I'm doing a little research to find out what the laws are in my state (WI) regarding collection agencies and licensing. What I have found is the following: ===================================== 218.04(2)(a) Licenses Required. Except as provided in par. (b), a person may not operate as a collection agency or as a collector or solicitor in this state without first having obtained a license as required by this section. 218.04(2)(b) A nonresident of this state is not required to obtain a collection agency license if that person conducts collection business with state residents solely by means of interstate telecommunications or interstate mail. ===================================== Does this mean that collection agencies DON'T have to be licensed in this state, just whereever they are based? This stuff confuses me....please help. Thanks! -M.
My interpretation of the first one is before they try to collect they should have a license. On the 2nd one, if they don't have an office in that state and everything is done via telecommunications out of state - then they don't need to be licensed. That's the way I understand and interpret it.
That's what it sounds like to me; they have to be licensed in the state they operate from, but not in the state that the debtor resides in. Example:CA is located in MI; debtor in NC. CA must be licensed in MI only. I could be wrong but I read it the same as you.
