Daily Digest - May 4, 2026

🎂Happy Birthday to: Vanessa Towning of Intuit, and Rob Arena of Common Collection Agency. Happy belated Birthday to: Scott Horowitz of PRA Group (May 3), Laura Beckerley of TrueML (May 3), Peachy Agregado of JP Morgan Chase & Co. (May 2), and Rick Paulin of National Enterprise Systems (May 2).

🎉Congratulations for starting new positions: Hailey Staats as Legal Network Performance Manager at LCS Financial Services Corporation, and Shane Aubrey as Performance Manager at Paragon.

Logo Madness!

It’s time to crown the best logo in the industry. Full bracket available here so you can track the competition. Click on the link underneath the logo to choose your winner. Voting is open for 24 hours.

NYC to Hold Hearing on Debt Collection Rule, Announces Penalty Schedule

• The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has proposed amendments to its debt collection penalty schedule to align with recently adopted rules, and will hold a public hearing on June 1, with written comments due the same day. The proposed changes are intended to incorporate new and modified requirements that will take effect on September 1.

• More details here.

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY’S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

When ‘Inaccuracy’ Isn’t So Simple: Court Rejects FCRA Claims Over Fraud Dispute

• A District Court judge in Virginia has dismissed Fair Credit Reporting Act claims against a lender, finding that a borrower’s dispute over a vehicle loan tied to an undelivered car raised legal questions that fall outside the scope of what the FCRA is designed to address.The decision centers on a relatively unusual fact pattern. The plaintiff entered into a financing agreement for the purchase of a vehicle that was never delivered, after the lender sent more than $54,000 to what allegedly turned out to be a fraudulent seller. Despite reporting the suspected fraud and never receiving the vehicle, the plaintiff was told he remained responsible for repaying the loan.

• More details here.

Judge Sends FDCPA Case Back to State Court, Awards Fees Over Improper Removal

• A District Court judge in Wisconsin has delivered a pointed reminder that removing an Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case to federal court can backfire when standing is not clearly established by not only granting a plaintiff’s motion to remand her case back to state court, but also ordering the defendant to pay attorneys’ fees and costs, finding that the removal lacked an objectively reasonable basis.

• More details here.

FCC Advances KYC Rulemaking as Broader Robocall Enforcement Strategy Takes Shape

• The Federal Communications Commission has unanimously advanced a proposal that would significantly reshape how voice service providers vet customers, signaling a shift toward mandatory identity verification and stricter enforcement tied directly to call volume. The Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, approved last week, asks whether providers should be required to verify customer identities using government-issued IDs and other data before enabling service, while also exploring penalties based on the number of illegal calls placed.

• More details here.

Announcing the ARMTech Coding Contest Winners

• A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (IYKYK), I launched a coding contest, seeking to tap into the new tools that are out there that can turn anyone, including fuzzballs like me, into programmers and software developers. I was supposed to announce the winners at ARMTech, but things got away from me and it didn’t happen. As time wore on, the timeliness of announcing the winners became less and less important and I have kept people waiting long enough. To those of you who submitted entries, I can’t thank you enough. I think this was a really neat idea and I am grateful that you saw it, too. I hope to replicate this again for ARMTech 2027 and I vow to do a better job of announcing the winners in less time than it takes someone to do the Kessel Run.

• More details here.

Compliance Digest – May 4

• Check out this week's Compliance Digest, featuring Chuck Dodge highlighting the growing effectiveness of standing challenges, while Stephanie Strickler emphasized courts holding pro se litigants accountable for procedural rules and misuse of AI in an FCRA dismissal. David Grassi broke down the CFPB’s elimination of disparate impact under ECOA, Kim Phan analyzed federal data privacy legislation, and Xerxes Martin noted the importance of proving inaccuracy in FCRA claims. Additional insights came from Brit Suttell on jurisdiction risks in cross-state garnishments, Jessica Klander on standing tied to actual payment in FDCPA cases, Leslie Bender on state AG opposition to CFPB changes, and John Culhane on new medical debt legislation advancing in D.C.

• More details here.

• This series is sponsored by Frost Echols

WORTH NOTING: A majority of doctors say practicing medicine isn't worth it ... A Costco superfan shares hack to get the most out of your membership ... RIP Jeeves, one of the first Internet search engines ... A lot of people believe the country has an obsession problem ... Gift ideas for Mother's Day ... A pre-workout habit that might help boost your endurance by as much as 20% ... Gas prices keep climbing and are at their highest point since the war in Iran started ... How to not get crushed by the wave of AI taking entry-level jobs.

Music Monday, part I

Music Monday, Part II

Webinar Recap: Dissecting the FCC's Proposal for Onshoring Contact Centers

The FCC has issued a proposed rule to onshore contact centers, requiring offshore representatives to be proficient in American Standard English, limiting offshore call volumes to 30%, mandating disclosure of offshore locations with transfer options to U.S. centers, and restricting sensitive transactions to domestic staff. Panelists emphasized that while the proposal reflects consumer protection and “America First” priorities, it raises serious concerns about statutory authority, compliance costs, and operational feasibility. They also highlighted the connection to broader initiatives like the Protecting Americans from Robocalls Act, which could expand TCPA liability and reignite class action risks.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Audit Offshore Operations: Assess current call center structures against the proposed 30% cap and disclosure requirements to identify compliance gaps.

• Engage in Advocacy: Encourage creditor clients and industry partners to participate in the FCC’s comment period, as panelists noted this could influence regulatory outcomes.

• Monitor Legislative Risks: Track developments around the Protecting Americans from Robocalls Act, which may broaden auto-dialer definitions and increase TCPA exposure.

Panelists agreed the proposal is part of a broader push to bring jobs back to the U.S., but warned it could create a “regulatory nightmare” for telecom-related collections and beyond. As one panelist noted, “There is no explicit statutory authority for these rules… this is a defense lawyer’s dream.” Industry professionals should prepare now by auditing operations, engaging clients, and closely monitoring legislative changes.

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