Debt collector laws in Virginia

The Virginia debt collection law

Virginia has no general debt collection act; the federal rules above still apply.

Law

Va. Code §§ 59.1-611 to 59.1-613; § 59.1-444.4; § 59.1-196 et seq.

Covers original creditors

Yes

Official text

Read the law

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

What Virginia adds to the FDCPA

• Medical debt can't be reported to credit bureaus. This applies to medical facilities, licensed health providers, EMS agencies, and anyone buying or collecting medical debt (Va. Code § 59.1-444.4).
• Medical creditors and medical debt collectors may not get you arrested, foreclose on your home, or put a lien on your personal property to collect medical debt. They may not garnish your wages if you qualify for the provider's financial assistance (Va. Code § 59.1-612(B)).
• No "extraordinary collection action" (such as a lawsuit, credit reporting, selling the debt, or a bank levy) on medical debt until 120 days after the final bill's due date. You must get at least 30 days' written notice first (Va. Code § 59.1-612(E)).
• Large health care facilities and medical debt buyers can't charge interest or late fees until 90 days after the final bill is due, and never more than 3% a year (Va. Code § 59.1-612(A)).
• Medical debt lawsuits must be filed within 3 years of the final bill's due date, or within 3 years after you break a payment plan (Va. Code § 8.01-246(B)).

Medical debt in Virginia

Since 2024: no reporting of medical debt to credit bureaus (Va. Code § 59.1-444.4, 2024 c. 751), and a 3-year time limit to sue on medical debt (Va. Code § 8.01-246(B), 2024 c. 800). The 2025 Medical Debt Protection Act (2025 c. 692; Va. Code §§ 59.1-611 to 59.1-613, shown as current law on the official Code site) adds: interest and late fees capped at 3% a year and not allowed until 90 days after the final bill; no arrest, home foreclosure or personal-property liens; no wage garnishment for people who qualify for financial assistance; and a 120-day wait plus 30 days' notice before lawsuits or other extraordinary collection actions. 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.

Can you sue a collector under Virginia law?

For the medical debt rules, yes: violations are prohibited practices under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. If you suffer a loss, you can sue for actual damages or $500, whichever is more. If the violation was willful, up to 3 times damages or $1,000, whichever is more, plus attorney's fees and court costs (Va. Code §§ 59.1-613, 59.1-444.4(C), 59.1-204).

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.

Where to complain in Virginia

• Virginia: Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, Consumer Protection Section · 804-786-2042
• Federal: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau takes complaints about debt collectors at consumerfinance.gov/complaint · (855) 411-2372.
• You can also report a collector to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Licenses for collection agencies in Virginia

License required

Not confirmed

In nearby states

• Maryland: Yes
• West Virginia: Yes
• North Carolina: Yes

When a collector crosses the line in Virginia

1. Write it down

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

2. Check the collector

   Get the collector's full name, address and any license number.

3. Send a letter

   Use a letter to dispute a debt or to stop collector calls; keep a copy and the mailing receipt.

4. Complain

   Complain to Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, Consumer Protection Section. You can also complain to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

5. Know your right to sue in Virginia

   Under Virginia law: For the medical debt rules, yes: violations are prohibited practices under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. If you suffer a loss, you can sue for actual damages or $500, whichever is more.

Questions about collector laws in Virginia

Keep reading about Virginia

• All debt collection rights in Virginia
• Statute of limitations in Virginia: 5 years
• Wage garnishment in Virginia: up to 25%
• Sued by a debt collector in Virginia: date on the summons
• “Is my debt too old?” checker for Virginia
• Dispute a debt and ask for proof (validation letter)
• Tell a collector to stop or limit contact
• Debt collector licensing by state
• Guide: how to dispute a debt
• Guide: how to stop collector calls

Debt collector laws in nearby states