A Letter from the President Happy holidays to you all! As another year at The Affiliated Group wraps up, our 81st, we have only you to thank. The trust you show in us is humbling and we pledge to help you make 2005 your best year in business ever by responsibly and ethically assisting you in the management of your accounts receivable portfolios and helping maximize your cash flows. Speaking of which, this is a great time of year to clean things up and get those bad debts out of your office and into ours. Also, if you've got backlogs of debt and are interested in selling them, please let us know. We are also in the debt-buying business and will pay you top dollar for your charge-offs. Last, but certainly not least, it is our custom to make a donation during the holidays in lieu of sending greeting cards. This year we've chosen the Stuffed Animal Ministry (SAM). SAM, along with Boyd's Bears, provides teddy bears to kids throughout the Midwest . I can tell you from personal experience, delivering teddy bears to kids in need is a very rewarding and heartwarming experience. Best wishes to all of you in the coming year! Mark Neeb

CMS Issues New FAQs to Clarify the HIPAA Security Rule

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new Frequently Asked Questions (and answers) in mid-August to clarify the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule for those who may have questions as the April 2005 deadline quickly approaches.

Debt Burden Takes Toll on Generation X

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Ten Hiding Places for Business Credit Risk

Following the recent wave of corporate reporting irregularities, Atradius Trade Credit Insurance recently developed a list of "Ten Hiding Places For Business Credit Risk," which is designed to help credit professionals spot unseen credit risk.

FCC Exempts Debt Collector Communications from CAN-SPAM

This past year, on behalf of the credit and collection industry, ACA International (ACA) has been a relentlessly vocal advocate for the industry on matters pending before the FCC and the FTC. During this period, both agencies requested public comments on the implementation of the CAN-SPAM Act and the FCC solicited input on the revised TCPA regulations and ACA responded.

Debate Over What Constitutes Identity Theft Delaying Policy and Technology Solutions

As concerns over identity theft in the U.S. intensify, so do debates within the financial services community over exactly what type of crime is at the heart of the matter.