Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Maine · Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators · §§ 11001 to 11054 · 32 sections
Overview
This act regulates the conduct of debt collectors and debt buyers pursuing consumer debts, limiting how and when they may contact consumers and seek location information from third parties, prohibiting harassing and deceptive collection tactics, requiring that debts be validated on request, and setting conditions on repossession activity, the handling of consumers' financial information, and the filing of collection lawsuits. It also creates a licensing regime for those engaged in debt collection, with bonding, fee, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations, disqualification based on certain prior convictions, and provisions covering the wind-down of a licensed business, all administered by a regulator authorized to adopt rules and issue advisory rulings. Compliance is backed by investigations, license suspension or revocation, administrative enforcement orders and assurances of discontinuance subject to appeal, along with civil penalties and civil liability to consumers for violations.
Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.
Sections covered
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11001Short title
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11002Definitions
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11003Exclusions
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11011Acquisition of location information
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11012Communication in connection with debt collection
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11013Prohibited practices
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11013-AException for certain pretrial diversion programs for issuers of worthless checks operated by private entities
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11014Validation of debts
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11015Multiple debts
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11016Furnishing certain deceptive forms
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11017Repossession activity
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11018Privacy of consumer financial information
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11019Collection action by debt buyer
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11020Collection action to collect credit card and student loan debts; additional requirements for collection action
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11021Collection actions prohibited in small claims court
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11031Licenses
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11032Bond
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11033Prior convictions as disqualifications
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11034Rulemaking
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11035Advisory rulings
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11036Reports and records
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11037Voluntary termination of business
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11038Insolvency and liquidation
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11039Fees
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11040Penalty
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11051Investigation, suspension and revocation of licenses
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11051-AEnforcement; financial institutions
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11051-BAdministrative enforcement orders
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11051-CAssurance of discontinuance
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11052Appeals
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11053Civil penalty
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 32, § 11054Civil liability
Enacted in other states
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