There’s a reason the locals long-ago dubbed Washington, “The Evergreen State.” Generally mild temperatures with a healthy precipitation level for a good half of the year keeps the spruces, birches, pines and hundreds of other tree varieties literally green forever throughout the year.
Washington became a state in 1889 and from the early Native American denizens to the British explorers who later settled the land (mostly) at peace with the Native Tribes, people who live in the great Pacific Northwest enjoy a myriad of outdoor pleasures and sights. With sweeping mountain ranges and the glorious diamond that is volcanic Mount Rainier – the lower 48’s highest peak – to the glistening Pacific Ocean just off the coast from Puget Sound, Washington is an oasis on the West Coast.
Washington has always been marked by innovation and industry beginning with aeronautic pioneer Boenig who practically invented the modern-day aircraft assembly line.
In recent decades, Washington has become a symbol of the technological revolution as the founders of Microsoft and Amazon both call Washington their home base. Other retail empires started near Seattle including Costco in Kirkland, UPS, back in 1907, Tommy Bahama and, of course, Starbucks coffee.
Agriculture also plays a large part in Washington’s bustling economy as 70 percent of the nation’s apples are grown in the eastern part of the state in the Yakima Valley.
Thanks to its strategic location near the Pacific Ocean, shipping and import/export makes Seattle a top destination for Far Eastern goods. Seattle was also the leading export of grunge-rock music back in the early 1990s as legendary acts like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains all started in the Emerald City. But if you want to talk musical royalty, Washington was also the birthplace, and now final resting place, of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix.
The Seattle skyline is often seen as the state’s calling card with the dynamic Space Needle, built for the World’s Fair in 1962, highlighting the landscape. But the more populous cities are to the south including Tacoma and Olympia, the state’s capital.
The Overall Debt Situation in Washington
A largely affluent and progressive state, Washington boasts a credit score average 25 points higher than the national average. Sometimes with scores that high, debt trouble can be close on the horizon. Indeed, Washington places 15th in the nation with an average credit card debt of $8,108 per household.
Overall the state ranks 11th in overall debt at just over $33 billion, with $25.3 billion in overall student loan debt. On the troubling side, the state’s general debt over the past 20 years has increased from $7.3 billion to $20.1 billion.
Washington Debt Fast Facts
- Population: 7.4 million
- Median Household Income: $74,073
- Average Credit Score: 693 (the national average is 669)
- Average Credit Card Debt: $8,108
- Average Student Loan Debt: $33,311
- State Debt Total: $33.4 billion
Debt Relief Laws That Protect Washington Residents
Disclaimer: The information shared herein is intended to be a free resource for Washington consumers looking to dismiss debt and does not constitute legal advice.
Whether battling credit card debt, medical debt or private student loan debt, Washington has long been known for passing debt resolution laws that aggressively protect its citizens.
If you are embroiled in a deepening debt situation in Washington, Resolvly can help find an expert team of seasoned debt resolution lawyers to get debt advice that might eliminate debt or at least dismiss debt as soon as possible.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
There are many ways to find debt relief and fight harassing debt collectors and avoid or defend a debt lawsuit. In one case, every consumer has specific debt dismissal rights invoking the federal laws outlined in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
The FDCPA as it relates to Washington residents specifies how to eliminate debt by enforcing your consumer rights against harassing debt collectors. For example, a collector can only call an individual between the local hours of 8am and 9pm. In addition, collectors cannot harass individuals or threaten a citizen with bodily harm or the potential of arrest.
Washington locals in debt also have the ability to stop collectors from repeat callings by sending a physical letter to the agency requesting a cease and desist from the pestering calls. If the FDCPA is violated, a debt resolution company can find you debt defense attorneys who can help you get out of debt and also seek damages and attorney fees.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act
Another consumer protection law designed to assist Washington residents from false or misleading credit information is the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) which can protect consumers against credit card debt becoming a lawsuit. The FCRA protects the privacy and accuracy of your personal credit history. If an entity violates your rights outlined in the FCRA, there are legal actions that could not only dismiss debt, but earn monetary damages in addition to the recoupment of attorneys’ fees. In addition, the statute of limitations to get out of debt in Washington is six years.
The statute of limitations for debt collection and thus debt dismissal is five years in Washington. There are other debt collection acts unique to the state of Washington that a debt resolution attorney can use to defend you in case of a debt lawsuit.
Let Resolvly Find The Right Debt Relief Lawyer
When it comes to dealing with debt – whether medical debt or credit card debt – ignoring the problem won’t make it go away. Utilizing the debt relief legal referral service of Resolvly, can help you hire a lawyer to get out of debt by helping you understand your specific circumstances, and clear the path to debt relief and debt resolution.
We work with consumer protection lawyers trained in debt relief to protect your rights, fight harassing debt collectors and hopefully eliminate debt completely.
Resolvly helps you hire a lawyer to help dismiss debt so that you can live debt free. Our goal is to help you attain true financial freedom and debt resolution. We offer a free consultation designed to refer you to a consumer defense attorney who will work to eliminate your debt. Simply call 844-479-3457 to speak with a debt freedom specialist who will help guide you on the path toward debt resolution so you can once again be debt free.