Daily Digest - September 29, 2025

 🎉🎂 Happy Birthday to: Omar Nimer of BAWAG Group, Curtis Speed of Midland Credit Management, Phaedra McKenzie of TSI, and Puja Amin of TroutmanAmin. Happy belated Birthday to: Allison Latsch of Frost-Arnett (Sept. 28), Mae McDaniel-Licht of TEC Services Group (Sept. 28), David Barrett of Portfolio Investment Solutions (Sept. 28), Sahaj Patel of Avant (Sept. 27), Vanessa Ward (Sept. 27), Daniel Drummond of Creditors Collection Service (Sept. 27), Cooper Warren of Resurgent Capital Services (Sept. 27), and Letty Carcamo of Solutions by Text (Sept. 27).

Starts today!

Thanks to everyone — the sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and attendees — for making this happen!

Judge Rules Attempt to Collect on High APR Loan Did Not Violate FDCPA or California Law

• In a case that was defendant by Brendan Little at Lippes Mathias, a District Court judge in California has granted a defendant’s motion for summary judgment that it did not violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and California state law by attempting to collect on a loan where the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) was more than 125%. The judge granted the motion while a motion for class certification was pending.

• More details here.

A MESSAGE FROM TCN

TODAY‘S WEBINAR

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Consumer Advocates, Bank Groups Push Back on CFPB’s Supervision Proposal

• Consumer groups and industry trade associations are urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau not to scale back its supervisory authority over nonbanks — but for very different reasons.

• More details here.

Ill. Appeals Court Upholds Ruling for Collection Agency in FDCPA Harassment Case

• An Illinois State Appeals Court has affirmed a lower court’s ruling in favor of a collection operation that was sued for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act because, among other claims, it allegedly engaged in harassing behavior against the plaintiff; however, it was the plaintiff who made “threatening, intimidating, and vulgar statements.”

• More details here.

Compliance Digest – September 29

• Six experts — Virginia Bell Flynn, David Schultz, Chad Echols, Michael Chapman, Heath Morgan, and Alex McFall — weighing in on six different updates or trends impacting the credit and collection industry now. This is “Ripped from the headlines” context and perspective, people. Make sure you know exactly what you need to know, before it becomes a problem.

• More details here.

• This series is sponsored by Bedard Law Group

WORTH NOTING: Your perspective on how well the economy is doing is going to be influenced by how much money you are making right now ... Lawmakers in Indiana have opted not to proceed with a medical debt bill ... Federal employees are starting to feel the pain of all the cutbacks in Washington, D.C. ... The House Financial Services Committee is planning a hearing on artificial intelligence next month ... Consumers are scaling back on big home remodeling projects in favor of more cost-effective renovations ... Gift ideas to help java fans celebrate National Coffee Day, which is good because the cost of coffee is going up ... Mistakes that leaders make when giving employees feedback ... "Workslop" is the new buzzword making the rounds in offices nationwide.

Music Monday, part I

Music Monday, Part II

Webinar Recap: Mentorship Programs to Create Future Leaders

In a recent webinar hosted by AccountsRecovery.net, a panel of industry leaders explored how mentorship programs—both formal and informal—can be the key to developing the next generation of leaders in the credit and collections industry.

Moderator Mike Gibb framed the conversation by noting, “Your office is the best source of future leaders for your company. They know your culture, but they may not have the skills needed to climb the ladder.”

Panelists, including Sandy Aquino, Dan Estes, Melanie Frizzell, Kristi Loyer, and Kristen Rowles, emphasized that mentorship is less about company size and more about intentionality, culture, and commitment. Informal mentorship often emerges naturally, but formal programs provide structure and accountability. Both can be powerful when aligned with succession planning and employee development.

One recurring theme was the need for consistency and follow-through. Aquino shared her experience with a mentor who repeatedly failed to show up, reminding attendees that “wanting to be a mentor is great, but actually doing the work is work.” Others highlighted the importance of reframing mentorship for today’s workforce, with Frizzell describing her company’s choice to brand mentors as “influencers” to better resonate with employees.

The panel agreed that mentorship is a retention and growth tool. As Loyer put it, “We’re not going to be here forever. We need to get the next ready.” Without intentional development, companies risk losing talent and weakening succession pipelines.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Be intentional: Whether formal or informal, mentorship requires clear goals, accountability, and consistency.

• Know your people: Identify high-potential employees, including introverts or late bloomers, and create opportunities for growth.

• Adapt and innovate: Reframe mentorship in ways that resonate with your workforce, from “influencers” to leadership labs, while ensuring mentees own their development.

Mentorship isn’t optional—it’s an investment in future leadership and organizational resilience.

Webinar Recap: How to Evaluate New CRM Platforms

In today’s collections environment, choosing the right CRM platform is one of the most critical decisions a company can make. During the webinar “How to Evaluate New CRM Platforms” (sponsored by CSS Impact), panelists Topher Androff, Ralph Hall, and Dan Medina shared their expertise on how to determine whether your current system is sustainable and what to look for when considering new technology.

The panelists emphasized that platforms are no longer static investments; instead, agencies should expect to change systems more frequently as technology, client demands, and compliance needs evolve. “The days of staying on one system for 30 years are over,” said Ralph Hall. The group urged companies to think beyond technical specifications and align their technology choices with business goals, organizational culture, and long-term strategy.

Implementation challenges also took center stage. Panelists warned that conversions typically result in a performance dip lasting six to nine months. While strategies differ—some favor phased rollouts, others “rip the bandaid off”—all agreed that involving collectors, accounting teams, and even clients early in the process is critical to reducing friction and ensuring adoption.

The conversation also explored hidden costs, from expensive custom programming to potential slowdowns in revenue. With so many vendors offering similar functionality, panelists noted that true differentiators include extensibility, API access, financial robustness, and vendor support.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Audit your current platform: Review release notes, vendor support, and API capabilities to determine if your system is keeping pace with industry needs.

• Engage the full organization: Collectors, accounting, compliance, and clients should all have input in platform evaluations to secure buy-in and smoother adoption.

• Plan for transition costs: Expect temporary drops in performance and additional expenses for integrations or custom programming—build these into your timeline and budget.

This webinar highlighted that CRM selection is more than an IT project—it’s a core business strategy that impacts every aspect of a collection operation.

The Daily Digest is sponsored by TCN