Each
applicant when submitting his or her application shall pay a
licensing fee and an investigation fee determined by the director
as provided in RCW 43.24.086. The licensing fee for an
out-of-state collection agency shall not exceed fifty percent of
the licensing fee for a collection agency. An out-of-state
collection agency is exempt from the licensing fee if the agency
is licensed or registered in a state that does not require
payment of an initial fee by any person who collects debts in the
state only by means of interstate communications from the
person's location in another state. If a license is not issued
in response to the application, the license fee shall be returned
to the applicant.
An annual license fee determined by the director as provided
in RCW 43.24.086 shall be paid to the director on or before
January first of each year. The annual license fee for an
out-of-state collection agency shall not exceed fifty percent of
the annual license fee for a collection agency. An out-of-state
collection agency is exempt from the annual license fee if the
agency is licensed or registered in a state that does not require
payment of an annual fee by any person who collects debts in the
state only by means of interstate communications from the
person's location in another state. If the annual license fee is
not paid on or before January first, the licensee shall be
assessed a penalty for late payment in an amount determined by
the director as provided in RCW 43.24.086. If the fee and
penalty are not paid by January thirty-first, it will be
necessary for the licensee to submit a new application for a
license: PROVIDED, That no license shall be issued upon such new
application unless and until all fees and penalties previously
accrued under this section have been paid.
Any license or branch office certificate issued under the
provisions of this chapter shall expire on December thirty-first
following the issuance thereof.
[2011 c 336 § 509; 1994 c 195 § 4; 1985 c 7 § 81; 1975 1st ex.s. c 30 § 90; 1971 ex.s. c 253 § 5.]