Daily Digest - October 17, 2025

 🎉🎂 Happy Birthday to: Gary Abel of KSI Law, Kimberlie Cline of CACi, and Jonathan Ortiz of Bayview Solutions.

🔔 October Meeting Schedule

Monday, October 20 @3pm ET: Women in Collections

Wednesday, October 22 @3pm ET: ARMTech Innovation Lab

Thursday, October 23 @3pm ET: Platform Pulse

Monday, October 27 @3pm ET: Compliance Chat

Tuesday, October 28 @3pm ET: Vendor Roundtable

Thursday, October 30 @3pm ET: Small Agency TechTactics

🚨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, Jennifer Peck from The Stark Agency shared how to know if a collector left a consumer better off after the call, even if they didn’t pay. Thanks to Peak Revenue Learning for sponsoring this series! Click on the image below to view this week’s episode!

Plaintiff Claims Collection Attempts Left Him Constipated, Sleepless, Mistreated

• There are two types of complaints that are filed against companies in the credit and collection industry: those that are short on details and those that aren’t. This is the latter. A pair of companies are facing claims they violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and state law in Michigan for their attempts to collect on the proceeds of a loan that the plaintiff claims never to have received, which caused the plaintiff to suffer from a number of medical issues and to verbally abuse the person taking care of him.

• More details here.

• This series is sponsored by WebRecon

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY‘S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

No Injury, No Standing: N.Y. State Court Adopts Federal Approach in FDCPA Case

• A New York Appeals Court has affirmed the dismissal of a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case against a defendant, ruling the plaintiff did not have standing to pursue his claims because he did not suffer a concrete injury, which is important because this is one of the first cases at the state level in New York to adopt the TransUnion v. Ramirez standard for standing.

• More details here.

Collector Asks Supreme Court to Clarify FDCPA Duties Before Working Account

• A collection operation has filed a petition with the Supreme Court for it to hear arguments in a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case, seeking answers to three questions related to the work that should be done before starting collection activity on an account, and whether a medical debt incurred after someone was injured while working is considered a consumer debt.

• More details here.

Spam Robocalls Surge to Six-Year High, Raising Alarm for Call-Dependent Industries

• Spam and scam robocalls have surged to their highest level since 2019, according to a new report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, posing growing challenges for businesses that depend on phone-based outreach, including those in credit and collections. The report, Ringing in Our Fears 2025, warns that despite federal mandates designed to curb the problem, compliance among phone carriers has actually declined over the past year.

• More details here.

WORTH NOTING: Members of Generation Z are relying more and more on side gigs for their income ... Customers of a new credit card offered by Citibank are not having a pleasant experience ... A bunch of photos that look fake, but aren't ... The 18 weirdest things you can buy on Amazon ... Gas prices are under $3 per gallon, on average, and could drop even lower ... Five reasons why you should never compliment someone's weight loss ... The one question you should ask when you are in a high-stakes situation ... When you have to pay your employer when you quit your job.

Funny Friday, part I

Funny Friday, Part II

Webinar Recap: How to Compete on Service, Not Compete on Rate

In an industry often driven by price competition, experts on this panel urged collection agencies to shift their focus from lowering rates to delivering exceptional service. Hosted by Ken Rubin, CFO of Hollis Cobb Associates and founder of Connect International, the discussion featured Kelly Paul of TrueAccord, Susan Richards of CredTech Consulting, and Chris Walcher of Cedar Financial. Together, they explored how agencies can differentiate themselves through trust, transparency, and true partnership.

Panelists agreed that while technology and AI are transforming the industry, service quality still defines success. “The biggest challenge is that creditors have no idea what’s going on,” said Walcher. “Giving them real-time visibility through data dashboards changes everything.” Paul emphasized the importance of measurable results and proactive client management, while Richards reminded agencies that “your actions always speak louder than words.”

The conversation also touched on pricing strategy and profitability. Agencies must know their worth, develop strong pricing models, and be willing to walk away from clients whose rates make it impossible to maintain service quality. As Walcher noted, “Sometimes the bigger the client, the less realistic they are about what it costs to collect.”

While AI and automation continue to evolve, the panel stressed that human relationships remain the ultimate differentiator. As Richards put it, “When you take away the tech, it comes down to the people.”

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Prove your value with data. Use dashboards, insights, and transparent reporting to demonstrate performance and reliability.

• Be selective and strategic. Don’t chase every client—focus on those that align with your service standards and profitability goals.

• Invest in relationships. Strong communication, trust, and understanding your client’s business will set your agency apart from the rest.

The Daily Digest is sponsored by TCN