The RMAI Resource Library is your one-stop shop for knowledge and information featuring the following subject areas:
- RMAI Information & Opportunities – RMAI Ad Kit, Contributor Guidelines, Maximizing Your Membership, DEI Baseline Recommendations, Exhibitor & Sponsor Prospectus, Annual Reports and more.
- Certification Resources – Program Overview, Governance Document, Certified Business Directory, Certified Individual Directory, Education Credit Form, Authorized Audit Providers, Business Certification Application, Individual Certification Application, Vendor Certification Application, Family of Companies Certification Application, Impact of Certification on Litigation, and Impact of Certification on Litigation Infographic.
- White Papers & Resources – Bankruptcy Paper, Fintech Primer Paper, Debt Buying Industry Paper, Guide to Receivables Management Industry, and Out of Statute Debt Report
- Compliance Resources — State Licensing, Amicus Briefs, Request Amicus Brief, and Legal Decisions
- Membership Resources – Membership Information, Membership Application, and Additional Membership Representative Form
New items are added as they become available. To let us know your suggestions, contact Aurora Sain.
RMAI offers continuing education at in-person events (Annual Conference and Executive Summit) and for live and recorded educational webinars. RMAI also offers continuing legal education (CLE) at the Annual Conference, the Executive Summit, and for educational webinars.
As a benefit of membership, employees of RMAI member companies get complimentary access to monthly live and recorded webinars, and discounted registration rates for other educational webinars and in-person events.
- RMAI Annual Conference – the largest event, always held in Las Vegas at the Aria Resort & Casino in February, a great way to kick off annual business plans.
- RMAI Executive Summit – a smaller event catering more towards executives and decision-makers, held in different destinations each summer (late July/early August). The Summit is an excellent education and networking experience.
RMAI members have password protected access to the RMAI Member Directory.
The RMAI Membership Roster is publicly available on the RMAI website.
Membership with RMAI is by company, includes one primary contact, and runs on a traditional calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Annual dues are $1145. For Certified Receivables Businesses and Certified Receivables Vendors, annual dues are $895.For international debt buyers, annual dues are $475. Prorated dues are available for applications submitted in Q2 (April, May, and June) and Q3 (July, August, and September) and will be billed the full dues amount the following year. Full payment of membership dues and a $275 one-time application fee is due at the time of application and required before application review. Membership dues and application fee are waived for Originating Creditor members.
- Complete the online membership application.
Here are a few things to have ready for the application process:
- Owner Info (including names, home addresses, DOB, % share) OR if publicly traded, a statement of ownership.
- Industry References, including names, titles, organizations, and email addresses. Note: Three are required, if one is an RMAI member; otherwise, five are required.
Now the Diversity Equity Inclusion Belonging Committee, in February 2019, the RMAI Board of Directors started the Diversity Equity Inclusion Task Force with a mission to empower RMAI member companies to create an inclusive culture by delivering rich content and experiences on diversity and inclusion practices that will allow their businesses to thrive. RMAI created the DEIB Annual Conference Scholarship to help foster the participation of a diverse group of employees at RMAI events.
RMAI ensures a viable credit ecosystem by setting receivables management industry standards, being the authoritative voice in advocacy, championing professional and ethical business practices, and providing unrivaled business networking opportunities.
RMAI promotes the essential role of the receivables management industry in the credit ecosystem.
Showcase your company, product, or service through RMAI’s quality communications. Advertising in RMAI’s media channels—website, social media, eblast, blog, RMAI Insights and RMAI Digital Dispatch annual publications, RMAI Update monthly e-newsletter, or Annual Conference program books—gives you broad access to RMAI members, creating brand awareness and new business opportunities. The best strategy to reach buyers and potential business partners in the receivables management industry is an integrated advertising program that combines the best of print, online, and event communications. RMAI offers complimentary advertising proposals; just let us know your budget and goals. For more information, click here.
- Education & Training – enjoy complimentary and discounted registration for in-person conferences, live and recorded educational webinars, and other resources for receivables professionals
- Events & Networking – make valuable connections through exclusive networking opportunities, Annual Conferences, and other events
- Member Only Communications – stay up to date as the trends, laws, and regulations around the industry evolve. Member Alerts, press releases, blog posts, newsletters, magazine articles and more
- Grassroots Advocacy – participate in state and federal advocacy efforts on behalf of the industry. Influence public policies that promote consumer protection and sound business practices
- Certification – appreciate savings on certification application/renewal fees and annual membership dues
- Advertising – maximize your advertising budget with discounted advertising rates and member-only advertising options.
Check the Certified Business Directory to search Certified Businesses by name, business type, and more. The Certified Business Directory is used by creditors looking to sell or place their defaulted accounts as well as other businesses.
- Only one set of policies and procedures needs to be created rather than multiple versions of the same policy.
- Only the Chief Compliance Officer needs to complete their individual Certified Receivables Compliance Professional (CRCP) designation rather than having multiple CCOs.
- All businesses in a “family of companies” have a single unified audit, which significantly reduces costs for external audits for each separate business.
- The cost of adding an additional affiliated business to a certification is only $150 rather than an additional fee of $1,800 per business.
The CFPB has prepared sample letters you can use to respond to a debt collector who is trying to collect a debt from the wrong person, as well as tips on how to use them. The sample letters may help you to get information, set ground rules about any further communication, or protect some of your rights. Once a debt collector receives your letter, he or she may not contact you again except to:
- Tell you there will be no further contact
- Advise you that it or the creditor may take other specific actions it is legally allowed to take, such as a lawsuit against you
You can also tell the debt collector that you do not believe the debt is yours. If you have evidence that the debt isn’t yours, you might choose to send copies of relevant information with the letter.
Keep a copy of your letter
Send the letter by certified mail and purchase a return receipt so you have proof it was received (keep this in your records, too). You may also send the letter by fax, just be sure to keep a copy of the fax receipt.
Debt collectors cannot call you at times they know are inconvenient, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you specifically agree to it. If a debt collector knows you are not allowed to receive the calls at work, then the debt collector is not allowed to call you there. Debt collectors may not harass you or anyone else over the phone or through any other form of contact.
The FDCPA says debt collectors can’t harass, oppress, or abuse you or anyone else they contact. Some examples of harassment are:
- Repetitious phone calls intended to annoy, abuse, or harass any person answering the phone
- Obscene or profane language
- Threats of violence or harm
- Publishing lists of people who refuse to pay their debts (this does not include reporting information to a credit reporting company)
- Calling you without telling you who they are
Ask the caller for their name, company, street address, telephone number. If your state licenses debt collectors, also ask for a professional license number. You can refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written “validation notice.” Do not give personal or financial information to the caller until you have confirmed it is a legitimate debt collector. Click here to learn more.
Yes! We share helpful information and tools with consumers for making informed financial decisions and taking control of their finances. You can visit our consumer financial literacy website at FinancialLiteracy.Rocks. We also provide quick links to consumer agencies. Click here.
The Legislative Fund was created to extend the impact of RMAI’s advocacy activities beyond what would be otherwise possible, providing critical financial resources that enable RMAI to engage and educate legislators around the country, and to more effectively support or oppose legislation that affects the industry. Legislative Fund contributions support RMAI’s robust state and federal advocacy efforts on behalf of the receivables management industry.
Affiliated businesses (debt buying companies, collection law firms, and third-party collection agencies) may share certification under a “Family of Companies” designation provided that all of the businesses meet the following criteria:
- Have the same Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
- Have the same executive management team that exerts control over business operations (this requirement may be waived by the Administration & Budget Committee if there exists other unifying factors that would preclude its necessity)
- Maintain a uniform network of compliance on all accounts serviced between the business entities
- Are governed by the same corporate policies and procedures
- Agree to be audited in a single unified audit
- Agree any Deficiency and Remediation against one business entity will apply to all of the business entities
NOTE: Businesses that do not meet all of the Family of Companies criteria will need to maintain separate business certifications.
Currently, debt buying companies actively purchasing portfolios must earn the Certified Receivables Business (CRB) designation within one year as a condition for RMAI membership. Debt buying companies not actively purchasing receivables must meet the following requirements to remain an associate debt buyer member:
- Must not have purchased an account since the last membership renewal
- When purchasing an account meet all the requirements and standards outlined in the certification program
- Must complete business certification within one year of purchasing an account
Collection law firms, third party collection agencies, and vendors may voluntarily seek the CRB or Certified Receivables Vendor (CRV) designation but are not required to do so to maintain RMAI membership.
On July 21, 2023, the RMAI Membership approved an amendment to the RMAI Bylaws requiring current associate debt buyer members to become certified by January 1, 2025, to maintain their membership.
Starting March 1, 2024, the Certification Program is going to require a pre-certification audit as a condition to certification. Businesses that earn certification prior to March 1, 2024, do not need a pre-certification audit. If you have questions, contact Director of Certification and Education, Shannon Parod at (916) 482-2462 or [email protected].
Certifications will be granted to businesses that comply with uniform and rigorous industry standards of best practices and pass an RMAI conducted background check. The standards address core principles including account documentation, chain of title, consumer complaint and dispute resolution, statute of limitation compliance, vendor management, credit bureau reporting, resale, as well as other relevant operational procedures. Certification can also be granted to vendors and brokers that comply with the applicable standards.
Whether an award, acquisition, new hire, executive change, community involvement, or general announcement, we want to share news from RMAI members! Email news and press releases to our Communications & Administrative Coordinator at [email protected].
Why join? Here’s what current members have to say:
“The fact that RMAI comprises debt buyers, brokers, sellers, vendors, agencies, law firms, and service providers really makes for a comprehensive, productive marketplace.”
– Todd Lansky, CRCP, Resurgence Capital, LLC
“Networking opportunities have allowed me to expand my business and, more importantly, develop bonds that transcend a mere business relationship.”
– Steven Cohen, CRCP, Law Offices of Steven Cohen
“Membership in RMAI allows us to actively participate with lawmakers around the country to get our points of view heard.”
– Marian Sangalang, CRCP, The Bureaus, Inc.
“It is imperative that we join an organization that advocates for the companies in this industry to do business in a compliant manner. I want to be a part of an organization that keeps a pulse on all regulatory matters, holds us to the highest compliance standards, and puts our donations to work in a legislative advocacy fund. You should want to be part of that organization too.”
– Jeremiah Wheeler, Digital Recognition Network
RMAI’s Receivables Management Certification Program offers professional designations to businesses and individuals operating and employed within the accounts receivables industry. RMAI launched the Certification Program in 2013 with a stated mission to “provide enhanced consumer protections through rigorous and uniform industry standards of best practice.” Often cited as the “gold standard” due to requirements that go above and beyond what is required by law, the program certifies debt buyers, collection agencies, law firms, brokers, and vendors. For more information, click here.
RMAI serves as the voice of the receivables management industry, representing members before federal and state policymakers and in the courts. Despite a clearly challenging landscape, RMAI has maintained an unparalleled level of success for:
- Negotiating a positive outcome on bills that we negotiated at the state level
- Engaging lobbyists in numerous states, including California, Connecticut, Oregon, Massachusetts, Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, and Washington, to name a few
- Maintaining a strong presence in Washington, D.C. and continuing to developing influential relationships with the CFPB, FTC and OCC
- Consistently educating local, state and federal policymakers on the important and critical role the industry plays in the credit ecocycle
Receivables Management Association International is the nonprofit trade association that represents more than 600 companies that support the purchase, sale, and collection of performing and nonperforming receivables on the secondary market. RMAI member companies include debt buyers, collection agencies, law firms, originating creditors and industry-related product and service providers. RMAI provides its members with extensive networking, educational, and business development opportunities in asset classes that span numerous industries. The association publishes spring and fall publications, a monthly online newsletter and Member Alerts, and conducts robust state and federal advocacy efforts in support of RMAI members and their businesses.
Founded in 1997, RMAI is headquartered in Sacramento, California.