Daily Digest - July 10, 2026

🎂 Happy birthday to: Matthew Rehnelt of NCCI, Nick McLaughlin of Breez Health, Ken Rubin of Hollis Cobb Associates, Joshua Jump of Goldman Sachs, and Paul Maclnnis of Symmetry Lending.

🎉Congratulations for starting new positions: Kristie Cooper as Debt Settlement Manager at Spring Oaks Capital.

NEW AI SURVEY

Have 90 seconds to help me out? Take this quick survey, sponsored by TCN, on how you are using AI, what you like about it, and what frustrates you.

New Digital Communications Report

The industry is optimistic. Placements are expected to climb. Consumers, it turns out, are more ready for digital than the businesses serving them.

New AI Event!

I am thrilled to announce a new live conference I am hosting. It’s an AI conference for the credit and collection industry. It will be held in Denver this September. Check out getbrainstorming.com for more information. And watch the video below to see me showcasing my outdoor skills.

If you are interested in being a speaker at the event, click here.

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, Jenna Leigh Guyton from Americollect shares advice on how do you advise or recommend collectors to respond when a consumer says something along the lines of, “I have no idea what this debt is about or why you’re calling me.” Thanks to Peak Revenue Learning for sponsoring this series! Click on the image below to view this week’s episode!

Contents of Messages Lead to FDCPA Suit Against Collector

• A collector is facing an FDCPA lawsuit over three garbled voicemails that allegedly failed to identify the caller or disclose the debt collection purpose, plus a missing validation notice. The message transcripts alone are worth a look for anyone reviewing their own scripts. Read what the complaint alleges.

• More details here.

• This series is sponsored by WebRecon

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY’S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

49 State AGs Ask FCC to Choke Off Robocallers' Supply of Phone Numbers, Ban Number Cycling

• Nearly every state attorney general in the country just told the FCC to ban number cycling outright, even when legitimate callers rotate numbers to escape improper labeling and blocking. If your operation uses number rotation as a workaround, the states have made it clear they see it as a red flag. Find out what else the AGs are asking for and what it means for your outbound strategy.

• More details here.

CFPB Takes First Step Toward Revisiting Credit Card Late Fee Rule

• Just when everyone thought the credit card late fee fight was dead and buried, the CFPB has quietly submitted a Request for Information that could restart the rulemaking process. It's a surprising move from a Bureau that has abandoned nearly every other Biden-era initiative. Read why the agency might be circling back and what it could mean for delinquency and recovery operations.

• More details here.

Contact Centers Racing to Deploy AI Are Tripping Over Their Own Data, Report Finds

• More than 95% of contact centers are now running AI, but only 35% say their data is actually ready to support it, and four in 10 are shrinking or about to shrink their agent workforce. A new report says the industry has moved from FOMO to FOMU: the fear of messing up. See where your operation stacks up.

• More details here.

Tenant Screening Company to Pay $2.25M to Settle FCRA Charges with FTC

• The FTC just made clear that "we only reported what the vendor sent us" is not a defense, hitting a tenant screening company with a $2.25 million penalty over duplicate records and mishandled disputes. The complaint is a roadmap of what regulators expect from any company reselling consumer data. Read what went wrong and what the order now requires.

• More details here.

Judge Signs Off on $8.3M FCRA Class Settlement Over Erroneous Bankruptcy Remarks

• A mixed-up match between two men who shared a last name and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers has snowballed into an $8.3 million class settlement. The case shows just how expensive a single bad bankruptcy notation can become when reasonable procedures break down. Read how the settlement is structured and what the defendant must now do differently.

• More details here.

Judge Rules CRAs Are Not Debt Collectors in Dismissing FDCPA, FCRA Suit

• A federal judge in Louisiana has tossed a pro se lawsuit against three credit reporting agencies, ruling the FDCPA simply does not apply to companies that report credit rather than collect debts. The opinion is a useful reminder of where the statutory lines sit, and why complaints that merely recite the law don't survive. Read how the judge picked the claims apart.

• More details here

WORTH NOTING: Breakfast cereals that look healthy, but really aren't ... A look at how Goldman Sachs is predicting the housing market will fare during the second half of 2026 ... CFPB Acting Director Russell Vought will testify before a Senate Banking Committee hearing later this month ... How the rules of improv can not only make you funnier, but also improve your confidence ... If you are hoping for an end to rising prices, you are likely to be disappointed ... Which names are the most-judged in America ... A global ranking of the best places to live ... How to celebrate National French Fry day today.

Funny Friday, part I

Funny Friday, Part II

Webinar Recap: Answering Questions about NYC's Debt Collection Rule

The webinar, sponsored by CSS Impact, brought together leading compliance and legal experts to address the complexities of New York City’s new debt collection rule. Panelists emphasized that the regulation introduces requirements that go beyond federal law, often conflicting with existing frameworks, and applies to any account that touches the five boroughs. As moderator Dennis Barton noted, “These regulations are our modern-day vampire, so let’s try to give you some garlic here.”

Key issues discussed included mandatory disclosures, formatting challenges, electronic communication rules, and credit reporting obligations. Scott Morris highlighted that even non-medical debts must include a medical disclosure, while Stephanie Jackman warned that “once you send a debt validation letter in a language other than English, you have to basically do everything else in that language.” Rick Perr cautioned that plaintiff attorneys are likely to “push the envelope” on enforcement, creating additional risks for agencies and creditors.

The panel agreed that ambiguity in the rules—such as defining what constitutes a “recorded” communication or how to handle natural person requirements—will likely lead to enforcement actions and litigation. With September 1 as the effective date, firms must act quickly to prepare.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Redesign Notices Immediately: Update debt validation notices to include mandatory disclosures, formatting requirements, and language preference statements.

• Strengthen Communication Compliance: Ensure opt-outs in every electronic message, disclose recordings, and provide callback numbers answered by a live operator within 60 seconds.

• Plan for Credit Reporting Adjustments: Implement processes to send notices at least 14 days before reporting debts, monitor for undeliverability, and prepare for potential enforcement challenges.

This webinar underscored the urgent need for operational readiness. Agencies, debt buyers, and creditors must balance compliance with practicality, while anticipating that regulators and plaintiff attorneys will test the boundaries of these new rules.

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