For a foreign creditor, US debt collection means navigating state-by-state licensing and limitation rules layered under a federal FDCPA framework that mostly governs consumer, not B2B, debt.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act primarily protects consumer debtors, not businesses, so B2B collection in the US operates under a different, often less restrictive, compliance framework than many foreign creditors expect.
Some states require a collection agency license to even contact a debtor commercially, while others do not, so the correct court route and the correct compliance posture depend entirely on which state the debtor is in.
Commercial statutes of limitation range from roughly three to ten years depending on the state and the type of underlying contract, which materially affects whether an older US receivable is still worth pursuing.
Everything covered in this video, in full written form, in the complete article.
Read the full guideDebt collection agency USA guide for foreign creditors: FDCPA scope, state licensing, limitation periods, court routes, and judgment enforcement.