DBA International Appoints Nine Members to its Certification Council

DBA International’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of the following nine members to its Certification Council:

• Amy Anuk – Encore Capital Group
• Mike Bendickson – Absolute Resolutions Corporation
• Mike Cushing – Fourscore Resource Capital
• Steve Dostal – Wells Fargo
• Jeffrey Schreiber – Waterfront Capital
• G. Reynolds Sims – G. Reynolds Sims & Associates
• Brett Soldevila – Security Credit Services
• Glenn Vician – American Acceptance Company
• Trudy Weiss Craig – Unifund

These nine appointed members join consumer representative Todd J. Zywicki of George Mason University School of Law and Third Party Collection Agency Representative Matthew Wolk of CBE Group, who were appointed in 2013. Members of the Certification Council represent ARM industry participant companies from financial institutions, large, medium, and small scale purchasers, law firms, certified individual members and a consumer representative. The 11-member Certification Council is responsible for the administration of DBA International’s Debt Buyer Certification Program.

DBA International President Bryan Faliero stated, “We are excited to have this diverse group of members serving on the Certification Council who each demonstrate a commitment to national standards for the debt buying industry, compliance with state and federal consumer protection laws and industry best practices.”

DBA’s Certification Program consists of a company-based designation, the Certified Professional Receivables Company (CPRC), and an individual-based designation, the Certified Receivables Compliance Professional (CRCP).

By becoming a Certified Professional Receivables Company (CPRC), DBA members demonstrate to the financial services industry, regulators and consumers that they operate according to the highest ethical standards. Company certifications are granted to those Debt Buyers who comply with 19 uniform certification standards based on recognized industry best practices including account documentation, chain of title, consumer complaint and dispute resolutions, etc. Companies holding the CPRC designation are required to submit to three distinct compliance audits, including audits performed by independent third-party auditors in order to maintain their certified status.

To become a Certified Receivables Compliance Professional (CRCP), DBA members complete 24 credit hours of relevant industry education every two years including required courses on Ethics, Current Issues and the Introductory Survey Course on Debt Buying. Members who hold individual certification must pass a criminal background screening conducted by DBA International. Individual certification is a requirement for each certified company’s Chief Compliance Officer.

Certification is a requirement for DBA International membership. The first certifications were issued in May 2013 and members have until 2016 to meet the certification requirements.

The Certification Council will select a new Council Chair at the meeting on February 25, 2014 to present to the DBA International Board of Directors for approval.

DBA International is the nonprofit trade association that represents the interests of companies that acquire accounts receivable portfolios, both performing and distressed assets, on the secondary market. We provide a wide array of education programs to ensure members are up-to-date on all state and federal laws when working with consumers. DBA serves as the voice of the debt buying industry, establishing best practices and representing members before Federal and State agencies and in the courts. DBA maintains a code of ethics and a national certification program to promote uniform industry standards. More information on the DBA Certification Program is available at http://www.dbainternational.org/certification/certification.asp.