Daily Digest - July 15, 2026

🎂 Happy birthday to: David Ravin of Harvest Strategy Group.

🎉Congratulations for starting new positions: Kendall Pinotti as Vice President, Operations Strategy & Customer Solutions at OppFi.

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.

Appeals Court Rules Text Message Is Not a 'Telephone Call' Under TCPA

• The Seventh Circuit has ruled that a text message is not a "telephone call" under the TCPA's private right of action, affirming the dismissal of a class action over unwanted marketing texts. The decision splits from other circuits and could reshape the litigation risk calculus for anyone texting consumers. Read why the court said 1991's Congress never contemplated suing over texts.

• More details here.

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY’S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

CFPB Regulatory Agenda Puts Debt Collection Larger Participant Rule on September Timeline

• The CFPB's new regulatory agenda lists 20 rulemakings through year-end, and the biggest one for this industry is a September proposal reconsidering the larger participant test that determines which debt collectors face Bureau supervision. See what else is on the agenda, and what's conspicuously missing from it.

• More details here.

Former CFPB Enforcement Leaders Launch Law Firm Targeting Debt Collectors, Lenders

• The trio that ran the CFPB's enforcement division, responsible for more than $9.5 billion in penalties and redress, has launched a private law firm with debt collectors explicitly in its crosshairs. Federal enforcement may be slowing, but the people who built it are not going anywhere. Meet the names every ARM executive should know.

• More details here.

State Appeals Court Reverses Judgment for Collector Over Procedural Errors

• A New Jersey appeals court has unwound a debt buyer's win over a $662 credit card debt after the written order granted a summary judgment motion the trial judge had said was withdrawn, and the defendant's motion to vacate vanished from the docket. A cautionary tale about what happens when the paperwork doesn't match the courtroom.

• More details here.

Appeals Court Affirms Jury Verdict for Defendant in FCRA Case

• The Ninth Circuit has upheld a jury verdict clearing a furnisher accused of violating the FCRA by reporting a missed payment on a vehicle lease the plaintiff claimed he never owed. The panel rejected challenges to the evidence, the exhibits, and the trial judge himself, noting a judge "is more than an umpire."

• More details here.

N.Y. Gov Orders Sweeping Review of Regs, With AI Flagging Thousands of Targets

• Gov. Kathy Hochul has ordered every New York state agency to hunt for outdated rules, burdensome fees, and penalties that could be waived or replaced with cure periods, in what her administration calls the most comprehensive regulatory review in state history. AI tools combed 18 million words of regulations to find the targets. See what compliance teams should be watching.

• More details here.

40 Companies Seeking Collection Talent

• From entry-level collectors to a VP of Revenue Cycle and a Director of Collections Strategy, this week's roundup features 40 open positions across the industry, many of them remote. Whether you're hiring or looking, it's all in one place.

• More details here

WORTH NOTING: If you thought time was moving too fast, Summerween is already here ... Experts weigh in on the biggest misconceptions when it comes to inherited debt ... Companies are releasing software to help you manage your tokens and AI usage limits ... How Christopher Nolan became Hollywood's most bankable director ... Why self-driving cars won't help lower auto insurance rates ... How Dollar Shave Club uses generative AI to unlock advertising creativity ... Inflation has slowed sharply, but it might not last for long ... United Airlines is offering a new economy plus seating option that gets rid of the middle seat.

Wisdom Wednesday, part I

Wisdom Wednesday, Part II

Webinar Recap: Where Companies are Spending Too Much Trying to Engage With Consumers

In a recent webinar hosted by AccountRecovery.net and sponsored by Five9, panelists from CCS Companies, CVE Companies, Paycor, and Five9 discussed how organizations often overspend on consumer engagement. The conversation highlighted that adding more channels, agents, and personalization tools does not necessarily improve outcomes. Instead, success depends on strategic orchestration, cost containment, and aligning outreach with consumer behavior and debt type.

Chris Repholz noted, “We’re not in an arms race to just keep adding things. It’s really to use the data to make better decisions with the tools we have.” Panelists agreed that while AI and omni-channel strategies can improve efficiency, human labor remains the most expensive resource and must be deployed wisely. Generational preferences and debt characteristics also play a critical role in determining which channels are effective, with physical mail still proving valuable in certain contexts.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Audit and streamline channels: Focus on outcomes rather than volume. Start with cost-effective options like SMS or email before escalating to more expensive channels.

• Segment by debt type and demographics: High-balance accounts may require negotiators and physical mail, while low-balance debts are better suited for self-service portals and digital outreach.

• Balance AI with human empathy: Use AI for triage and agent assist, but ensure complex and sensitive negotiations are handled by trained professionals.

This webinar underscored that smarter engagement—not more engagement—is the path to better consumer outcomes and cost efficiency in collections.

Webinar Recap: It’s Back: Looking Ahead to a New Era of the CFPB

The latest webinar, “It’s Back: Looking Ahead to a New Era of the CFPB,” sponsored by Connect International, examined the revival of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) amid leadership changes, workforce restructuring, and renewed regulatory activity. Panelists Joann Needleman (Clark Hill) and Manny Newburger (Barron & Newburger) discussed the nomination of Brian Johnson as director, the agency’s operational challenges, and the implications for the credit and collections industry.

The CFPB, once seen as “on its deathbed,” is now signaling a return to active rulemaking and enforcement. Johnson’s nomination was widely praised - Newburger called him “an excellent choice… not remotely Chopra as a director” but political uncertainty could limit his tenure. Meanwhile, the agency has proposed significant workforce reductions, relocated to smaller offices, and begun issuing RFIs on late fees and mortgage rules.

Panelists emphasized that while federal oversight is regaining strength, state regulators remain aggressive, creating a dual compliance burden. Needleman noted, “The CFPB is not dead. Long live the CFPB,” underscoring the bureau’s persistence despite political turbulence.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Monitor Leadership Confirmation: Track Brian Johnson’s nomination process closely, as his leadership will shape CFPB priorities and enforcement style.

• Prepare for Regulatory Shifts: Anticipate new rules on late fees and mortgage regulations; engage in comment periods to influence outcomes.

• Strengthen Compliance Frameworks: With both federal and state regulators active, agencies must ensure operational readiness to adapt quickly.

This webinar highlighted a critical transition point: the CFPB is moving from uncertainty back into action. For debt collection agencies, debt buyers, fintechs, banks, credit unions, consumer finance companies, and healthcare providers, the message is clear—regulatory engagement and proactive compliance are essential in navigating this new era.

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