Daily Digest - February 27, 2026

Brought to you by: TCN | By Mike Gibb

Author

Mike Gibb
February 27, 2026

🎂 Happy Birthday to the following: Jere' Rhine of FMA Alliance, Jess Talay of Consuerga & Duffy, Matt Dubzak of Sallie Mae, Rita Duarte of Finvi, and David Lexton of Navy Federal Credit Union.

🎉 Congratulations for starting new positions: Chad Ashbaugh as Sr. Channel Marketing Manager - ISV at Global Payments, Tim Mertikas as Senior Vice President at Krew, and Shane Aubrey as Performance Manager at LegalStream.

🚨New Training Bytes Video Released!

Check out the newest Training Bytes video! Each week, an expert from the accounts receivable management industry will share how he or she would handle different scenarios that collectors often face. This week, David Alderman from CBE Companies shares what collectors should do when the consumer uses "I’m filing for bankruptcy" as a way to end the call, even if they haven't actually filed yet. Thanks to Peak Revenue Learning for sponsoring this series! Click on the image below to view this week’s episode!

Law Firm Sued for Allegedly Cashing Post-Dated Payments Months Early

  • A collection law firm is being accused of jumping the gun and violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by cashing post-dated monthly payments for the rest of 2026 by a consumer who had entered into a stipulated judgment with the company.

  • More details here.

  • This series is sponsored by WebRecon

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY’S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Judge Recommends Denial of FCRA Injunction, Warns Plaintiffs Over AI-Generated Citation

  • A Magistrate Court judge in Florida has denied a renewed motion for a preliminary injunction filed by the plaintiffs in a Fair Credit Reporting Act case while also admonishing them for using artificial intelligence to craft their argument. In her report, the judge concluded that private litigants cannot obtain injunctive relief under the FCRA and warned the plaintiffs that further reliance on fabricated legal citations could result in sanctions.

  • More details here.

Judge Recommends Partially Dismissing FDCPA Claims Over Settlement Letter

  • A Magistrate Court judge in Texas has recommended partially granting a defendant’s motion to dismiss claims it violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act over the contents of a letter sent to the plaintiff offering to settle a debt for less than the full balance. The judge recommended dismissing several claims, including state law causes of action and one FDCPA theory, while allowing other FDCPA allegations tied to disclosures and alleged deception to proceed.

  • More details here.

  • PRA Group used its earnings call yesterday to send a clear message: its results are less about headline numbers and more about how the engine is being rebuilt. Management outlined a multi-year shift in channel mix, cost structure, underwriting discipline, and technology adoption that is materially changing how the company collects — particularly in the U.S.Overall, the company reported net income of $56 million for the final quarter of 2025, up from $18 million during the same period a year earlier.

  • More details here.

Block Slashes 40% of Workforce, Bets on AI to Build ‘Smaller, Faster’ Company

  • Jack Dorsey’s Block is cutting more than 4,000 employees, nearly half its global workforce, and openly tying the move to artificial intelligence. The payments company behind Square, Cash App, and Afterpay will shrink from roughly 10,000 employees to just over 6,000. Investors responded immediately, sending the stock up more than 24% in after-hours trading. For executives in credit and collections who are actively exploring AI to improve efficiency, the scale and speed of this decision is likely to spark serious internal conversations.

  • More details here.

WORTH NOTING: Mortgage delinquency rates are remaining flat, according to one source, while increasing according to another ... A report from TransUnion on the benefits of its branded calling product ... More economic data painting a mixed and muddling picture for how consumers are faring ... What experts want people who have federal student loans to know ... The top banking cop at the Federal Reserve has some big plans in mind ... The official announcement from New York City about its new debt collection rule ... Can dreams help you solve your problems? ... People across the country are being hit with soaring electricity bills.

Funny Friday, part I

Funny Friday, Part II

Webinar Recap: Modernizing Your Collections Tech Stack Without Breaking Operations

In a recent AccountRecovery.net webinar sponsored by CSS Impact, industry leaders discussed how agencies can modernize their collections technology without derailing operations. Panelists Dennis Barton (Barton Law Group), Trey Hall (Ileo Services), Dennis Hammarquist (FMS), and Anthony Roberts (IT Director) emphasized that while modernization promises efficiency, it inevitably disrupts workflows and requires careful planning.
Key themes included the importance of clean data, compliance safeguards, and realistic expectations. As Trey Hall noted, “If everything else is the same, why are you changing?” Modernization should solve real problems, not just replace old systems. Anthony Roberts highlighted that compliance processes may feel slow but are essential: “Lessons are written in blood.” Ryder Thompson of CSS Impact added that implementation should be treated like moving houses—don’t bring “junk from the old trunk” into a new system.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

  • Prioritize Clean Data: Incomplete or inconsistent records can derail integrations and workflows. Agencies should sanitize account numbers, settlement rules, and consumer records before migration.

  • Prepare for Disruption: Leaders should set realistic expectations. Workflow changes, retraining, and compliance adjustments are inevitable. Position modernization as an opportunity to improve, not a seamless swap.

  • Target Weak Links First: Phone systems, manual processes, and outdated compliance workarounds often present the biggest hurdles. Addressing these areas early can deliver quick wins and build confidence in larger transformations.

This session underscored that modernization is not about avoiding disruption—it’s about managing it strategically to unlock efficiency, compliance, and long-term growth.

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