Consumer Relations Consortium

Congratulations to Legal Advisory Board and Consumer Relations Consortium member Jessica Klander for being elected Chief Operating Officer of Bassford Remele!! https://lnkd.in/gb6qSM2b

All we can say about last week is... WOW!! At the Auriemma Roundtables Collections Summit, in a first-of-its-kind and members-only meeting, third-party debt collectors from the Consumer Relations Consortium came together with creditors from Auriemma's Card Collections, Card Recovery, Personal and Student Lending Collections, and Dialer Strategy Roundtables to discuss current operations, economic, technology, and legal issues affecting the entire collections eco-system. 💥 We set the table for the meeting with representatives from each group laying out the current issues with collecting debt in the 21st century. Ralph Liberio of NCB Management Services, Inc. represented the CRC and did a phenomenal job discussing the issues faced by third-party collectors. 💥CRC Legal Advisory Board (LAB) members, Stefanie Jackman from Troutman Pepper, Jim Schultz from Sessions, Israel & Shartle, and Jedd Bellman from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP held an engaging and thought-provoking discussion about the current legal issues affecting the entire collections landscape. They discussed issues that should be on the radar for creditors and third-party debt collectors alike. 💥 We heard from Carrie Coker-Aivaliotis and Denise Cross LexisNexis Risk Solutions about litigation strategies economic trends, and tools and strategies for improving consumer engagement. 💥Adam Russell and Matt Hein from TransUnion gave us insights into the evolving landscape of customer engagement and debt recovery and provided innovative strategies to re-energize the call experience. 💥Jesse Bird, Darrin Bird, adn Scott Brownlee from TCN gave attendees unique ideas based on consumer research to explore how first party and third party collectors can harness the power of automation while tackling the challenges of tech overload. 💥Last, but certainly not least, from the opening reception, to a poolside lunch, to the unbeatable Auriemma Casino Night, CRC and Roundtable members relaxed, connected, and met people outside of a traditional conference setting.

We are pleased to announce the CRC's 2024 Legal Advisory Board! This elite group of ARM industry compliance and defense attorneys protect and advance the ARM industry through the CRC. As attorneys who guide and defend collection agencies, debt buyers, creditors, and other financial institutions every day, they truly understand the unique impacts of federal and state regulatory initiatives on the ARM industry. You can read about each of the Legal Advisory Board members along with their contributions to the LAB here: https://lnkd.in/exEfAJTf We're looking forward to another productive and impactful year! John H. Bedard, Jr., Jedd Bellman, Ari Derman, Jonathan P. Floyd, Stefanie Jackman, Aylix Jensen, Jessica Klander, Issa Moe, Joann Needleman, Justin Penn, John K. Rossman, David Schultz, Jim Schultz, Bryan C. Shartle

Rules must be clear to be effective. The New York City DCWP's most recent proposed update misses the mark. Among other issues, it includes vague, undefined terms, directly conflicts with the FDCPA and Reg F, and introduces concepts that will only harm, rather than help, consumers. In this comment drafted by CRC Legal Advisory Board Members, Jessica Klander, John H. Bedard, Jr., and Jim Schultz, the Consumer Relations Consortium highlighted the issues with the DCWP's proposal and offered suggestions to fix it. Read the full comment here: https://lnkd.in/gqGCsKzQ For more information about the CRC see here: https://lnkd.in/gsEBxtqg For more info on the Legal Advisory Board see here:https://lnkd.in/gHFtDydp

Learning about issues is great, but there's no substitute for active involvement. CRC meetings are about participation, not passive listening. Last week CRC members gathered to collaborate and engage on the issues that matter to the debt collection industry. After a fantastic dinner where CRC members connected and caught up with each other, Missy Meggison and Erin Kerr hosted our jam-packed and productive agenda where we: 💥 Discussed the most important legal trends in the ARM space with Legal Advisory Board Members John K. Rossman, Ari Derman, and Jonathan P. Floyd 💥 Had an engaging conversation with CFPB representatives, where CRC members addressed the issues important to the debt collection industry. 💥Learned about the state of the industry and what's to come from industry experts Michelle Macartney, Aleks Whitchurch, and Russ Kotlicky 💥 Talked about the M&A landscape with Michael Lamm 💥Addressed the impacts of Open Banking (the 1033 Rule) with Dave Hanrahan, Joann Needleman, and Chris Repholz 💥Dissected credit reporting issues with the CDIA It was a whirlwind- but a meaningful one! If you'd like to know more about the CRC, see here: https://lnkd.in/gsEBxtqg If you'd like to know more about the Legal Advisory Board, see here: https://lnkd.in/gHFtDydp

Earlier this week at the TransUnion Third Party Summit, CRC co-Executive Director, Missy Meggison, had the opportunity to sit on the Trade Association Leadership Panel with the ACA, NCBA, and RMAi leaders. The panel focused on the future of the ARM industry and how we can work together to meet our common goals. The panel was engaging and it was clear this group cares deeply about both progressing and protecting the ARM industry. Thanks to all who attended and participated.

We have BIG NEWS to share! Auriemma Roundtables has acquired insideARM LLC! This includes the Consumer Relations Consortium, insideARM’s debt collection industry group which focuses on bringing advocates, regulators, and the ARM industry together to find real world solutions to our challenges. We’re really excited about all of the new opportunities this will bring for the CRC and its members. Our direction won’t change. We’ll still focus on carrying the message that debt collection and consumer protection are not mutually exclusive ideas and Missy Meggison and Erin Kerr will remain at the helm. In fact, Auriemma Roundtables will give us access to much deeper expertise and trend analysis, which will make your membership that much more valuable. Read more about this announcement here: https://lnkd.in/eDx4iEYi

Clear guidance leads to compliant procedures that protect consumers. Vague, ambiguous, and murky policy statements do not. In a recent comment, the Consumer Relations Consortium (CRC) outlined how the vague, ambiguous concepts in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's policy statement on abusive acts and practices will ultimately harm the very consumers the CFPB purports to protect. The comment, authored by Legal Advisory Board members Jessica Klander, Ari Derman, Justin Penn, and Jedd Bellman, explains how the policy is too vague to be effective and will ultimately prevent consumers from getting their financial lives back on track. 👉 read the full comment here: https://lnkd.in/gsJKYrWa