Quick Answer: A Florida mother is suing Honda Financial Services and two repossession companies after repo agents hooked and lifted her 2022 Honda Pilot while she and her minor daughter were still inside — and continued the repossession despite her repeated verbal objections. Under Florida law, a debtor’s verbal objection means a repossession must stop immediately.
Repo agents towed a mother’s car with her child still inside. She said stop. They didn’t. Now she’s suing.
A new federal lawsuit filed February 11, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida alleges that repossession agents hired by Honda Financial Services hooked and lifted an occupied vehicle — with a mother and her minor child inside — and refused to stop despite the mother’s repeated objections.
The case, Sharma v. American Honda Finance Corp. (Case No. 8:26-cv-00396), names three defendants and brings claims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Florida state law.
What Happened
According to the complaint filed by Kumarie Sharma, here’s the sequence of events on the evening of May 3, 2025:
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- Sharma was driving her 2022 Honda Pilot near her Wesley Chapel, Florida home with her son and minor daughter inside
- She pulled into her driveway, dropped off her son, and backed into the street while waiting for him to move a bicycle so she could park in the garage
- A “spotter” for the repo company drove into her driveway and blocked her from reentering
- A second agent arrived in a tow truck and hooked and lifted the occupied vehicle — with Sharma and her minor daughter still inside
- Sharma immediately objected, repeatedly told the agents to stop, and said her child was inside
- The agents continued with the repossession despite her objections
- Sharma called law enforcement while still seated in the lifted vehicle
- Responding police officers instructed Sharma to surrender the vehicle
- Sharma and her family removed personal belongings while the car remained attached to the tow truck
Florida Law Is Clear: Under Florida Statute § 679.609, a creditor may repossess collateral without a court order only if the repossession proceeds “without breach of the peace.” Florida courts have consistently held that a debtor’s verbal objection ends the right to self-help repossession. Once Sharma said “stop,” the repo agents were legally required to leave.
Who Is Named in the Lawsuit
- American Honda Finance Corporation d/b/a Honda Financial Services — the creditor that contracted for the repossession. Headquartered in Torrance, California
- Patrick K. Willis Co., Inc. d/b/a American Recovery Service (ARS) — a nationwide recovery management company headquartered in Sacramento, California, also known as Skipbusters. According to the complaint, ARS does not perform repossessions itself in Florida but subcontracts to local companies
- 9 Second Recovery, LLC — the Florida repossession company that allegedly carried out the actual repossession
The Legal Claims
The complaint brings three counts:
- FDCPA § 1692f(6) — Prohibits debt collectors from using unfair or unconscionable means to collect a debt, including nonjudicial repossession when the right to possession has been lost through breach of the peace (against ARS and 9 Second Recovery)
- Wrongful Repossession — Violation of Florida Statute § 679.601 and 679.609, which require that self-help repossession proceed without breach of the peace (against all defendants)
- Conversion — Wrongful dominion and control over Sharma’s property after the right to repossess was extinguished by her objection (against all defendants)
Sharma is seeking actual damages, statutory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs. She has demanded a jury trial.
Why This Matters Beyond One Case: The CFPB has documented a pattern of wrongful and improper repossession practices across the auto lending industry. With an estimated 1.6 million vehicle repossessions in 2024 and Americans owing $1.616 trillion in auto loan debt, cases like this highlight what can go wrong when creditors outsource repossession through chains of subcontractors — and nobody in the chain takes responsibility for how it’s actually done.
The Subcontractor Chain Problem
One detail in this complaint deserves attention: the chain of delegation.
Honda Financial hired ARS (American Recovery Service). ARS, according to the complaint, doesn’t do repossessions itself in Florida — it subcontracts to local companies. ARS hired 9 Second Recovery to do the actual work. The complaint alleges Honda Financial knew ARS uses subcontractors.
This three-layer structure — creditor to national recovery company to local repo agent — is common in the auto lending industry. The lawsuit names all three entities, alleging that each bears responsibility for what happened that evening in Wesley Chapel.
Your Rights During a Repossession
If a repo agent shows up for your vehicle, here’s what the law generally provides:
- You can say no. In most states, including Florida, your verbal objection to a repossession means the agent must stop. The repossession is no longer “peaceable”
- They cannot use force or threats. A repo agent cannot physically restrain you, threaten you, or use intimidation
- They cannot enter locked spaces. A repo agent generally cannot open a locked garage, break into a gated area, or enter your home
- Your personal property must be returned. Items left in the vehicle that aren’t part of the collateral belong to you
- Objecting doesn’t erase the debt. The creditor can still pursue repossession through the courts (judicial repossession) or attempt again later
- A verbal objection doesn’t prevent all consequences. You may still face collection actions, credit reporting, or a deficiency judgment after the vehicle is sold
Know Your Contract: If you’re behind on a car payment and worried about repossession, run your financing agreement through the Contract Decoder first. It’s free — and it will show you exactly what your lender can and can’t do under your specific agreement.
When repo agents hook a car with a mother and child inside and keep going after she says stop, that’s not debt collection — that’s recklessness. The law is clear: once you object, they have to leave.— Steve Rhode
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Key Takeaways
- A Florida mother is suing Honda Financial Services and two repo companies after agents hooked and lifted her car with her and her minor daughter inside
- The complaint alleges the repo agents continued despite the mother’s repeated verbal objections — a clear breach of the peace under Florida law
- Three defendants are named: Honda Financial, American Recovery Service (ARS/Skipbusters), and 9 Second Recovery
- Claims include FDCPA violations, wrongful repossession, and conversion
- In Florida and most states, a debtor’s verbal objection means a self-help repossession must stop immediately
- The case highlights the risks of multi-layer subcontractor chains in the repossession industry
(Source: CourtListener — Sharma v. American Honda Finance Corp.)
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FAQ
Can a repo agent take your car while you’re inside it?
Attempting to repossess or tow an occupied vehicle is inherently dangerous and is widely considered a breach of the peace. In this case, the complaint alleges the repo agent hooked and lifted the vehicle while the plaintiff and her minor daughter were seated inside. Courts have held that such conduct violates the requirement that self-help repossession proceed without breach of the peace.
What happens if you tell a repo agent to stop?
In Florida and most states, your verbal objection to a repossession means the agent must stop immediately. The repossession is no longer “peaceable” under UCC Article 9 and state law equivalents like Florida Statute § 679.609. If the agent continues despite your objection, they may be liable for wrongful repossession and FDCPA violations. However, objecting doesn’t erase the debt — the creditor can still pursue the vehicle through the courts.
Can you sue for wrongful repossession?
Yes. If a repossession agent breached the peace — by continuing after your objection, using force or threats, entering a locked space, or repossessing an occupied vehicle — you may have claims under the FDCPA (which provides up to $1,000 in statutory damages plus actual damages and attorney fees) and state law (which may allow punitive damages). Verdicts in wrongful repossession cases have exceeded $300,000 in some instances.
Is Honda Financial Services responsible for what the repo company did?
The lawsuit names Honda Financial as a defendant along with the two repossession companies. The complaint alleges Honda Financial contracted with ARS knowing that ARS subcontracts to local repossession companies, creating a chain of delegation. Whether Honda Financial bears legal responsibility for the conduct of its subcontractors will be determined by the court.
What should you do if your car is being repossessed?
Calmly and clearly state that you object to the repossession. Do not use physical force — that could escalate the situation and create legal problems for you. Call law enforcement. Document everything: take photos, record video if safe to do so, and note the names and company information of the repo agents. Contact a consumer protection attorney, especially if the agents continued after your objection or used threatening behavior.
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