Collector - December 2017 - 48
LASTWORD Jumping In Scott Idle is working with Michigan Unit members to educate consumers and legislators on the credit and collection industry-and says every person can make a difference. By Katy Zillmer I nspired in part by his father, Scott Idle attended his first Michigan Association of Collection Agencies meeting in 2011. The elder Idle had served as unit president in 1963, in addition to founding his own collection agency, the MidMichigan Collection Bureau, in 1955. Today Scott Idle is not only CEO of the family business, but he's also following in his father's footsteps by serving as MACA president-and he encourages all ACA members to attend just one meeting of their local unit to see what it's all about. "Being a part of the association has provided me tremendous knowledge and insight into the inner- and outer-workings of the industry," he said. As a MACA leader, Idle is working to change consumers', regulators' and 48 legislators' perceptions of the credit and collection industry. Along the way, he's learned that empathy and patience pay off. "When you possess this level of passion to change societal views and educate consumers about something as important as credit, you find yourself testifying before [the] state legislature, talking to a classroom of impressionable kids, lecturing about financial literacy in front of hundreds of college students that wish to become tomorrow's leaders and entrepreneurs. This is how I've chosen to change my world," Idle said. This passion for advocacy has helped Idle and other MACA members establish friendships with state legislators that aid them in making industry regulations less restrictive while best serving consumers. In September, for example, Idle testified in front of the Michigan Senate in support of legislation to allow collection agencies to employ an on-site attorney. Michigan is one of a few states that prohibits collection agencies from employing an attorney to provide litigation services to its creditor clients or for compliance-related purposes. In a unanimous vote (16-0) Nov. 8, the Michigan House Regulatory Reform Committee passed Senate Bill 0385, allowing the use of an on-site attprney. Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Lansing, sponsored the bill and Sen. Rick Jones, R-Lansing, co-sponsored it. The Michigan House of Representatives is expected to vote on the bill in early December and send it to the governor's desk for approval. "It is long overdue for our great state to enhance the protection of Michigan consumers through improved compliance efforts, leading to a more simplified, secure, and better consumer experience for the Michiganders we work with on a day-to-day basis," Idle said. In May 2017, Idle organized MACA's annual conference, which featured member meetings with legislators and training on how to speak with them about industry issues. "That has had a huge impact on our ability to move things forward," he said. As president of MACA, Idle's priorities are to improve the industry's reputation and raise the association's profile, reform state laws to better serve consumers and increase membership involvement. "I believe an association's purpose is to provide a forum for similar, like-minded individuals that share a passion for a single thing that means everything to them to come together in order to support, challenge, motivate, assist, and protect the interests that matter most," Idle said. His advice to other members is simply to get involved. "I have an optimistic outlook for the industry, but the degree to which we can achieve our goals and protect our interests ultimately depends on the involvement of our peers," he said. "The fewer people involved, the less we are able to accomplish. The success of our organization is credited to the hard work, time and energy each Michigan ACA member puts in. We need more of the great members to participate." Katy Zillmer is ACA International's communications specialist. Learn more about your local ACA unit here: www.acainternational.org/units. ACAINTERNATIONAL.ORG
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