N.Y. General Business Law § 600: Definitions

§ 600. Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context or

subject matter otherwise requires:

1. "Consumer claim" means any obligation of a natural person for the

payment of money or its equivalent which is or is alleged to be in

default and which arises out of a transaction wherein credit has been

offered or extended to a natural person, and the money, property or

service which was the subject of the transaction was primarily for

personal, family or household purposes. The term includes an obligation

of a natural person who is a co-maker, endorser, guarantor or surety as

well as the natural person to whom such credit was originally extended.

2. "Debtor" means any natural person who owes or who is asserted to

owe a consumer claim.

3. "Principal creditor" means any person, firm, corporation or

organization to whom a consumer claim is owed, due or asserted to be due

or owed, or any assignee for value of said person, firm, corporation or

organization.

4. "Debt collection agency" shall mean a person, firm or corporation

engaged in business, the principal purpose of which is to regularly

collect or attempt to collect debts: (a) owed or due or asserted to be

owed or due to another; or (b) obtained by, or assigned to, such person,

firm or corporation, that are in default when obtained or acquired by

such person, firm or corporation.

5. "Communication" shall mean the conveying of information regarding a

debt directly or indirectly to any person through any medium.

6. "Debt" means any obligation or alleged obligation of a consumer to

pay money arising out of a transaction in which the money, property,

insurance, or services which are the subject of the transaction are

primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, whether or not

such obligation has been reduced to judgment.

7. "Debt collector" means an individual who, as part of his or her

job, regularly collects or attempts to collect debts: (a) owed or due or

asserted to be owed or due to another; or (b) obtained by, or assigned

to, such person, firm or corporation, that are in default when obtained

or acquired by such person, firm or corporation.