California Holds Next Debt Collection Advisory Committee Meeting

The Nov. 6. meeting includes ACA members and other industry representatives who provide feedback to the state’s Department of Financial Innovation on debt collection issues.

Get program and regulation updates for agencies licensed in California at the next California Department of Financial Innovation’s (DFPI) Debt Collection Advisory Committee meeting at 1 p.m. (PST) Nov. 6.

The seven-member committee provides critical feedback to the DFPI as it creates its debt collection licensing program. The committee also advises DFPI Commissioner Clothilde V. Hewlett on matters related to the debt collection business, including proposed fee schedules and other requirements.

The new, and returning, committee members who were appointed by Hewlett for a two-year term are:

Angela Reed-Becker, Equabli Inc.
ACA Member Cindy Yaklin, States Recovery Systems Inc.
Desiree Nguyen Orth, East Bay Community Law Center
Kali Miller – OPTNSVC Mexico (Oportun Inc.)
ACA Member Robert Tavelli, Tavelli Co. Inc.
ACA Member Scott Hyman, Severson & Werson
ACA Member Sean Welch, P & B Capital Group, LLC
The committee’s next meeting will be open to the public and led by Senior Deputy Commissioner Suzanne Martindale and Deputy Commissioner Melinda Lee.

The agenda includes a program update, regulations, roundtable discussion and public comment.

The discussion will not include DFPI comments on current pending regulations.

Previous issues discussed by the committee included debt collection licensing, technology in the debt collection process, DFPI research on consumer communications and making sure the department understands the processes used for agencies collecting consumer debt.

Register to attend the meeting on Zoom or dial in using information on the DFPI website.

Meeting recordings are available on the DFPI’s You Tube channel as well as the DFPI Debt Collection Advisory Committee’s public page.

Get in Involved in ACA Advocacy
In addition to following the DFPI meetings, there are a number of ways you can learn about advocacy through ACA.

Attend ACA’s 2023 Fall Forum Nov. 8-10, 2023, in Chicago. It’s not too late to join us and network with peers and attend the main stage session for insights on Consumer Financial Protection Bureau activity.
Take a look at ACA’s advocacy resource center for members, which reviews top industry issues and provides tools you can use for members of Congress and state legislators.
ACA’s Policymakers website also has powerful video stories from consumers and small businesses that are easy to share with your legislators. Each of the brief videos on the Policymakers website is accompanied by instructions on how you can email them to your representatives. Personal stories like those featured in the videos can help lawmakers better understand the positive impact ARM professionals have on consumers and the economy.
If you’re interested in more information on advocacy, email advocacy@acainternational.org or ACA’s Director of Public Affairs Katy Zillmer at zillmer@acainternational.org.