Sat.Nov 02, 2024 - Fri.Nov 08, 2024

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Bankruptcy Filings Surge Amid Inflation and High Interest Rates

Account Recovery

Personal and business bankruptcy filings in the U.S. have risen significantly, reflecting the impact of inflation, rising interest rates, and the end of COVID relief programs. This trend provides important insights for professionals in the credit and collection industry as they assess the financial health of consumers and businesses. By the numbers: According to the Administrative Office of the U.S.

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CFPB Orders Navy Federal Credit Union to Pay More Than $95 Million for Illegal Surprise Overdraft Fees

Consumer Finance

The CFPB took action against Navy Federal Credit Union for charging illegal overdraft fees.

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Managing Client Expectations for Rate Changes in the New Year

Enterprise Recovery

As the new year approaches, businesses often must adjust their rates. These changes could be driven by factors such as inflation, increased operational costs, or the need to invest in new technologies and services. For B2B companies and SaaS providers, staying competitive and maintaining high service standards often require periodic rate evaluations.

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The Ultimate Guide to Loan Management Systems

Qualco

NPL Management: A 5-Step Roadmap to Strategic Success is the latest e-Guide to be published by Qualco UK. You can view it here. In today's regulatory environment, when it comes to collecting overdue accounts, the clear, overarching message is that the customer must be treated fairly and ethically. However, in a small number of credit businesses, the right strategies for systems and people have not been set.

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Solve Your Firm's Automation Complexities Once and For All

Speaker: Mark Stovel

When it comes to automating, many firms focus on finding the latest tech, believing that efficiency is something achieved through new tools. Yet true efficiency is achieved by delivering real value to clients, not merely by upgraded systems. Without a clear approach, no level of automation can overcome the complexities of serving every client’s needs.

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FTC Sues, Gets TRO Against Debt Collector

Account Recovery

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit and received a temporary restraining order freezing the assets and taking control over a Georgia-based debt collection agency, Global Circulation, Inc., after it was accused of using deceptive and abusive tactics to collect debts from consumers. The complaint, filed in the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, alleges that the agency tricked consumers into paying more than $7.6 million by falsely representing debts and threatening e

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Five Tax Truths that Uncover the Realities & Challenges LMI Communities Face when Filing Taxes

Prosperity Now

Prosperity Now recently hosted the "Tax Truths: Boosting Financial Well-being for LMI Communities through Accessible Tax Support" webinar in partnership with Change Machine.

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Barron & Newburger’s Latest Risk Management Guidance

BN Lawyers

Here’s the latest risk management guidance, published in October 2024, from B&N’s Attorneys Risk Management practice group. BN – Tip of the Month – ABA Standing Committee LPL Releases Profile of Legal Mal Claims – October 2024 The post Barron & Newburger’s Latest Risk Management Guidance appeared first on Barron & Newburger, P.C.

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Judge Denies FDCPA Claim in Elaborate Fraud Case

Account Recovery

Before diving into the details, I originally decided to write about this ruling because I thought it would be helpful to detail the lengths to which the scammer went in this situation and how it’s not always the uneducated or unsophisticated who get taken advantage of. But on top of that, there is a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act angle to the case, too.

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Loan Origination Systems: Transforming Consumer Lending for the Future

Qualco

As the financial sector rapidly evolves, driven by technological advancements, loan origination processes are experiencing profound changes. A key development is the growing adoption of Loan Origination Systems (LOS), which have become essential tools for financial institutions. According to recent forecasts from Future Market Insights , the global loan origination software industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.4% from 2023 to 2033, reaching a market size of US$ 17,505.7 million by 2033.

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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.

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6% of Debt Collection visits breaching National Standards

UK debt collections

New research has shown that debt collectors are breaching national standards in 6% of visits to individuals facing enforcement. The study into doorstep interactions in civil enforcement – published by the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) – found a noticeable area in which the standards are least commonly met is in acknowledging and taking into account self-identified or obvious vulnerability.

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Domesticating a Judgment Based on an Out-of-State Arbitration Award

FFGN COLLECT NY

Looking to domesticate a judgment based on an out-of-state arbitration award in New York? The process will differ depending on whether the debtor appeared during the confirmation process. New York differentiates judgments obtained by default from those obtained on the merits. If your judgment debtor participated in the underlying arbitration but failed to appear or oppose your application to confirm the arbitration award—so that the judgment was rendered by default—you will need to sue in New Yo

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Collector Facing Class-Action Lawsuit Following Ransomware Attack

Account Recovery

A class-action lawsuit has been filed this week against a collection agency after it was the victim of a ransomware attack and data breach. The breach, which occurred in June 2024, involved unauthorized access by cybercriminals who targeted the defendant’s computer systems using ransomware, specifically a threat actor known as “Play.” The breach was not detected until August, and affected individuals were notified last month.

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America’s Hottest Side Gigs Revealed

The Kaplan Group

In recent years, side hustles have gained significant traction as individuals seek additional income streams and entrepreneurial opportunities. A new study by The Kaplan Group examines search trends for various side hustles, the challenges associated with starting these ventures, and the geographic distribution of new business applications across the United States.

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How Collection Agencies Minimize Effort and Maximize Results with the Right Software

Navigating collections in the dynamic financial landscape presents multifaceted challenges. Organizations face pressures to maintain standards alongside software challenges like regulatory adaptations, data integration, security, workflow optimization, and automation. Finding the right software can save time and money. BEAM offers a comprehensive solution with specialized modules to streamline debt collection effortlessly.

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Welsh Businesses seeing rise in Overdue Invoices

UK debt collections

The number of Welsh companies with overdue invoices on their books reached a 2024 high in September, according to new research from R3, the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body. Analysis of data provided by Creditsafe shows that 18,360 Welsh businesses had unpaid invoices on their books last month – the highest monthly total of the year so far.

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Barron & Newburger attorneys selected as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

BN Lawyers

Barron & Newburger, P.C. is pleased to announce the selection of five of its attorneys for Super Lawyers Magazine to its Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists for 2024 by Thompson Reuters: Francesca Di Troia — Rising Star in Civil Litigation in 2023 and 2024. Noah Fiedler – Super Lawyer in Professional Liability since 2022 Alyssa Johnson – Super Lawyer in Professional Liability, Creditor Debtor Rights, Civil Litigation since 2023, Rising Star from 2017-2022.

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Appeals Court Overturns Ruling for Defendant in FDCPA Case Over Medical Debt

Account Recovery

The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed a ruling in favor of a credit reporting agency sued for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act but overturned a ruling in favor of a collection operation for allegedly violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act on the grounds of whether the plaintiff actually owed the debt to the creditor — a hospital.

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30% of student loan borrowers have gone without essentials, like food and medicine, CFPB finds

Collection Industry News

Nearly a third, 30%, of federal student loan borrowers say they’ve gone without food, medicine or other necessities because of their monthly bills. That grim finding comes from a new survey by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, conducted between October 2023 and January 2024, and including more than 3,000 responses from people with an active or recently active student loan account.

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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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Credit Strain Grows as More Americans Live Paycheck to Paycheck

Account Recovery

62% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck, according to recent research from PYMNTS Intelligence, highlighting a stark reality for many consumers today. For those living on the edge financially, every pay period is just enough to make it to the next — leaving them highly vulnerable to unexpected expenses. Why it matters: Paycheck-to-paycheck households are increasingly reliant on revolving credit and are carrying higher outstanding balances compared to financially stable consumers.

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Judge Awards Attorney’s Fees to Both Sides in FDCPA Case

Account Recovery

A District Court judge in Florida has been forced to rule on competing motions for attorney’s fees in a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case in which both sides are claiming victory, ruling partially in favor of both the plaintiff and the defendant. The judge decided that the plaintiff is entitled to recover some attorney’s fees, while the defendants are also entitled to recover some costs, but only after a particular offer of settlement was made.

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Judge Denies MTD in FCRA Case Over Disputed Debt

Account Recovery

A District Court judge in North Carolina has denied a defendant’s motion to dismiss a Fair Credit Reporting Act suit, ruling the plaintiff’s inability to subsequently get approved for an apartment sufficient for her to have standing, and questioned the defendant’s dispute investigation process is enough to keep the case alive. The background: The case centers on an alleged misreporting of a debt that the plaintiff never incurred.

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Getting to Know Karen Wisniowski of Orlans PC

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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How To Optimize Cash Flow: Your Roadmap To Resilience!

Speaker: Genevieve Hancock, CPA

Cash flow isn’t just about balancing numbers - it's about ensuring your organization is positioned for both immediate stability and long-term success. Understanding that cash flow management fuels every decision, every opportunity, and every growth phase is critical. But how can you shift from simply managing cash to strategically optimizing it for resilience?

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ACA International Sues CFPB Over Medical Debt Collection Guidance

Account Recovery

For the second time in less than a month, ACA International has filed a lawsuit, this time accusing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of an “overtly political act” and overstepping its authority by issuing a rule couched in its October 1 Advisory Opinion related to the collection of medical debt. The complaint, filed in the District Court for the District of Columbia, takes aim at new requirements introduced by the CFPB that ACA International claims fundamentally change how me

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CU to Pay $95M in Fines, Restitution in Overdraft Enforcement Action with CFPB

Account Recovery

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau yesterday announced an enforcement action with one of the nation’s largest credit unions for charging illegal overdraft fees that will see the institution pay $95 million in fines and restitution to members. Driving the news: Navy Federal Credit Union has been ordered by the CFPB to refund more than $80 million to consumers and pay a $15 million civil penalty for charging illegal overdraft fees on checking accounts from 2017 to 2022.

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Collection Law Firm, Debt Buyer Sued for Sending ‘Fictitious’ Hearing Notice to Plaintiff

Account Recovery

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is part of a series that is sponsored by WebRecon. WebRecon identifies serial plaintiffs lurking in your database BEFORE you contact them and expose yourself to a likely lawsuit. Protect your company from as many as one in three new consumer lawsuits by scrubbing your consumers through WebRecon first. Want to learn more? Call (855) WEB-RECON or email admin@webrecon.net today!

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Profits Up at PRA Group as Company Announces Shift to Let More Collectors Work From Home

Account Recovery

PRA Group discussed the strides it has made in expanding its legal collection efforts while also announcing plans to close three of its six U.S. offices while transitioning impacted employees to work-from-home roles or offshore positions during a quarterly conference call with analysts after releasing its third-quarter earnings yesterday. By the Numbers: Legal Collections and U.S.

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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.