Licensing Requirements for Attorney Debt Collectors in WA State

In Washington state, collection agencies do need license for collection.

Right. I am certain that collection agencies need a license. However, I was wondering about several of the attorneys offices that strictly collect debt. Should the attorneys office be considered a collection agency that is required to be licensed?

Hi Guest,

Let me make the point that there are many states which do not require collection agencies to be licensed. In state of Washington, collection agencies (including the law firms doing collections) are required to be licensed for collecting debt.

Do you know of any Washington state collection law suits that have been dismissed because the law firm was not been licensed? I would like to read some case law before I attempt to proceed.

Anyone?

How about states other than Washington?

Law firms will not risk repercussions from the bar to practice where they are not licensed. They will farm the job out to a licensed firm if they really want to persue it.

Hi Guest,

Every state has its own set of licensing policies regarding collection agencies. Which state do you want to know?

LVNV has a license in WA. Watch out, they are sue happy

Phoenix, I am interested in WA state, but case law from other states would be interesting as well.

I am looking for examples of lawsuits that have been dissmissed because the attorney debt collector did not have a collection agency license.

I personally asked this question directly to the states licensing dept. and got a response that said "Attorneys who act as debt collectors do not need to be licensed". Which leads me to beleive that attorneys here can do and say what ever they please as debt collectors and the States laws do not protect consumers from any ill practices that they would under a collection agency.

true ^^ I got the same response from WA licensing and an attorney.