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New York State Statutes Regulating Debt Collection / Debt Collectors

General Business Law, Sec. 601, Article 29-H. DEBT COLLECTION PROCEDURES

§  600.  Definitions. 

As  used in this article, unless the context or  subject  matter  otherwise  requires:  1.  "Consumer  claim"  means  any obligation  of  a  natural  person  for  the  payment  of  money  or its equivalent which is or is alleged to be in default and which arises  out of  a  transaction  wherein  credit  has  been  offered or extended to a natural person, and the money, property or service which was the subject of the transaction was  primarily  for  personal,  family  or  household purposes.  The term includes an obligation of a natural person who is a co-maker, endorser, guarantor or surety as well as the natural person to whom such credit was originally extended.
  
2. "Debtor" means any natural person who owes or who is asserted to owe a consumer claim.

3.  "Principal  creditor"  means  any  person,  firm,  corporation  or organization to whom a consumer claim is owed, due or asserted to be due or owed, or any assignee for value of said person, firm, corporation  or organization.

§ 601. Prohibited practices.

No principal creditor, as defined by this article, or his agent shall:

1.   Simulate  in  any  manner  a  law  enforcement  officer,  or  a representative of any governmental agency of the state of  New  York  or any of its political subdivisions; or

2.  Knowingly  collect,  attempt  to collect, or assert a right to any collection fee, attorney's  fee,  court  cost  or  expense  unless  such changes are justly due and legally chargeable against the debtor; or
  
3. Disclose or threaten to disclose information affecting the debtor's reputation  for  credit worthiness with knowledge or reason to know that the information is false; or
  
4. Communicate or threaten to communicate the  nature  of  a  consumer claim to the debtor's employer prior to obtaining final judgment against the  debtor.  The provisions of this subdivision shall not prohibit a principal creditor from communicating  with  the  debtor's  employer  to execute  a wage assignment agreement if the debtor has consented to such an agreement; or
  
5.  Disclose  or  threaten  to  disclose  information  concerning  the existence  of  a  debt  known  to  be  disputed  by  the  debtor without disclosing that fact; or
  
6. Communicate with  the  debtor  or  any  member  of  his  family  or household  with  such  frequency  or  at such unusual hours or in such a manner as can reasonably be expected to abuse or harass the debtor; or
  
7. Threaten any action which the  principal  creditor  in  the  usual course of his business does not in fact take; or
  
8.  Claim, or attempt or threaten to enforce a right with knowledge or reason to know that the right does not exist; or
  
9. Use a communication which simulates in any manner legal or judicial process or which gives the appearance of  being  authorized,  issued  or approved  by  a government, governmental agency, or attorney at law when it is not.

§  602.  Violations  and penalties.

1. Except as otherwise provided by law, any person who shall violate the terms of  this  article  shall  be guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  each  such violation shall be deemed a  separate offense.

2. The attorney general or the district attorney  of  any  county  may bring  an  action  in the name of the people of the state to restrain or prevent any violation of this article or any  continuance  of  any  such violation.

§  603.  Severability. 

If  any  provision  of  this  article  or  the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held  invalid  the invalidity  thereof shall not affect other provisions or  applications of the article which can be given effect without the invalid  provision or application,  and  to  this  and  the  provisions  of  this  article are severable.


See also:
DebtState Statutes > New York
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New York State Statutes Regulating Debt Collection / Debt Collectors

General Business Law, Sec. 601, Article 29-H. DEBT COLLECTION PROCEDURES

§  600.  Definitions. 

As  used in this article, unless the context or  subject  matter  otherwise  requires:  1.  "Consumer  claim"  means  any obligation  of  a  natural  person  for  the  payment  of  money  or its equivalent which is or is alleged to be in default and which arises  out of  a  transaction  wherein  credit  has  been  offered or extended to a natural person, and the money, property or service which was the subject of the transaction was  primarily  for  personal,  family  or  household purposes.  The term includes an obligation of a natural person who is a co-maker, endorser, guarantor or surety as well as the natural person to whom such credit was originally extended.
  
2. "Debtor" means any natural person who owes or who is asserted to owe a consumer claim.

3.  "Principal  creditor"  means  any  person,  firm,  corporation  or organization to whom a consumer claim is owed, due or asserted to be due or owed, or any assignee for value of said person, firm, corporation  or organization.

§ 601. Prohibited practices.

No principal creditor, as defined by this article, or his agent shall:

1.   Simulate  in  any  manner  a  law  enforcement  officer,  or  a representative of any governmental agency of the state of  New  York  or any of its political subdivisions; or

2.  Knowingly  collect,  attempt  to collect, or assert a right to any collection fee, attorney's  fee,  court  cost  or  expense  unless  such changes are justly due and legally chargeable against the debtor; or
  
3. Disclose or threaten to disclose information affecting the debtor's reputation  for  credit worthiness with knowledge or reason to know that the information is false; or
  
4. Communicate or threaten to communicate the  nature  of  a  consumer claim to the debtor's employer prior to obtaining final judgment against the  debtor.  The provisions of this subdivision shall not prohibit a principal creditor from communicating  with  the  debtor's  employer  to execute  a wage assignment agreement if the debtor has consented to such an agreement; or
  
5.  Disclose  or  threaten  to  disclose  information  concerning  the existence  of  a  debt  known  to  be  disputed  by  the  debtor without disclosing that fact; or
  
6. Communicate with  the  debtor  or  any  member  of  his  family  or household  with  such  frequency  or  at such unusual hours or in such a manner as can reasonably be expected to abuse or harass the debtor; or
  
7. Threaten any action which the  principal  creditor  in  the  usual course of his business does not in fact take; or
  
8.  Claim, or attempt or threaten to enforce a right with knowledge or reason to know that the right does not exist; or
  
9. Use a communication which simulates in any manner legal or judicial process or which gives the appearance of  being  authorized,  issued  or approved  by  a government, governmental agency, or attorney at law when it is not.

§  602.  Violations  and penalties.

1. Except as otherwise provided by law, any person who shall violate the terms of  this  article  shall  be guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  each  such violation shall be deemed a  separate offense.

2. The attorney general or the district attorney  of  any  county  may bring  an  action  in the name of the people of the state to restrain or prevent any violation of this article or any  continuance  of  any  such violation.

§  603.  Severability. 

If  any  provision  of  this  article  or  the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held  invalid  the invalidity  thereof shall not affect other provisions or  applications of the article which can be given effect without the invalid  provision or application,  and  to  this  and  the  provisions  of  this  article are severable.


See also:
Debt Kit -- Settle unsecured debts for less than half of amount owed
Credit Kit -- Improve your credit rating and reduce monthly payments by $200+

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