Daily Digest - September 18, 2025

 🎉🎂 Happy Birthday to: Seth Peters of TrueML, Iribeliz Schaffer of NCB Management Services, and Patrick Malecky of Comp Recovery.

🎉 Congratulations to the following for starting their new positions: David Walters as Chief Lending Officer at 4Front Credit Union.

So far this year, lawmakers in 38 states have introduced 123 bills on medical debt and 14 have become law.

Staying on top of this is critically important for collection operations of all shapes and sizes. This trend is not going to stop moving across the country and won’t stop with medical debt.

Sign up for ComplianceCon to get real-time updates on these developments and others that states are working on. Https://compliance-con.com.

🔖 🎓 Now with CLE Credits!

Getting to Know Bettina Hagey of Credit Control

• A lot of people don’t know there is a second part to the saying, “Jack of all trades.” The second part, “and master of none” is meant to illustrate that you can’t be good at everything. Bettina Hagey does a good job of taking that maxim and saying, “hold my beer.” Wearing multiple hats at her job, she leans into both the operations and training side of her role. Read on to learn more about Bettina, where you are likely to find her — happily — at the end of every month, and what she does when she needs to disconnect.

• More details here.

• This series is sponsored by TEC Services Group

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY‘S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Judge Denies Pro Se Plaintiff’s Motions in FCRA/FDCPA Case

• One trend that has been mentioned by a growing number of attorneys are plaintiffs who are representing themselves in cases against collection operations. This ruling highlights what defending those types of cases is like. A Magistrate Court judge in New York has denied a number of motions filed by a plaintiff, including one seeking sanctions against the defendants in a Fair Credit Reporting Act and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case.

• More details here.

NY AG Investigating Collection Law Firm Over Nursing Home Debt Collection Practices: Report

• New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating medical debt collection practices at politically connected law firm Abrams Fensterman, according to court testimony and a published report. The probe is scrutinizing whether the firm violated state and federal laws by suing friends and relatives of nursing home residents, who, in many cases, did not personally owe the debts.

• More details here.

Industry Submits Testimony Opposing Ohio Medical Debt Collection Bill

• A hearing was held yesterday by the House Health Committee of the Ohio legislature to discuss the Medical Debt Fairness Act, which aims to remove medical debts from consumers’ credit reports and provide strong protections for those with medical debts. A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the bill, House Bill 257, earlier this year. Members of the industry opposing the bill submitted written testimony for yesterday’s hearing.

• More details here.

WORTH NOTING: The average credit score fell by two points this year, the first time since 2009 that it has fallen that far in a year ... How credit unions in Canada are using artificial intelligence to replace their staff ... Consumers want personalized interactions with their banks, according to a new report ... An interesting thought exercise -- what are the five things you absolutely have to have in your kitchen at all times? ... Why you should consider keeping a daily journal ... If you have trouble sleeping at night, it might be your brain aging faster than normal ... Breaking down the Fed's decision to lower interest rates and what it means for the economy going forward ... This is definitely the case in my house.

Top 10 Thursday, part I

Top 10 Thursday, Part II

Webinar Recap: How States are Likely to Regulate AI

State legislatures across the country are moving quickly to address artificial intelligence, creating a complex regulatory landscape that will directly impact the credit and collections industry. In a recent webinar sponsored by CSS Impact, a panel of legal and compliance experts—including Ari Derman, Sarah Mercer, Heath Morgan, and Kim Phan—discussed which states are leading the way, how regulations are evolving, and what companies need to do now to prepare.

Colorado emerged as the first state to pass a comprehensive AI law, drawing comparisons to the European Union’s AI Act. California, Utah, Texas, and Washington have followed with their own measures, ranging from disclosure requirements to task forces. State Attorneys General are also asserting their authority to regulate AI under existing consumer protection and anti-discrimination laws. As Sarah Mercer noted, “This is not a time for companies to pull back on using technology. This is a time for them to get smarter about it.”

Panelists emphasized that while many new laws are still developing, companies must not overlook the role of existing frameworks such as the FDCPA, TCPA, UDAP, and privacy laws. Broad definitions of AI, sometimes so expansive they risk covering tools as simple as calculators, create uncertainty. At the same time, consumer use of AI is rising, raising new questions about consent and authorization when interacting with AI-driven agents.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Track State Activity Closely: Laws in Colorado, California, Texas, and Utah are setting the tone. Expect growing requirements around transparency and disclosure.

• Adopt a Risk-Based Framework: Evaluate both the data going into AI systems and the impact of their outputs. Use governance models like the NIST AI Framework to guide decisions.

• Be Proactive on Contracts and Compliance: Review vendor agreements for liability, maintain logs of AI use cases, and prepare to explain decision-making to regulators and clients.

As Kim Phan concluded, “AI is just another technology tool … it has to be used in a way that’s compliant with existing law while keeping an eye on the new ones coming.”

Webinar Recap: Using Social Media to Promote Yourself and Your Company

In a recent webinar hosted by AccountsRecovery.net, a panel of experts shared strategies on how professionals in the credit and collections industry can effectively use social media to promote both themselves and their companies. Panelists included Jason Hiland (Collaboration Room AI), Ken Peck (Lockhart, Morris & Montgomery), and Chris Walcher (Cedar Financial).

The conversation emphasized that social media is no longer optional—it’s a powerful tool for building credibility, expanding reach, and attracting new business. As moderator Mike Gibb noted, “Social media is an important tool in your personal career journey and the journey of your company.”

While LinkedIn emerged as the platform of choice for industry professionals, panelists encouraged diversifying content across other channels like YouTube, Instagram, and even TikTok—depending on the audience. Consistency was cited as critical for beating the algorithm and building engagement. “People follow people. They don’t follow products and they don’t follow companies,” Hiland explained, stressing the importance of authenticity.

Panelists also discussed balancing personal and professional content. Posts that mix motivational messages, industry insights, and personal stories tend to resonate more strongly than purely promotional ones. Walcher described his approach as “social selling,” building relationships through authentic engagement rather than direct pitches. Peck added that consistency creates discipline, helping professionals strengthen both their personal and company brands.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Be Consistent: Develop a posting rhythm—daily or weekly—that keeps you visible and builds trust with your network.

• Blend Content Types: Mix professional insights, motivational posts, and personal stories to show authenticity and relatability.

• Engage Actively: Go beyond likes—comment, reply, and start conversations to deepen relationships and strengthen your brand.

Social media is a long-term investment. As the panel highlighted, authenticity and consistency are what turn online activity into real opportunities.

The Daily Digest is sponsored by TCN