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Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

Colorado Extends Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Through 2028

State Issues Debt Collection FDCPA State Legislation Debt Buying

State Issues

On June 1, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper enacted legislation (SB 17-216) executing recommendations from the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ 2016 Sunset Report, and extending the Colorado Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (Act) an additional 11 years through September 1, 2028. The Act was originally set to be repealed on July 1, 2017. Specifically, the legislation will implement the following points:

  • defines a “debt buyer” as an individual who “engages in the business of purchasing delinquent or defaulted debt for collection purposes,” regardless of whether the debt is collected by the debt buyer, a third-party, or through litigation. The Act applies to debt buyers who purchase consumer debts sold or resold on or after January 1, 2018;
  • states that debt collectors or collection agencies that bring legal actions on debts must follow outlined requirements;
  • defines collection agency expectations for the purchase, sale or attempted collection of a purchased debt;
  • sets the statute of limitations for public actions brought by the administrator of the Act to two years and sets the limit to one year for private actions;
  • requires the administrator to prepare a biannual report to address enforcement actions, complaint processing statistics, and significant legal filings, among other things, in addition to hosting biannual meetings to disseminate the findings.

SB 17-216 went into effect June 1, 2017 with the exception of certain provisions governing debt buyers, documentation for legal actions, and Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator reporting requirements that take effect January 1, 2018.