist. Easy to understand, yet comprehensive this program has been endorsed by industry leaders, insurance carriers, lending institutions and lawyers who represent the industry. The program contents can be viewed on our website, www.repospecialist.us. Graduates of the program are listed (at no charge), on our website's agent locator for lenders and other recovery specialists to use in locating certified professionals within this profession.

Currently used in forty-four states and Canada, the C.A.R.S. program was recently accepted into law in Florida as an alternative to this state's mandated class room training. This action alone is testament to the quality of the program and sets precedence for other states to follow in determining potential licensing/educational requirements.

The Certified Asset Recovery Specialist™, National Certification Program offers the recovery profession, for the first time, a legitimate and powerful educational "standard" of professional certification.

The author, Joseph Taylor, began his business career in law enforcement, spent several years in the lending industry and then thirty years in the collateral recovery industry. He is one of the few licensed Florida Certified Recovery Agent Instructors. Joe served two terms on the Florida Secretary of State's Security Council where he helped to develop the state statute which regulates the recovery industry in Florida. He also chaired the committee which developed the mandatory training curriculum for licensed recovery specialists in Florida. As president of Matrix Educational Systems, Inc., Joe has developed educational seminars on the repossession process and taught these seminars to lending institutions all across the country.

In 1990, he returned to college, acquired licensure as a Fire and Casualty insurance specialist and was instrumental in convincing insurance carriers to develop coverages critical to the collateral recovery industry.

As in our personal lives, we look up to those with the higher "standards"…those that go the extra mile, that put more "value" in what they do…why not require the same for your business and your employees?

Please feel free to contact us at 800-927-0153 or visit us on our website, www.repospecialist.us.