Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-801

Current with legislation from the 2024 Regular and Special Sessions.

Section 36a-801 - (Formerly Sec. 42-127a). License required. Application, issuance, renewal. Authority to conduct criminal history records check. Examination of records. Abandonment of application. Surrender of license. Required system filing or notice of commissioner. Automatic suspension of license. Name and place of business. Change in any control persons. Unique identifier of license. Advertising of license

(a) No person shall act within this state as a consumer collection agency, directly or indirectly, unless such person has first obtained a required consumer collection agency license for such person's main office and for each branch office where such person's business is conducted. A consumer collection agency is acting within this state if it (1) has its place of business located within this state; (2) has its place of business located outside this state and (A) collects from consumer debtors, property tax debtors or federal income tax debtors who reside within this state for creditors who are located within this state, or (B) collects from consumer debtors, property tax debtors or federal income tax debtors who reside within this state for such consumer collection agency's own account; (3) has its place of business located outside this state and regularly collects from consumer debtors, property tax debtors or federal income tax debtors who reside within this state for creditors who are located outside this state; or (4) has its place of business located outside this state and is engaged in the business of collecting child support for creditors located within this state from consumer debtors who are located outside this state. Any activity subject to licensure pursuant to sections 36a-800 to 36a-814, inclusive, shall be conducted from an office located in a state, as defined in section 36a-2.

(b) An application for a license as a consumer collection agency or for renewal of such license shall be made and processed on the system pursuant to section 36a-24b, in the form prescribed by the commissioner. Each such form shall contain content as set forth by instruction or procedure of the commissioner and may be changed or updated as necessary by the commissioner in order to carry out the purposes of sections 36a-800 to 36a-814, inclusive. The applicant shall, at a minimum, furnish to the system information concerning the identity of the applicant, any control person of the applicant, the qualified individual and any branch manager responsible for the actions of the licensee, including, but not limited to, information related to such person's personal history and experience, and any administrative, civil or criminal findings by any governmental jurisdiction. As part of the application, the commissioner may (1) in accordance with section 29-17a, conduct a state or national criminal history records check of the applicant, any control person of the applicant, the qualified individual or any branch manager, and (2) in accordance with section 36a-24b(A) require the submission of fingerprints of the applicant, any control person of the applicant, the qualified individual or any branch manager to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or other state, national or international criminal databases, and (B) investigate the financial condition of any such person and require authorization from any such person for the system and the commissioner to obtain an independent credit report from a consumer reporting agency, as described in Section 603(p) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681a, as amended from time to time. Such application shall be accompanied by a financial statement prepared by a certified public accountant and shall evidence that the applicant has a tangible net worth of more than zero dollars if the applicant is engaged solely in the business of debt buying, and a tangible net worth of at least fifty thousand dollars if the applicant is not engaged solely in the business of debt buying. The commissioner shall cause to be made such inquiry and examination as to the qualifications of each such applicant or any control person, qualified individual or branch manager of the applicant as the commissioner deems necessary. Each applicant shall furnish satisfactory evidence to the commissioner that the applicant is a person of good moral character and is financially responsible.

(c)

(1) Each applicant for a consumer collection agency license shall pay to the system any required fees or charges and a license fee of five hundred dollars. Each such license shall expire at the close of business on December thirty-first of the year in which the license was approved, unless such license is renewed, except that any such license approved on or after November first shall expire at the close of business on December thirty-first of the year following the year in which it is approved. An application for renewal of a license shall be filed between November first and December thirty-first of the year in which the license expires. Each applicant for renewal of a consumer collection agency license shall pay to the system any required fees or charges and a renewal fee of four hundred dollars.

(2) If the commissioner finds, upon the filing of an application for a consumer collection agency, that (A) the financial responsibility, character, reputation, integrity and general fitness of the applicant, the control persons of the applicant, the qualified individual and any branch manager are such as to warrant belief that the business will be operated soundly and efficiently, in the public interest and consistent with the purposes of sections 36a-800 to 36a-814, inclusive, and (B) the applicant meets the applicable tangible net worth requirement in subsection (b) of this section and no proceeding in bankruptcy, receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors has been commenced against the applicant, the commissioner may thereupon issue the applicant a consumer collection agency license. If the commissioner fails to make such findings, the commissioner shall not issue a license and shall notify the applicant of the reasons for such denial. The commissioner may deny an application if the commissioner finds that the applicant or any control person, qualified individual or branch manager of such applicant has been convicted of any misdemeanor involving any aspect of the consumer collection agency business, or any felony. Any denial of an application by the commissioner shall, when applicable, be subject to the provisions of section 46a-80.

(3) The minimum standards for renewal of a consumer collection agency license shall include the following:

(A) The applicant continues to meet the minimum standards under this section;

(B) the applicant has paid all required fees for renewal of the license; and

(C) the applicant has paid all outstanding examination fees or other moneys due to the commissioner. The license of a consumer collection agency licensee failing to satisfy the minimum standards for license renewal shall expire. The commissioner may adopt procedures for the reinstatement of expired licenses consistent with the standards established by the system. Every license shall remain in force and effect until the license has been surrendered, revoked or suspended or has expired in accordance with the provisions of sections 36a-800 to 36a-814, inclusive.

(d) To further the enforcement of this section and to determine the eligibility of any person holding a license, the commissioner may, as often as the commissioner deems necessary, examine the licensee's books and records, and may, at any time, require the licensee to submit such a financial statement for the examination of the commissioner, so that the commissioner may determine whether the licensee is financially responsible to carry on a consumer collection agency business within the intents and purposes of sections 36a-800 to 36a-814, inclusive. Any financial statement submitted by a licensee shall be confidential and shall not be a public record unless introduced in evidence at a hearing conducted by the commissioner.

(e) The commissioner may deem an application for a license to act as a consumer collection agency abandoned if the applicant fails to respond to any request for information required under sections 36a-801 to 36a-814, inclusive, or any regulations adopted pursuant to said sections 36a-801 to 36a-814, inclusive. The commissioner shall notify the applicant on the system that if the applicant fails to submit such information not later than sixty days after the date on which such request for information was made, the application shall be deemed abandoned. An application filing fee paid prior to the date an application is deemed abandoned pursuant to this subsection shall not be refunded. Abandonment of an application pursuant to this subsection shall not preclude the applicant from submitting a new application for a license under sections 36a-801 to 36a-814, inclusive.

(f)

(1) Not later than thirty days before a licensee ceases to engage in the business of a consumer collection agency for any reason, including, but not limited to, a business decision to terminate operations in this state, bankruptcy or voluntary dissolution, such licensee shall request surrender of the license on the system in accordance with subsection (c) of section 36a-51 for each location in which such licensee has ceased to engage in such business.

(2) Except as otherwise specified in subsection (i) of this section, each consumer collection agency applicant or licensee, and each individual designated as a control person, qualified individual or branch manager of such applicant or licensee, shall file on the system any change in the information such applicant, licensee, control person, qualified individual or branch manager most recently submitted to the system in connection with the application or license, or, if the information cannot be filed on the system, notify the commissioner of such change, in writing, not later than fifteen days after the date the applicant, licensee, control person, qualified individual or branch manager had reason to know of the change.

(3) A consumer collection agency licensee shall file on the system or, if the information cannot be filed on the system, notify the commissioner, in writing, of the occurrence of any of the following developments not later than fifteen days after the date the licensee had reason to know of the occurrence of any of the following developments:

(A) Filing for bankruptcy or the consummation of a corporate restructuring of the licensee;

(B) Filing of a criminal indictment against the licensee in any way related to the consumer collection activities of the licensee, or receiving notification of the filing of any criminal felony indictment or felony conviction of any control person, branch manager or qualified individual of the licensee;

(C) Receiving notification of the institution of license denial, cease and desist, suspension or revocation procedures, or other formal or informal action by any governmental agency against the licensee or any control person, branch manager or qualified individual of the licensee and the reasons therefor;

(D) Receiving notification of the initiation of any action against the licensee or any control person, branch manager or qualified individual of the licensee by the Attorney General or the attorney general of any other state and the reasons therefor;

(E) Receiving notification of filing for bankruptcy of any control person, branch manager or qualified individual of the licensee; or

(F) Any decrease in tangible net worth from the minimum amount required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(g) The commissioner may automatically suspend a license if the licensee receives a deficiency on the system indicating that a required payment was Returned-ACH or returned pursuant to such other term as may be utilized by the system to indicate that the payment was not accepted. After a license has been automatically suspended pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall (1) give the licensee notice of the automatic suspension, pending proceedings for revocation or refusal to renew pursuant to section 36a-804 and an opportunity for a hearing on such action in accordance with section 36a-51, and (2) require such licensee to take or refrain from taking such action as the commissioner deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.

(h) No abatement of the license fee shall be made if the application is denied or withdrawn prior to issuance of the license or if the license is surrendered, revoked or suspended prior to the expiration of the period for which it was issued. All fees required by this section shall be nonrefundable.

(i) No person licensed to act within this state as a consumer collection agency shall do so under any other name or at any other place of business than that named in the license. No licensee may use any name other than its legal name or a fictitious name approved by the commissioner, provided such licensee may not use its legal name if the commissioner disapproves use of such name. A licensee may change the name of the licensee or address of the office specified on the most recent filing with the system if, at least thirty calendar days prior to such change, (1) the licensee files such change with the system and provides a bond rider, endorsement or addendum, as applicable, to the surety bond on file with the commissioner that reflects the new name or address, and (2) the commissioner does not disapprove such change, in writing, or request further information from the licensee within such thirty-day period. Not more than one place of business shall be maintained under the same license but the commissioner may issue more than one license to the same licensee upon compliance with the provisions of sections 36a-800 to 36a-814, inclusive, , as to each new licensee. A license shall not be transferable or assignable. Any change in any control person of the licensee, except a change of a director, general partner or executive officer that is not the result of an acquisition or change of control of the licensee, shall be the subject of an advance change notice filed on the system at least thirty days prior to the effective date of such change and no such change shall occur without the commissioner's approval. For purposes of this section, "change of control" means any change causing the majority ownership, voting rights or control of a licensee to be held by a different control person or group of control persons. The commissioner may automatically suspend a license for any violation of this subsection. After a license has been automatically suspended pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall (A) give the licensee notice of the automatic suspension, pending proceedings for revocation or refusal to renew pursuant to section 36a-804 and an opportunity for a hearing on such action in accordance with section 36a-51, and (B) require such licensee to take or refrain from taking such action as the commissioner deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.

(j) Any person making any filing or submission of any information on the system shall do so in accordance with the procedures and requirements of the system and pay the applicable fees or charges to the system. Each consumer collection agency licensee shall, to the extent required by the system, timely submit to the system accurate reports of condition that shall be in such form and shall contain such information as the system may require. Failure by a licensee to submit a timely and accurate report of condition shall constitute a violation of this provision.

(k) The unique identifier of any person licensed under section 36a-801 shall be clearly shown on all solicitations and advertisements, including business cards and Internet web sites, and any other documents as established by rule, regulation or order of the commissioner, and shall be clearly stated in all audio solicitations and advertisements. The solicitations and advertisements of any person licensed under section 36a-801:

(1) Shall not include any statement that such person is endorsed in any way by this state, except that such solicitations and advertisements may include a statement that such person is licensed in this state;

(2) shall not include any statement or claim that is deceptive, false or misleading;

(3) shall otherwise conform to the requirements of sections 36a-801 to 36a-814, inclusive, any regulations issued thereunder and any other applicable law; and

(4) shall be retained for two years from the date of use of such solicitation or advertisement.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-801

(1971, P.A. 539, S. 2, 3; P.A. 73-284; 73-328; 73-341; P.A. 81-292, S. 12; P.A. 88-150, S. 9; P.A. 92-89 , S. 17 , 20 ; P.A. 93-127 , S. 2 , 3 ; P.A. 94-104 , S. 6 ; 94-122 , S. 329 , 340 ; P.A. 96-71 , S. 7 , 8 ; P.A. 01-207 , S. 4 , 12 ; P.A. 02-111 , S. 47 ; P.A. 04-69 , S. 30 ; P.A. 05-46 , S. 15 ; 05-74 , S. 5 ; P.A. 06-35 , S. 11 ; P.A. 09-208 , S. 35 ; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 101; P.A. 11-216 , S. 47 ; P.A. 13-253 , S. 23 ; P.A. 14-89 , S. 39 ; P.A. 15-235 , S. 34 ; P.A. 16-65 , S. 48 ; P.A. 17-233 , S. 30 ; 17-236 , S. 14 ; P.A. 18-173 , S. 79 .)

Amended by P.A. 22-0094, S. 8 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2022.

Amended by P.A. 21-0138, SS.  17 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, 18 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session eff. 10/1/2021.

Amended by P.A. 18-0173, S. 79 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2018 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2018.

Amended by P.A. 17-0236, S. 14 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2017.

Amended by P.A. 17-0233, S. 30 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2017.

Amended by P.A. 16-0065, S. 48 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2016.

Amended by P.A. 15-0235, S. 34 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Regular Session, eff. 7/7/2015.

Amended by P.A. 14-0089, S. 39 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2014 Regular Session, eff. 6/3/2014.