Consumer Collection Agency Licensing
In response to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the Banking Commissioner issued a memo on March 9, 2020 advising the mortgage industry, and other financial services sectors licensed by the Department, that it would take a no action position with regard to employees working from home who otherwise would be required to work from a licensed branch location. Revised memos extending the no action position were issued on April 16, 2020, May 20, 2020, June 19, 2020, August 21, 2020, December 17, 2020, and March 1, 2021. On July 1, 2021, the Commissioner issued an order extending the ability of individuals to work from remote office locations:
Order Establishing Requirements for Conducting Business from a Remote Location
No Action Position Regarding Temporarily Working from Home Extended to June 30, 2021
No Action Position Regarding Temporarily Working from Home Extended to March 31, 2021
No Action Position Regarding Temporarily Working from Home Extended to December 31, 2020
No Action Position Regarding Temporarily Working from Home Extended to August 31, 2020
No Action Position Regarding Temporarily Working from Home Extended to June 30, 2020
No Action Position Regarding Temporarily Working from Home Extended to May 31, 2020
No Action Position Regarding Temporarily Working from Home Due to COVID-19
Essential Statutes
Please reference the relevant Connecticut Statutes (§§ 36a-800 to 36a-814, inclusive) as amended from time to time, and Regulations before applying for a license.
Warning to Licensees Who Collect Debt From CT Consumers:
It is illegal to collect on consumer loans which violate Connecticut’s small loan regulatory scheme or to receive payment processing fees not contemplated by a consumer’s underlying debt contract - see attached memo. A person is prohibited from directly or indirectly assisting or aiding and abetting any person in conduct prohibited by Sections 36a-555 to 36a-573, inclusive.
Notice to all Consumer Collection Agencies:
- Order Establishing Requirements and Procedures for Use of Electronic Bonds
- The Department will take a no-action position concerning enforcement of the licensure requirements of persons engaged in indirect consumer collection activity until November 1, 2020.
- No Action Position on Mortgage Servicer Licensure Requirement for Licensed Consumer Collection Agencies
- Memorandum from the Banking Commissioner regarding his “no action” position regarding the student loan servicer requirement for licensed consumer collection agencies
How to Apply:
If you wish to apply for a consumer collection agency license you should begin by first reviewing Connecticut’s Jurisdiction-Specific Requirements along with Connecticut's consumer collection licensing statutes, which provides the current licensing procedures and requirements applicable to consumer collection agencies.
If your company already has a completed record in the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry, then applying for a license in Connecticut merely involves filing your company's record (Form MU1), control person records (Form MU2), and relevant branch records (Form MU3) with Connecticut through the NMLS and mailing in the jurisdiction-specific requirements to the Department.
Go to the Getting Started page of the NMLS website and follow the steps outlined:
Any questions relating to the NMLS should be directed to the NMLS Call Center at (855) 665-7123.
CONTACT
Connecticut Department of Banking
Consumer Credit Division
260 Constitution Plaza
Hartford, CT 06103-1800
Telephone: (860) 240-8200 or toll-free 800-831-7225
Fax: (860) 240-8215
WHO TO CONTACT - Contact Sandra Gibbons by phone at 860-240-8238 or send your questions
via e-mail to sandra.gibbons@ct.gov for additional assistance.