N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 600

§ 600. Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context or\nsubject matter otherwise requires: 1. "Consumer claim" means any\nobligation of a natural person for the payment of money or its\nequivalent which is or is alleged to be in default and which arises out\nof a transaction wherein credit has been offered or extended to a\nnatural person, and the money, property or service which was the subject\nof the transaction was primarily for personal, family or household\npurposes. The term includes an obligation of a natural person who is a\nco-maker, endorser, guarantor or surety as well as the natural person to\nwhom such credit was originally extended.\n 2. "Debtor" means any natural person who owes or who is asserted to\nowe a consumer claim.\n 3. "Principal creditor" means any person, firm, corporation or\norganization to whom a consumer claim is owed, due or asserted to be due\nor owed, or any assignee for value of said person, firm, corporation or\norganization.\n 4. "Debt collection agency" shall mean a person, firm or corporation\nengaged in business, the principal purpose of which is to regularly\ncollect or attempt to collect debts: (a) owed or due or asserted to be\nowed or due to another; or (b) obtained by, or assigned to, such person,\nfirm or corporation, that are in default when obtained or acquired by\nsuch person, firm or corporation.\n