From Collector: Meet Your Certified Instructor John Bedard

John Bedard, with more than 45 seminars under his belt, shares why he continues to teach for ACA International.

11/11/2019 5:30 AM

NEWSCOLLECTOR MAGAZINE

From Collector: Meet Your Certified Instructor John Bedard

John Bedard, owner, Bedard Law Group P.C., has served as a Certified Instructor for 13 years.

Here is an excerpt from an interview with Bedard in the October issue of Collector magazine.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Certified Instructor?

I love teaching and I wanted to contribute to the amazing education program ACA developed.

What’s a Recurring Source of Stress for ACA Members?

I’d say the uncertainty in the law, which creates compliance risks that are difficult to quantify. A prime example of this can be seen in the U.S. Third Circuit right now. After 40 years of the same statutory language, judges in the Third Circuit are unable to agree on the proper language of the validation notice. Some believe the FDCPA requires consumers to dispute their debts “in writing” and therefore the validation notice must communicate that writing requirement to consumers.

Other judges believe the statute does not require consumers to dispute in writing and that instructing consumers to make their dispute “in writing” will violate the statute. How is a law-abiding, well-intentioned debt collector supposed to comply with the law when judges cannot agree on what the law requires? The consequences can be extreme.

Have ACA’s Education Opportunities Expanded Your Peer Network in Any Way?

Yes. Being a Certified Instructor has given me the opportunity to meet hundreds of people I might never have met otherwise. Plus, attendees may not realize it, but as a Certified Instructor I learn from them as much as they learn from me. Teaching gives me a broad and deep understanding of the operations of a debt collection agency and a better grasp on the struggles and the needs of debt collectors across the industry.