Daily Digest - October 2, 2025

 🎉🎂 Happy Birthday to: Sarah Weatherstine of PRA Group, Saket Sahoo of Connect BPS Global, Jessica Kincaid of Credit Key, Shawn Bradley of Crown Asset Management, and Sean Williams of Williams, Rush & Associates.

 🎉Congratulations to the following for starting new positions: Nicole Nye as Vice President of Product Strategy at Waystar, Taylor Hatfield as Head of Growth & Social Strategy at Revenue Path Group, and Tom Kavanagh as Chief Revunue Officer at Remitter.

Getting to Know Chris Walcher of Cedar Financial

• Soccer coach to collection agency receptionist to sales monster. Isn’t that the path that everyone takes? Reading his answers, it’s hard not to be infected by the positive attitude and enthusiasm that permeates everything Chris Walcher does, which has helped earn him a strong reputation for still being a relative newbie to the ARM industry. Read on to learn more about Chris, why he prefers collaboration over competition, and why he loves shaking and shimmying it with all his might everyday.

• More details here.

• This series is sponsored by TEC Services Group

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY‘S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Judge Dismisses Sovereign Citizen Lawsuit Against Multiple Collectors

• Another day, another dismissal of a suit against pro se plaintiffs who claim to be sovereign citizens. In this case, the plaintiffs sued seven different defendants, including four different collection operations, with a complaint that was “short on facts and improperly include[d] rambling citations to legal authorities and argument.”

• More details here.

Individuals Launch Nation’s First Rent Debt Strike as Collections Rise

• Rental debt is emerging as a major source of financial distress for U.S. households, with tenants now launching the first organized “rent debt strike.” The campaign, supported by the Debt Collective, aims to cancel back rent debts while exposing landlord practices that leave families trapped in cycles of housing insecurity, according to a published report.

• More details here.

Illinois Appeals Court Upholds Judgment in Collection Case With Identity Dispute

• Is it a case of mistaken identity or is it a case of a father protecting his son? An Illinois Appeals Court has upheld a judgment in favor of a defendant who was sued by a creditor for not paying his debt because it essentially did not provide enough evidence to prove the lower court made an error in its ruling.

• More details here.

WORTH NOTING: Residents in America's most dog-friendly city are starting to fight back ... How to activate the call screening feature on iPhone and Android devices ... A good chunk of Americans feel that going to their doctor's office is like going into a time machine, which isn't a good thing ... Tips to help you host a stress-free dinner party ... If you haven't heard the name Tilly Norwood yet, she is being compared to Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, except she is AI ... Do you need a relationship expert to weigh in on a situation where a boyfriend was secretly spicing up his girlfriend's food? ... A lot of home-sellers are cutting the prices they are asking as buyers gain the upper hand ... Half of low-income families now have to choose between electricity and groceries every month.

Top 10 Thursday, part I

Top 10 Thursday, Part II

Webinar Recap: How to Budget for Litigation

Litigation is a reality for every organization in the credit and collections industry. In a recent webinar moderated by Dennis Barton, panelists Justin Murphy (Hasson Law), Katie Neill (TruAccord), and Nick Prola (Bassford Remley) shared practical strategies for anticipating costs, managing risk, and making smarter financial decisions around litigation.

Murphy stressed the importance of looking back at historical data: “If your average over the last five years has been $50,000, build in a little extra—budget $65,000 or $70,000—to give yourself room.” Prola encouraged agencies to benchmark against similar organizations to understand whether their experience is in line with industry peers, especially as new technologies like texting or AI may increase litigation risk.

Neill described how TruAccord forecasts based on account volume and consumer communications: “We typically receive X lawsuits per 100,000 accounts. From there, we extrapolate costs by settlement versus defense, while also factoring in insurance coverage.”

The panel also addressed the rise of pro se litigation—often fueled by online resources like ChatGPT—that is increasingly burdensome despite lacking legal merit. Additionally, regulatory investigations and audits, such as CIDs, require separate budgeting considerations since they can be resource-intensive.

Ultimately, the message was clear: litigation expenses can’t be avoided, but they can be predicted and managed with discipline. As Neill noted, “Know your numbers. Data is a beautiful thing. It helps you make smart litigation decisions.”

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Track and Benchmark: Use historical data and peer benchmarking to create realistic litigation budgets that include room for unexpected claims.

• Develop a Litigation Strategy: Establish principles for when to settle and when to fight, keeping emotions out of costly decisions.

• Plan for More Than Lawsuits: Don’t overlook the costs of regulatory actions, audits, and pro se litigation when setting budgets.

The Daily Digest is sponsored by TCN