Maine Extends Reach of Its Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

On February 6, 2018, the state of Maine updated its Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to expand the range of debt collection activities that are subject to the statute’s licensing requirements.  The Act made two changes to the definition of when a debt collector is “[c]onducting business in this State.”

First, the Act now subjects all debt collectors soliciting Maine creditors as clients to the licensing requirements of the Act, rather than only debt collectors that participate in “face to face” solicitation of Maine creditors as clients.

Second, the Act now requires a license for all debt collection activities where the consumer is located in Maine.  Previously, debt collection was only subject to the Act when the debt was incurred between a consumer and creditor that were both located in Maine.

The full text of the amendment is available here: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0613&item=3&snum=128.