My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Washington

I am from Oregon, but was up in Seattle visiting family around Thanksgiving. I was with a friend who parked in a private parking lot and received a ticket. I said that I would take care of it since we had a pass. I thought I could just write them a letter, include a copy of the parking pass, and it would be fine. The parking company wrote back that my dispute wasn't accepted and I still owed the money.

I realize my first mistake was to contact them at all. I just assumed that since we had a parking pass that they would honor it, but I guess I mistook them for an honest business. I ignored the letter and they sent another stating that they would be sending me to a collection company. I then received another letter from a collections company (looking a lot like the original from the parking company) stating that they would be collecting the money and I had 30 days to dispute the validity of the debt. I replied with a formal letter stating that I didn't even own a car and that I did not sign any agreement with the parking company and that I would need proof indicating that I actually owed them a debt.

They responded with pictures of the car and license plate and stated that they looked up the car and that I was listed as the owner (I don't own ANY car).

So at this point I am not wanting this to impact my credit. It wasn't my ticket, we had a pass, and I don't even own a car. I was just trying to be nice and take care of it for my friend. I am not sure how they can turn me to collections and I am not sure how they determined me as the owner when I in fact don't own any car. I would like to reply to the collection agency again but am not sure how to respond. I don't want to pay the $60+ since we had a pass and it wasn't even my car, but I don't want my credit impacted since I am looking at getting a house soon. This parking company feels like it is run by crooks .