{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/6.2-2026.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/6.2-2026.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/6.2-2026.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/6.2-2026.html"}],"law_id":76223,"edition_id":1,"section_id":76223,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2026","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"2020, c. 785.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Consumer” means an individual residing in the Commonwealth who owes money to one or more creditors, for personal, family, or household purposes, including an individual who owes money jointly with one or more other individuals.\n\t\t“Credit counselor” means an employee or agent of a licensee who engages in debt settlement services on a consumer’s behalf.\n\t\t“Creditor” includes persons that extend credit to, or persons that service loans made to, consumers. “Creditor” or “credit-granting organization” does not include (i) doctors, lawyers, or other professionals who receive payment for their services in installments or (ii) persons whose only participation in a credit transaction is to honor a credit card.\n\t\t“Debt collector” means a person defined as a debt collector under 15 U.S.C. \u00a7 1692a of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. \u00a7 1692 et seq.\n\t\t“Debt settlement services” means any action or negotiation initiated or taken on behalf of any consumer with any creditor of the consumer for the purpose of obtaining debt forgiveness of all or a portion of the credit extended by the creditor to the consumer or a reduction of payments, charges, or fees payable by the consumer. For purposes of this chapter, with respect to student loan forgiveness or student loan payment reduction programs established under federal or state law and widely available to similarly situated consumers at no cost, the facilitation of enrollment in or qualification for such programs does not constitute an action or negotiation.\n\t\t“Duplicate original” means an exact copy with signatures created by the same impression as the original, an exact copy bearing an original signature, or, in the case of an electronic transaction, an electronic version with electronic signatures.\n\t\t“Electronic signature” means an electronic signature as defined in \u00a7 59.1-480.\n\t\t“Licensee” means a person licensed under this chapter.\n\t\t“Principal” means any person that, directly or indirectly, owns or controls (i) 10 percent or more of the outstanding stock of a stock corporation or (ii) a 10 percent or greater interest in a person.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":273708,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Consumer” means an individual residing in the Commonwealth who owes money to one or more creditors, for personal, family, or household purposes, including an individual who owes money jointly with one or more other individuals.\n\t\t“Credit counselor” means an employee or agent of a licensee who engages in debt settlement services on a consumer’s behalf.\n\t\t“Creditor” includes persons that extend credit to, or persons that service loans made to, consumers. “Creditor” or “credit-granting organization” does not include (i) doctors, lawyers, or other professionals who receive payment for their services in installments or (ii) persons whose only participation in a credit transaction is to honor a credit card.\n\t\t“Debt collector” means a person defined as a debt collector under 15 U.S.C. \u00a7 1692a of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. \u00a7 1692 et seq.\n\t\t“Debt settlement services” means any action or negotiation initiated or taken on behalf of any consumer with any creditor of the consumer for the purpose of obtaining debt forgiveness of all or a portion of the credit extended by the creditor to the consumer or a reduction of payments, charges, or fees payable by the consumer. For purposes of this chapter, with respect to student loan forgiveness or student loan payment reduction programs established under federal or state law and widely available to similarly situated consumers at no cost, the facilitation of enrollment in or qualification for such programs does not constitute an action or negotiation.\n\t\t“Duplicate original” means an exact copy with signatures created by the same impression as the original, an exact copy bearing an original signature, or, in the case of an electronic transaction, an electronic version with electronic signatures.\n\t\t“Electronic signature” means an electronic signature as defined in \u00a7 59.1-480.\n\t\t“Licensee” means a person licensed under this chapter.\n\t\t“Principal” means any person that, directly or indirectly, owns or controls (i) 10 percent or more of the outstanding stock of a stock corporation or (ii) a 10 percent or greater interest in a person.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14206,"edition_id":1,"name":"Debt Settlement Services Providers","identifier":"20.1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13060,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:16","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:16","permalink":{"id":266731,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14206,"identifier":"20.1","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1","url":"\/6.2\/III\/20.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13060,"edition_id":1,"name":"Other Regulated Providers of Financial Services","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12852,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","permalink":{"id":265721,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13060,"identifier":"III","token":"6.2\/III","url":"\/6.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12852,"edition_id":1,"name":"Financial Institutions and Services","identifier":"6.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":263249,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12852,"identifier":"6.2","token":"6.2","url":"\/6.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":76223,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2026","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/6.2-2026\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2026","metadata":false},{"id":55395,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2027","catch_line":"License requirement; exceptions","url":"\/6.2-2027\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2027","metadata":false},{"id":70448,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2028","catch_line":"Application for license; form; content; fee","url":"\/6.2-2028\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2028","metadata":false},{"id":83350,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2029","catch_line":"Bond required","url":"\/6.2-2029\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2029","metadata":false},{"id":58352,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2030","catch_line":"Investigation of applications","url":"\/6.2-2030\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2030","metadata":false},{"id":67583,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2031","catch_line":"Qualifications","url":"\/6.2-2031\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2031","metadata":false},{"id":63306,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2032","catch_line":"Licenses; places of business; changes","url":"\/6.2-2032\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2032","metadata":false},{"id":80384,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2033","catch_line":"Acquisition of control; application","url":"\/6.2-2033\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2033","metadata":false},{"id":87030,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2034","catch_line":"Retention of books, accounts, and records; responding to Bureau","url":"\/6.2-2034\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2034","metadata":false},{"id":83844,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2035","catch_line":"Annual report","url":"\/6.2-2035\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2035","metadata":false},{"id":85989,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2036","catch_line":"Other reporting requirements","url":"\/6.2-2036\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2036","metadata":false},{"id":79999,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2037","catch_line":"Investigations; examinations","url":"\/6.2-2037\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2037","metadata":false},{"id":80270,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2038","catch_line":"Annual fees","url":"\/6.2-2038\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2038","metadata":false},{"id":82260,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2039","catch_line":"Regulations","url":"\/6.2-2039\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2039","metadata":false},{"id":56890,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2040","catch_line":"Licensees providing debt settlement services; prohibited and required business methods","url":"\/6.2-2040\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2040","metadata":false},{"id":81637,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2041","catch_line":"Fee","url":"\/6.2-2041\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2041","metadata":false},{"id":66000,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2042","catch_line":"Advertising","url":"\/6.2-2042\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2042","metadata":false},{"id":57456,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2043","catch_line":"Suspension or revocation of license","url":"\/6.2-2043\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2043","metadata":false},{"id":85206,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2044","catch_line":"Cease and desist orders","url":"\/6.2-2044\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2044","metadata":false},{"id":65724,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2045","catch_line":"Notice of proposed suspension or revocation","url":"\/6.2-2045\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2045","metadata":false},{"id":64784,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2046","catch_line":"Civil penalties","url":"\/6.2-2046\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2046","metadata":false},{"id":76198,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2047","catch_line":"Criminal penalty","url":"\/6.2-2047\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2047","metadata":false},{"id":76935,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2048","catch_line":"Private right of action","url":"\/6.2-2048\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2048","metadata":false},{"id":64822,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2049","catch_line":"Authority of Attorney General; referral by Commission to Attorney General","url":"\/6.2-2049\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2049","metadata":false},{"id":83927,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2050","catch_line":"Violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act","url":"\/6.2-2050\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2050","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":55395,"structure_id":14206,"section_number":"6.2-2027","catch_line":"License requirement; exceptions","url":"\/6.2-2027\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2027","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/6.2-2026\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 785<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82977,"section_number":"59.1-200","catch_line":"Prohibited practices","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-200\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":69066,"section_number":"59.1-480","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-480\/"}],"permalink":{"id":266733,"object_type":"law","relational_id":76223,"identifier":"6.2-2026","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2026","url":"\/6.2-2026\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/6.2-2026\/","token":"6.2\/III\/20.1\/6.2-2026","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 6.2-2026","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Consumer<\/span>” means an individual residing in the Commonwealth who owes money to one or more creditors<\/span>, for personal, family, or household purposes, including an individual who owes money jointly with one or more other individuals.\n\t\t“Credit counselor<\/span>” means an employee or agent of a licensee<\/span> who engages in debt settlement services<\/span> on a consumer<\/span>’s behalf.\n\t\t“Creditor<\/span>” includes persons<\/span> that extend credit to, or persons<\/span> that service loans made to, consumers<\/span>. “Creditor<\/span>” or “credit-granting organization<\/span>” does not include (i) doctors, lawyers, or other professionals who receive payment for their services in installments or (ii) persons<\/span> whose only participation in a credit transaction is to honor a credit card.\n\t\t“Debt collector<\/span>” means a person<\/span> defined as a debt collector<\/span> under 15 U.S.C. \u00a7 1692a of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. \u00a7 1692 et seq.\n\t\t“Debt settlement services<\/span>” means any action or negotiation initiated or taken on behalf of any consumer<\/span> with any creditor<\/span> of the consumer<\/span> for the purpose of obtaining debt forgiveness of all or a portion of the credit extended by the creditor<\/span> to the consumer<\/span> or a reduction of payments, charges, or fees payable by the consumer<\/span>. For purposes of this chapter, with respect to student loan forgiveness or student loan payment reduction programs established under federal or state law<\/span> and widely available to similarly situated consumers<\/span> at no cost, the facilitation of enrollment in or qualification for such programs does not constitute an action or negotiation.\n\t\t“Duplicate original<\/span>” means an exact copy with signatures created by the same impression as the original, an exact copy bearing an original signature, or, in the case of an electronic transaction, an electronic version with electronic signatures<\/span>.\n\t\t“Electronic signature<\/span>” means an electronic signature<\/span> as defined in \u00a7 59.1-480<\/a>.\n\t\t“Licensee<\/span>” means a person<\/span> licensed under this chapter.\n\t\t“Principal<\/span>” means any person<\/span> that, directly or indirectly, owns or controls (i) 10 percent or more of the outstanding stock of a stock corporation or (ii) a 10 percent or greater interest in a person<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 6.2-2026)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Consumer” means an individual residing in the Commonwealth who\nowes money to one or more creditors, for personal, family, or household\npurposes, including an individual who owes money jointly with one or more other\nindividuals.\n\t\t“Credit counselor” means an employee or agent of a licensee who\nengages in debt settlement services on a consumer’s behalf.\n\t\t“Creditor” includes persons that extend credit to, or persons that\nservice loans made to, consumers. “Creditor” or\n“credit-granting organization” does not include (i) doctors,\nlawyers, or other professionals who receive payment for their services in\ninstallments or (ii) persons whose only participation in a credit transaction is\nto honor a credit card.\n\t\t“Debt collector” means a person defined as a debt collector under\n15 U.S.C. \u00a7 1692a of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C.\n\u00a7 1692 et seq.\n\t\t“Debt settlement services” means any action or negotiation\ninitiated or taken on behalf of any consumer with any creditor of the consumer\nfor the purpose of obtaining debt forgiveness of all or a portion of the credit\nextended by the creditor to the consumer or a reduction of payments, charges, or\nfees payable by the consumer. For purposes of this chapter, with respect to\nstudent loan forgiveness or student loan payment reduction programs established\nunder federal or state law and widely available to similarly situated consumers\nat no cost, the facilitation of enrollment in or qualification for such programs\ndoes not constitute an action or negotiation.\n\t\t“Duplicate original” means an exact copy with signatures created\nby the same impression as the original, an exact copy bearing an original\nsignature, or, in the case of an electronic transaction, an electronic version\nwith electronic signatures.\n\t\t“Electronic signature” means an electronic signature as defined in\n\u00a7 59.1-480.\n\t\t“Licensee” means a person licensed under this chapter.\n\t\t“Principal” means any person that, directly or indirectly, owns or\ncontrols (i) 10 percent or more of the outstanding stock of a stock corporation\nor (ii) a 10 percent or greater interest in a person.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, c. 785.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}