Debt Collection Laws in Connecticut

Legal Expert
Sarah Edwards, BS

Sarah Harris is a professional researcher and writer specializing in legal content. An Emerson College alumna, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the prestigious Boston institution.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: Some states, including Connecticut, have laws that protect consumers from unscrupulous collection agencies. All collection agencies that pursue Connecticut residents for debt must comply with the Connecticut Creditors’ Collection Practices Act. SoloSuit explains what you should know about the debt collection laws in Connecticut and how to settle your debt there.

If you know you have unpaid debt and haven’t taken action to set up a payment arrangement, there’s a good chance that it will end up with a collection agency. These companies purchase unpaid obligations from banks, medical providers, utility companies, and other organizations and try to collect them from consumers.

Collection agencies aren’t known for their exceptional reputations, and that’s why federal and state governments regulate their actions. Several laws have been passed to prevent debt collectors from taking actions that abuse or otherwise harm consumers.

While all collection agencies must abide by the national Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Connecticut has some additional laws to protect its residents.

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The Connecticut Creditors’ Collection Practices Act explained

The Connecticut Creditors’ Collection Practices Act, outlined in C.G.S.A. § 36a-645 through 36a-648, explicitly protects consumers from harassment, deceptive actions, and abuse by debt collectors. The law mirrors the FDCPA. Activities considered harassment include all of the following:

Using violence or threats of violence to force a person to pay a debt.
Threatening to harm someone’s reputation if they don’t pay a debt.
Using curse words or obscenities when trying to collect a debt.
Calling someone repeatedly throughout the day or letting the phone ring off the hook if they don’t answer.
Threatening to publish the consumer’s name in a list of people who owe money.

Debt collectors are also prohibited from the following deceptive actions:

Implying that they’re a federal or state government representative when they’re not.
Telling the debtor that they’re an attorney or a law firm representative if they aren’t.
Failing to inform the consumer of the debt’s current legal status.
Telling the consumer they’ll take legal action against them to collect the debt if they have no right or intention to do so.
Threatening to harm the person’s credit by falsely reporting a debt to a consumer credit agency.
Using templates that appear to be legal process when they’re not.
Depositing a postdated check before the actual check date or threatening to do so.
Refusing to identify who they are or the name of the collection agency they’re with.

If you feel a debt collector is harassing you or using deceptive tactics when trying to communicate with you, they probably are. You can report violations to the FTC and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.

Let’s consider an example of Connecticut debt collection laws in action.

Example: Betty receives a phone call from Tulip Collections. Tulip Collections tells Betty that she has an outstanding credit card debt of $3,000 and must pay the obligation by the end of the week, or Tulip Collections will sue her. This is Betty's first communication from Tulip; she doesn’t recognize the debt. Betty tells Tulip Communications to send her a letter containing more details about the debt so that she can decide whether to dispute it. Tulip Collections tells Betty there isn’t time to validate the debt and she must pay it immediately or face dire consequences. The agent calls Betty a few choice names during the phone call, making her feel even more uncomfortable. After talking with Tulip Collections, Betty checks out the Connecticut Creditors’ Collection Practices Act and the FDCPA. She learns these actions were illegal since the agent used profane language and refused to validate the debt. She files a complaint against Tulip Collections with the FDCPA and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.

Did you receive a collection notice from a Connecticut debt collector? Ask it to validate the debt with SoloSuit’s Debt Validation Letter.

Debt collectors face penalties if they break the law

If you file a complaint because a collection agency didn’t abide by the Connecticut Creditors’ Collection Practices Act, the court may decide to award you damages.

Under C.G.S.A. § 36a-648, a debt collector found guilty of breaking the law is liable for any actual damages sustained by the consumer and additional penalties up to a maximum of $1,000. In addition, the court may order the agency to pay your attorney’s fees and costs for filing the lawsuit.

However, you’ll need to initiate action quickly. Connecticut has a Statute of Limitations of one year for any actions that violate the Connecticut Creditors’ Collection Practices Act.

Creditors cannot pursue parents for their children’s credit card debts

Connecticut has a special law for parents of students currently in college who are under the age of 21. According to C.G.S.A. § 36a-648a, creditors cannot call or send demand letters to parents whose children have taken out credit cards or otherwise borrowed money and failed to keep up with payments.

Unless the parent has expressly agreed to be a cosigner on the student’s debt, creditors can’t pursue them for their children’s obligations.

Collection agencies must have a license to pursue consumers in Connecticut

Per C.G.S.A. § 36a-801, collection agencies that attempt to collect debts from Connecticut consumers must have a valid consumer collection agency license issued by the state.

If you receive a collection notice from a debt collector, check to see if it has included its Connecticut consumer collection agency license number. If the number is not listed, request the license number when you send your Debt Validation Letter.

Collection agencies that don’t have a valid license can’t pursue you for debt, and you should report them to the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.

Connecticut tries to protect consumers from unscrupulous debt collectors

While the Connecticut Creditors’ Collection Practices Act largely replicates the FDCPA, it also applies to traditional creditors like banks. These creditors must adhere to all standards in the law, just like collection agencies. If you feel that a collection agency or a creditor is crossing the line when they communicate with you, don’t hesitate to report them.

Are you being sued for debt in Connecticut? Settle the matter before going to court with SoloSettle.

Settle your debt in Connecticut

If you know you owe the debt, and the debt is still within the statute of limitations, another option to resolve your debt lawsuit is debt settlement.

In a debt settlement, you offer your creditor a portion of the total amount due, usually at least 60% of the debt’s value. In exchange for a lump-sum payment, the creditor agrees to drop its legal claims against you and release you from the remaining balance.

If you decide to settle your obligation, you’ll want to ensure you get the terms of your agreement in writing and pay the creditor before your court date. If you’ve never tried debt settlement before, consider working with a professional organization that will guide you through the process.

To learn more about how to settle a debt in Connecticut, check out this video:

SoloSettle, powered by SoloSuit, is a tech-based approach to debt settlement. Our software helps you send and receive settlement offers until you reach an agreement with the collector. Once an agreement is reached, we’ll help you manage the settlement documentation and transfer your payment to the creditor or debt collector, helping you keep your financial information private and secure.

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