Repossessions: 13.6.4 Trespass and Invasion of Privacy
Creditors making a wrongful repossession may commit the common law tort of trespass.446 Entering the debtor’s home without permission is a trespass.447 Note, however, that some states recognize a limited privilege for repossessors to enter on private property, such as a driveway or unlocked garage.448 This conditional privilege allows entrance at a reasonable time, and in a reasonable manner, for example by peaceably knocking on the front doo