Daily Digest - March 25, 2026

🎂 Happy Birthday to the following: Chris Nye of Radius Global Solutions.

🎉 Congratulations for starting new positions: Dustin Allen as Vice President of Legal Operations at Rausch Sturm.

Logo Madness is Back!

The quest to identify the best logo in the credit and collections industry is here. Click here to submit your logo and click here to see the past winners.

NEW: Digital Communications Survey

✅ Click here and take a quick digital communications and benchmarking survey

FDCPA Exposure in Foreclosure Action Gets Fresh Look from Eighth Circuit

• The Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has vacated a lower court’s dismissal of a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claim against a collection law firm because it allegedly never sent the plaintiff the payoff request that she provided. The decision sends the case back for further proceedings and highlights a nuanced and unresolved issue for collection attorneys and servicers: when a failure to comply with state foreclosure requirements may also trigger liability under the FDCPA.

• More details here.

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY’S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Did the Letter Get Sent? Court Orders Discovery in FCRA Mailing Case

• A District Court judge in Ohio has denied a defendant’s motion to dismiss claims it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act in a he-said, she-said case over whether the defendant mailed a copy of the plaintiff’s consumer file after she requested it. The decision is notable for how it handles a recurring operational question for consumer reporting agencies and furnishers alike: is proof of mailing enough to satisfy FCRA disclosure obligations, even if the consumer says they never received anything? The court said yes on the legal question. But on the facts, it said it is simply too early to decide.

• More details here.

San Diego County Approves New Consumer Protection Unit, Raising Questions About Overlap and Enforcement

• San Diego County officials yesterday voted to create a new consumer protection unit aimed at cracking down on scams, junk fees, and predatory financial practices, a move that highlights a broader shift toward state and local enforcement as federal oversight faces uncertainty. But the decision has sparked pushback from the District Attorney, who warns the new unit could duplicate existing efforts rather than fill meaningful gaps.

• More details here.

Payment Plans and Price Transparency Emerge as Critical Levers in Patient Collections

• Nearly two-thirds of patients say tailored payment plans would increase their confidence in paying medical bills, yet a growing share continue to struggle with rising healthcare costs, according to Experian Health’s 2026 State of Patient Access Survey. For organizations collecting on medical debt, the data highlights a widening gap between patients’ ability to pay and providers’ efforts to improve access, with financial friction increasingly driving delays in care, lower collections, and more complex revenue cycle challenges.

• More details here.

38 Companies Seeking Collection Talent

• Plenty of jobs for anyone looking for a new opportunity or those who might be wondering if the grass is greener somewhere else. Also, for those who might be looking to attract talent, see how your peers and colleagues are trying to find their next hires.

• More details here.

WORTH NOTING: How our digital lives are shaping our real-world happiness ... RIP to the creator of Air Bud, who died bankrupt and homeless ... An in-depth analysis of the best places to work in the country ... Which airlines have the best frequent flyer programs in 2026? ... Spotify has a new feature to show how your favorite songs are connected ... There are a lot of misconceptions among consumers about how they can improve their credit scores ... Just in case you're not sure what gas lighting is ... For the first time ever, more employees nationwide are struggling than thriving.

Wisdom Wednesday, part I

Wisdom Wednesday, Part II

Webinar Recap: Separating AI Fact From Fiction and Hype From Reality

Artificial intelligence continues to dominate conversations in the credit and collections industry, but separating genuine innovation from marketing hype remains a challenge. In this webinar, experts including Dennis Barton, Shawn Farris, Kyle Huff, Michael Meyer, and Aaron Reiter explored misconceptions, risks, and practical applications of AI in debt recovery and financial services.

Panelists stressed that AI is not a product you can “just buy.” As Shawn Farris noted, “People think they can just go buy AI and say, now I have AI… It’s not a set it, forget it.” Instead, AI is a discipline requiring clean data, governance frameworks, and ongoing human oversight.

Michael Meyer highlighted how AI can transform compliance and data management: agencies can now run policies against their data to test adherence, something previously requiring extensive staff. Kyle Huff emphasized the importance of frameworks like NIST’s AI Risk Management to evaluate vendor claims, while Aaron Reiter underscored the challenge of communicating AI’s rapid evolution to clients.

The discussion also warned against rushing into adoption without clear objectives. Agencies should define desired outcomes first, then select tools that align with those goals. Vendors should be pressed to demonstrate how AI is integrated into their solutions, not just claim it.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Prioritize Clean Data: AI outputs are only as good as the data fed into them. Curated, accurate datasets are essential to avoid harmful or misleading results.

• Demand Vendor Transparency: Ask vendors to provide a statement of work detailing how AI is used, what models are employed, and what controls are in place.

• Establish Governance Frameworks: Implement internal policies to manage AI adoption, ensure compliance, and prepare for audits as regulations evolve.

This session reinforced that AI is a powerful force multiplier for agencies of all sizes—but only when implemented thoughtfully, with clear goals, clean data, and strong oversight.

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