Fair Debt Collection: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1788 to 1788.33, 1812.700 to 1812.702 (West) (Fair Debt Collection)
Coverage: Applies to “debt collector,” defined as “any person who, in the ordinary course of business, regularly, on behalf of himself or herself or others, engages in debt collection.” Debt must be a “consumer debt,” defined as one “due or owing or alleged to be due or owing from a natural person by reason of a consumer credit transaction” and including mortgage debt. Definition of “debt collector” also includes providers of forms, letters, or other media for the use in debt collection. Note that there is a separate statute (see below) further regulating debt buying. § 1788.2.