Bill Bartmann

I’ve just received word from Thomas Hinton, President of the non-profit American Consumer Council, that they have selected CFS2 as the recipient of their 2013 Friend of the Consumer Award. Here’s what he said:

“The American Consumer Council is pleased to recognize CSF2 with its 2013 Friend of the Consumer Award for its commitment to helping a large segment of consumers get back on their feet through employment assistance and debt negotiation services. As a financial recovery company, CSF2 is offering valued services that millions of consumers desperately need as we emerge from one of the longest recessions in our nation’s history.”

Here’s the strange thing. While I’m grateful and my team certainly deserves to be recognized, my overwhelming feeling is one of frustration. Specifically, frustration that we’re not touching enough lives quickly enough. We can do even more …and we will.

In the through the looking glass world that is Washington, DC, competence, skill and expertise have little to do with those being approved to lead our government’s most important agencies.

The case of Richard Cordray, who’s had to be re-nominated to lead the consumer protection agency, he’s already been leading since its inception, is a perfect case in point.

Reporter John Michael Spinelli does a nice job of illustrating in his article just published today The Examiner. I’m pleased he chose to interview me for it as well, there’s a lot at stake with this nomination as it portends not just the future of one individual, but the protection agency itself.

Check out the story here: http://www.examiner.com/article/cordray-wins-party-line-approval-dc-as-consumer-leader-lauds-his-leadership

The collapsed housing bubble, high unemployment and the high cost of health care have left consumers with not enough money to go around.

This article in the Huffington Post illustrates the real world path that will allow us to avoid a major social crisis: dlvr.it/2mZ04Z.

The politics we typically get to see are “made for tv” pomp and posturing. The real politics are going on behind the scenes between key staffers empowered to negotiate on behalf of their elected bosses.

The “Fiscal Cliff” – a set of severe tax increases and across the board budgetary slashing – is set to happen at New Years Eve. Now that the election is over, Democratic leaders have vowed to stop “kicking the can down the road” and deal with our deficit issues once and for all. If a negotiated settlement is not reached by this deadline, the financial after-effects will be felt globally.

If you want to understand what’s REALLY happening I’d suggest you watch this fascinating interview by economist John Mauldin as he miraculously get’s two of the key staffers involved in the negotiations (David Krone, Chief of Staff, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid; and Rob Lehman, Chief of Staff, Republican Senator Rob Portman) to share in a civil, thoughtful but blunt conversation about these negotiations. It’s riveting.

Watch the Video: http://www.financialsense.com/node/9865

We need more TV like this.

As well as anyone I know that life is not fair.

Two weeks ago I received a phone call from the White House, asking if I would fly to DC to meet with the Deputy Director of the National Economic Council (NEC) to discuss my proposal regarding a Debt Collection Litigation Moratorium.  Naturally, I accepted.  I was honored and humbled to be asked to share my opinions on this important topic – and, it was the first time I had ever been invited by the White House for a private meeting.

Although the meeting was set for Monday, I flew into DC on Saturday hoping I would beat hurricane Sandy.  Well, I beat Sandy to DC, but as we know now it was so severe they shut down the White House (WH) on Monday & Tuesday, mvoing my meeting to Wednesday.

Brian Deese, the Deputy Director of the NEC, met me in the foyer and escorted me to a conference room where we were joined by two of his Senior Policy Advisors.  During the next hour I was asked to explain the inner-workings of the debt collection industry, its impact on the banking industry in America and the relationship between litigation by debt collection companies and the national bankruptcy rate.  I felt like I was back in college taking an “open book” exam.  For the next 60 minutes I had a blast, answering all of their questions (questions are more fun – when you know the subject matter).  The Deputy Director thanked CFS II for the work we are doing to “reform the industry” (I shouldn’t have been surprised that he too had done his homework.)

The meeting ended with the Deputy Director promising me he would be back in touch with me by next Wednesday with his ideas for “next steps”.  In the meantime, he is aranging a meeting with the Director of the CFPB because he is confident that Director Cordray will be very interested in this process.  The WH is very serious about cleaning up this industry and protecting consumers from egregious collection behavior.  I am thrilled to death that they have picked us as their ally in this battle.

If you are interested in seeing the specifics of my proposed Debt Collection Litigation Moratorium – my presentation for the WH has been turned into an Op/Ed in The Christian Science Monitor; CLICK HERE TO READ.

PS: As you walk up the driveway from the guard shack to the entrance of the West Wing, you cannot help but marvel at the awe and majesty of that building.  It has been an icon of freedom and democracy for the entire world for the last 200 years – and the realization slips in that you are about to get a chance to participate in an effort that will change the lives of millions of Americans.  It will put a lump in your throat and resolve in your heart.  The thought that crossed my mind as I walked up that driveway was, “some missions become bigger than the individuals who spawn the idea”.  This mission has become much bigger than you, me and the thousands who have joined our efforts to reform the Debt Collection Industry – this mission now has a life of its own.  Thanks for your help in making this possible.

A big step forward in reducing the 1.4 million personal bankruptcies and getting struggling consumers back on their feet can be accomplished by banning 3rd party debt collectors from suing, until then nations unemployment rate reaches 6%.

Read my column in the Christian Science Monitor to understand why this is such a powerful idea –

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/new-economy/2012/1102/Impose-a-moratorium-on-debt-collection-lawsuits