2020
- Opinion 020-001
- Applicability of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 244, section 35B to certain agency and GSE loans – July 1, 2020
2018
- Opinion 18-006
- Do business activities, as described, require a debt collector license - December 13, 2018
- Opinion 18-005
- Does the servicing activity of commercial transactions, as described, require licensure or registration with the Division – September 4, 2018
2017
- Opinion 17-005
- Does acquiring a mortgage as a result of a defective foreclosure require a debt collector license – October 24, 2017
2014
- Selected Opinion 14-010
- Reporting a consumer's information to a consumer credit reporting agency - June 8, 2014
2011
- Selected Opinion 11-017
- Questions related to permissibility of convenience fees for consumer debt payments and mutually agreed automatic debit payment plan – December 6, 2011
2009
- Selected Opinion 09-002
- Does municipal parking authority need a license to collect unpaid tickets, fines, and related costs - October 19, 2009
2007
- Selected Opinion 07-185
- Does a company collecting commercial debt require a license - April 24, 2007
2006
- Selected Opinion 06-060
- "Passive" debt buyer exemption from debt collector license - October 13, 2006
- Selected Opinion 06-059
- Attorney-at-law exclusion and applicability of the debt collection law to attorneys - October 13, 2006
- Selected Opinion 06-028
- Limitations on "communications" with debtors - July 27, 2006
2004
- Opinion 04-033
- Third party loan servicer registration requirement applicable to entity servicing loans owned by another but originated by servicing entity – June 4, 2004
2002
- Selected Opinion 01-072
- Exemption for collection agency license when debt is collected by licensed collection agencies or collection attorneys - February 26, 2002
2001
- Selected Opinion 01-130
- Does repayment of medical bills from lawsuit constitute collection of debt - September 13, 2001
- Selected Opinion 01-080, 01-088
- Applicability of FTC privacy regulations to collection agencies - both issued June 25, 2001
- Selected Opinion 01-031
- Exemption for collection agency license for transactions involving electric rate reduction bonds - March 3, 2001
2000
- Summary of Selected Opinion 00-104
- Collection agency's ability to change non-sufficient funds (NSF) processing fees - Q3 2000
- Summary of Selected Opinion 00-088
- Collection agency licensing requirement as applicable to loan servicers - Q2 2000
- Summary of Selected Opinion 00-047
- Licensing requirement for out-of-state debt collector - Q2 2000
- Summary of Selected Opinion 00-037
- Licensing requirement for servicer and its subservicer - Q2 2000
- Summary of Selected Opinion 99-187
- Massachusetts license requirement for collection agency licensed in another state - Q1 2000
- Summary of Selected Opinion 99-128
- License requirement for companies contracting with local collection agency - Q1 2000
1999 - 1997
- Summary of Selected Opinion 98-272
- Servicer reporting credit experience with debtor in servicer's name - Q3 1999
- Summary of Selected Opinion 98-171
- Financial statement reporting requirement - Q3 1998
- Summary of Selected Opinion 98-146
- Licensing requirements for attorneys licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth - Q3 1998
- Summary of Selected Opinion 98-142
- Permissibility of collection agency to act on behalf of secured creditor - Q4 1998
- Summary of Selected Opinion 98-117
- Non-transferability of collection agency license - Q2 1998
- Summary of Selected Opinion 97-252
- Notice requirements for purchase of all assets of a licensed collection agency - Q4 1997
- Summary of Selected Opinion 97-220
- Licensing requirements for referring debtors to mortgage companies - Q4 1997
- Summary of Selected Opinion 97-217
- Licensing requirements for entities which provide assistance to homeowners - Q4 1997
- Summary of Selected Opinion 97-212
- Directing payments from Massachusetts debtors to an out-of-state address and the use of an "800" number in collection letters - Q4 1997
- Summary of Selected Opinion 97-208
- Non-identifying communications Q4 1997
- Summary of Selected Opinion 97-161
- Licensing requirements for entities collecting debt owed by deceased persons - Q3 1997
- Summary of Selected Opinion 97-110
- Mortgage loan servicer practices - Q3 1997
Past opinions of the DOB
You can get copies of past opinions by submitting a Public Records Request to the DOB's Record Access Officer
The DOB's Regulations, found in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR - agency code number 209), are available through the State House Bookstore.