Daily Digest - January 30, 2026

🎂Happy birthday to the following: Leslie Bender of Eversheds Sutherland.

🎉Congratulations for starting new positions: Mike Althouse as CMS Team Lead - Square Financial Services at Block, Jack Dunlap as Sr. Director of Strategic Partnerships at Capio, Rob Pfahl as Trust Supervisor at Meduit, Micah Dobbins as Director of Operations at Paramount Capital Group, and Thomas Williams as Support Manager at Revi Credit.

🚨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, Nick Prola from Bassford Remele shares what collectors misunderstand about cease-and-desist requests. Thanks to Peak Revenue Learning for sponsoring this series! Click on the image below to view this week’s episode!

Coming April 20-22 … TCN’s C3 User Conference

Collector Facing TCPA Class Action for Using Prerecorded Voice

• There isn’t anything unusual or inflammatory or that is being highlighted as a potential cautionary tale with this particular lawsuit. In fact, if you continue reading this, you’ll likely to find the facts of the case pretty straightforward and maybe even mundane. But while the facts may not be very exciting, that does not diminish the situation. A collection operation is facing a class-action lawsuit for allegedly violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act for leaving two voicemail messages that were made using an artificial or prerecorded voice without the plaintiff’s consent. It is interesting — to this non-lawyer, at least — that the complaint does not reference that an automated telephone dialing system (ATDS) was used at any point in making the calls or leaving the messages.

• More details here.

• This series is sponsored by WebRecon

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY’S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Ed. Dept. Proposes Overhaul of Student Loan Repayment

• The Department of Education yesterday issued a proposed rule aimed at reducing the cost of higher education and simplifying federal student loan repayment, a move that could materially reshape how graduate and professional student loans are originated, repaid, and resolved in default. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking follows last year’s enactment of President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts Act and opens a 30-day public comment period for stakeholders across the student loan ecosystem.

• More details here.

Mass. Judge Dismisses FDCPA Claims Over Interest Accrual

• A District Court judge in Massachusetts has granted a defendant’s motion to dismiss claims it violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, as well as state debt collection regulations over the contents of an acceleration letter that was sent to the plaintiff.

• More details here.

Court Dismisses FCRA Claim Despite ‘Cursory’ Furnisher Investigation

• Having your apartment infested with rodents and still offering to pay the rent and probably being right that a collector’s efforts to verify the reporting of a debt “were cursory and insufficient” were not enough for a plaintiff’s Fair Credit Reporting Act lawsuit to survive a motion for judgment on the pleadings filed by the collection operation, a District Court judge in New York has ruled. Even if a collector’s investigation was minimal, an FCRA claim cannot proceed unless the plaintiff plausibly alleges an inaccuracy that is objectively and readily verifiable, the judge ruled.

• More details here.

CFPB to Restart Exams in Q2 With Fewer Reviews and Narrower Scope: Bloomberg

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau examiners sidelined for much of the past year are expected to return to work as early as April, but with a dramatically scaled-back examination program that will feature far fewer exams, narrower scope, and fully virtual reviews, according to a published report. The CFPB expects to conduct fewer than 70 exams in 2026, a steep decline from recent years, as supervisors begin developing exam scopes next week ahead of second-quarter reviews.

• More details here.

WORTH NOTING: Keeping financial secrets is just as bad as actual cheating, according to a large number of people across America ... Consumers are feeling more optimistic about their financial outlooks, which is a good sign for the economy ... Seventeen different health plans share how their priorities are shifting this year due to the continued increases in medical costs ... Ten things to know about the state of the housing market ... What you need to know about the man tapped to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve Board ... Experts weigh in on when it's appropriate to overtip ... Why women are using AI less then men ... Starbucks Rewards program is getting a makeover.

Funny Friday, part I

Funny Friday, Part II

Webinar Recap: Migrating From One Platform to Another

In a recent AccountsRecovery.net webinar sponsored by CSS Impact, industry leaders shared candid insights on the challenges and opportunities of migrating to new collection platforms. Panelists emphasized that while migrations are disruptive and complex, they can deliver significant operational improvements when approached with clear planning, realistic expectations, and strong collaboration.

Jonathan Agnes (Dedicated Financial GBC) highlighted the importance of empathy and human-centered processes. Topher Androff (Universal Fidelity) admitted, “What I do not like the most is migrating platforms,” but stressed that planning is the most critical step. Rob Grafrath (CSS Impact) described conversions as problem-solving opportunities, noting the “victory dance” when teams successfully go live. Nicholas Greiner (LJ Ross Associates) underscored industry camaraderie and the need to lead the process rather than rely solely on vendors.

Panelists agreed that success requires company-wide involvement, thorough data validation, and preparation for inevitable delays. Quick migrations may sound appealing, but as Grafrath warned, “It’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the splat at the end.”

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Plan Realistically: Involve all departments, set clear objectives, and add buffer time to go-live dates. Expect delays and prepare for them.

• Own the Process: Listen to vendor advice but lead with your knowledge of your system and data. Don’t rely solely on conversion partners.

• Validate and Test: Data integrity is paramount. Run dress rehearsals in test environments to uncover issues before go-live.

This webinar reinforced that platform migration is not just an IT project—it’s an organizational transformation. With careful planning, leadership, and validation, agencies can turn disruption into progress.

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