What is a debt buyer?

A company that purchases defaulted accounts from banks and lenders — typically for a small fraction of the balance — and then collects or sues in its own name. If the plaintiff on your papers is a company you never did business with, it is very likely a debt buyer.

How do I know if the company suing me in Washington is a debt buyer?

Check the plaintiff's name at the top of your court papers against the companies listed on this page. If the name is not your original bank or lender, the plaintiff bought the account. In court it must prove that purchase — every link from the original creditor to it — with admissible records.

Do debt buyers win most of their cases?

Most of their judgments are default judgments, entered because the person sued never responded. When defendants respond and require proof, debt buyers frequently dismiss rather than document the claim.

Debt buyers in Washington

Most collection lawsuits filed against Washington residents don't come from the original bank — they come from debt buyers: companies that purchase charged-off accounts in bulk and sue in their own name. Their business model depends on default judgments. When a defendant shows up and requires proof, the buyer must establish that it owns the specific account, through every link in the chain of assignment, and prove the amount with admissible records.

The major debt buyers

Sourced, factual profiles — who each company is, what public records say, and what it must prove when it sues:

Responding in Washington

Washington's response is a written Answer served on the person who signed the summons within 20 days after service, excluding the day of service (CRLJ 12(a), CR 12(a)). In District Court it must also be filed with the court within those 20 days (CRLJ 4(a)(2)); in Superior Court it is filed promptly after it is served. In the Answer you admit or deny each allegation — allegations not denied are treated as admitted, except the amount of damages (CRLJ 8(d)) — and set out affirmative defenses such as the statute of limitations (CRLJ 8(c)). Objections to service of process are waived if they are left out of your first response (CRLJ 12(h)(1)), and an objection to the assignment of the debt must be made in the written Answer (RCW 19.16.270).

Washington has two periods, and which one applies to a credit card depends on the facts. Three years for a contract or liability that is not in writing and does not arise out of a written instrument (RCW 4.16.080(3)); six years for a contract in writing or an account receivable (RCW 4.16.040). A licensed collection agency — including a debt buyer — may not sue on a claim it knows or reasonably should know is time-barred (RCW 19.16.250(23)). Time you lived outside Washington after the debt came due may not count toward the period (RCW 4.16.180). The limitations defense must be raised in the Answer. (RCW 4.16.080(3))

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By county

Where these companies file in Washington, with the deadline that applies and where to find your court:

Questions people ask

What is a debt buyer?: A company that purchases defaulted accounts from banks and lenders — typically for a small fraction of the balance — and then collects or sues in its own name. If the plaintiff on your papers is a company you never did business with, it is very likely a debt buyer.
How do I know if the company suing me in Washington is a debt buyer?: Check the plaintiff's name at the top of your court papers against the companies listed on this page. If the name is not your original bank or lender, the plaintiff bought the account. In court it must prove that purchase — every link from the original creditor to it — with admissible records.
Do debt buyers win most of their cases?: Most of their judgments are default judgments, entered because the person sued never responded. When defendants respond and require proof, debt buyers frequently dismiss rather than document the claim.

← Debt buyers in Virginia

DebtDefense is not affiliated with any company named on this page; names are used to identify the companies factually. DebtDefense is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice — it is a self-help document-preparation and education tool. No outcome is guaranteed.