Mon.Mar 07, 2022

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Average Tax Refund up 15% YoY While Problems at IRS Persist

Account Recovery

There is good news and bad news about income tax filing season. The good news is that the average refund through the first month of income tax season is 15% higher than the average refund through the same period a year ago. The bad news is that problems at the agency with respect to staffing … The post Average Tax Refund up 15% YoY While Problems at IRS Persist appeared first on AccountsRecovery.net.

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How to Handle a Year-Round Homebuying Season

Nerd Wallet

Traditionally, the spring months herald the beginning of homebuying season. But major shifts in the housing market disrupted seasonal patterns in 2020 and 2021, and the changes may be long-lasting. Here’s what’s different, as well as approaches that buyers and sellers can take in what’s become a year-round homebuying season. Why spring was historically the.

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Watch Tower’s misuse of copyright to suppress criticism

Public Citizen

by Paul Alan Levy. This is a sad tale of hypocrisy on the part of a group whose litigation over the past eighty-five years has set many of our most important First Amendment precedents. But over the past four to five years, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, popularly known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, has been abusing judicial process to suppress commentary, mostly criticism, by obtaining subpoenas under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to out its critics by invoking claims of question

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U.S. States With The Most People Behind On Their Rent Payments

Collection Industry News

Source- site. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, growing rent debt and the possibility of widespread evictions have been a major worry for many households and for the economy as a whole. Renters are more likely to work in the sorts of lower-wage occupations that have been most disrupted by the pandemic, like retail and hospitality, and less likely to have savings or other assets to help them weather hard times.

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From Complexity to Clarity: Strategies for Effective Compliance and Security Measures

Speaker: Erika R. Bales, Esq.

When we talk about “compliance and security," most companies want to ensure that steps are being taken to protect what they value most – people, data, real or personal property, intellectual property, digital assets, or any other number of other things - and it’s more important than ever that safeguards are in place. Let’s step back and focus on the idea that no matter how complicated the compliance and security regime, it should be able to be distilled down to a checklist.

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Made Green Upgrades in 2021? Don’t Miss These Tax Credits

Nerd Wallet

Many Americans have woven green practices into their everyday lives — from recycling to going paperless and even cutting back on meat consumption. Switching to clean energy or purchasing an electric vehicle are additional ways to go green, but large-scale upgrades also often come with major price tags. Several existing tax credits can help to. Sabrina Parys writes for NerdWallet.

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Best Tips for Offering Small-Business Coupons and Discounts

Nerd Wallet

Coupons and discounts can be a great way to boost your small business’s bottom line, but they can also tank your profitability if you don’t manage them properly. The best promotions bolster customer loyalty and encourage people to spend more at your business while setting limits that curb potential losses. Here’s how you can make. Billie Anne Grigg writes for NerdWallet.

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Court Finds Text Messages Do Not Qualify As Artificial Or Prerecorded Voice Messages Under The TCPA

Collection Industry News

Source- site. In Eggleston v. Reward Zone USA LLC , No. 2:20-cv-01027-SVW-KS (C.D. Cal. Jan. 28, 2022), the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California rejected the argument that text messages are “artificial or prerecorded voice messages” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (the TCPA). The plaintiff, Lucine Trim, alleged that Reward Zone USA LLC (Reward Zone), sent spam advertisements and promotional offers to her cellphone via text message in violation of TCPA § 227(b).

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The Guide to Southwest COVID Policies

Nerd Wallet

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been dozens of changes regarding how we travel. Interest in travel insurance is up, empty seats between passengers were briefly instituted before overbooked flights were once again the norm, and staff shortages and spikes in cases have continuously proven difficult for airlines and travelers alike. So with.

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Building a World-Class Recovery & Collection Strategy: The Complete Starter Kit

True Accord

Delinquencies are a predictable reality for any business that handles payments, but the most efficient and effective way to recover delinquent funds isn’t always as predictable. A recovery team could theoretically chase down every last delinquent dollar. But it would soon reach the point at which the operational cost of the effort – and the associated legal and reputational risk – would cut into profitability.

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When It Comes to Collections Software, “Good Enough” Isn’t Good Enough

Are you finding some snags in your collections process? With delinquencies, and the number of consumers looking for payment assistance on the rise, it may be time to consider an efficient cloud-based software to support your team. Learn how MeridianLink® Collect has helped financial institutions like yours streamline collections processes.

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Smart Money Podcast: Why to Sell Your House, and Managing Investment Fees

Nerd Wallet

The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. This week’s episode starts with a.

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4 tips to lower your DSO

On Guard

How can companies avoid payment pitfalls and lower their DSO in times of economic uncertainty? When it comes to late payments, prevention is always better than a cure. As anyone involved in credit management will know, if payments aren’t made promptly, this can cause major issues for businesses – no matter their size, shape or industry standing. So how can companies avoid payment pitfalls and lower their DSO?

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Should You Dress Up for Business or First Class Flights?

Nerd Wallet

If you’ve never flown business or first class before, you may be wondering if there is a dress code or if you need to dress up for your flights. If you’re a seasoned traveler, you may have questions too. Is there such thing as business class fashion trends? Why are some passengers in suits while. Josh Garber writes for NerdWallet. Email: travel@nerdwallet.com.

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What Is a Warehouseman’s Lien?

FFGN COLLECT NY

Many of us accumulate things; more than most of us city dwellers can store in our New York City apartments, and so, we store them in storage facilities around town. Storage is a big business, especially in New York. Whether you have goods in storage or work in the storage business, you should know what a Warehouseman’s lien is and how it may affect you and your stored items.

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ERM Program Fundamentals for Success in the Banking Industry

Speaker: William Hord, Senior VP of Risk & Professional Services

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is critical for industry growth in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing risk landscape. When building your ERM program foundation, you need to answer questions like: Do we have robust board and management support? Do we understand and articulate our bank’s risk appetite and how that impacts our business units? How are we measuring and rating our risk impact, likelihood, and controls to mitigate our risk?

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What’s the Value of Citi ThankYou Points? 

Nerd Wallet

Deciding to spend or earn Citi ThankYou points often hinges on one question: How much are they worth? You don’t want to spend them for less than they’re worth or try to earn more if they aren’t worth enough. According to our data-driven analysis, the value of Citi ThankYou points is between 1 cent (when. Sam Kemmis writes for NerdWallet. Email: skemmis@nerdwallet.com.

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CFPB Weighs Ban On Medical Debts In Credit Reports

Collection Industry News

Source- site. More than half of the debt that appears on credit reports as being in collection stems from medical bills, the agency found. Unpaid medical bills became a bigger concern during the pandemic, and now, a federal consumer agency is considering whether those debts should be banned from consumer credit reports. Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, discussed the agency’s plans this week after pointing out new research by the bureau on medical debt and i

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CFPB Questions Credit Reporting of Medical Debt

Troutman Sanders

* Garrett Kelly is not licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction; his bar application is pending in Virginia. On March 1, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its “ Medical Debt Burden in the United States ” report, which questions whether consumer credit reports should include unpaid medical billing data. According to the report, the CFPB found that medical debt is the most common debt collection tradeline on credit reports in the U.S., totaling $88 billion in medical bil

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CFPB, State Attorneys General Probe Block Over Cash App

Collection Industry News

Source- site. Digital payment company Block, run by CEO Jack Dorsey, is now being investigated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and several state attorneys general regarding its Cash App service, Bloomberg wrote Friday (March 4). The CFPB has requested information from Block, including details on Cash App’s handling of “customer complaints and disputes,” according to the report.

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You Put in a Full Work Week. Shouldn’t Your Collections Software Do the Same?

Discover a modern, cloud-based collection system that never takes a rest day. MeridianLink® Collect is an intuitive platform with advanced customization options developed to simplify the collections process. Here are four ways MeridianLink Collect can support your team: Omnichannel communications Compliance rules & checklists Workflows & queues One interface with supporting integrations And that’s just the start.

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After Remand from Supreme Court, TransUnion v. Ramirez Parties Reach Class Settlement

Troutman Sanders

Last June, the Supreme Court issued a noteworthy decision in the TransUnion v. Ramirez case, holding that the vast majority of an 8,000-plus member Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) class lacked standing because they had not suffered a concrete injury. TransUnion LLC v. Ramirez , 141 S. Ct. 2190 (2021). On February 3, after returning to the District Court with a significantly reduced class, the parties filed a notice with the court indicating they have now reached a class settlement.

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CA Bill Aims To Cut Interest Levied By Courts In Debt Cases

Collection Industry News

Source- site. CALIFORNIA — Interest levied by California courts on unpaid consumer and personal debt would be cut by more than half if a bill introduced by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Oakland, becomes law. Skinner announced the introduction of SB 1200 Wednesday. The bill also seeks to keep residents from being burdened by debt for long periods. SB 1200 would limit annual interest to 3 percent, down from 10 percent and restrict the renewal of legal judgments on unpaid debt after 10 years.

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Solving Your Clients’ Top 4 Customer Communication Challenges

Fico Collections

Financial services partners know that their clients are under increasing pressure to remain competitive, particularly when it comes to giving their end-customers the best experiences across the full lifecycle of engagement. Whether it be approving a new account application, preventing fraudulent behaviour on their accounts, or providing a considered approach to collections, financial services institutions need to be able to interact with customers in a manner of their choosing, and at the times

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What Is Debt Collection?

Taurus Collect

Debt collection is the approach of pursuing payments of debts owed by different entities (individuals or businesses). It occurs when a collection agency or a company attempts to collect past-due debts from borrowers. Hiring debt collectors are often a cost-effective alternative for businesses as it prevents you from investing your time and resources to manage your debts.

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The Power of Storytelling in Risk Management

Speaker: Dr. Karen Hardy, CEO and Chief Risk Officer of Strategic Leadership Advisors LLC

Communication is a core component of a resilient organization's risk management framework. However, risk communication involves more than just reporting information and populating dashboards, and we may be limiting our skillset. Storytelling is the ability to express ideas and convey messages to others, including stakeholders. When done effectively, it can help interpret complex risk environments for leaders and inform their decision-making.

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Lots going on in Congress on arbitration

Public Citizen

by Jeff Sovern. Bloomberg reports that the House will vote this month on the FAIR Act, a bill to bar arbitration clauses in consumer and employment contracts. The House last passed a similar bill in 2019. The Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing on arbitration Tuesday. The stumbling block to congressional action remains the filibuster in the Senate.

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American Express suspends operations in Russia and Belarus

Collection Industry News

Source- site. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -American Express Co said on Sunday it was suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus, joining a growing number of Western corporations to boycott business there over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. © Reuters/DADO RUVIC. Credit card is seen in front of displayed American Express logo in this illustration. “In light of Russia’s ongoing, unjustified attack on the people of Ukraine, American Express is suspending all operations in Russia,” the credit card compa

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MRA Proposed Expansion of Class A Microbusiness License

Fraser

Last year the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) proposed changes to marijuana industry rules that would expand the state’s Class A microbusiness license. Introduced in late July 2021, the proposed rule changes would add two new license types and reduce fees and costs associated with obtaining and renewing licenses. Previously, a Class A microbusiness could grow, process, and sell its own marijuana and marijuana products, but not purchase wholesale products from other licensed businesses