Navigating the Risk in Asset Recovery
The economic headlines of early 2026 present a confusing paradox. On one hand, top-level inflation has finally begun to moderate from its post-pandemic peaks. On the other hand, the financial aftershocks are hitting the subprime market with a vengeance.
At Secure Collateral Management (SCM), we are seeing a trend that many lenders weren’t fully prepared for. While the broader economy tries to find its footing, growth for the subprime consumer has stagnated while the cost of debt remains punishingly high.
The Data Doesn’t Lie: A Subprime Breaking Point
According to the latest TransUnion 2026 Consumer Credit Forecast, the resilience of the American consumer is being tested like never before with the delinquency story being much grimmer for high-risk segments.
In late 2025, subprime delinquencies hit historic, double-digit highs. As TransUnion’s data suggests, for many in the auto loan sector, the ability to keep pace with payments has hit a wall. At Secure Collateral Management, we are seeing the downstream effects of this divergence in real time. While lenders maintain disciplined underwriting, subprime borrowers are hitting a breaking point. When delinquency rates climb and assets go dark, traditional recovery methods are no longer enough.
The Deep Skip Tactic
In a standard economic cycle, most delinquent assets are recovered through traditional repossession workflows. But 2026 isn’t a standard cycle. As financial pressure mounts, the need for sophisticated skip trace tactics are needed.
When subprime delinquencies spike, the easy-to-locate vehicles disappear quickly. What remains is a portfolio of high-balance, high-risk assets that require more than just a standard database search. They require Deep Skip Tracing.
SCM’s Deep Skip: Beyond the Digital Paper Trail
At SCM, we specialize in cases where the digital trail ends. Our Deep Skip Tracing services are designed specifically for this volatile era we are currently in. We don’t just rely on outdated information, we dive into:
- Industry leading LPR technology and tools.
- Double-checking and simultaneously cross-referencing data across 50+ different databases and proprietary systems to ensure the best address is sent out for a successful recovery.
- Quick assignments with same-day forwarding (and pay!) to a network of 750+ agents
In an environment where rising delinquency rates is the new reality, you cannot afford to have assets sitting and rapidly depreciating. To date, SCM has recovered more than 325,000 late-stage assignments, averaging over 200 days past due.
The White-Glove Difference
Recovery in 2026 also requires a shift in tone. High delinquency rates often lead to heightened tensions. This is where SCM’s White-Glove Skip Tracing comes into play.
We understand that reputation management is just as important as asset recovery. Our white-glove approach ensures that even the most difficult recoveries are handled with:
- Professionalism: Our 150+ in-house investigators maintain your brand’s integrity during every interaction.
- Compliance: Navigating the increasingly complex regulatory landscape of 2026.
- Efficiency: Using high-level investigative tactics to close cases faster, reducing the days-to-recovery metric that can bleed a portfolio dry.
Protect Your Portfolio with SCM
In the world of collateral, you need a partner who can find what others can’t.
Don’t let the current market devalue your portfolio. Whether it’s a standard recovery or a complex deep-skip investigation, Secure Collateral Management has the tools, the data, and the expertise to bring your assets home.