{"data":{"id":"us-wa/rcw-19.16.430","jurisdiction":"us-wa","citation":"RCW 19.16.430","heading":"Violations—Operating agency without a license—Penalty—Return of fees or compensation.","body":"(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.\n(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.","path":["Title 19","Chapter 19.16"],"source_url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=19.16.430","current_through":"July 15, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T01:25:23Z","sha256":"b4b967bb03d666045c88d67b84ac1f7978f420925183fca31570456906ac6fc9","source_id":"us-wa","stale":false,"prev":"us-wa/rcw-19.16.420","next":"us-wa/rcw-19.16.440"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}