58-70-1. Permit from Commissioner of Insurance; penalty for violation; exception.
No person, firm, corporation, or association shall conduct or operate a collection agency or do a collection agency business, as the same is hereinafter defined in this Article, until he or it shall have secured a permit therefor as provided in this Article. Any person, firm, corporation or association conducting or operating a collection agency or doing a collection agency business without the permit shall be guilty of a Class I felony. Any officer or agent of any person, firm, corporation or association, who shall personally and knowingly participate in any violation of the remaining provisions of this Part shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to require a regular employee of a duly licensed collection agency licensed pursuant to this Article to procure a collection agency permit. (1931, c. 217, s. 1; 1943, c. 170; 1959, c. 1194, s. 1; 1969, c. 906, s. 1; 1979, c. 835; 1989, c. 441, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, ss. 472, 1275; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2011-320, s. 1.)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Article 70 - Collection Agencies.
§ 58-70-1 - Permit from Commissioner of Insurance; penalty for violation; exception.
§ 58-70-5 - Application to Commissioner for permit.
§ 58-70-10 - Application to Commissioner for permit renewal.
§ 58-70-15 - Definition of collection agency and collection agency business.
§ 58-70-20 - Bond requirement.
§ 58-70-25 - Record of business in State.
§ 58-70-30 - Hearing granted applicant if application denied; appeal.
§ 58-70-35 - Application fee; issuance of permit; contents and duration.
§ 58-70-45 - Disposition of permit fees.
§ 58-70-50 - All collection agencies to identify themselves in correspondence.
§ 58-70-60 - Statements to be furnished each collection creditor.
§ 58-70-65 - Remittance trust account.
§ 58-70-70 - Receipt requirement.
§ 58-70-75 - Creditor may request return of accounts.
§ 58-70-80 - Return of accounts and all valuable papers upon termination of permit.
§ 58-70-85 - Application of funds where there is a debtor-creditor relationship.
§ 58-70-95 - Threats and coercion.
§ 58-70-105 - Unreasonable publication.
§ 58-70-110 - Deceptive representation.
§ 58-70-115 - Unfair practices.
§ 58-70-120 - Unauthorized practice of law; court appearances.
§ 58-70-125 - Shared office space.
§ 58-70-130 - Civil liability.
§ 58-70-145 - Complaint of a collection agency plaintiff must contain certain allegations.
§ 58-70-150 - Complaint of a debt buyer plaintiff must be accompanied by certain materials.