Section 284-29A-070 - Referral fees and marketing expenses(1) Under RCW 48.29.210 and WAC 284-29-200 through 284-29-265, title insurers and title insurance agents: (a) Are prohibited from giving anything of value to any person for the referral of title insurance business;(b) Are prohibited from giving most things of value to persons who are in a position to refer or influence the referral of title insurance business;(c) Must charge and collect for the costs of providing certain listed information, services, and other items of value that title insurers and their agents give to persons who are in a position to refer or influence the referral of title insurance business; and(d) Are permitted to give specified things of value to producers of title insurance at no charge.(2) Therefore, in making rates a title insurer must not include income or expenses related to the costs of: (a) Giving anything of value to any person for the referral of title insurance business;(b) Providing information, services, and other items of value that a title company is prohibited from giving to a producer of title insurance business under RCW 48.29.210 and WAC 284-29-200 through 284-29-265; and(c) Providing information, services, and other items of value that the title insurer or a title insurance agent may give to producers if the title insurer or title insurance agent is paid for the information, services, or other items identified in WAC 284-29-200 through 284-29-265.(3) However, in making rates a title insurer may include its income or expenses related to the costs of giving permitted things of value to producers of title insurance business and the title insurer's and title insurance agents' other marketing expenses.Wash. Admin. Code § 284-29A-070
Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060 and 48.29.005. 10-15-092 (Matter No. R 2009-01), § 284-29A-070, filed 7/20/10, effective 8/20/10.