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 Oregon, 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. The Oregon Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (OFDCPA) mirrors the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and provides consumers with protection against abusive debt collection practices. For example, debt collectors are prohibited from using deceptive, unfair, or abusive practices to collect these debts. The state also has laws that govern the terms and interest rates of payday loans, limiting the amount of interest and fees that lenders can charge. Additionally, Oregon has a statute of limitations on debt collection, which sets the maximum amount of time that debt collectors have to initiate legal proceedings to collect a debt. For consumer debts, the statute of limitations varies depending on the type of debt but generally ranges from three to six years. It's important for consumers to be aware of their rights and obligations under these laws and to seek the advice of an attorney if they face debt collection issues or need guidance on managing their consumer debts.