Chapter 3.80
COLLECTION OF PUBLIC DEBTS

Sections:

3.80.010    Authorization to use collection agencies.

3.80.020    Collection agency fees.

3.80.030    Procedure for use of collection agencies.

3.80.010 Authorization to use collection agencies.

The city manager or his designee is hereby authorized to retain, by written contract, collection agencies licensed under Chapter 19.16 RCW for the purpose of collecting public debts owed to the city of Normandy Park by any person, including, but not limited to, unpaid license, permit and inspection fees, unpaid fines, unpaid utility fees and charges, unpaid taxes, unpaid engineering review, testing, public notice, consultant, technical and legal fees required to be reimbursed by this code, and any other debt owed to the city. (Ord. 836 § 1, 2009).

3.80.020 Collection agency fees.

Whenever any public debt owed to the city by any person is assigned to a collection agency, a reasonable fee to be paid by the debtor shall be added to the outstanding debt in order to reimburse the city for the collection agency fee incurred or to be incurred. The amount of the added fee shall be equal to the collection agency fee; provided, that the collection agency’s fee shall not exceed 50 percent of the first $100,000 of the unpaid debt per account and 35 percent of the unpaid debt over $100,000 per account, and a minimum fee of the full amount of the debt up to $100.00 per account. (Ord. 836 § 1, 2009).

3.80.030 Procedure for use of collection agencies.

The city manager or designee may assign an unpaid public debt to a collection agency only where: (1) there has been an attempt to advise the debtor (a) of the existence of the debt and (b) that the debt may be assigned to a collection agency for collection if the debt is not paid; and (2) at least 30 days have elapsed from the time notice was attempted. (Ord. 836 § 1, 2009).