Collection Agency Act
Washington · Business Regulations—Miscellaneous · §§ 19.16.100 to 19.16.960 · 44 sections
Overview
The Collection Agency Act governs the business of collecting debts owed to others, requiring collection agencies to hold a license issued by a state regulatory department and defining which persons and activities are exempt from that requirement. It sets out the department's powers over licensing — original applications, expiration, renewal, restoration, summary suspension, and reinstatement after discipline — along with an administrative process of investigation, notice and hearing before a hearing officer, subpoenas and sworn testimony, findings and recommendations, consent orders, rehearing, and judicial review of the resulting order. The act also bars unlicensed practice and backs that prohibition with cease and desist authority, injunctions, civil penalties, and criminal penalties that increase for repeat offenses, while providing for participation in a multi-state licensing system and addressing particular matters such as the collection of child support debt and fines for returned checks.
Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.
In the courts
Sections of this act have been cited in 84 court decisions.
Most-cited authority: 166 Wash. 2d 27 - Panag v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Washington
Sections covered
- RCW 19.16.100Definitions.14 cites
- RCW 19.16.110License required.6 cites
- RCW 19.16.120Unprofessional conduct—Support order, noncompliance.3 cites
- RCW 19.16.130License—Application—Form—Contents.
- RCW 19.16.140License—Application—Fees—Exemptions.
- RCW 19.16.150Branch office certificate required.
- RCW 19.16.160License and branch office certificate—Form—Contents—Display.
- RCW 19.16.170Procedure upon change of name or business location.
- RCW 19.16.180Assignability of license or branch office certificate.
- RCW 19.16.190Surety bond requirements—Cash deposit or securities—Exception.
- RCW 19.16.200Action on bond, cash deposit or securities.
- RCW 19.16.210Accounting and payments by licensee to customer.
- RCW 19.16.220Accounting and payments by customer to licensee.
- RCW 19.16.230Licensee—Business office—Records to be kept.
- RCW 19.16.240Licensee—Trust fund account—Exception.
- RCW 19.16.245Financial statement.2 cites
- RCW 19.16.250Prohibited practices.23 cites
- RCW 19.16.260Licensing prerequisite to suit—Debt buyer—Prohibited acts.7 cites
- RCW 19.16.270Presumption of validity of assignment.1 cite
- RCW 19.16.280Board created—Composition of board—Qualification of members.
- RCW 19.16.290Board—Initial members—Terms—Oath—Removal.
- RCW 19.16.300Board meetings—Quorum—Effect of vacancy.
- RCW 19.16.310Board—Compensation—Reimbursement of travel expenses.
- RCW 19.16.320Board—Territorial scope of operations.
- RCW 19.16.330Board—Immunity from suit.
- RCW 19.16.340Board—Records.
- RCW 19.16.351Additional powers and duties of board.
- RCW 19.16.390Personal service of process outside state.
- RCW 19.16.410Rules, orders, decisions, etc.1 cite
- RCW 19.16.420Copy of this chapter, rules and regulations available to licensee.
- RCW 19.16.430Violations—Operating agency without a license—Penalty—Return of fees or compensation.1 cite
- RCW 19.16.440Collection agency—Prohibited acts—Unfair and deceptive trade practices under chapter 19.86 RCW.16 cites
- RCW 19.16.450Violation of RCW 19.16.250 or 19.16.260—Additional penalty.4 cites
- RCW 19.16.460Violations may be enjoined.2 cites
- RCW 19.16.470Violations—Assurance of discontinuance—Effect.
- RCW 19.16.480Violation of injunction—Civil penalty.
- RCW 19.16.500Public bodies may retain collection agencies to collect public debts—Fees.4 cites
- RCW 19.16.510Uniform regulation of business and professions act.
- RCW 19.16.900Provisions cumulative—Violation of RCW 19.16.250 deemed civil.
- RCW 19.16.920Provisions exclusive—Authority of political subdivisions to levy business and occupation taxes not affected.
- RCW 19.16.930Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 253.
- RCW 19.16.940Short title.
- RCW 19.16.950Section headings.
- RCW 19.16.960Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
Enacted in other states
All Washington named statutes →
Download
Copy
Embed on your site
Hover to preview · click to copy the code