Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 19 Business Regulations -- Miscellaneous - Chapter 19.16 Collection Agencies

19.16.100 Definitions
Unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, the following words and phrases as hereinafter used in this chapter shall have the following ...

19.16.110 License required
No person shall act, assume to act, or advertise as a collection agency or out-of-state collection agency as defined in this chapter, except as authorized ...

19.16.120 Unprofessional conduct -- Support order, noncompliance
In addition to other provisions of this chapter, and the unprofessional conduct described in RCW 18.235.130, the following conduct, acts, or conditions constitute unprofessional conduct: ...

19.16.130 License -- Application -- Form -- Contents
Every application for a license shall be in writing, under oath, and in the form prescribed by the director. Every application shall contain such relevant ...

19.16.140 License -- Application -- Fees -- Exemptions
Each applicant when submitting his application shall pay a licensing fee and an investigation fee determined by the director as provided in RCW 43.24.086. The ...

19.16.150 Branch office certificate required
If a licensee maintains a branch office, he or it shall not operate a collection agency business in such branch office until he or it ...

19.16.160 License and branch office certificate -- Form -- Contents -- Display
Each license and branch office certificate, when issued, shall be in the form and size prescribed by the director and shall state in addition to ...

19.16.170 Procedure upon change of name or business location
Whenever a licensee shall contemplate a change of his or its trade name or a change in the location of his or its principal place ...

19.16.180 Assignability of license or branch office certificate
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a license or branch office certificate granted under this chapter is not assignable or transferable. ...

19.16.190 Surety bond requirements -- Cash deposit or securities -- Exception
(1) Except as limited by subsection (7) of this section, each applicant shall, at the time of applying for a license, file with the director ...

19.16.200 Action on bond, cash deposit or securities
In addition to all other legal remedies, an action may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction upon the bond or cash deposit or ...

19.16.210 Accounting and payments by licensee to customer
A licensee shall within thirty days after the close of each calendar month account in writing to his or its customers for all collections made ...

19.16.220 Accounting and payments by customer to licensee
Every customer of a licensee shall, within thirty days after the close of each calendar month, account and pay to his or its collection agency ...

19.16.230 Licensee -- Business office -- Records to be kept
(1) Every licensee required to keep and maintain records pursuant to this section, other than an out-of-state collection agency, shall establish and maintain a regular ...

19.16.240 Licensee -- Trust fund account -- Exception
Each licensee, other than an out-of-state collection agency, shall at all times maintain a separate bank account in this state in which all moneys collected ...

19.16.245 Financial statement
No licensee shall receive any money from any debtor as a result of the collection of any claim until he or it shall have submitted ...

19.16.250 Prohibited practices
No licensee or employee of a licensee shall: (1) Directly or indirectly aid or abet any unlicensed person to engage in business as a collection ...

19.16.260 Licensing prerequisite to suit
No collection agency or out-of-state collection agency may bring or maintain an action in any court of this state involving the collection of a claim ...

19.16.270 Presumption of validity of assignment
In any action brought by licensee to collect the claim of his or its customer, the assignment of the claim to licensee by his or ...

19.16.280 Board created -- Composition of board -- Qualification of members
There is hereby created a board to be known and designated as the "Washington state collection agency board". The board shall consist of five members, ...

19.16.290 Board -- Initial members -- Terms -- Oath -- Removal
The initial members of the board shall be named by the governor within thirty days after January 1, 1972. At the first meeting of the ...

19.16.300 Board meetings -- Quorum -- Effect of vacancy
The board shall meet as soon as practicable after the governor has appointed the initial members of the board. The board shall meet at least ...

19.16.310 Board -- Compensation -- Reimbursement of travel expenses
Each member of the board appointed by the governor shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and in addition thereto shall be reimbursed for ...

19.16.320 Board -- Territorial scope of operations
The board may meet, function and exercise its powers and perform its duties at any place within the state.[1971 ex.s. c 253 § 23.] ...

19.16.330 Board -- Immunity from suit
Members of the board shall be immune from suit in any civil action based upon an official act performed in good faith as members of ...

19.16.340 Board -- Records
All records of the board shall be kept in the office of the director. Copies of all records and papers of the board, certified to ...

19.16.351 Additional powers and duties of board
The board, in addition to any other powers and duties granted under this chapter and RCW 18.235.030: (1) May adopt, amend, and rescind rules for ...

19.16.390 Personal service of process outside state
Personal service of any process in an action under this chapter may be made upon any person outside the state if such person has engaged ...

19.16.410 Rules, orders, decisions, etc
The board may adopt rules, make specific decisions, orders, and rulings, including therein demands and findings, and take other necessary action for the implementation and ...

19.16.420 Copy of this chapter, rules and regulations available to licensee
On or about the first day of February in each year, the director shall cause to be made available at reasonable expense to a licensee ...

19.16.430 Violations -- Operating agency without a license -- Penalty -- Return of fees or compensation
(1) Any person who knowingly operates as a collection agency or out-of-state collection agency without a license or knowingly aids and abets such violation is ...

19.16.440 Violations of RCW 19.16.110 and 19.16.250 are unfair and deceptive trade practices under chapter 19.86 RCW
The operation of a collection agency or out-of-state collection agency without a license as prohibited by RCW 19.16.110 and the commission by a licensee or ...

19.16.450 Violation of RCW 19.16.250 -- Additional penalty
If an act or practice in violation of RCW 19.16.250 is committed by a licensee or an employee of a licensee in the collection of ...

19.16.460 Violations may be enjoined
Notwithstanding any other actions which may be brought under the laws of this state, the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney of any county within ...

19.16.470 Violations -- Assurance of discontinuance -- Effect
The attorney general may accept an assurance of discontinuance of any act or practice deemed in violation of this chapter from any person engaging in ...

19.16.480 Violation of injunction -- Civil penalty
Any person who violates any injunction issued pursuant to this chapter shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars. ...

19.16.500 Public bodies may retain collection agencies to collect public debts -- Fees
(1)(a) Agencies, departments, taxing districts, political subdivisions of the state, counties, and cities may retain, by written contract, collection agencies licensed under this chapter for ...

19.16.510 Uniform regulation of business and professions act
The uniform regulation of business and professions act, chapter 18.235 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses, and the discipline of licensees ...

19.16.900 Provisions cumulative -- Violation of RCW 19.16.250 deemed civil
The provisions of this chapter shall be cumulative and nonexclusive and shall not affect any other remedy available at law: PROVIDED, That the violation of ...

19.16.910 Severability -- 1971 ex.s. c 253
If any section or provision of this act shall be adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the ...

19.16.920 Provisions exclusive -- Authority of political subdivisions to levy business and occupation taxes not affected
(1) The provisions of this chapter relating to the licensing and regulation of collection agencies and out-of-state collection agencies shall be exclusive and no county, ...

19.16.930 Effective date -- 1971 ex.s. c 253
This act shall become effective January 1, 1972.[1971 ex.s. c 253 § 44.] ...

19.16.940 Short title
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Collection Agency Act".[1971 ex.s. c 253 § 45.] ...

19.16.950 Section headings
Section headings used in this chapter shall not constitute any part of the law.[1971 ex.s. c 253 § 46.] ...