(

a) No person shall engage in the business of debt collection in this state without first obtaining a license pursuant to this division. To the extent permitted by federal law, a person is acting in this state if the person is located in this state and is seeking to collect from a debtor that resides inside or outside the state, or is located outside of the state and is seeking to collect from a debtor that resides in this state. A license shall be obtained for the licensee’s principal place of business and shall not be transferred or assigned. A separate license is not required for each individual branch office. (b)

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), this division shall not apply to a depository institution, as defined in

Section 1420, a person licensed pursuant to Division 9 (commencing with

Section 22000) or Division 20 (commencing with

Section 50000), a person licensed pursuant to

Part 1 (commencing with

Section 10000) of Division of the Business and Professions Code, a person who is subject to the Karnette Rental-Purchase Act (Title 2.96 (commencing with

Section 1812.620) of Part of Division of the Civil Code), or a trustee performing acts in connection with a nonjudicial foreclosure pursuant to

Article 1 (commencing with

Section 2920) of

Chapter of Title of Part of Division of the Civil Code.

(2) The commissioner may use the authority described in

Section in connection with a violation of Title 1.6C (commencing with

Section 1788) or Title 1.6C.5 (commencing with

Section 1788.50) of Part of Division of the Civil Code by a person described in paragraph (1). (

c) This division shall not apply to debt collection regulated pursuant to Division 12.5 (commencing with

Section 28100) or to the collection of covered commercial debt or covered commercial credit, as those terms are defined in Title 1.6C (commencing with

Section 1788) of Part of Division of the Civil Code.