News Release from Washington Governor – 4/14/2020

Today, Governor Jay Inslee of Washington state, signed one of three proclamations in response to COVID-19.

Governor Jay Inslee subsequently issued amendatory Proclamations 20-06 through 20-48 exercising my emergency powers under RCW 43.06.220 by prohibiting certain activities and waiving and suspending specified laws and regulations. As the COVID-19 pandemic is causing a sustained global economic slowdown, and an economic downturn throughout Washington State with unprecedented numbers of layoffs and reduced work hours for a significant percentage of our workforce due to substantial reductions in business activity impacting our commercial sectors that support our state’s economic vitality, including severe impacts to the large number of small businesses that make Washington State’s economy thrive.  Many of the workforce impacted by these layoffs and substantially reduced work hours are suffering economic hardship that disproportionately affects low and moderate income workers resulting in lost wages that reduces their ability to pay for basic household expenses, including groceries and rent.

To protect Washington State Residences’ assets from debt collections surrounding recovery by garnishment. This proclamation suspends statutes permitting collection of consumer judgments by way of garnishments, including bank and wage garnishments,  while also waives the accrual of post-judgment interest on consumer judgments during the period of the order; until 11:59 PM on May 14, 2020.

I have to say I am pleased with the Governor’s proclamation, as it partners the actions already being taken at Columbia Collection Service, Inc (Oregon and Washington) since MARCH 16, 2020. However, I am not pleased with the Governor’s choice of words – one statement proclaiming the great people of the state of Washington need protection from collectors and agencies.

“Protect Washington State Residences’ assets from debt collections”

Protect them from exactly what?

Collection agencies, such as Columbia Collection Service, Inc. accepts the challenge and risk to recovery past-due debt on behalf of our clients. Which reduces a client’s amount of time, and resources needed to devote to the recovery of their debts.  The fundamental roles of a debt collector, and the agency who employs them, is often misconstrued.  A collector’s role is usually overlooked by society and typically does not include an understanding of the necessary time, recourses and knowledge provided to the consumer and the client.  As stated, Columbia Collection Service, Inc. implemented in March of 2020 this exact proclamation later released around 30 days ago.

The debt collection industry plays a distinctive and integral role in the stability of the U.S. economy, which is why everyone needs to be mindful of the purpose of agencies – to collect money owed to the person or persons who provided a service to which they expected to be paid for.

Which is what we do.

These are unchartered waters for everyone; however, every agency needs to be aware of the importance to recover client lost revenue, take an active role in the recovery of consumers and our communities.  Collections is not a scarlet letter; therefore we should not speak as if it is one.

For more information, please click HERE.