New York City Launches Debt Resolution Program for Small Businesses and Homeowners
New York City officials have announced a debt resolution program that allows eligiblesmall-business owners and homeowners to resolve certain outstanding municipal fines at a reduced cost. The program, known as Debt Demolisher, was announced by Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Finance (DOF) Commissioner Richard Lee. It allows eligible New York City residents to have accrued interest waived and settle qualifying debt at a discounted rate.
Viral Social Media Trend Raises Questions About Medical Debt and Account Resolution
A growing social media trend is encouraging patients to refuse, ignore, or dispute hospital bills, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Becker’s Hospital Review. Posts across various platforms provide instructions for challenging medical charges, requesting itemized statements containing specific medical codes, and avoiding collection notices. Some influencers go further, claiming hospitals routinely write off unpaid accounts rather than pursue collection efforts. According to The Wall Street Journal,
NYC DCWP Provides Overview of SHIELD Rule Taking Effect Jan. 1, 2027
New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) recently provided an overview of the city’s debt collection SHIELD Rule, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2027. The Oct. 5 webinar addressed questions from the receivables management industry regarding disclosure requirements, communication practices, and other compliance considerations. During the webinar, DCWP staff discussed the scope of the SHIELD Rule, key definitions, core compliance requirements, and several specialized topics, including
Don’t Stop at the Ping-Pong Ball
With the exception of occasionally having those little turtles that were later banned because of salmonella, I never had pets growing up. But I really wanted a dog. So, when I was in high school, I saw a sign announcing that one of the local summer church festivals would be giving away puppies. Puppies! This was my chance. I asked my Mom and Dad if I could try to get
NYC DCWP to Provide Overview of SHIELD Rule for Debt Collectors
The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will provide an overview of its debt collection SHIELD Rule during a webinar for regulated entities from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 5, 2026. The DCWP 101 webinar will cover several areas of the SHIELD Rule, including: Front-end disclosures Communication requirements Disputed debt and verification obligations Time-barred debt Medical debt Language access services Compliance records The DCWP has
Washington DOL Announces Public Hearing on Collection Agency Licensing Fees
The Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to rules regulating collection agencies on Oct. 27, 2026, at 2 p.m. PT. The department is proposing changes to WAC 308-29-045 that would clarify application fees and increase certain licensing fees for collection agencies. Public Hearing Details The public hearing will be available both in person and virtually. Date: Oct. 27, 2026 Time: 2 p.m. PT Location: Highways