Statute: N.D. Cent. Code §13-11-01 et seq.

Definition: “Debt-settlement provider” means any person engaging in, or holding itself out as engaging in, the business of providing debt-settlement service in exchange for any fee or compensation, or any person who solicits for or acts on behalf of any person engaging in, or holding itself out as engaging in, the business of providing debt-settlement service in exchange for any fee or compensation. 

“Debt-settlement service” means: (1) Offering to provide advice or service, or acting as an intermediary between or on behalf of a consumer and one or more of a consumer’s creditors, where the primary purpose of the advice, service, or action is to obtain a settlement, adjustment, or satisfaction of the consumer’s unsecured debt to a creditor in an amount less than the full amount of the principal amount of the debt or in an amount less than the current outstanding balance of the debt; (2) Offering to provide services related to or providing services advising, encouraging, assisting, or counseling a consumer to accumulate funds for the primary purpose of proposing or obtaining or seeking to obtain a settlement, adjustment, or satisfaction of the consumer’s unsecured debt to a creditor in an amount less than the full amount of the principal amount of the debt or in an amount less than the current outstanding balance of the debt; or (3) Offering to provide advice or service, or acting as an intermediary between or on behalf of a person and a state or federal government agency where the primary purpose of the advice, service, or action is to obtain a settlement, adjustment, or satisfaction of the person’s tax obligation to the government agency in an amount less than the current outstanding balance of the tax obligation.