(1) A debt collector
or collection agency shall not use any false, deceptive, or misleading
representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt, including the
following conduct:
(a) The false representation or implication that the debt collector or
collection agency is vouched for, bonded by, or affiliated with the United States
government or any state government, including the use of any misleading name,
badge, uniform, or facsimile thereof;
(b) The false representation of:
(I) The character, amount, or legal status of any debt; or
(II) Any services rendered or compensation which may be lawfully received
by any debt collector for the collection of a debt;
(c) The false representation or implication that any individual is an attorney
or that any communication is from an attorney;
(d) The representation or implication that nonpayment of any debt will result
in the arrest or imprisonment of any person or in the seizure, garnishment,
attachment, or sale of any property or wages of any person unless the action is
lawful and the debt collector, collection agency, or creditor intends to take such
action;
(e) The threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken or that is not
intended to be taken;
(f) The false representation or implication that a sale, referral, or other
transfer of any interest in a debt shall cause the consumer to:
(I) Lose any claim or defense to payment of the debt; or
(II) Become subject to any practice prohibited by this article 16;
(g) The false representation or implication that the consumer committed any
crime;
(h) The false representation or implication that the consumer has engaged in
any disgraceful conduct;
(i) Communicating or threatening to communicate to any person credit
information which is known or which should be known to be false, including the
failure to communicate that a disputed debt is disputed;
(j) The use or distribution of any written communication which simulates or is
falsely represented to be a document authorized, issued, or approved by any court,
official, or agency of the United States or any state or which creates a false or
misleading impression as to its source, authorization, or approval;
(k) The use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect or
attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a consumer;
(l) Except as otherwise provided for communications to acquire location
information under section 5-16-104, the failure to disclose clearly, in the initial
written communication made to collect a debt or obtain information about a
consumer and also, if the initial communication with the consumer is oral, in the
initial oral communication, that the debt collector or collection agency is
attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained will be used for that
purpose, and, in subsequent communications, that the communication is from a
debt collector or collection agency; except that this subsection (1)(l) shall not apply
to a formal pleading made in connection with a legal action;
(m) The false representation or implication that accounts have been turned
over to innocent purchasers for value;
(n) The false representation or implication that documents are legal process;
(o) The use of any business, company, or organization name other than the
true name of the collection agency's business, company, or organization;
(p) The false representation or implication that documents are not legal
process forms or do not require action by the consumer;
(q) The false representation or implication that a debt collector or collection
agency operates or is employed by a consumer reporting agency.
(r) (I) When attempting to collect debt that the debt collector or collection
agency knows is medical debt, as defined in section 5-18-103 (11.5), or to obtain
information about a consumer in relation to an attempt to collect medical debt,
make a false, deceptive, or misleading representation that the medical debt will be
included in a consumer report, as defined in section 5-18-103 (3), or factored into a
consumer's credit score, as defined in section 5-18-107 (4), unless the consumer
report is to be used in connection with a credit transaction that involves, or that may
reasonably be expected to involve, a principal amount that exceeds the national
conforming loan limit value for a one-unit property as determined by the federal
housing finance authority.
(II) This subsection (1)(r) is repealed, effective July 1, 2028.