Congressional Subcommittee Examines Consumer Financial Protection Reforms 

The House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions is set to review the current legal and regulatory framework for federal consumer protection in an upcoming hearing on March 26 at 10 a.m. ET. Titled “A New Era for the CFPB: Balancing Power and Reprioritizing Consumer Protections,” the hearing will evaluate several proposed reforms that could reshape the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by focusing on funding mechanisms, oversight, and regulatory authority.   Key […]

The High Cost of Repossession: Why No One Wins

Imagine if customers truly understood what life would be like without their car. What if, for just one day, they tracked every time they relied on it—commuting to work, running errands, picking up children, or attending appointments? For many, especially those in areas without reliable public transportation, losing a vehicle isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a crisis.  Unfortunately, this reality often doesn’t sink in until it’s too late. That’s when the […]

The Antelope Theory 

In The Plastic Owl, Bev Evancic discussed the importance of identifying new employees early to ensure they do not become a Plastic Owl. Now, I want to introduce The Antelope Theory, which helps truly understand who you’ve hired once they join your organization.  The Antelope Instinct   If you think about an antelope, what is its first instinct when approached by a lion? It runs.  If a lion approaches at night? […]

A Spotlight on Secure Document Destruction 

Recently, according to several sources, including MSN, Bank of America’s third-party data destruction vendor experienced a breach. Documents containing personally identifiable information (PII), intended for shredding, were discovered in unsealed containers outside the vendor’s location.  The old saying, “hindsight is 20/20,” rings painfully true. It’s always easier to spot the flaws in procedures after a security lapse has occurred.  However, this breach inspired me to reflect on the impressive security […]

CFPB Extends Public Comment Period for Data Broker Rule

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has extended the public comment period for its proposed rule on data broker activities under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Initially set to close on March 3, 2025, the deadline has now been pushed to April 2, 2025, allowing more time for stakeholders to review and submit their feedback, according to a Federal Register notice.  Background on the Proposed Rule  The CFPB began investigating […]

The Plastic Owl Chronicles: A Wildlife Series on Hiring in Debt Collections — Part Two 

If you missed Part One of The Plastic Owl Chronicles, where I shared how a plastic owl in our horse barn became more of a bird concierge than a deterrent, you can catch up at  https://collectioncomplianceexperts.com/the-lesson-of-the-plastic-owl/.  Welcome back to our wildlife-inspired journey of hiring practices in the debt collection industry. Today, we’re focusing on the first step in making sure you have the right person in the right role — […]

FCC Adopts New Call Blocking Notification Rules 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken a major step toward improving transparency in call blocking by streamlining the notification and redress process for voice service providers. At its Feb. 27 meeting, the FCC unanimously adopted an order requiring standardized call-blocking notifications and enhanced measures to prevent fraudulent calls.  Standardizing Call Blocking Notifications  A key element of the order is the implementation of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Code 603+ as […]

The Lesson of the Plastic Owl 

The Lesson the Plastic Owl Can Teach the Debt Collection Industry About Hiring the Right Person for the Job  The Uninvited Guests  Our horse barn is more than just a home for our horses—it’s a multi-generational hub for birds. Any bird born there or simply passing by seems to take up permanent residence, bringing along friends, relatives, and acquaintances. As the bird population grew out of control, my husband decided […]

When to Walk Away: The Tough Call on Ending a Collection Agency Relationship 

Deciding when to end a relationship with a collection agency is rarely easy. In some cases, the decision is clear—fraud, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, serious contract violations—these are all non-negotiable deal-breakers. But what about when an agency is simply underperforming? Or when they fail to provide the level of transparency and data you need?  These grayer areas can be tricky to navigate. Do you push for improvements, or do you […]

No Parking, No Street Sweeping…No Clarity? Welcome to Debt Collection Regulations 

The top sign is straightforward enough:  “Tow Away No Parking Except by Permit. Holidays Exempt.” Got it—no parking unless you have a permit, except on holidays.  But right below it, another sign completely disrupts that clarity. When you read the second sign from left to right, it says:  “No Street Sweeping; Parking Tuesday; Except Holidays; 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.”  Wait… what? Does this mean no parking at all? No […]