Debt collector laws in Minnesota

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

Short answer

Minnesota has its own debt collection law: the Minnesota Collection Agencies Act. It does not cover original creditors collecting their own debts. Debt collectors need a state license in Minnesota; the licensing agency is Minnesota Department of Commerce (collection agencies and debt buyers must be licensed; individual collectors must register). You can complain to Minnesota Attorney General's Office. The CFPB also takes complaints.

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

What Minnesota law says about collectors

State law
Minnesota Collection Agencies Act
Law
Minn. Stat. §§ 332.31-332.45
Covers original creditors
No
Official text
Read the law

Medical debt in Minnesota

Since the 2024 Minnesota Debt Fairness Act (Laws 2024, ch. 114, art. 3): no one collecting medical debt may report it to credit bureaus, and credit bureaus may not include it in reports (Minn. Stat. § 332C.03); providers must post their medical debt collection policy (§ 62J.806) and may not deny medically necessary care because of unpaid medical debt, though they may ask for a reasonable payment plan (§ 62J.807); you can sue for violations (§ 332C.05). 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 Minnesota adds to the FDCPA

  • Breaking the federal FDCPA is also a violation of Minnesota law for licensed collection agencies, debt buyers and collectors. (Minn. Stat. § 332.37(a)(12))
  • A collector may not sue you after the 6-year limit for consumer debt has run out. (Minn. Stat. § 332.37(a)(24); § 541.053)
  • A collector's first letter must say it is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. (Minn. Stat. § 332.37(a)(23))
  • Collectors may not keep using robocalls after you tell them to stop, and may not suggest that emergency health care will be withheld. (Minn. Stat. § 332.37(a)(13), (14))
  • Anyone collecting medical debt, including the original provider, may not report it to credit bureaus. (Minn. Stat. § 332C.03)

Suing a collector in Minnesota

The Collection Agencies Act does not spell out a private lawsuit. For medical debt, you can sue under Minn. Stat. § 332C.05 for actual damages, up to $1,000 per violation (adjusted for inflation), plus costs and lawyer fees, and three times that for willful and malicious violations. If a collector sues you for medical debt and you win, the court must award your costs and reasonable lawyer fees (§ 332C.04). Federal FDCPA rights also apply.

Under federal law you can also sue a collector that breaks the FDCPA within 1 year, for your actual damages, up to $1,000 more and your attorney's fees (15 U.S.C. 1692k).

Do collectors need a license in Minnesota?

License required
Yes
Who licenses
Minnesota Department of Commerce (collection agencies and debt buyers must be licensed; individual collectors must register)
Check a license
Official license lookup

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

In nearby states

Complaints about collectors in Minnesota

Steps against an abusive collector in Minnesota

  1. Save the evidence

    Keep letters, voicemails, emails and texts, and a log of every call.

  2. Check the collector

    Minnesota 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 Minnesota Attorney General's Office. You can also complain to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

  5. Know your right to sue in Minnesota

    Under Minnesota law: The Collection Agencies Act does not spell out a private lawsuit. For medical debt, you can sue under Minn. Stat. § 332C.05 for actual damages, up to $1,000 per violation (adjusted for inflation), plus costs and lawyer fees, and three times that for willful and malicious violations.

Questions about collector laws in Minnesota

Does Minnesota license debt collectors?

Yes. Minnesota Department of Commerce (collection agencies and debt buyers must be licensed; individual collectors must register)

Has Minnesota passed a debt collection act of its own?

Yes: the Minnesota Collection Agencies Act (Minn. Stat. §§ 332.31-332.45). It does not cover original creditors collecting their own debts.

What does Minnesota law say about medical debt?

Since the 2024 Minnesota Debt Fairness Act (Laws 2024, ch. 114, art. 3): no one collecting medical debt may report it to credit bureaus, and credit bureaus may not include it in reports (Minn. Stat. § 332C.03); providers must post their medical debt collection policy (§ 62J.806) and may not deny medically necessary care because of unpaid medical debt, though they may ask for a reasonable payment plan (§ 62J.807); you can sue for violations (§ 332C.05). 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.

Where can I complain about a debt collector in Minnesota?

Minnesota Attorney General's Office: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Complaint.asp · (651) 296-3353 or (800) 657-3787

Does Minnesota law let me sue a collector?

The Collection Agencies Act does not spell out a private lawsuit. For medical debt, you can sue under Minn. Stat. § 332C.05 for actual damages, up to $1,000 per violation (adjusted for inflation), plus costs and lawyer fees, and three times that for willful and malicious violations. If a collector sues you for medical debt and you win, the court must award your costs and reasonable lawyer fees (§ 332C.04). Federal FDCPA rights also apply.

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

Use Minnesota's official license lookup: https://www.cards.commerce.state.mn.us/.

How does Minnesota law go beyond the FDCPA?

Breaking the federal FDCPA is also a violation of Minnesota law for licensed collection agencies, debt buyers and collectors. (Minn. Stat. § 332.37(a)(12)) A collector may not sue you after the 6-year limit for consumer debt has run out. (Minn. Stat. § 332.37(a)(24); § 541.053) A collector's first letter must say it is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. (Minn. Stat. § 332.37(a)(23))

Related Minnesota pages

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources