RCW 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 punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.
(2) Any person who operates as a collection agency or out-of-state collection agency in the state of Washington without a valid license issued pursuant to this chapter shall not charge or receive any fee or compensation on any moneys received or collected while operating without a license or on any moneys received or collected while operating with a license but received or collected as a result of his, her, or its acts as a collection agency or out-of-state collection agency while not licensed hereunder. All such moneys collected or received shall be forthwith returned to the owners of the accounts on which the moneys were paid.
[ 2011 c 336 § 527; 1994 c 195 § 10; 1973 1st ex.s. c 20 § 6; 1971 ex.s. c 253 § 34.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 19 - Business Regulations—Miscellaneous
Chapter 19.16 - Collection Agencies.
19.16.120 - Unprofessional conduct—Support order, noncompliance.
19.16.130 - License—Application—Form—Contents.
19.16.140 - License—Application—Fees—Exemptions.
19.16.150 - Branch office certificate required.
19.16.160 - License and branch office certificate—Form—Contents—Display.
19.16.170 - Procedure upon change of name or business location.
19.16.180 - Assignability of license or branch office certificate.
19.16.190 - Surety bond requirements—Cash deposit or securities—Exception.
19.16.200 - Action on bond, cash deposit or securities.
19.16.210 - Accounting and payments by licensee to customer.
19.16.220 - Accounting and payments by customer to licensee.
19.16.230 - Licensee—Business office—Records to be kept.
19.16.240 - Licensee—Trust fund account—Exception.
19.16.245 - Financial statement.
19.16.250 - Prohibited practices.
19.16.260 - Licensing prerequisite to suit—Debt buyer—Prohibited acts.
19.16.270 - Presumption of validity of assignment.
19.16.280 - Board created—Composition of board—Qualification of members.
19.16.290 - Board—Initial members—Terms—Oath—Removal.
19.16.300 - Board meetings—Quorum—Effect of vacancy.
19.16.310 - Board—Compensation—Reimbursement of travel expenses.
19.16.320 - Board—Territorial scope of operations.
19.16.330 - Board—Immunity from suit.
19.16.351 - Additional powers and duties of board.
19.16.390 - Personal service of process outside state.
19.16.410 - Rules, orders, decisions, etc.
19.16.420 - Copy of this chapter, rules and regulations available to licensee.
19.16.430 - Violations—Operating agency without a license—Penalty—Return of fees or compensation.
19.16.450 - Violation of RCW 19.16.250 or 19.16.260—Additional penalty.
19.16.460 - Violations may be enjoined.
19.16.470 - Violations—Assurance of discontinuance—Effect.
19.16.480 - Violation of injunction—Civil penalty.
19.16.500 - Public bodies may retain collection agencies to collect public debts—Fees.
19.16.510 - Uniform regulation of business and professions act.
19.16.900 - Provisions cumulative—Violation of RCW 19.16.250 deemed civil.
19.16.930 - Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 253.
19.16.960 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.