My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Washington
Three years ago, my daughter joined a competitive cheer team; I signed a contract for the season and paid all the expenses. The following year, she was 18 and rejoined against my wishes. I did not sign a contract for the second year, I believe she did, but I have not seen it. She made the payments from her own bank account and credit card, and it was well known she was paying her own way. The goal of this team was to win a bid to the Worlds competition, requiring a very high skill level, and it was standard practice to be lenient or not even charge team members who had these skills. My daughter was in that category.
When the year was over, she had a large balance due, as she is a student with a part time job as well as participating on this team. She has made payments every month since the season ended, based on a verbal payment agreement. Without any notice or warning, the gym sent me to collections for the balance due. I have sent DV letter to CA via CMRRR, but so far (1 week since it arrived) tracking shows they haven’t picked it up. The amount claimed by CA is not correct, and I never agreed to pay for this season, only the prior one. Signed contracts are standard practice at this gym. My name is still on the statement although my daughter requested it be changed, but they did not do so. All goods and services were received and paid for by my 19 year old daughter, how can I be responsible?
My position is that this is not my debt. The owner/coach is known for sloppy accounting practices, as well as unethical treatment of customers and team members, and does not respond to inquiries. My daughter has always meant to pay this off, and angry as she is over this, she is willing to pay off the balance now to get this behind us. But how and to whom should she pay it while making sure that I will get all of this off my credit report and prevent it from ever showing up again? If I negotiate with or send her payment to the CA, will that imply that I owned the debt? Should she keep making payments to gym? What if the CA does not accept my DV sent CMRRR, should I send another a different way? Do I have any claim against the gym? Thanks for reading so much…

