Consumer debt consists of personal debts for goods purchased for personal or household consumption—as opposed to debts incurred for the operation of a business. Common examples of consumer debt include (1) credit card debt; (2) student loans; (3) home mortgage loans; (4) car or auto loans; (5) payday loans; (6) medical debts; and (7) unpaid utility and telephone bills.

In North Dakota, consumer debt is regulated by both state statutes and federal laws. Credit card debt, student loans, home mortgages, auto loans, payday loans, medical debts, and unpaid utility and telephone bills are all considered consumer debts when they are for personal or household use. North Dakota has specific laws that govern the collection of these debts, including the North Dakota Century Code (NDCC), which outlines permissible practices for debt collection and the rights of consumers. For example, the NDCC limits the interest rates that can be charged on certain types of loans, such as payday loans, to protect consumers from excessively high rates. Additionally, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law, provides protections against abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices. It applies to the collection of these types of debts by third-party debt collectors. Consumers in North Dakota also have certain rights under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) at the federal level, which provide disclosures about credit terms and prevent discrimination in lending practices, respectively.