Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1992 NO. 2 >

RCW 19.16.250 prohibits licensed debt collection agencies from threatening a debtor with criminal prosecution.  This does not prevent an agency from including in the notice of dishonor of check the statutory language in RCW 62A.3-520 that cautions that law enforcement agencies may be provided with a copy of the notice.

AGLO 1974 NO. 43 >

The provisions of RCW 19.16.250(16) prohibit a collection agency licensed as such under chapter 19.16 RCW from placing a collect telephone call within the state of Washington to a debtor or other person located out-of-state for the purpose of demanding payment of a claim or seeking information about a debtor.

AGLO 1975 NO. 74 >

A licensed collection agency may not enforce a "collection costs" provision in a note or other contract assigned or otherwise transferred to it for collection unless expressly authorized by statute.