Daily Digest - January 14, 2026

🎂 Happy Birthday: Indever Lal, MBA of Cherry, Stacey Schacter of Vion Investments, and Peter Gill of CollectCo.

It’s not too late. Come and be part of the biggest and best ARMTech yet!

Check out ARMTech.live for the growing list of impressive speakers who are going to be in Dallas. This is going to be the must-attend event of the year!

🔔 There is still time to make a submission in the first annual ARMTech Coding Contest. Check it out here. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO MAKE YOUR SUBMISSION

⬆️ Voting is now open to help decide which companies are going to participate in the Innovation Stage next week at ARMTech. Take a look at what companies think sets them apart and weigh in. VOTING CLOSES TONIGHT

Split Ninth Circuit Says Optional Video Texts Do Not Trigger TCPA

• For the purposes of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, text messages are considered phone calls, courts have largely ruled. But what about a text message that contains a video? The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed a lower court’s ruling that texts with videos that require an individual to “affirmatively act” to choose to listen and watch the video are not subject to the statute. In a decision that will be closely watched by compliance teams and digital strategy leaders, the Ninth Circuit held that the TCPA’s restrictions on artificial or prerecorded voices apply only to how a call is made or initiated, not to optional content that a recipient chooses to engage with after the fact.

• More details here.

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY’S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Judge Grants Summary Judgment for Debt Buyer in FDCPA Dispute

• In a case that was defended by David Schultz at Hinshaw & Culbertson, a District Court judge in Missouri has granted a defendant’s motion for summary judgment in a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case over alleged issues with the chain of title and validation of a debt that was purchased by a debt buyer.

• More details here.

N.Y. Governor Unveils ‘Money in Your Pockets’ Agenda Tackling Affordability Issues

• New York, often a national bellwether for consumer-protection and affordability policy, is putting a fresh set of “cost-of-living” proposals on the table that could materially change how much cash households have available each month, with other states likely to watch and borrow from the playbook. In her 2026 State of the State rollout, Gov. Kathy Hochul highlighted initiatives aimed at reducing some of the biggest recurring expenses for families: child care, utilities, insurance premiums, and groceries.

• More details here.

From Collections to Confidence: Why Patient Experience Is Now a Revenue Strategy

• For the first time, improving the patient experience — not increasing revenue — has become the top strategic priority for healthcare financial leaders, according to FinThrive’s 2026 Transformative Trends Report. The shift is significant for anyone involved in revenue cycle management or medical debt collections: 71% of RCM and finance leaders now rank patient experience as their primary focus, surpassing revenue growth as healthcare organizations rethink how long-term financial performance is achieved. The report signals a move away from short-term fixes toward automation, platform consolidation, and trust-driven engagement strategies that directly affect patient payments and collections outcomes.

• More details here.

Altus Expands Leadership Team to Advance Commercial Execution and Strategic Growth

• Altus, the trusted leader in commercial receivables management and business-to-business collections, today announced the addition of two senior leaders to its organization: Marco R. Constante, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations & Enablement, and Ross Lafont, Vice President, Corporate Development and FP&A.

• More details here.

35 Companies Seeking Collection Talent

• There are plenty of opportunities for everybody in this week's job listings summary, regardless of where you live, where you work, or what you want to be when you grow up. You should check out who is hiring.

• More details here. 

WORTH NOTING: Indiana is one step closer to officially settling a debate on what is the state sandwich ... Perhaps a sign of the times: the Attorney General of Arkansas has created a position in his office related to overseeing artificial intelligence ... An economist weighs in on the proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% ... Why 2026 is a make-or-break year for hospitals ... An interesting look at the demographics of individuals in one city who had their medical debts forgiven ... A look at the signature food in each state ... A deep dive into the corporate buzzword many have grown to hate ... Working more does not make you more productive.

Wisdom Wednesday, part I

Wisdom Wednesday, Part II

Webinar Recap: The Link Between Digital Strategies and Data: A Closer Look at How Your Strategies Need to be Fed with the Right Information to Thrive

In a recent AccountsRecovery.net webinar moderated by Dennis Barton, panelists from TCN, TEC Services Group, IntelliTech Group, AquaPORT Holdings, and Capio explored how digital strategies in collections must be powered by accurate, actionable data to succeed.

The discussion centered on whether underperforming digital communications stem from tools, data, or user issues. Panelists agreed it is often a combination, but data quality and understanding are paramount. As Sam Edens noted, “Having data is great, but do you understand that data?” Poorly interpreted attributes—like property type or consumer demographics—can derail campaigns.

Pete Thompson emphasized the importance of user experience, warning that “if your technology doesn’t play well with mobile, you’re going to have a problem out of the gates.” With most consumers engaging via mobile, clunky tools can undermine even the best data. Meanwhile, Scott Brownlee reminded attendees that without valid contact information, “you don’t have a digital strategy.”

The panel also highlighted compliance and consumer preferences. Honoring opt-outs across channels is critical, but personalization can help shift engagement. As Thompson suggested, data-driven personalization allows agencies to ask consumers if their stated preferences still match their behavior, creating opportunities for more effective outreach.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Audit and Enrich Data: Regularly validate phone numbers, emails, and addresses, and add attributes (e.g., dwelling type, generational grouping) to better segment consumers.

• Prioritize Mobile-First Tools: Ensure portals and communication platforms are optimized for mobile to avoid underperformance and consumer frustration.

• Respect Preferences While Personalizing: Track opt-outs by channel, but use behavioral data to personalize outreach and confirm whether consumer preferences remain accurate.

Digital strategies thrive when powered by clean, contextual data, delivered through consumer-friendly tools, and aligned with compliance-first personalization. Agencies that balance these elements will see stronger engagement and improved recovery outcomes.

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