The Washington State Consumer Protection Act, also known as the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), is a state law that aims to protect consumers from unfair or deceptive business practices. The law gives the state Attorney General's office the authority to take legal action against businesses that engage in such practices.
Federal and state consumer laws allow people to cancel certain contracts or sales of goods for any reason, such as buyer's remorse, or for no reason at all. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires sellers of goods in certain circumstances to allow consumers a “cooling off” period.
The WPA will grant consumers various rights regarding their personal data, including the right to access, portability, correction, deletion, and to restrict or object to the processing of their data in certain circumstances.
File your complaint online at for faster processing. The Washington State Office of the Attorney General can only process complaints that involve either Washington state residents or businesses located in Washington state.
Consumer protection laws safeguard purchasers of goods and services against defective products and deceptive, fraudulent business practices.
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was enacted to provide a simpler and quicker access to redressal of consumer grievances. The Act for the first time introduced the concept of 'consumer' and conferred express additional rights on him.
The heart of the consumer protection provisions of the CPA is RCW 19.86. 020, which states: “Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce are hereby declared unlawful.”
If you have a Washington LLC or corporation, you are required to file a Washington Annual Renewal each year with the Business Licensing Service.
If your Washington business was administratively dissolved you may file the reinstatement/reactivation paperwork online by creating a user account, logging in, and selecting Reactivate Business in the new Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS).