On September 20, 1977, the United States Congress passed the landmark Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to level the legal playing field between consumers and third party debt collectors. The FDCPA clearly prohibits debt collectors from abusing and threatening consumers.
Debt collectors are also forbidden from implementing deceptive collection techniques to trick consumers into paying outstanding debts. Despite the groundbreaking consumer protections, the FDCPA left several legal voids for states to fill.
Under the Collection Agency Act and Consumer Protection Act, Washington addresses consumer protection issues such as wage garnishment and statute of limitations for debt collection judgments.
If Puget Sound Collections has contacted you, speaking with a licensed FDCPA lawyer can help you win a claim against the third-party dent collection agency.
What is the Washington Statute of Limitations for Debt Collectors?
The Washington statute of limitations for debt collections starts on the date of the last payment made by a consumer on a credit account. According to Title 4, Chapter 16 of the RCW, third party debt collectors have six years to collect debts created by written contracts.
For oral contracts, third party debt collectors must stop debt collection efforts after three years. If Puget Sound Collections violates an oral or a written contract statute of limitations for debt collection, you should speak with a FDCPA lawyer to determine whether you have the legal grounds to file a claim in court.
Debt Collection Fees and Interest Charges
If Puget Sound Collections charges additional fees and/or interest in an attempt to collect a delinquent debt for you, Washington law has created stipulations the debt collector must follow.
Puget Sound Collections has the legal right to tack on fees and interest whenever a consumer agrees to the addition of charges by signing a contract. You should speak with an experienced consumer protection law lawyer to determine whether Puget Sound Collections has violated Washington debt collection law as it pertains to charging fees and interest.
![Collection Laws Governing Puget Sound Collections in WA*]()
Can Puget Sound Collections Garnish My Wages?
Third party debt collectors must receive approval granted by a Washington court to garnish wages for debt collection reasons. Washington law caps wage garnishments at 25% of a consumer’s disposable income or 35 multiplied by the federal minimum wage, whichever calculation is the lesser amount.
For example, if you earn $1,200 per week after taxes and the federal minimum wage is $8, Puget Sound Collections can garnish $280 ($8 x 35).
Speak with a Lawyer to File a Claim
By speaking with a licensed FDCPA lawyer, you can determine whether federal and Washington law gives you the legal power to file a claim against Puget Sound Collections.
An accomplished consumer protection law lawyer understands how Washington debt collection law protects consumers against unscrupulous third party debt collectors.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Puget Sound Collections or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.