Board requests attorney general opinion on legal financial obligations; committee to resume work

The Washington State Collection Agency Board informed members on March 20 that staff submitted a request to the Washington Attorney General’s Office for an opinion about legal financial obligations related to collection activities.

Board staff said the request is with the Attorney General’s Office and that the board has no timeline for when an opinion will be returned. Because the board’s committee on legal financial obligations lacked sufficient members after a resignation, the committee could not meet for approximately six months. Staff told the board the AG opinion process is outside the board’s control and advised caution because the subject has generated strong views from industry and consumer-protection stakeholders.

Despite that caution, board members agreed to move committee work forward rather than delay again. Justin Murphy and Denise Smith volunteered to continue on the legal financial obligations committee. Staff said the committee will include representatives from the Attorney General’s Office consumer-protection division and other interested public members, and staff anticipates scheduling meetings in April. Staff will inform the board if the AG office issues any updates between meetings.

No formal board vote was recorded on committee reappointments; staff recorded direction to schedule committee meetings and to consult with Chair Fred Wade about outside members to include. The board did not adopt any policy changes during the March meeting; any recommendations from the committee will return to the full board for consideration.