Debt Collection Agency in Colorado: No Cure, No Pay
Your Colorado claim is handled by a licensed local collection partner, matched to your case and benchmarked on performance. All actions follow Colorado law, and you track everything in one dashboard. Prefer to learn first? Read our Colorado debt collection guide.
Questions about your case?
Write to us, we reply by email.
Our local debt collection partners
Debitura is a platform, not a single agency: your case is routed to the licensed collection partner best matched to your claim type, debtor profile and industry. After that, we follow their results on our platform: how much they collect, how fast they respond and how clients rate them.
- Verified specialists
- Fee shown before you submit
- Fair, pre-negotiated rates
Direct Recovery Associates, Inc. is a premier debt recovery agency in Agoura Hills offering effective Debt Collection services in the United States, founded in 1992, with a global reach and performance-based billing, ensuring client satisfaction.
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Aaron Bryant Stewart & Cross is a premier debt recovery agency in the United States offering effective No Cure No Pay Debt Collection services, established in 2006 and serving North America and select international markets, as a Debitura partner in the U.S., providing collections based on Debitura's No Cure, No Pay standard terms and pricing, and is a member of ACA International.
See full partner profile
Debt Recovery Resources is a premier debt recovery agency in the United States offering effective debt collection services, a member of the CLLA, partnering with Debitura for No Cure No Pay solutions.
See full partner profileWhy choose Debitura for debt collection in Colorado?
Debt collection in Colorado, matched to a local partner
Debitura recovers unpaid invoices from debtors in Colorado through our platform: submit your claim, and we assign it to the best-matching licensed partner working on a No Cure, No Pay basis while you track progress in real time.
- No Cure, No Pay: Pay only when we recover your money.
- Quick setup: Submit invoices in a few clicks.
- Real-time tracking: Monitor progress live in one portal.
- Local compliance: Consumer-debt collection follows the Colorado Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (Colo. Rev. Stat. §5-16-101 et seq.) and the FDCPA; commercial claims follow the contract and general Colorado law.
Start recovering your Colorado claims in 2 minutes
- Submit your claim: Upload unpaid invoices in the dashboard. Import by CSV or connect QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books, Stripe or KashFlow, or use Zapier, the REST API or our MCP server.
- Local collection begins: We assign your case to your Colorado panel partner, who opens the amicable phase with your debtor. If court action is required, typically on the County Court's Small Claims Division for claims up to $7,500, you approve a legal quote, with court costs stated separately, before anything proceeds.
- Get paid: Funds are remitted on recovery. If escalation is needed, only legal steps you have approved in a quote move forward.
Transparent, success-based pricing
With Debitura you only pay when we succeed. Pre-legal collection is No Cure, No Pay: a success fee deducted from recovered amounts, invoiced locally by your partner. Fees depend on the debtor's country, not yours.
- Debtors in Europe (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the UK and Switzerland): success fees from 6% depending on claim size.
- Debtors in the rest of the world: success fees from 7.5% depending on claim size. On a $10,000 invoice to a US business, under 12 months overdue, the success fee is 15% ($1,500), shown before you submit. Minimum claim: $500. No fee if nothing is recovered.
- Older claims: a surcharge applies for claims 12 to 24 months overdue and for claims older than 24 months.
- Legal action is optional: you approve a legal quote, with court costs stated separately, before any legal spend.
See the pricing page for the full fee schedule, or get an instant estimate when you upload a claim.
How does debt collection work in Colorado?
Debt collection in Colorado starts with an amicable phase: your case is handled by your assigned partner, which issues demands and pursues payment or a written acknowledgment of the debt. Most undisputed commercial claims are resolved at this stage. If the debtor still does not pay, escalation is never automatic; your partner assesses the legal route (typically the County Court's Small Claims Division for claims up to $7,500, or the regular County or District Court above), and you approve a legal quote before any court step.
- Submit in 2 minutes: upload unpaid invoices in the dashboard. Import by CSV or connect QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books, Stripe or KashFlow, or use Zapier, the REST API or our MCP server.
- No Cure, No Pay: pre-legal collection is success-based, with no setup fees or subscriptions.
- You stay in control: legal escalation only happens after you approve a legal quote.
- Get paid: recovered funds are remitted to you; fees are deducted on success only.
The four steps from unpaid invoice to recovered cash
- Amicable collection: demands and negotiation handled by your Colorado panel partner. Most undisputed claims resolve here, without going to court.
- Enforceable title: if the debtor does not pay, your partner assesses the legal route, and you approve a legal quote, with court costs stated separately, before anything proceeds. Note that Colorado's Small Claims Division generally does not allow attorney representation unless the opposing side is also represented.
- Enforcement: with a judgment, creditors can use writs of execution and continuing wage garnishment; Colorado's formula is stricter than the federal floor.
- Insolvency: if the debtor cannot pay, your proof of claim is filed in the insolvency process and distributions are monitored on your behalf.
Every step is tracked in your dashboard, and nothing escalates without your approval. The full legal detail for Colorado - timelines, costs, courts and enforcement - follows in the guide below.
Debt collection in Colorado - the complete 2026 guide
For in-house counsel, finance teams and out-of-state creditors, this Colorado guide covers 2026 debt recovery end-to-end - costs, timelines, limitation and interest, court routes, and post-judgment enforcement - plus step-by-step tools and compact tables to act correctly, fast.
What we will cover:
Why you can trust this guide
Written from primary legal sources and reviewed by licensed local experts in this jurisdiction.
Questions or feedback? Email us at contact@debitura.com , we update this guide based on your input.
Debitura By the Numbers:
- 180 countries covered - each case handled by a local partner
- More than 5,000 businesses registered with Debitura
- 33 days median time to first payment on European cases
About the author
Written by Lars Holdgaard, Founder of Debitura (+10 years in global B2B debt recovery).
Contributing local experts:
Last updated:
Debt collection in Colorado - quick answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Main route | Demand letter → amicable collection → County Court Small Claims Division (claims up to $7,500) or County/District Court → post-judgment enforcement |
| Statute of limitations | Commonly cited as 6 years for a liquidated or determinable debt such as an invoice or note (Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-80-103.5(1)(a)); also commonly cited as 3 years for a general contract claim with no liquidated amount (§13-80-101(1)(a)) |
| Late-payment interest | 8% per year, compounded annually, as the default statutory rate (Colo. Rev. Stat. §5-12-101); parties may contract for a higher rate up to 45% per year (§5-12-103) |
| Small claims | Small Claims Division of the County Court hears claims up to $7,500, exclusive of interest and costs (§13-6-403); attorneys are generally not allowed unless the opposing party is also represented (§13-6-407) |
| Wage garnishment | Limited to the lesser of 20% of weekly disposable earnings, or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 40x the applicable minimum wage (§13-54-104) |
| Court & enforcement fees | State fees apply only if the case escalates to legal |
| Our fee | Success fee only - No Cure, No Pay |
How much does debt collection cost in Colorado?
With Debitura you pay a success fee only on amounts actually recovered, with no upfront or monthly costs; the exact rate depends on your claim, see our pricing. Court fees apply only if the case escalates to legal: the Small Claims Division's filing fee is $31 for claims up to $500 and $55 for claims between $500 and $7,500, per the Colorado Judicial Branch fee schedule, and enforcement costs vary. These state fees are advanced by the creditor and can generally be recovered as court costs if you prevail.
How long does debt collection take in Colorado?
Most undisputed commercial claims are resolved in the amicable phase without court involvement. If escalation is needed, the Small Claims Division is the fastest judicial route for claims up to $7,500, while larger County Court or District Court cases take substantially longer. Enforcement timing depends on locating non-exempt assets and income.
What are the limitation and interest rules in Colorado?
Colorado's statute of limitations is commonly cited as 6 years for a liquidated or determinable debt such as an invoice, open account or promissory note (Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-80-103.5(1)(a)), and 3 years for a general contract claim with no liquidated amount (§13-80-101(1)(a)); a new written promise or acknowledgment is commonly said to restart the period (§13-80-113). The default statutory interest rate is 8% per year, compounded annually (§5-12-101), and parties may contract in writing for a rate up to 45% per year (§5-12-103).
What documents do I need to collect a debt in Colorado?
Assemble the contract or purchase order, the invoice(s), delivery or proof-of-service records, an account statement, your demand letters and reminders, and any written acknowledgment or payment agreement. If you are represented, add a power of attorney.
Which route should my claim take?
Claims up to $7,500 belong on the County Court's Small Claims Division, where a corporation may appear through an owner, member, partner or full-time employee, and attorneys are generally excluded unless the opposing side is also represented. Claims between $7,500 and $25,000 go on the regular County Court civil docket; larger or more complex claims go to District Court. With Debitura, escalation only happens after you approve a legal quote.
Who does what in Colorado debt collection?
Debt collection agencies in Colorado
Colorado requires a collection agency to hold a license from the Attorney General to collect or solicit consumer debts (Colo. Rev. Stat. §5-16-119), backed by a surety bond starting at $12,000 and rising with client remittance volume to a $20,000 cap (§5-16-124); debt buyers that do not also perform third-party collection are exempt from the bond. Collection in Colorado is handled by your assigned panel partner.
Colorado courts and enforcement officers
The Small Claims Division of the County Court hears claims up to $7,500; the regular County Court docket hears claims between $7,500 and $25,000, and District Court hears larger or more complex matters. After judgment, recording a transcript of judgment in any county creates a real-property lien there.
Debt-collection attorneys in Colorado
Attorneys are generally NOT allowed to represent a party in the Small Claims Division unless the opposing party is also represented or gives notice of representation (Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-6-407) - an unusual, more restrictive rule than most states.
Regulators
The Colorado Attorney General's Consumer Credit Unit administers the Uniform Consumer Credit Code and the CFDCPA and licenses collection agencies; the CFPB and FTC oversee consumer debt collection federally.
Which laws and courts apply to debt collection in Colorado?
Key legislation in Colorado
Consumer debt collection in Colorado is governed by the Colorado Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (CFDCPA), Colo. Rev. Stat. §5-16-101 et seq., recodified in 2017 from the former §12-14-101 et seq. The CFDCPA is broader than the federal FDCPA because it also reaches original creditors, not just third-party collectors, and works alongside the Colorado Uniform Consumer Credit Code. Pure business-to-business debt is outside the CFDCPA and is governed by the contract and general Colorado law. Recent development: in Wright v. Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (Colorado Supreme Court, No. 24SC585, announced June 2026), the Court held that a debt buyer suing on a consumer debt must attach a copy of the assignment or other writing establishing ownership of that specific debtor's account, and that an affidavit cannot cure a complaint lacking that documentary chain, raising the pleading bar for consumer-debt collection suits brought by assignees.
Civil court system in Colorado
The Small Claims Division of the County Court (Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-6-401 et seq.) hears claims up to $7,500; the regular County Court docket hears claims up to $25,000, and District Court hears larger civil matters.
Consumer protection
The Colorado Attorney General's Consumer Credit Unit enforces the CFDCPA and the UCCC.
Step 1 - How does amicable (pre-legal) debt collection work in Colorado?
Amicable collection in Colorado is handled by your assigned panel partner, which contacts the debtor with formal demands and pursues payment, a payment agreement, or a written acknowledgment of the debt. Most undisputed commercial claims resolve in this phase without court involvement. A new written promise to pay, or a written acknowledgment of the debt, is commonly understood to restart the limitations period (Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-80-113).
When to escalate to court in Colorado
Escalation is never automatic. It becomes relevant when the debtor is unresponsive, disputes the claim without merit, or the claim is approaching its limitation deadline (commonly 6 years for a liquidated debt). Your partner assesses the legal route and you approve a legal quote before any court step.
Step 2 - How do you obtain an enforceable title in Colorado?
Fast-track option: the Small Claims Division
Small claims in Colorado are heard in the Small Claims Division of the County Court, defined as claims up to $7,500, exclusive of interest and costs (Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-6-403).
| Colorado Small Claims Division | |
|---|---|
| Claim limit | $7,500, exclusive of interest and costs |
| Filing fee | $31 for claims up to $500; $55 for claims between $500 and $7,500 |
| Business claimants | Corporations and LLCs may sue; representation by an owner, member, partner or full-time employee is permitted, not outside counsel |
| Attorney rules | Generally NOT allowed unless the opposing party is also represented or gives notice (§13-6-407) - Colorado is more restrictive than most states here |
Ordinary proceedings in Colorado
Claims between $7,500 and $25,000 go on the regular County Court civil docket; larger or more complex claims go to District Court. With Debitura, nothing is filed without your approval of a legal quote.
Determining the appropriate court
The route is determined by the amount in controversy, the complexity of the dispute, and venue.
Step 3 - How does debt enforcement work in Colorado?
Ways to enforce a claim in Colorado
With a judgment, creditors can use a writ of execution against non-exempt property and a writ of continuing garnishment against wages or bank accounts (Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-54.5-101 et seq.). Wage garnishment is limited to the lesser of 20% of the debtor's weekly disposable earnings, or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 40 times the applicable minimum wage (§13-54-104, as reformed by HB19-1189) - stricter than the federal 25%/30x rule.
How to collect a judgment in Colorado
A district court judgment is enforceable by execution for 20 years from entry unless revived; a county court judgment is enforceable for 6 years unless revived (Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-52-102(1)). Recording a certified transcript of judgment in any county creates a real-property lien there, running 6 years and extendable on revival (§13-52-102(2)).
Step 4 - How do insolvency procedures work in Colorado?
Business insolvency is governed by the federal Bankruptcy Code, with Chapter 7 liquidation and Chapter 11 reorganization as the main routes. Once a bankruptcy is filed, the automatic stay halts individual collection actions, and recovery runs through the insolvency estate: your proof of claim is filed in the process and distributions follow the statutory priority order. Your Colorado panel partner files the claim and monitors distributions on your behalf, so nothing is lost for lack of follow-up.
Fees, interest and who pays what in Colorado
Debitura's pre-legal collection in Colorado is success-based - No Cure, No Pay, with no setup fees or subscriptions.
Court and enforcement fees - only if the case escalates to legal
State fees apply only if the case escalates to legal. The Small Claims Division's filing fee is $31 for claims up to $500 and $55 for claims between $500 and $7,500, and enforcement costs vary. These fees are advanced by the creditor and can generally be recovered as court costs if you prevail.
Interest and late fees the debtor owes - from the amicable phase
Colorado's default statutory interest rate is 8% per year, compounded annually (Colo. Rev. Stat. §5-12-101), and this same 8% compounded rate applies to money wrongfully withheld before judgment (§5-12-102). Parties may contract in writing for a higher rate, up to a 45% per year ceiling (§5-12-103). Colorado sets no general statutory cap on private B2B late-payment fees beyond that usury ceiling; the contract governs.
Collecting a Colorado debt from out of state or abroad
Creditors outside Colorado can enforce sister-state judgments under the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-53-101 et seq.), and new suits are filed in the Colorado county connected to the debtor or the obligation. Out-of-state and international creditors work through the same Colorado panel: your case is routed to the licensed partner best matched to your claim, with the same No Cure, No Pay terms, and cross-border cases draw on Debitura's network across 180 countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our most common FAQs below, or reach out directly at contact@debitura.com if you need help with a specific case.
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Need debt recovery beyond Colorado?
Explore our North America debt-collection hub for country-by-country playbooks.
For coast-to-coast coverage in the US, see the U.S. debt-collection overview.
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