Daily Digest - March 9, 2026

🎂 Happy belated Birthday to the following: Brenda Meli of Solutions for Account Management (March 8), Ronald Eubanks of Resolvion (March 7), BJ Magrich of CCMR3 (March 7), Rozanne Andersen (March 7), John Pogue of Kafene (March 7), Topher Androff of Universal Fidelity (March 7), and Ryan O'Hara of F.H. Cann & Associates (March 7).

🎉Congratulations for starting new positions: Sarah Heimburg as Mortgage Loan Originator at Haus Capital Corporation, Debra Yakel as Senior Relationship Banker at Truist, and Nick Shaver as Member Solutions Manager at TRUE Community Credit Union.

Judge Says Only Licensed Attorneys Can Give One-on-One Advice in Collection Lawsuits

• A District Court judge in New York has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on non-lawyers providing individualized legal advice, ruling that the state’s long-standing restrictions on the unauthorized practice of law can be applied to a program designed to help consumers respond to debt collection lawsuits. The decision represents the latest chapter in a closely watched case that could have reshaped who is allowed to provide guidance to consumers facing collection litigation.

• More details here.

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY’S WEBINAR

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Appeals Court Affirms Summary Judgment in FCRA Case Over Medical Debt Reporting

• The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed a ruling in favor of a defendant in a Fair Credit Reporting Act lawsuit over the accuracy of the information being furnished and the reasonableness of a dispute investigation of a medical debt incurred by the plaintiff’s husband.

• More details here.

Former CFPB Policy Fellow Argues Consumer Protection Is a Barometer of Gov’t Priorities

• A former policy fellow at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is making a broad argument about the role of consumer protection laws in the United States, suggesting that how a government treats these laws serves as a clear signal of its priorities and its commitment to protecting ordinary citizens.

• More details here.

Court Rejects Default Judgment in FDCPA Case Over Alleged Validation Notice Confusion

• Sometimes, the best defense is no defense. A District Court judge in New Jersey has denied a plaintiff’s motion for default judgment in a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case over her alleged confusion about when the start of the 30-day validation period started. Even though the defendant never appeared in the case, the court concluded that the plaintiff had not adequately alleged an FDCPA violation and therefore could not obtain judgment by default.

• More details here.

Compliance Digest – March 9

• Get important insights from eight different compliance experts -- Marissa Coyle, Lauren Burnette, Monica Littman, David Kaminski, Michael Poncin, David Grassi, Tom Quinn, and Brooke Conkle -- on topics ranging from what defines a text message to courts dealing with pro se litigants and a lot more.

• More details here.

• This series is sponsored by Frost Echols

WORTH NOTING: Details on changes to how to get answers to Social Security questions ...Employees are being asked to do more without getting paid more ... Experts weigh in on how to make Windows 11 less annoying ... Teens are sleeping less than ever, and it isn't necessarily their screens' fault ... Millions of jobs are vulnerable to a "silver tsunami" ... A quiz to help you decide whether humans or AI is the better writer ... Why employee gossip sessions might actually be good for business ... How to limit damage when you can't avoid a pothole.

Music Monday, part I

Music Monday, Part II

Webinar Recap: How Do You Know if You Have a Good Portal?

In a recent webinar moderated by Dennis Barton of Barton Law Group and sponsored by Interprose, industry leaders explored what separates a truly effective portal from one that is merely adequate. As Mike Gibb noted, “Digital portals have become the front door to your business.” The panel emphasized that portals must go beyond clean design—they should improve transparency, enable self-service, automate processes, and drive measurable efficiency.

Consumer Portals: Chase Slocum stressed that consumers ultimately decide what makes a portal “good,” highlighting the need for frictionless access to payments, disputes, and account information. Terry Merrell added that reliability is critical: “What makes a really good portal is one that’s never down.” John Erickson underscored customization, backend access, and cost-effectiveness, likening a portal to a Ferrari—powerful but usable by all skill levels.

Client & Training Portals: Greg Ruffino pointed to permission-based access and secure messaging as essential features for client portals. Merrell suggested adding invoicing and custom reporting to enhance client experience. Erickson also noted the importance of training portals for onboarding remote staff, ensuring secure access to HR documents and training materials.

Frictionless Experience & Automation: Panelists agreed that automation is key. Payments should trigger immediate confirmations and letters without human intervention. Auto-login links, mobile optimization, and real-time integrations reduce friction and free collectors to focus on meaningful consumer interactions. Merrell reported that 70% of her agency’s revenue now comes through portals, improving both efficiency and staff retention.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Prioritize frictionless design: Auto-login, mobile optimization, and instant confirmations reduce consumer effort and agent workload.

• Enhance client functionality: Permission-based access, secure messaging, and custom reporting strengthen client relationships.

• Leverage automation & analytics: Real-time integrations and behavioral data help optimize portal performance and consumer engagement.

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