How to Dispute a Bill in Colorado
Colorado consumers have specific rights when disputing incorrect or unfair bills from service providers, medical facilities, or collection agencies. State law provides protection through the Colorado Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which works alongside federal protections to give residents clear pathways for contesting charges they believe are erroneous.
When disputing a bill in Colorado, always communicate in writing and keep detailed records of all correspondence, as this documentation will be crucial if the dispute escalates to legal proceedings. Colorado law typically allows consumers 30 days to dispute a bill after receiving it, so acting promptly is essential to preserve your rights.
Key Considerations
Scenarios
Decisions
Scenarios
Decisions
Scenarios
Decisions
Relevant Laws
Colorado Consumer Protection Act (CCPA)
This law protects consumers from deceptive trade practices, including billing errors and misrepresentations. It allows consumers to dispute unfair billing practices and potentially recover damages, attorney fees, and costs if they prevail in court.
Colorado Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
This law regulates how debt collectors can operate in Colorado and provides consumers with rights when disputing bills that have gone to collections. It prohibits harassment, false statements, and unfair practices by debt collectors and allows consumers to dispute the validity of debts.
Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-21-109 (Concerning Dishonored Checks)
This statute outlines the procedures and penalties related to disputed payments via check. It's relevant when disputing bills where payment methods are in question, as it establishes the legal framework for resolving payment disputes.
Colorado Public Utilities Commission Regulations
These regulations govern utility billing disputes in Colorado. They establish procedures for disputing utility bills, including timelines for disputes, investigation requirements, and prohibition of service disconnection during pending disputes.
Colorado Health Insurance Laws (C.R.S. § 10-16-101 et seq.)
These laws provide specific protections for consumers disputing medical and health insurance bills. They include provisions for appealing insurance claim denials and disputing billing errors with healthcare providers.
Regional Variances
Denver Metro Area
Denver has a local Consumer Protection Division within the Denver District Attorney's Office that offers mediation services for billing disputes. Residents can file complaints directly with this office, which provides an additional layer of consumer protection beyond state resources.
Boulder County has a Community Protection Division that assists consumers with billing disputes. The city also has stricter regulations for utility companies regarding billing transparency and dispute resolution timeframes than other parts of Colorado.
Aurora residents can access the city's Consumer Protection Program which offers free mediation services for billing disputes with local businesses. The city also maintains a database of businesses with multiple consumer complaints.
Western Slope
Grand Junction has fewer local consumer protection resources, so residents primarily rely on state-level protections. However, the city's utility billing disputes follow a specific municipal code that requires a formal hearing process before service disconnection.
Durango has established a Consumer Affairs Advisory Board that reviews billing disputes with local businesses and utilities. The city also requires businesses to provide written notice 30 days before sending any unpaid bills to collections, which is more consumer-friendly than state law.
Mountain Communities
Aspen has unique ordinances regarding vacation rental and hospitality billing disputes, providing additional protections for tourists and seasonal residents. The city also offers a specialized mediation service for disputes involving amounts over $2,500.
Vail has specific regulations for medical billing disputes related to ski injuries and emergency services. The town requires healthcare providers to offer detailed itemized billing and a standardized dispute resolution process for tourists who received emergency care.
Southern Colorado
Colorado Springs has a dedicated Consumer Protection Unit within the District Attorney's Office that handles billing disputes. The city also has specific regulations for military service members under the local Military Consumer Protection Act, providing additional protections beyond federal law.
Pueblo County offers a Consumer Protection Program that provides free mediation services for billing disputes. The county also has specific regulations for utility billing disputes that require companies to continue service during the dispute resolution process, which is more protective than state requirements.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Review and document the billing issue
1 days after startingCarefully review your bill to identify the specific charges you're disputing. Document the exact amount, service date, and reason for the dispute. Colorado law gives consumers the right to dispute inaccurate billing, but you need to be precise about what you're contesting.
Gather supporting documentation
3 days after startingCollect all relevant documents that support your position, including previous Account Statements, Payment History Records, and the Service Contract or Agreement. Colorado courts will require evidence to support your claim, so thorough documentation is essential.
Contact the company directly
5 days after startingBefore escalating, contact the company by phone or email to attempt to resolve the dispute. Under Colorado's Consumer Protection Act, many businesses must make good faith efforts to resolve complaints. Document the date, time, representative name, and content of all communications as Proof of Communication.
Draft a Billing Dispute Letter
7 days after startingWrite a formal dispute letter that includes your account information, the specific charges you're disputing, why you believe the bill is incorrect, and what resolution you're seeking. In Colorado, sending a written dispute provides better legal protection than verbal disputes alone. Include copies (not originals) of supporting documentation.
Send the dispute letter via certified mail
8 days after startingMail your dispute letter with return receipt requested to create a legal record of when the company received your complaint. This establishes a timeline that may be important if legal action becomes necessary. Keep the Certified Mail Receipt for your records.
Submit a Fair Credit Billing Act dispute (if applicable)
10 days after startingIf the dispute involves a credit card charge, you have additional protections under the federal Fair Credit Billing Act. Complete and submit the Fair Credit Billing Act Dispute Form to your credit card issuer within 60 days of the first bill containing the error. Even though this is federal law, it applies to Colorado residents.
File a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General
30 days after startingIf the company doesn't respond or resolve the issue, file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section using their Consumer Complaint Form. This state agency can mediate disputes and take action against companies that violate consumer protection laws.
Consider filing with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission
35 days after startingIf your dispute involves a regulated utility (electricity, gas, telecommunications), file a complaint with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. They have specific jurisdiction over utility billing disputes and can order corrections to bills.
Prepare for small claims court
45 days after startingIf all else fails, you may need to file in small claims court. In Colorado, you can represent yourself in small claims for disputes up to $7,500. Prepare your Small Claims Court Complaint with all supporting evidence. Colorado small claims courts are designed to be accessible without an attorney.
File in small claims court
50 days after startingFile your complaint with the appropriate Colorado county court where either you or the business is located. Pay the filing fee (approximately $55-85 depending on the amount), though fee waivers may be available based on financial need. Serve the business according to Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
Attend the small claims hearing
80 days after startingPrepare to present your case concisely with all documentation. In Colorado small claims court, the rules of evidence are relaxed, but you still need to clearly demonstrate why the bill is incorrect and what remedy you're seeking.
Monitor your credit report
90 days after startingDuring and after the dispute, regularly check your credit report to ensure the company hasn't reported the disputed amount as delinquent. Under Colorado law and the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to dispute inaccurate information on your credit report.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Review and document the billing issue | Carefully review your bill to identify the specific charges you're disputing. Document the exact amount, service date, and reason for the dispute. Colorado law gives consumers the right to dispute inaccurate billing, but you need to be precise about what you're contesting. | - | 1 |
| Gather supporting documentation | Collect all relevant documents that support your position, including previous Account Statements, Payment History Records, and the Service Contract or Agreement. Colorado courts will require evidence to support your claim, so thorough documentation is essential. | - | 3 |
| Contact the company directly | Before escalating, contact the company by phone or email to attempt to resolve the dispute. Under Colorado's Consumer Protection Act, many businesses must make good faith efforts to resolve complaints. Document the date, time, representative name, and content of all communications as Proof of Communication. | - | 5 |
| Draft a Billing Dispute Letter | Write a formal dispute letter that includes your account information, the specific charges you're disputing, why you believe the bill is incorrect, and what resolution you're seeking. In Colorado, sending a written dispute provides better legal protection than verbal disputes alone. Include copies (not originals) of supporting documentation. | Billing Dispute Letter | 7 |
| Send the dispute letter via certified mail | Mail your dispute letter with return receipt requested to create a legal record of when the company received your complaint. This establishes a timeline that may be important if legal action becomes necessary. Keep the Certified Mail Receipt for your records. | - | 8 |
| Submit a Fair Credit Billing Act dispute (if applicable) | If the dispute involves a credit card charge, you have additional protections under the federal Fair Credit Billing Act. Complete and submit the Fair Credit Billing Act Dispute Form to your credit card issuer within 60 days of the first bill containing the error. Even though this is federal law, it applies to Colorado residents. | Fair Credit Billing Act Dispute Form | 10 |
| File a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General | If the company doesn't respond or resolve the issue, file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section using their Consumer Complaint Form. This state agency can mediate disputes and take action against companies that violate consumer protection laws. | Consumer Complaint Form | 30 |
| Consider filing with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission | If your dispute involves a regulated utility (electricity, gas, telecommunications), file a complaint with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. They have specific jurisdiction over utility billing disputes and can order corrections to bills. | - | 35 |
| Prepare for small claims court | If all else fails, you may need to file in small claims court. In Colorado, you can represent yourself in small claims for disputes up to $7,500. Prepare your Small Claims Court Complaint with all supporting evidence. Colorado small claims courts are designed to be accessible without an attorney. | Small Claims Court Complaint | 45 |
| File in small claims court | File your complaint with the appropriate Colorado county court where either you or the business is located. Pay the filing fee (approximately $55-85 depending on the amount), though fee waivers may be available based on financial need. Serve the business according to Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure. | - | 50 |
| Attend the small claims hearing | Prepare to present your case concisely with all documentation. In Colorado small claims court, the rules of evidence are relaxed, but you still need to clearly demonstrate why the bill is incorrect and what remedy you're seeking. | - | 80 |
| Monitor your credit report | During and after the dispute, regularly check your credit report to ensure the company hasn't reported the disputed amount as delinquent. Under Colorado law and the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to dispute inaccurate information on your credit report. | - | 90 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The first step is to contact the service provider or merchant directly. Send a written dispute letter that clearly identifies the bill, explains why you're disputing it, and includes any supporting documentation. Keep copies of all correspondence and send important documents via certified mail with return receipt requested. Colorado law requires that you make a good faith effort to resolve the dispute directly before pursuing other remedies.
In Colorado, the statute of limitations for debt-related disputes is generally 6 years for written contracts and 3 years for oral agreements. However, it's best to dispute a bill as soon as you notice an issue. Many service providers have specific timeframes (often 30-60 days) during which you must report billing errors to preserve your rights under their terms of service.
For most bills, you should continue making minimum payments while the dispute is being resolved to avoid negative credit reporting or service interruptions. However, under the Fair Credit Billing Act (which applies in Colorado), you can withhold payment on credit card charges that are in dispute. For utility bills, Colorado regulations often prevent disconnection of essential services while a legitimate billing dispute is pending resolution.
The Colorado Attorney General's Office handles consumer complaints about unfair billing practices. For utility bills, contact the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. For medical bills, the Colorado Division of Insurance may assist with insurance-related disputes. For debt collection issues, the Colorado Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is enforced by the Colorado Attorney General's Office. Each agency has specific complaint procedures available on their websites.
Keep copies of the original bill, all correspondence related to the dispute (including emails and notes from phone conversations with dates, times, and names of representatives), proof of payments, delivery confirmations for dispute letters, and any supporting evidence that validates your dispute. Colorado courts will require documentation if the dispute escalates to legal proceedings.
Yes, you can file a lawsuit in Colorado Small Claims Court for disputes up to $7,500 without needing an attorney. For larger amounts, you can file in County Court (up to $25,000) or District Court (any amount). Before filing, consider whether the disputed amount justifies the time and filing fees. Colorado also requires that you make reasonable attempts to resolve the dispute before litigation.
The Colorado Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) prohibits deceptive trade practices, including false billing statements and misrepresentations about services or products. If a business has engaged in deceptive billing practices, you may file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General's Office. The CCPA allows for triple damages and attorney's fees in successful cases, providing significant leverage in resolving disputes.
Under Colorado law, you have the right to dispute a debt with collection agencies. Send a written dispute within 30 days of receiving the collection notice. The collector must verify the debt before continuing collection efforts. Colorado's Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provides additional protections beyond federal law, including limiting collection calls to 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM and prohibiting harassment or abusive practices.
Yes, Colorado has enacted several laws protecting consumers from surprise medical billing. The Colorado Out-of-Network Health Care Services law limits what out-of-network providers can charge in certain situations. Additionally, Colorado law requires healthcare providers to disclose estimated costs before providing non-emergency services. For billing disputes with insurance companies, you can file a complaint with the Colorado Division of Insurance.