mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

An Act of Kindness: Repo Man Decides To Pay Off Elderly Couple’s 1998 Buick Century

This isn’t your typical repossession story. In fact, you could say it’s the antithesis of a repo man’s job. However, that’s how Jim Ford, owner of Illini Recovery, rolls with his repossessions.

He’s made a living out of towing away vehicles after owners have fallen behind on payments or simply didn’t care enough to continue owning the vehicle. But, at the age of 41, he told The Belleville News-Democrat he tries to make the process a little easier. Ford even gives soon to be non-owners a chance to retrieve any personal items from the vehicle.

But, he did more than allow Stanford and Patty Kipping to grab their personal items from their 1998 Buick Century. He made their year.

Upon arriving to take the 1998 Buick away, he learned the 82- and 70-year-olds recently saw their prescription prices climb sky high, leaving less money for spending on their already fixed income. The couple, therefore, had been forfeiting their $95 per month payments on the used Buick.

Ford got in contact with the financial institution to try and work out a revised payment schedule for the $2,501 they owed on the vehicle. However, it was no dice with the bank. The repo was underway.

Ford hooked the car up and left the couple without a vehicle. But, it didn’t sit well with him. Instead of shrugging it off as another day on the job, he took further action.

“When I got home that night, I said to myself, ‘They are a real nice elderly couple. I gotta do something. I can’t just take their car,’” Ford said.

He set up a GoFundMe page that evening and in less than one day, Ford had raised $3,500 and paid off the loan for the elderly couple. But, Ford did even more.

The kindest repo man in the world repaired a broken headlight, topped off the radiator, changed the oil, detailed the car and tires and towed the Buick back. The Kippings knew they were having their car returned back to them, but the already grateful couple weren’t expecting an envelope with $1,000 cash, the additional money from the GoFundMe.

“It was a miracle come true. We didn’t know what we were going to do,” said Mrs. Kipping. “It’s like a miracle. God has answered our prayers, we’ve been blessed. There are so many good people in the world and all we hear about is the terrorists and everybody fighting and killing each other but there are so many good people… like Jim.”

Now that our hearts have been warmed, let’s be more like Jim Ford, shall we?

Former GM Authority staff writer.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comments

  1. How a Ford saved a Buick.

    Reply
  2. Although it shouldn’t happen in every circumstance, this is the type of thing the world needs more of. Being a repo man has got to be a brutal job. It is awesome that he found a ways to make things a little easier and even to give back.

    Reply
  3. Great story. Nice to know there are still compassionate people out there.

    Reply
  4. Hats off to Jim Ford!!

    Reply
  5. Very heartwarming story! Such character is what this world needs to make it a better place! Congrats to the elderly couple and a huge thank you to Mr. Jim Ford for his kind deeds!

    Reply
  6. Good job Mr. Jim Ford. Christmas came a little early and in a big way this year for this couple.

    Reply
  7. Awesome guy!! Kudos to you, Jim!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel