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Another Newbie Question-Civil Penalty?Another Newbie Question-Civil Penalty?
saulsx said: "I'm new to this forum and have a question about a bounced check. Last year, I bounced an $18 check for a pizza and didn't get anything regarding the returned check. A couple of months or so later, I get a statement from a collection agency and it stated that I owe $99: $18 for the check, $30 for a returned check fee/processing fee, or whatever they want to call it, and up to $56 for a civil penalty. Is this a real thing that they can charge me, or is it just a way for them to conveniently collect a few extra bucks? Is there any way to dispute that extra charge? I've never heard of owing a civil penalty for bouncing a check.
I want to get some of my debts out of the way, but I'm trying to avoid paying almost a hundred dollars for a pizza. Thanks."
TScott said: "[QUOTE=saulsx]I'm new to this forum and have a question about a bounced check. Last year, I bounced an $18 check for a pizza and didn't get anything regarding the returned check. A couple of months or so later, I get a statement from a collection agency and it stated that I owe $99: $18 for the check, $30 for a returned check fee/processing fee, or whatever they want to call it, and up to $56 for a civil penalty. Is this a real thing that they can charge me, or is it just a way for them to conveniently collect a few extra bucks? Is there any way to dispute that extra charge? I've never heard of owing a civil penalty for bouncing a check.
I want to get some of my debts out of the way, but I'm trying to avoid paying almost a hundred dollars for a pizza. Thanks.[/QUOTE]
WASHINGTON %
INTEREST RATE
Legal: 12%
Judgment: 12%
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (IN YEARS)
Open Acct.: 3
Written Contract: 6
Domestic Judgment: 10
Foreign Judgment: 10
[COLOR="Red"]BAD CHECK LAWS (CIVIL PENALTY)
Lesser of check amount or 12% interest, collection costs up to $40. If taken to court, reasonable attorney's fees, 3 x value, or up to $300. Now have 6 years to enforce a bad check.[/COLOR]
GENERAL GARNISHMENT EXEMPTIONS
Greater of 75% or $64 wk. (40 x state min. hourly wage).
COLLECTION AGENCY BOND & LICENSE
Bond: $6000 general, $4000 specialty
License: Yes
Fee: $100 - Investigation $100 - Original $100 - Renewable $50 - Branch Office
Exemption for out-of-state collectors: Contact state authorities. Out-of-state agencies MAY qualify for lesser licensing fees. Out-of-state collectors are no longer required to have resident office and in-state trust accounts if they don't have in-state client. Bond is not required if held in home state.
Looks like there is a civil penalty in WA."
saulsx said: "Well, I'm glad I enjoyed the pizza. I was trying to search online for some info on civil penalties in WA, but wasn't turning up the detailed results that you provided. I guess I wasn't looking for the right thing.
I'm used to seeing the flat $25 charge on returned checks. Oh, well. I'll contact them and get it paid off soon since I'm sure, by now, I owe more than that.
Thanks for the response."
TScott said: "Your welcome.
I got the information from Why Chat's site (under state's statutes of limitations) if you wanted to look more.
It has quite a bit of info.
[url]http://whychat.5u.com/[/url]"