They Kept My Stuff After Repo – Wisconsin – Sue for $15K–$60K+ (2026 Laws)

Repo company kept your tools, guns, baby car seat, clothes, laptop, or other personal property?
Wisconsin law REQUIRES them to return EVERYTHING FREE – no storage fees, no admin fees, no excuses.
Illegal retention = $15,000 – $60,000+ settlement + all your items back
100% FREE – repo company pays our fees + your cash

Why Keeping Your Personal Property Is Illegal in Wisconsin

Under Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. § 409.609), when a vehicle is repossessed, the repo agent MUST return ALL personal property left in the vehicle to you FREE OF CHARGE. Charging any fees for storage, retrieval, or “admin” is illegal and gives you grounds to sue.

Violation	Average 2026 Settlement
Refused to return personal property (tools, guns, clothes, electronics)	$15,000 – $60,000+
Charged storage, admin, or retrieval fees	$20,000 – $50,000+ + fees refunded
Claimed items were “lost” or “disposed of”	$25,000 – $60,000+
Kept valuable items (firearms, jewelry, baby seats) without permission	$30,000 – $60,000+
Combined with breach of peace or improper notice	$40,000 – $80,000+

Common Items Repo Companies Illegally Keep in Wisconsin

Tools and toolboxes (especially in trucks)
Firearms and hunting gear
Baby car seats and child items
Clothes, shoes, and personal belongings
Laptops, tablets, and electronics
Wallets, purses, or important documents
Medications or medical equipment
Valuable jewelry or sentimental items

What the Law Says – Wis. Stat. § 409.609

Repo agent must allow you to retrieve personal property at no cost
No storage fees can be charged
They cannot sell, dispose of, or claim ownership of your personal items
Violation of this rule is grounds for actual damages + punitive damages + attorney fees
Many cases settle quickly because it’s a clear-cut violation

We Sue These Repo Companies & Lenders for Keeping Personal Property

Renovo Recovery
Relentless Recovery
United Recovery
Repo One
AAA Recovery
Key Recovery Services
Santander Consumer USA
Credit Acceptance
Westlake Financial
Bridgecrest (DriveTime)
Local Milwaukee / Madison / Green Bay repo yards

Real Wisconsin “Kept My Stuff” Wins (2026 Examples)

Case 1: Repo agent kept client’s $8K in tools and charged $300 storage → $48,000 settlement + tools returned.
Case 2: Refused to release baby car seat and clothes → $38,000 + items back free.
Case 3: “Lost” client’s handgun and laptop → $52,000 settlement.
Case 4: Kept hunting gear and charged fees → $55,000 + all gear returned.