Attorney General Secures $1.5 Million In Medical Debt Relief From Collection Agency

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown secured a settlement requiring Renton Collections Inc., a Renton‑based debt collection agency, to provide at least $1.5 million in medical debt relief to Washington consumers.

Key facts

• The relief comes via a consent decree filed in King County Superior Court resolving a lawsuit against Renton Collections.

• The AG’s office alleged Renton Collections sent more than 400,000 medical collection notices since 2019 without including disclosures required by Washington’s medical debt law.

• State law requires collectors to inform consumers of their right to request detailed information about the medical debt, including itemized bills, dates of service, payments, adjustments, and potential eligibility for charity care or financial assistance.

• Under the settlement, Renton Collections must:

  • Provide at least $1.5 million in relief through debt forgiveness, including elimination of interest, fees, and other add‑on charges tied to the affected medical debts.

  • Stop collecting any interest, fees, costs, or other charges beyond the original principal amount on the medical debts at issue.

  • Include all required disclosure language in future medical debt collection notices.

• The company will also pay $1 million to the state to cover attorneys’ fees, enforcement costs, and future consumer protection efforts.

• Renton Collections does not admit wrongdoing in the consent decree, and the settlement explicitly states there is no admission of liability.

Basic summary table