2014 New York Laws
GBS - General Business
Article 29-HH - (604 - 604-B) DEBT COLLECTION PROCEDURES RELATED TO IDENTITY THEFT
604 - Definitions.

 604. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
  have the following meanings:
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. Such 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 such person, firm, corporation or
  organization. Such term shall include any person,  firm  or  corporation
  engaged  in  business,  the  principal  purpose of which is to regularly
  collect or attempt to collect debts obtained  by  or  assigned  to  such
  person,  firm  or  corporation,  that  are  in  default when obtained or
  acquired by such person, firm or corporation.