2013 New York Consolidated Laws
GBS - General Business
Article 29-H - (600 - 603) DEBT COLLECTION PROCEDURES
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.