---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 1692i"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "1692i"
heading: "Legal actions by debt collectors"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/1692i"
units:
  - "Chapter 41 — Consumer Credit Protection"
  - "Subchapter V — Debt Collection Practices"
---

# §1692i. Legal actions by debt collectors

- (a) **Venue—** Any [debt collector](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=6) who brings any legal action on a [debt](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=5) against any [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) shall—
  - (1) in the case of an action to enforce an interest in real property securing the [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3)’s obligation, bring such action only in a judicial district or similar legal entity in which such real property is located; or
  - (2) in the case of an action not described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1), bring such action only in the judicial district or similar legal entity—
    - (A) in which such [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) signed the contract sued upon; or
    - (B) in which such [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) resides at the commencement of the action.
- (b) **Authorization of actions—** Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to authorize the bringing of legal actions by [debt collectors](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=6).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–321, title VIII, § 811, as added Pub. L. 95–109, Sept. 20, 1977, 91 Stat. 880.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective upon the expiration of six months after Sept. 20, 1977, see section 819 of Pub. L. 90–321, as added by Pub. L. 95–109, set out as a note under section 1692 of this title.