Daily Digest - April 1, 2026

🎂 Happy Birthday to the following: Jim Morrell of Peninsula Credit Union, and Christopher Schaefer of Emprise Technologies.

🎉 Congratulations for starting new positions: J. Becker as Collections Manager at Arcon Credit Solutions.

Logo Madness is Here!

It’s time to crown the best logo in the industry. Full bracket available here so you can track the competition. Click on the link underneath the logo to choose your winner. Voting is open for 24 hours.

NEW: Digital Communications Survey

✅ Click here and take a quick digital communications and benchmarking survey

This Letter Will Self-Destruct (Eventually): New Rule Mandates Biodegradable Paper

• Regulators in California, New York, and Illinois have unveiled a new regulation that would fundamentally change how written communications are delivered across the credit and collection ecosystem by requiring that all print correspondence be sent exclusively on biodegradable or recycled paper.

• More details here.

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY’S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Judge Says Debt-Themed Hold Music Crosses Line Into Harassment

• A District Court judge in New Mexico has granted a plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment in a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case after the defendant was accused of harassing and abusive behavior because of the music that was being played while the plaintiff was on hold to talk to an agent. The music, which were all songs related to being in debt, were intended to shame consumers into making payments, the judge ruled.

• More details here.

New AI Virtual Agent Includes Integrated Consumer Lie Detection

• A tech company that specializes in building AI agents for the contact center and collections industry has unveiled new technology that it promises will revolutionize interactions with consumers because it does something that the company claims nobody else can do; it can tell when a consumer is lying. Not satisfied with just that, the company says its agents can use that information during interactions and go as far as to call out the lies in an attempt to gain the upper hand and win the interaction.

• More details here.

Apple Greenlights Series Based on Heath Morgan’s AI Thriller

• Industry attorney Heath Morgan unexpectedly announced yesterday that he is stepping away from his work in the credit and collection industry after his debut novel, “The Memory Project” was optioned as a television series by Apple TV. Morgan has agreed to help write the series, which is expected to be premier on the streaming service in early April 2028, perhaps as early as April 1.

• More details here.

19 Companies Seeking Collection Talent

• Check out a bunch of great jobs in this week's job listings summary, including one in Hawkins, Indiana, and one in Quoahog, Rhode Island.

• More details here.

WORTH NOTING: TrueCaller has nearly half a billion monthly users on its platform ... People are ratcheting down their Easter plans this year ... How the heist of 12 tons of stolen Kit Kat bars became a PR gold mine ... The red flags that scream tech support scam ... The 10 unhealthiest cities in the United States ... The pace of hiring has slowed considerably across the country ... More than half of the home listings are "stale" and here are the cities where they are the most stagnant ... Takeaways from the tune-up games for the U.S. men's national soccer team heading into this summer's World Cup

Wisdom Wednesday, part I

Wisdom Wednesday, Part II

Webinar Recap: Getting Rid of Data You Don't Need to Operate Leaner and Quicker

The webinar highlighted how organizations in the credit and collection industry can streamline operations by eliminating unnecessary data. Panelists emphasized that excess data not only slows down decision-making but also increases compliance risks and operational costs. As one speaker noted, “Data is only valuable if it drives decisions—otherwise, it’s clutter.” The discussion underscored the importance of defining what data is truly necessary, implementing governance frameworks, and leveraging technology to enforce lean practices.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Audit and prioritize data
  Conduct regular reviews of stored data to distinguish between compliance-required information and redundant records. This ensures that only actionable data is retained.

• Strengthen governance and compliance
  Establish clear policies for data retention and disposal. As one panelist remarked, “Holding onto data you don’t need is not just inefficient—it’s a liability.”

• Leverage automation and analytics
  Use technology to identify outdated or duplicate data, streamline workflows, and improve responsiveness to clients and regulators.

Operating lean is not about cutting corners—it’s about cutting clutter. By focusing on actionable data, organizations across debt collection agencies, debt buyers, fintechs, banks, credit unions, consumer finance companies, and healthcare providers can reduce risk, improve efficiency, and strengthen their competitive edge.

Did you know you can get full access to all of my past webinars, along with transcripts and summaries of each, for only $29/month? Sign up to be a premium subscriber today!

The Daily Digest is sponsored by TCN