Washington criminal charge
Credit, payment cards in Washington
Credit, payment cards is a criminal offense under Washington law, defined by RCW 9A.56.290. Its classification is not fixed: Washington assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by RCW 9A.56.290.
What is the penalty for credit, payment cards in Washington?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction (first offense) — Applies to a first violation of subsection (1) involving unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction.; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction (first offense) — Applies to a first violation of subsection (1) involving unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction (repeat offense) — Applies when a person commits a second or subsequent violation of subsection (1).; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(b)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $20,000 (Unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction (repeat offense) — Applies when a person commits a second or subsequent violation of subsection (1).; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
Applies to crimes committed on or after July 1, 1984.
How is credit, payment cards classified in Washington?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction (first offense) | Class C Felony | Applies to a first violation of subsection (1) involving unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction. | RCW 9A.56.290(4)(a) |
| Unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction (repeat offense) | Class B Felony | Applies when a person commits a second or subsequent violation of subsection (1). | RCW 9A.56.290(4)(b) |
Common questions about credit, payment cards in Washington
Is credit, payment cards a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
It depends on the circumstances: credit, payment cards ranges from a Class C Felony to a Class B Felony in Washington under RCW 9A.56.290.
Unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction (first offense): Class C Felony (RCW 9A.56.290(4)(a)) · Unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction (repeat offense): Class B Felony (RCW 9A.56.290(4)(b))
What are the penalties for credit, payment cards in Washington?
Penalties for credit, payment cards in Washington depend on how it is classified — from a Class C Felony up to a Class B Felony — with the ranges set by RCW 9A.20.021; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Washington statute covers credit, payment cards?
Credit, payment cards is governed by RCW 9A.56.290 (Credit, payment cards—Unlawful factoring of transactions).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.