2025

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CFPB Releases Final Medical Debt Credit Reporting Rule

Account Recovery

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau this morning announced the release of its final rule prohibiting the inclusion of medical debt on consumer credit reports. This rule is expected to remove $49 billion in medical debt from credit reports, impacting approximately 15 million consumers. Additionally, it bars lenders from considering medical information in credit decisions, addressing concerns about the fairness and accuracy of medical debt in credit assessments.

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How Active Listening Can Turn Difficult Debt Collection Calls Into Collaborative Solutions

American Profit Recovery

Active listening is something our professional debt collectors practice and implement daily here. In fact, we would go as far as to say that it is one of the foundations of how we operate. In all aspects of life and business, listening is one of the most critical skills we can master. And as a collection agency working with small businesses and large organizations, it is a must for us to carry out our mission.

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Business Debt Negotiation: Key Differences from Consumer Debt

Enterprise Recovery

Understanding the differences between business and consumer debt collections can profoundly influence your approach to developing an effective recovery strategy. This knowledge allows you to tailor your methods to suit the specific type of debt you are dealing with, ensuring that you employ the most appropriate techniques and adhere to relevant regulations.

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Omnichannel vs. Multi-channel Communications in Debt Collection: What’s the Difference and Why Does It Matter?

True Accord

The terms “omnichannel” and “multi-channel” are frequently used to describe consumer outreach strategies, and while they may sound similar, the differences between these approaches are crucial, especially for effective debt collection. Lets break down the key differences between omnichannel and multi-channel communications, particularly in the context of debt collection, and why these distinctions matter more than ever.

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Agent Tooling: Connecting AI to Your Tools, Systems & Data

Speaker: Alex Salazar, CEO & Co-Founder @ Arcade | Nate Barbettini, Founding Engineer @ Arcade | Tony Karrer, Founder & CTO @ Aggregage

There’s a lot of noise surrounding the ability of AI agents to connect to your tools, systems and data. But building an AI application into a reliable, secure workflow agent isn’t as simple as plugging in an API. As an engineering leader, it can be challenging to make sense of this evolving landscape, but agent tooling provides such high value that it’s critical we figure out how to move forward.

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Four Important Features of Payment Collection Software

PDC Flow

Many important aspects go into choosing payment collection software for your debt collection agency. Thinking about everything you must consider can be daunting. When examining your payment collection software, start with these four areas to decide if its doing all it can for your agency. 1. Security With the increase in data breaches in recent years, cyber security is a huge concern for businesses and consumers.

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Don’t let bad business debt ruin your company’s financial health– The Attorneys at the Law Offices of Alan M. Cohen & Associates LLC Can Help!

Collections Law

Unresolved business debt can wreak havoc on your company’s financial health and well-being. As a Massachusetts business owner, it is easy to get frustrated by the lack of payment. However, there is much more to this than just emotional frustration. The negative ripple through your company is also financially detrimental. Carrying bad business debt on your books affects cash flow, credit ratings and overall business sustainability.

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Virginia Enacts Medical Debt Collection Law

Account Recovery

The Governor of Virginia has signed a medical debt collection bill into law that will place limits on how healthcare debts owed by Virginians are able to be collected. Driving the news: Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed HB 1725, also known as the Medical Debt Protection Act, into law. The legislation introduces new restrictions on the collection of medical debts, seeking to protect patients from aggressive collection practices and additional financial hardship.

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Bill Introduced to Expand Types of Debt Factored into Credit Scores

Account Recovery

A bill has been introduced in the Senate by the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee that would expand the types of bills and debts that credit reporting agencies would use to determine consumers’ credit scores, with the objective of helping individuals considered to be “credit invisible.” S. 1465, the Credit Access and Inclusion Act, was introduced last week by Sen.

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Credit Card Defaults Soaring, Highlighting Consumer Financial Strain in 2025

Account Recovery

Defaults on credit card debt have surged to their highest levels since the 2008 financial crisis, signaling worsening financial conditions for lower-income consumers amid persistent inflation and elevated interest rates. By the numbers: The big picture: Consumers are feeling the pinch as higher balances and borrowing costs erode their financial stability: Between the lines: The pandemic-era surge in savings and consumer spending gave credit card issuers confidence to extend credit to riskier bor

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Protect What Matters: Rethinking Finance Ops In A Digital World

Speaker: Cheryl J. Muldrew-McMurtry

Distributed finance teams are rewriting how the back-office runs, and attackers are taking notes. Disconnected workflows, process blind spots, and rising cyber threats are more than just growing pains—they’re liabilities. The challenge isn’t just going remote. It’s building resilient systems that protect accuracy, control, and speed across every transaction and touchpoint.

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Judge Grants MTD in FDCPA Case Over Assigned Debt

Account Recovery

We’ve seen this ruling in other jurisdictions, so it’s not necessarily a surprise, but I don’t think we’ve seen a ruling on this type of case in North Carolina yet. A District Court judge there has granted a defendant’s motion to dismiss a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act lawsuit on the grounds that the plaintiff lacked standing because he had the claim assigned to him by the individual who actually owed the debt in question.

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Getting to Know Angie Erwin of Finvi

Account Recovery

I am thrilled to announce that the Getting to Know series will be sponsored by TEC Services Group in 2024. TEC Services Group is the leading technology and professional services firm in the credit collections industry offering both leading industry solutions along with unrivaled, unbiased, and experienced support. TEC is now extending its services by offering proven, industry-leading technology solutions alongside of our Professional Services to help Clients feel confident in their technology de

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Medical Debt Collection Bill Introduced in Illinois Legislature

Account Recovery

A new bill introduced in the Illinois Senate seeks to amend the Fair Patient Billing Act, providing additional protections for patients facing medical debt. Senate Bill 1223, sponsored by state Sen. Laura Fine, introduces key restrictions on medical debt collection practices, particularly in cases where patients are appealing health insurance decisions.

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Why your business should think about retaining customers when hiring a collection agency

American Profit Recovery

A business like yours likely has one goal when hiring a collection agency: to collect money from customers who pay late or have not paid at all. You may also want to work with a collection agency because you do not have the internal resources or the time to chase past-due invoices, and it is time-consuming. But another goal your business should remember is how a collection agency can help you retain your customers.

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Future-Proof Your Firm: Smarter Tech for Stronger Returns & Simpler Workflows

Speaker: Joe Wroblewski, Senior Sales Engineer

Is your tech stack working for you—or are you working for it ? 🤖 In today’s world of automation and AI, technology should simplify workflows—not add complexity. Seamless integration and interconnectivity are key to maximizing productivity, optimizing workflows, and improving collaboration. Join expert Joe Wroblewski for a practical and insightful session on how you can build a smarter, more connected tech stack that drives efficiency and long-term success!

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Calling customers that have not paid? Follow these important guidelines

American Profit Recovery

Calling customers in good times is pretty easy and stress-free for most of us. But calling them when they have not paid their bill is a different type of phone call. While using a collection agency can be a necessary part of your accounts receivable process, it is important for your business to use internal resources to try to resolve a past-due account before sending it to collections.

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What Does It Take to Be a Debt Collector? A Look at a Professional’s Training and Tools

American Profit Recovery

There are many great career opportunities in the debt collection industry. And one of them is being a professional debt collector. Professionally trained debt collectors serve several purposes. They of course assist a business with improving cash flow by bringing late and non-paying customers to the table. And they help consumers navigate challenging financial situations.

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Student Loan Collections Resume Today

Account Recovery

After a five-year hiatus, the Department of Education will resume involuntary collections on federal student loans today, impacting millions of borrowers already in default. As of May 5, the department will begin garnishing wages, tax refunds, and Social Security payments for borrowers who have defaulted on their loans, a significant shift after a pandemic-era pause on collections.

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Appeals Court Overturns Ruling in FCRA Dispute Case

Account Recovery

The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has overturned a summary judgment ruling in favor of a defendant that was sued for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act because it reported an overdue balance to the credit reporting agencies after receiving notice that the balance was being disputed by the plaintiffs. The background: This case stems from a dispute between the plaintiffs and one of the defendants regarding a vehicle lease.

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Operational Strength Starts with People: The New Rules of Finance Leadership

Speaker: Melissa Hurrington

What’s holding finance teams back isn’t just process inefficiency. It’s culture gaps, reactive mindsets, and missed opportunities to lead real change. In an era of disruption, finance leaders can no longer afford to operate on autopilot and the most resilient teams aren’t just efficient—they’re connected, talent driven, and culture-focused. Join Melissa Hurrington for an exploration into how finance leaders can evolve beyond process and numbers to create adaptive, people-powered teams that thriv

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What motivates consumers to pay your invoice?

American Profit Recovery

You may be a small business owner or a professional in the position of finance. You may be reading this and at the same time having challenges with cash flow. The main culprit could be late and non-paying consumers. Just about every type of business will encounter this challenge, and it’s imperative to implement a regular and consistent program for getting customers to pay you for what you have provided.

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Survey: 9 in 10 Americans with Medical Debt Believe It Shouldn’t Impact Credit Scores

Account Recovery

Put on your surprised faces … a new survey from Debt.com highlights growing concern among U.S. consumers about the impact of medical debt on their credit reports, with 9 in 10 Americans agreeing that medical debt should not appear on credit reports. This opinion comes just months after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau implemented a rule to remove medical debt from credit reports.

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BK Filings Surge in 2024, Continuing Rebound from Historic Lows

Account Recovery

📈 By the numbers: Total bankruptcy filings jumped 14.2% in 2024, continuing a multi-year rebound after more than a decade of decline. The 517,308 total filings for the year ending December 31, 2024, represent a significant increase from 452,990 in 2023, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. This marks the highest volume of annual bankruptcy filings since 2020, though filings remain well below the post-Great Recession peak of 1.6 million in 2010.

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Top A/R & Invoice Management Tips for B2B Companies

Enterprise Recovery

As accounts receivable (A/R) become delinquent, your business expenses could fall behind. With every late-paying client, cash flow for payroll, rent, or other vendors falls short, threatening your company's bottom line and growth. The effectiveness of your A/R department may be one of the most important measurements to determine the success of your business.

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Outsourcing Vs. In-House: The Ultimate Battle For Better Collections

Speaker: Susan Richards

Your past-due accounts are growing, cash flow is tightening, and the pressure is on. The big question: Do you handle the collections internally or outsource to experts? Both strategies come with advantages and risks - but which one delivers the best impact for your business? In this session we’ll dive deep into the in-house vs. outsourcing debate, examining cost-effectiveness, efficiency, compliance risks, and overall recovery success rates.

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Daily Digest – May 5. Student Loan Collections Resume Today; Judge Imposes $43M Judgment Against Owner of Debt Relief Company

Account Recovery

Student Loan Collections Resume Today Judge Imposes $43M Judgment Against Owner of Debt Relief Company N.J. Appeals Court Affirms Dismissal of Hunstein Class Actions Bankruptcy Filings Continue to Climb, Rising 13.1% WORTH NOTING:People in this industry might have something to say about this, but here is a list of the 20 toughest jobs in America … Advice from a financial expert if you are feeling nervous about tariffs … Gossiping may be good for you and your mental health, according

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CFPB Sues Experian Over Alleged Violations in Consumer Dispute Investigations

Account Recovery

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau yesterday announced it has filed a lawsuit against Experian, one of the nation’s largest credit reporting agencies, accusing it of systemic failures in handling consumer disputes. The suit could have widespread implications for credit reporting practices, debt collection, and consumer financial protections.

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Reacting Fast to Payment Intent: How to Win Big This Tax Season

Account Recovery

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was written by the team at Prodigal After a slow start, tax refund processing has quickly caught up. By March 7, the IRS had processed 61.8 million returnsjust 1.8% behind last year’s figures. While the average refund amount has decreased slightly from February’s 7.5% year-over-year increase, it still remains 5.7% higher than in 2024, with most consumers receiving around $3,324.

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Illinois Appeals Court Rules Consumer Not Required to Pay Arbitration Fees in Collection Lawsuit

Account Recovery

An Illinois state Appeals Court has sided with the consumer in a collection lawsuit, ruling that the consumer should not be required to initiate arbitration by filing the proper paperwork and paying the initiation fees if he wants to arbitrate the collection lawsuit filed against him. The background: The case began when the defendant allegedly defaulted on a credit card debt that was purchased by the plaintiff.

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Top 3 Banking Secrets to Stay Relevant with Gen Z Consumers

Speaker: Brian Muse-McKenney, Chief Revenue Officer & Matt Simester, Cards and Payments Expert

In today’s world of social media, dating apps, and remote work, businesses risk becoming irrelevant (or getting "ghosted") if they fail to meet the evolving needs of Gen Z consumers. Credit cards with flexible payment options, especially for young adults with little-to-no credit history, are a particularly important and valuable solution for this generation.