Iowa does not license debt collectors. However, debt collectors who collect over $69,500 (effective 1/1/2024) (SEE Iowa Code 537.1301(15), 537.1301(47), and 537.6201(2)) a year (all accounts, not just Iowa accounts ) are required to file notification with the Attorney General of Iowa and pay a $50 annual fee.
(Note: the 2017 Iowa Legislature increased the notification fee for ICCC debt collectors effective July 1, 2017. The new fee is $50 (up from $10).
Our office vigorously enforces the Iowa Debt Collection Practices Act. We strongly urge all debt collectors to become familiar with this law and to consult with private legal counsel, as necessary, before beginning collection activities in Iowa.
Debt collectors who fail to file notification with the Office of the Attorney General and pay the appropriate fee may be subject to late fees of $75, as well as a possible civil action in which the administrator may recoup interest, the costs of the action, and a penalty not exceeding the greater of $1,000 or three times the fee owed.
Companies that solely collect commercial debt are exempt from filing notification with the Office of the Attorney General.
Debt collectors who meet both of the following criteria must file notification with the Office of the Attorney General and pay the annual fee:
1. Collect consumer debts from Iowans
The definition of consumer debt under Iowa law is quite broad and includes a variety of debts other than consumer credit transactions.
Debts that often fall under this definition include, but are not limited to:
AND
2. Collect over $69,500 in total debts in the previous or current calendar year (based on the aggregate amount of debt collected from all sources, not just Iowa accounts) (TILA (Truth in Lending Act) yearly figure)
Example: Debt collector collected $70,000 in debts last year, but only $5,000 was from Iowa debtors. This debt collector would still be required to file notification with the Office of the Attorney General and pay the annual fee.
Please note that the Iowa Debt Collection Practices Act does not apply solely to third party collectors; it also applies to creditors collecting their own debts. While most creditors collecting their own debts are not required to file notification as a debt collector, they must comply with the substantive requirements of the Iowa Debt Collection Practices Act.
Attorneys who act as debt collectors are required to file notification. Law firms whose attorneys act as debt collectors and collect over $69,500 a year must file notification with the Iowa Attorney General.
Debt Collectors required to file notification with the Iowa Attorney General must do so within 30 days of commencing collection activities in Iowa, and then by January 31 of every subsequent year.
Office of the Attorney General of Iowa
Consumer Protection Division
Attn: Notification & Fees Administrator
1305 E. Walnut St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
*Additional documents are not required.
Collectors who have filed notification with the Office of the Attorney General will not receive a confirmation, notice or hard copy license.
Approved notifications will be processed and can be viewed online approximately 20 business days after their receipt. If your notification is rejected, you will be contacted by our staff to remedy any errors. (NOTE: Some users may need to refresh their browser for the most updated version of the document.)
**Your notification will be rejected if the company's principal office is located outside that state of Iowa and an Iowa Registered Agent is not listed on the registration form. The registered agent must be located in Iowa and not the Iowa Secretary of State. See Iowa Code section 537.6202(1)(f). **
Updates/Changes - It is important that collectors notify the Attorney General in writing of any changes* in their company’s contact information to ensure all communications from the Attorney General, including notification filing reminders, are received in a timely manner.
Changes should be submitted in writing and include the name of the company, the previous, incorrect information and the updated, current information. You may email this information to registration@ag.iowa.gov.
*There is no fee associated with any of these changes.
Check out our FAQ section for more information.
Reminders will be sent via the email on file in December. Failure to receive reminders will not exempt a late filing from the $75 late fee.
Iowa Consumer Credit Code - Iowa Code Chapter 537
Iowa Code 537.1301(47) (Truth in Lending Act - Threshold amount) “Threshold amount” means the threshold amount, as determined by 12 C.F.R. §1026.3(b), in effect during the period the consumer credit transaction was entered into. (FYI - as of 1/1/2024, the protections of the Truth in Lending Act applies to consumer credit transactions of $69,500 or less.)
Iowa Code 537.6201(2) (SEE §537.1301(47) for threshold amount definition) Debt collectors, as defined in section 537.7102, subsection 5, to whose acts, practices, or conduct this chapter applies pursuant to section 537.1201 if the total debt collected by a debt collector in the preceding calendar year exceeds the threshold amount, or if not, if the total debt collected during the current calendar year exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars, but this part does not apply to those licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to engage in business under chapter 524, 533, 536, or 536A.
Definition of debt, debt collector, and debt collection – section 537.7102
Iowa Code 537.7102(3) “Debt” means an actual or alleged obligation arising out of a consumer credit transaction, consumer rental purchase agreement, or a transaction which would have been a consumer credit transaction either if a finance charge was made, if the obligation was not payable installments, if a lease was for a term of four months or less, or if a lease was of an interest in land. A debt includes a check as defined in section 554.3104 given in a transaction in connection with a consumer rental purchase agreement, in a transaction which was a consumer credit sale or in a transaction which would have been a consumer credit sale if credit was granted and if a finance charge was made, or in a transaction regulated under chapter 533D.
