Debt collector laws in Connecticut

Connecticut regulates collectors through the Connecticut Consumer Collection Agency Act and Creditors' Collection Practices Act. Here are its extra protections, licensing, complaints and medical debt rules.

Short answer

Connecticut has its own debt collection law: the Connecticut Consumer Collection Agency Act and Creditors' Collection Practices Act. It also covers original creditors collecting their own debts. Debt collectors need a state license in Connecticut; the licensing agency is Connecticut Department of Banking (licenses through NMLS; debt buyers need a license too) (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 36a-800, 36a-801). You can complain to Connecticut Department of Banking, Consumer Affairs. The CFPB also takes complaints.

State law
Yes
Covers original creditors
Yes
License required
Yes
Extra protections listed
5

Connecticut's collection law

State law
Connecticut Consumer Collection Agency Act and Creditors' Collection Practices Act
Law
Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 36a-800 to 36a-814 (consumer collection agencies, including debt buyers); §§ 36a-645 to 36a-648 (creditors)
Covers original creditors
Yes
Official text
Read the law

Only 22 of our 48 state guides, Connecticut among them, apply the state law to original creditors too.

What Connecticut adds to the FDCPA

  • Collection agencies and debt buyers that collect from Connecticut residents must hold a license from the Department of Banking (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-801).
  • If a debt is too old to sue on, the collection agency's first message to you must say so in set wording, and say whether it can still report the debt to credit bureaus (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-805(a)(13)).
  • A collection agency cannot add collection fees after charge-off unless your contract allows them, and the fee cannot be more than 15% of what is actually collected (§ 36a-805(a)(11)).
  • Original creditors, and anyone the debt was assigned to, cannot use abusive, harassing, deceptive or misleading practices to collect (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-646).
  • When a creditor freezes your bank account, the bank must leave up to $1,000 of wage deposits from the last 2 months, or up to $1,000 of the balance, without you asking (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 52-367b, 52-352b(18)).

Medical bills and collectors in Connecticut

Public Act 24-6 (effective July 1, 2024): health care providers and hospitals cannot report your medical debt to credit bureaus. Medical debt reported to a credit bureau is void. Note: on October 28, 2025 the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an interpretive rule saying that the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act generally preempts state laws that ban medical debt from credit reports (90 Fed. Reg. 48710). The state law is still on the books, but credit bureaus may argue it cannot be enforced, and courts have the final say.

Also in Connecticut

  • Collection agencies must warn you in writing when a debt is too old to sue on (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-805(a)(13)).
  • A debt buyer that sues you must file proof that it owns the debt, with the full chain of owners, before the court can enter judgment (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-813).
  • Public Act 25-168 (2025) changed the consumer collection agency law: it redefined 'consumer collection agency' and 'debt buying' and renumbered § 36a-805(a) (the time-barred debt notice is now (a)(13)).

Can you sue a collector under Connecticut law?

Yes, against creditors: if a creditor (including one the debt was assigned to) uses abusive, harassing or deceptive practices, you can sue within 1 year for your actual damages, up to $1,000 more, plus court costs and attorney's fees (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-648). Against collection agencies you can sue under the federal FDCPA.

The federal FDCPA adds a claim of its own: actual damages, up to $1,000 more and attorney's fees, if you sue within 1 year (15 U.S.C. 1692k).

Do collectors need a license in Connecticut?

License required
Yes
Who licenses
Connecticut Department of Banking (licenses through NMLS; debt buyers need a license too) (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 36a-800, 36a-801)
Check a license
Official license lookup

Like Connecticut, 28 of the 48 states we cover license collectors.

In nearby states

Where to complain in Connecticut

When a collector crosses the line in Connecticut

  1. Save the evidence

    Log each call (date, time, who) and keep every letter, voicemail and text.

  2. Identify the collector

    Connecticut requires a license, so check the collector's: Official license lookup.

  3. Send a letter

    Send a letter to dispute a debt or to stop collector calls. Keep a copy and proof of mailing.

  4. Report the collector

    Complain to Connecticut Department of Banking, Consumer Affairs. You can also complain to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

  5. Know your right to sue in Connecticut

    Under Connecticut law: Yes, against creditors: if a creditor (including one the debt was assigned to) uses abusive, harassing or deceptive practices, you can sue within 1 year for your actual damages, up to $1,000 more, plus court costs and attorney's fees (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-648).

Questions about collector laws in Connecticut

Do debt collectors need a license in Connecticut?

Yes. Connecticut Department of Banking (licenses through NMLS; debt buyers need a license too) (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 36a-800, 36a-801)

Is there a Connecticut debt collection act?

Yes: the Connecticut Consumer Collection Agency Act and Creditors' Collection Practices Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 36a-800 to 36a-814 (consumer collection agencies, including debt buyers); §§ 36a-645 to 36a-648 (creditors)). It also covers original creditors collecting their own debts.

Are there medical debt rules in Connecticut?

Public Act 24-6 (effective July 1, 2024): health care providers and hospitals cannot report your medical debt to credit bureaus. Medical debt reported to a credit bureau is void. Note: on October 28, 2025 the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an interpretive rule saying that the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act generally preempts state laws that ban medical debt from credit reports (90 Fed. Reg. 48710). The state law is still on the books, but credit bureaus may argue it cannot be enforced, and courts have the final say.

Who takes complaints about collectors in Connecticut?

Connecticut Department of Banking, Consumer Affairs: https://portal.ct.gov/dob/consumer/consumer-complaints/collection-agency · 860-240-8170 (toll-free 1-800-831-7225, option 2)

Can I take a collector to court under Connecticut law?

Yes, against creditors: if a creditor (including one the debt was assigned to) uses abusive, harassing or deceptive practices, you can sue within 1 year for your actual damages, up to $1,000 more, plus court costs and attorney's fees (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-648). Against collection agencies you can sue under the federal FDCPA.

Where can I look up a collector's Connecticut license?

Use Connecticut's official license lookup: https://portal.ct.gov/dob/consumer-credit-licenses/consumer-credit-licenses/consumer-collection-agencies-licensed-in-connecticut.

What protections does Connecticut add to federal debt collection law?

Collection agencies and debt buyers that collect from Connecticut residents must hold a license from the Department of Banking (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-801). If a debt is too old to sue on, the collection agency's first message to you must say so in set wording, and say whether it can still report the debt to credit bureaus (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-805(a)(13)). A collection agency cannot add collection fees after charge-off unless your contract allows them, and the fee cannot be more than 15% of what is actually collected (§ 36a-805(a)(11)).

Related Connecticut pages

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources