Washington Code 63.14.136 – Retail installment transaction — Unconscionable — Judicial action
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(1) With respect to a retail installment transaction, as defined in *RCW 63.14.010(8), if the court as a matter of law finds the agreement or contract, or any clause in the agreement or contract, to have been unconscionable at the time it was made, the court may refuse to enforce the agreement or contract, may enforce the remainder of the agreement or contract, or may limit the application of any unconscionable clause to avoid an unconscionable result.
Terms Used In Washington Code 63.14.136
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- contract: means a contract, other than a retail charge agreement, a lender credit card agreement, or an instrument reflecting a sale made pursuant thereto, entered into or performed in this state for a retail installment transaction. See Washington Code 63.14.010
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
- Retail installment transaction: means any transaction in which a retail buyer purchases goods or services from a retail seller pursuant to a retail installment contract, a retail charge agreement, or a lender credit card agreement, as defined in this section, which provides for a service charge, as defined in this section, and under which the buyer agrees to pay the unpaid principal balance in one or more installments or which provides for no service charge and under which the buyer agrees to pay the unpaid balance in more than four installments;
Washington Code 63.14.010
(2) If it is claimed or it appears to the court that the agreement or contract, or any clause in the agreement or contract, may be unconscionable, the parties shall be given a reasonable opportunity to present evidence as to its setting, purpose, and effect to assist the court in making a determination regarding unconscionability.
(3) For the purpose of this section, a charge or practice expressly permitted by this chapter is not in itself unconscionable.
[ 1995 c 249 § 4.]