Daily Digest - October 7, 2025

 🎉🎂 Happy Birthday to: Steve Thibodeau of Global Lending Services, and Jordan Akins of Total CollectR.

 🎉Congratulations to the following for starting new positions: Tyler Simendinger as Business Development Account Executive at SIMM Associates.

Consumer Files FDCPA Suit After Giving Collector Two-Hour Window for Communications

• This complaint might win the award for the shortest recitation of facts that led to the lawsuit being filed. It’s also a stark reminder of the strict liability-ness of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and that anybody can be sued for just about anything. It’s also more evidence of how consumers are attempting to restrict communication attempts from collectors and begs the question: was there any other reason to file this other than trying to avoid paying this debt?

• More details here.

• This series is sponsored by WebRecon

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY‘S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

NJ Appeals Court Says Using a Mail Vendor Doesn’t Violate the FDCPA

• Where was this ruling three years ago? A New Jersey Appeals Court has affirmed the dismissal of a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case, ruling that the defendant’s use of a vendor to print and mail letters is not a violation of the statute, because sending the plaintiff’s information to the vendor to print and mail a letter was not an attempt to collect on the debt.

• More details here.

Government Weighs Selling Portions of $1.6T Federal Student Loan Portfolio: Report

• The Trump administration is considering a dramatic shift in federal student lending policy by exploring whether to sell portions of the government’s $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to private investors, according to a published report. The discussions, involving senior officials from the Education and Treasury Departments, center on selling “high-performing” segments of the debt held by roughly 45 million Americans.

• More details here.

AI Voices Now Indistinguishable from Humans: Report

• Artificial intelligence has crossed a critical threshold in the world of voice technology. According to researchers at Queen Mary University of London and University College London, AI-generated voices, especially voices cloned from humans, now sound as real as genuine human voices to most listeners.

• More details here.

WORTH NOTING: The number of homeowners facing foreclosure is rising fast ... Credit card debt is being blames for contributing to more divorces nationwide ... Cybersecurity is becoming more of a pressing concern for consumers who think its harder to secure their digital assets than their physical ones ... If you feel like you are drowning in busywork while at work, you are not alone ... If I have learned one thing living in New Jersey, never talk bad about pork roll or Taylor ham ... AI could eliminate as many as 100 million jobs in the next decade ... Switching between apps is costing employees a lot in lost productivity ... How long $1.5 million in retirement savings would last in each state.

Trailer Tuesday, part I

Trailer Tuesday, Part II

Webinar Recap: Reducing and Addressing Broken Promises to Pay

In the webinar “Reducing and Addressing Broken Promises to Pay,” hosted by Mike Gibb of AccountsRecovery.net, industry leaders LaDonna Bohling, Daniel Gillaspey, and Jeff Schuerman shared practical strategies to improve payment follow-through and minimize missed commitments. While many consumers easily agree to make a payment, ensuring they follow through is where effective negotiation, empathy, and training make all the difference.

The panelists agreed that success begins with building trust and understanding the consumer’s situation. As LaDonna put it, “Empathy doesn’t mean agreement — it means understanding.” The conversation also emphasized identifying red flags—such as overly agreeable consumers or vague payment timelines—that signal a likely broken promise. Collectors were urged to use active listening, ask open-ended questions, and confirm understanding through strong call recaps.

Technology also plays a key role in follow-up. Daniel noted that “it’s cheaper to send a text than a letter,” and digital reminders often remove the embarrassment that prevents consumers from reconnecting. While AI can help analyze data and trends, the panelists agreed that empathy and human interaction remain irreplaceable.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Focus on Realistic Promises: Encourage collectors to seek smaller, achievable commitments that match consumers’ financial realities. Unrealistic payment plans are a major cause of broken promises.

• Build Rapport Through Empathy: Teach agents to listen actively, mirror consumer responses, and personalize the conversation to increase trust and accountability.

• Use Technology to Strengthen Follow-Up: Incorporate text and email reminders to reduce no-shows and re-engage consumers who may feel embarrassed after missing a payment.

This discussion reinforced a simple truth: in collections, success isn’t just about getting a promise—it’s about building the kind of relationship that ensures the promise is kept.

The Daily Digest is sponsored by TCN