Program Details
2026-11-23 12:00:00
Over 1,000+ webinars
Course Overview
2026-11-23 12:00:00
2h CLE Credits
Intermediate
2
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ESTThis one-hour CLE provides attorneys with a practical overview of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Regulation F, focusing on the legal and operational compliance issues that arise when advising third-party debt collection agencies and debt buyers.
Drawing on real-world compliance scenarios, the presentation will examine the federal requirements governing collection communications, validation notices, and digital collection practices. Attention will be given to common compliance mistakes and how minor operational issues can create significant legal exposure.
Rather than a technical, provision-by-provision review of the FDCPA, this session will focus on the legal requirements and practical compliance considerations that attorneys are most likely to encounter when advising debt collection agencies and debt buyers.
This session is intended for attorneys who represent or advise debt collection agencies and debt buyers, in-house counsel, regulatory and compliance attorneys, and practitioners interested in developing a better understanding of federal debt collection compliance.
Attendees will learn how to identify common FDCPA and Regulation F compliance risks, evaluate collection agency practices against federal requirements, and recommend practical solutions that balance legal compliance with operational efficiency.
The session will emphasize how proactive legal guidance can help agencies prevent consumer complaints, regulatory investigations, and costly litigation.
Jenna Williams
Chad Echols 1:10 pm - 2:10 pm ESTI will teach defense-side FDCPA triage for collectors, debt buyers, and collection law firms: taking demand letters and filed complaints from intake to conclusion. I will discuss early settlement, motion practice, standing and removal, the bona fide error defense, §1692k class-cap sizing, and other aspects of an effective defense strategy. There is a significant rise in filed cases and pre-suit demands this year. I will also address the explosion of pro se claims with AI assistance.
This hour runs through various FDCPA fact patterns through a defense-side decision tree. Each pattern will highlight the pros and cons of the strategy, how to determine whether the chosen strategy fits the pattern, and other meaningful considerations. This is not a session on insurance, but it will also address general insurance considerations impacting the decision-making process. Attendees leave with real world examples and understandings that should improve confidence in making decisions that arise when an entity is threatened while balancing the risk versus reward of an aggressive defense.
Jenna WilliamsChad EcholsJenna Williams advises creditors and collection agencies nationwide on federal and state regulatory compliance, including the FDCPA, the TCPA, and the FCRA. She reviews collection notices sent by mail, email, and text; builds and evaluates compliance management systems; and conducts internal agency audits. She also defends clients in investigations by the CFPB, the FTC, and state regulators, and her practice includes litigation defense. Her focus is careful, detailed compliance advice paired with practical solutions that keep operations efficient and serve each client’s business goals.
Chad Echols has substantial experience in both the defense and the compliance sides of pre-default and post-default debt collection. His practice centers on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, together with compliance work for collection agencies and debt purchasers, business law, civil litigation, and commercial collections. He appears in federal and state trial and appellate courts. Before co-founding Frost Echols, LLC with Mike Frost, he owned and managed The Echols Firm, LLC for more than ten years.
Jenna Williams advises creditors and collection agencies nationwide on federal and state regulatory compliance, including the FDCPA, the TCPA, and the FCRA. She reviews collection notices sent by mail, email, and text; builds and evaluates compliance management systems; and conducts internal agency audits. She also defends clients in investigations by the CFPB, the FTC, and state regulators, and her practice includes litigation defense. Her focus is careful, detailed compliance advice paired with practical solutions that keep operations efficient and serve each client’s business goals.
Chad Echols has substantial experience in both the defense and the compliance sides of pre-default and post-default debt collection. His practice centers on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, together with compliance work for collection agencies and debt purchasers, business law, civil litigation, and commercial collections. He appears in federal and state trial and appellate courts. Before co-founding Frost Echols, LLC with Mike Frost, he owned and managed The Echols Firm, LLC for more than ten years.
Requirements
The Alabama State Bar MCLE Commission requires attorneys to complete 12 credits, including 1 ethics, by December 31 of each year. All credits must be reported by February 15 of the following year. A maximum of 12 credits, including 1 ethics credit, may be carried over for 1 year only.
Formats
