Debt collector laws in Maine

The Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: what it adds to federal law, who must be licensed, where to complain and the medical debt rules in Maine.

Short answer

Maine has its own debt collection law: the Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. It does not cover original creditors collecting their own debts. Debt collectors need a state license in Maine; the licensing agency is Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection). Complaints go to Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, and to the CFPB.

State law
Yes
Covers original creditors
No
License required
Yes
Extra protections listed
5

Maine's collection law

State law
Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Law
32 M.R.S. §§ 11001-11054
Covers original creditors
No
Official text
Read the law

Maine rules on medical debt

Debt collectors cannot charge interest or fees on medical debt, and cannot sue to collect it unless they first gave you notice and 30 days to show your household income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (PL 2023, c. 663; 32 M.R.S. § 11013(3)(O)-(Q)). Collectors also cannot garnish wages or put a lien on your home for medical debt (32 M.R.S. § 11013(12)-(13), PL 2025, c. 649), and your main home is exempt from execution for medical debt (14 M.R.S. § 4422(1)(F)). Credit bureaus cannot report medical debt, and medical creditors, collectors and debt buyers cannot report it to them (PL 2025, c. 201; 10 M.R.S. § 1310-H(4)). 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.

What Maine adds to the FDCPA

  • Debt collectors cannot sue you more than 6 years after your last activity on the debt, and once that time runs out, a payment or promise does not restart it. (32 M.R.S. § 11013(7)-(8))
  • Debt collectors cannot sue consumers in small claims court. (32 M.R.S. § 11021)
  • On medical debt, collectors cannot charge interest or fees, and cannot garnish your wages or put a lien on your home. (32 M.R.S. § 11013(3)(O)-(P), (12)-(13))
  • A payment plan or settlement must be in writing; the collector must give you a written copy within 10 business days, and you don't have to pay until you get it. (32 M.R.S. § 11013(6))
  • Debt buyers must have detailed records (original creditor, chain of ownership, the contract) before collecting. (32 M.R.S. § 11013(9))

Suing a collector in Maine

Yes. You can sue a debt collector for actual damages plus up to $1,000 in extra damages ($2,000 against a debt buyer), plus court costs and attorney's fees if you win. You must sue within 1 year after the violation. (32 M.R.S. § 11054)

Federal law (15 U.S.C. 1692k) also lets you sue within 1 year for actual damages, up to $1,000 extra and attorney's fees.

Licenses for collection agencies in Maine

License required
Yes
Who licenses
Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection)
Check a license
Official license lookup

Maine is one of 28 states in our 48 state guides that require a license.

In nearby states

Where to complain in Maine

Steps against an abusive collector in Maine

  1. Save the evidence

    Note the date, time and caller of every contact, and keep letters, voicemails, emails and texts.

  2. Identify the collector

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

  3. Send a letter

    Write to dispute a debt or to stop collector calls, and keep a copy with proof of mailing.

  4. Report the collector

    Complain to Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection. You can also complain to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

  5. Know your right to sue in Maine

    Under Maine law: Yes. You can sue a debt collector for actual damages plus up to $1,000 in extra damages ($2,000 against a debt buyer), plus court costs and attorney's fees if you win.

Questions about collector laws in Maine

Does Maine license debt collectors?

Yes. Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection)

Is there a Maine debt collection act?

Yes: the Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (32 M.R.S. §§ 11001-11054). It does not cover original creditors collecting their own debts.

Are there medical debt rules in Maine?

Debt collectors cannot charge interest or fees on medical debt, and cannot sue to collect it unless they first gave you notice and 30 days to show your household income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (PL 2023, c. 663; 32 M.R.S. § 11013(3)(O)-(Q)). Collectors also cannot garnish wages or put a lien on your home for medical debt (32 M.R.S. § 11013(12)-(13), PL 2025, c. 649), and your main home is exempt from execution for medical debt (14 M.R.S. § 4422(1)(F)). Credit bureaus cannot report medical debt, and medical creditors, collectors and debt buyers cannot report it to them (PL 2025, c. 201; 10 M.R.S. § 1310-H(4)). 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.

How do I report a debt collector in Maine?

Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection: https://maine.gov/pfr/consumercredit/complaint.htm · 1-800-332-8529

Can I sue a debt collector under Maine law?

Yes. You can sue a debt collector for actual damages plus up to $1,000 in extra damages ($2,000 against a debt buyer), plus court costs and attorney's fees if you win. You must sue within 1 year after the violation. (32 M.R.S. § 11054)

How do I verify a collection agency in Maine?

Use Maine's official license lookup: https://maine.gov/pfr/consumercredit/license_search.htm.

What extra rules do collectors face in Maine?

Debt collectors cannot sue you more than 6 years after your last activity on the debt, and once that time runs out, a payment or promise does not restart it. (32 M.R.S. § 11013(7)-(8)) Debt collectors cannot sue consumers in small claims court. (32 M.R.S. § 11021) On medical debt, collectors cannot charge interest or fees, and cannot garnish your wages or put a lien on your home. (32 M.R.S. § 11013(3)(O)-(P), (12)-(13))

More for Maine

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources