Consumer Protection Act
Washington · Business Regulations—Miscellaneous · §§ 19.86.010 to 19.86.920 · 26 sections
Overview
The act governs unfair, deceptive, and unconscionable practices in consumer transactions, defining prohibited trade practices while excluding certain conduct from its reach, and layering on more detailed rules for particular dealings such as foreclosure consulting, short sales, the use of loan information in solicitations, and vehicle-sharing arrangements. Enforcement is shared by the attorney general and district attorneys, who may investigate regulated persons, issue subpoenas, and pursue restraining orders, civil penalties, and other remedies, with some investigative material treated as confidential and inadmissible. It also authorizes civil actions subject to limitations periods, imposes criminal penalties for some violations, and — in the transactions it specifically regulates — requires written contracts, prescribes their language and content, guarantees a right to cancel with notice, and bars waiver of those protections.
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 1,282 court decisions.
Most-cited authority: 105 Wash. 2d 778 - Hangman Ridge Training Stables, Inc. v. Safeco Title Insurance
Sections covered
- RCW 19.86.010Definitions.105 cites
- RCW 19.86.020Unfair competition, practices, declared unlawful.368 cites
- RCW 19.86.023Violation of RCW 15.86.030 constitutes violation of RCW 19.86.020.
- RCW 19.86.030Contracts, combinations, conspiracies in restraint of trade declared unlawful.41 cites
- RCW 19.86.040Monopolies and attempted monopolies declared unlawful.17 cites
- RCW 19.86.050Transactions and agreements not to use or deal in commodities or services of competitor declared unlawful when lessens competition.7 cites
- RCW 19.86.060Acquisition of corporate stock by another corporation to lessen competition declared unlawful—Exceptions—Judicial order to divest.5 cites
- RCW 19.86.070Labor not an article of commerce—Chapter not to affect mutual, nonprofit organizations.4 cites
- RCW 19.86.080Attorney general may restrain prohibited acts—Costs—Restoration of property.56 cites
- RCW 19.86.085Establishment of investigation unit—Receipt and use of criminal history information.
- RCW 19.86.090Civil action for damages—Treble damages authorized—Action by governmental entities.338 cites
- RCW 19.86.093Civil action—Unfair or deceptive act or practice—Claim elements.11 cites
- RCW 19.86.095Request for injunctive relief—Appellate proceeding—Service on the attorney general.4 cites
- RCW 19.86.100Assurance of discontinuance of prohibited act—Approval of court—Not considered admission.
- RCW 19.86.110Demand to produce documentary materials for inspection, answer written interrogatories, or give oral testimony—Contents—Service—Unauthorized disclosure—Return—Modification, vacation—Use—Penalty.11 cites
- RCW 19.86.115Materials from a federal agency or other state's attorney general.
- RCW 19.86.120Limitation of actions—Tolling.34 cites
- RCW 19.86.130Final judgment to restrain is prima facie evidence in civil action—Exceptions.4 cites
- RCW 19.86.140Civil penalties.23 cites
- RCW 19.86.145Penalties—Animals used in biomedical research.
- RCW 19.86.150Dissolution, forfeiture of corporate franchise for violations.1 cite
- RCW 19.86.160Personal service of process outside state.6 cites
- RCW 19.86.170Exempted actions or transactions—Stipulated penalties and remedies are exclusive.84 cites
- RCW 19.86.180Mailing materials that interfere with census.
- RCW 19.86.910Short title.1 cite
- RCW 19.86.920Purpose—Interpretation—Liberal construction—Saving—1985 c 401; 1983 c 288; 1983 c 3; 1961 c 216.162 cites
Enacted in other states
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