2026-04-17
Added · Updated
Buyers Holdings, LLC is ordered to cease and desist from violating Connecticut General Statutes Sections 36a-53a and 36a-801(a) for operating as an unlicensed consumer collection agency and making false statements. The entity must pay a civil penalty of $200,000 to the State of Connecticut within forty-five days of the order's mailing. Additionally, a previous order to make restitution remains permanent, requiring the refund of all payments collected from Connecticut consumers since January 1, 2016, plus legal interest, within thirty days of the restitution order becoming permanent.
IN THE MATTER OF: ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST BUYERS HOLDINGS, LLC AND NMLS # 1706706 ORDER IMPOSING CIVIL PENALTY (“Respondent”) I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT WHEREAS, the Banking Commissioner (“Commissioner”) is charged with the administration of Part XII of Chapter 669, Sections 36a-800 to 36a-814, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes, “Consumer Collection Agencies”, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, Sections 36a-809-6 to 36a-809-17, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (“Regulations”); WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted by Section 36a-17 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Commissioner, through the Consumer Credit Division (“Division”) of the Department of Banking (“Department”), has investigated the activities of Respondent to determine if it has violated, was violating or was about to violate the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes or the Regulations within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner; WHEREAS, on February 26, 2026, the Commissioner issued a Temporary Order to Cease and Desist, Order to Make Restitution, Notice of Intent to Issue Order to Cease and Desist, Notice of Intent to Impose Civil Penalty and Notice of Right to Hearing (collectively, “Order and Notice”) against Respondent, which Order and Notice is incorporated herein by reference; WHEREAS, on February 26, 2026, the Order and Notice was caused to be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to Respondent (Certified Mail Nos. 7014 3490 0002 3525 8940 and 7014 3490 0002 3525 8957);
WHEREAS, the Order and Notice mailed to Respondent via Certified Mail No. 7014 3490 0002 3525 8957 was returned to the Department marked “Return to Sender – Unclaimed – Unable to Forward” on March 20, 2024; WHEREAS, the Order and Notice mailed via Certified Mail No. 7014 3490 0002 3525 8940 was returned to the Department marked “Return to Sender – Not Deliverable as Addressed – Unable to Forward” on March 16, 2025; WHEREAS, the Order and Notice issued against Respondent was deemed received on the earlier of the date of actual receipt, or seven days after mailing or sending, pursuant to Sections 36a-52(a), 36a-50(a) and 36a-50(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes; WHEREAS, the Order and Notice provided Respondent with the opportunity for a hearing, and stated that if a hearing was not requested by Respondent within 14 days of its receipt or if Respondent failed to appear at any such hearing, the allegations against Respondent contained in the Order and Notice would be deemed admitted, the Order to Make Restitution shall remain in effect and become permanent, and the Commissioner would issue an order that Respondent cease and desist from violating Sections 36a-53a and 36a-801(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes and may order a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) per violation be imposed upon Respondent; WHEREAS, Respondent failed to request a hearing within the prescribed time period; WHEREAS, the Commissioner alleged in the Order and Notice, with respect to the activity described therein, that: (1) Respondent’s acting within this state as a consumer collection agency without a consumer collection agency license constitutes at least 12 violations of Section 36a-801(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes; and (2) Respondent’s statement that it did not engage in unlicensed consumer collection activity in Connecticut constitutes a statement which is, at the time and in the light of the circumstances under which it is made, false or misleading in a material respect, in violation of Section 36a-53a of the Connecticut General Statutes. Such violations form the basis to issue an order to make restitution pursuant to Sections 36a-804(b) and 36a-50(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes, issue an order to cease and desist against Respondent pursuant to Sections 36a-804(b) and 36a-52(a) of the
Connecticut General Statutes, and to impose a civil penalty upon Respondent pursuant to Sections 36a-804(b) and 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes; WHEREAS, also in the Order and Notice, the Commissioner ordered, pursuant to Section 36a-50(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes, that not later than thirty (30) days from the date the Order to Make Restitution becomes permanent, that Respondent promptly refund all payments made by Connecticut consumers that were collected by Respondent, plus interest at the legal rate set forth in Section 37-1 of the Connecticut General Statutes, since January 1, 2016, and provide to the Division evidence of such refunds; WHEREAS, Section 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes provides, in pertinent part, that “[i]f the person does not request a hearing within the time specified in the notice . . . , the commissioner shall issue an order to cease and desist against the person. No such order shall be issued except in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54”; WHEREAS, Section 36a-50(a)(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes provides, in pertinent part, that “[i]f such person does not request a hearing within the time specified in the notice . . . , the commissioner may, as the facts require, order that a civil penalty not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars per violation be imposed upon such person”; WHEREAS, Section 36a-50(a)(3) of the Connecticut General Statutes provides that “[e]ach action undertaken by the commissioner under this subsection shall be in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54”; AND WHEREAS, Section 36a-1-31(a) of the Regulations provides, in pertinent part, that “[w]hen a party fails to request a hearing within the time specified in the notice, the allegations against the party may be deemed admitted. Without further proceedings or notice to the party, the commissioner shall issue a final decision in accordance with Section 4-180 of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 36a-1-52 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies”.
II. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
Having read the record, I HEREBY ORDER, pursuant to Sections 36a-804(b), 36a-52(a), 36a-50(a) and 36a-50(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes, that:
/s/_______________________________
III. ORDER