I’m sure some of you have followed the show “Operation Repo” on the truTV cable channel. This is an exciting show, and many people may wonder if this show is an accurate representation of what a real repo man is like.
I did do some research and found some things that makes me think that the show is in fact, not real. After all, repossession agents could get sued (or even arrested) for laying hands on the debtor, or, for example, pepper spraying them without justification.
Although there is little concrete information available telling us whether, “Operation Repo” is real, here are three facts pushing me think the show is fake.
Fact #1 – During a Repossession, Repo Men Have Very Strict Guidelines on What They Can and Cannot Do.
Choking people, crushing head locks, and pushing people around during a repossession is against repossession law, and is officially known as Breach of Peace. Most repossession agents never resort to such extreme measures to repossess vehicles. If they do, they can be civil and criminal liability for their actions. – It’s always good to remember that television and especially”reality TV”; – is supposed to entertain people. It is an exaggeration of real life.
In my research, I’ve found that most repossessions go down without much trouble. It shouldn’t be that surprising because people already know they are behind on payments, so they can’t be too surprised when the Repo Man comes for their car. The most successful repo men don’t get rattled easily, and must remain calm and in control at all times. Successful repossession agents are aware of the laws and generally do not risk costly court battles by breaking them.
Fact #2 – “Operation Repo” Movie Being Produced
According to IMDB, there’s a move being released by the same name. It features actors and actresses reenacting real events. I think its safe to say, that if the movie isn’t real, the TV show probably isn’t real either. Matt, the star of the show, even has his own web site with information about his acting career. All this seems pretty fishy to me.
Fact #3 – “Operation Repo” Has a Disclaimer
At the beginning of the show, there is now a disclaimer that says the “Operation Repo” show is “based on real events.” However, how accurately the show portrays the life of real repo agents might be another story. Think about it for a second. Do you think that always having some sort of confrontation on the show is good for ratings? I expect more excitement and enthusiasm doesn’t hurt them. Reality sells, whether or not the reenactment is accurate or not, I’d rather let you decide.
That said, Operation Repo is still a very entertaining and funny TV show. Take it with a grain of salt!
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