The Statute of Limitations on Debt: What You Need to Know

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If you are struggling to pay off a debt, you may be wondering how long you have before the debt is considered “statute of limitations on debt.” This is an important question to ask, as the statute of limitations can impact your legal rights when it comes to collecting on the debt. In this blog post, we will discuss what the statute of limitations is, how it works, and what you can do if someone is trying to collect on a debt that has passed the statute of limitations.

What is the statute of limitations on debt?

The statute of limitations is the time limit that creditors have to file a lawsuit against you for unpaid debts. In most states, the statute of limitations for credit card debt is between three and six years. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if you make a partial payment on your debt, the clock resets and the creditors have another three to six years to sue you. If you move to a state with a different statute of limitations, the new state’s laws will apply.

How does the statute of limitations on debt work?

The statute of limitations is an important law that protects consumers from being sued for debts that are too old. If you are being harassed by creditors for a debt that is outside of the statute of limitations, you can tell them to stop contacting you. If they continue to contact you, they may be violating the law. You should also know that even though the statute of limitations has expired, your debt is still valid.   This means that creditors can still try to collect on the debt through other means, such as contacting you for payment or garnishing your wages.

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What can you do if someone is trying to collect on a debt that has passed the statute of limitations?

If you are being contacted by a creditor for a debt that is past the statute of limitations, you have a few options. You can tell the creditor to stop contacting you, and if they continue to do so, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. You can also negotiate with the creditor to try and settle the debt for a lower amount. If you are being sued for a debt that is past the statute of limitations, you can raise the statute of limitations as a defense against the lawsuit.

How long can a debt collector come after you?

Debt collectors have a limited amount of time to collect on a debt. In most cases, they have between three and six years to collect. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if you make a partial payment on your debt, the clock resets and the creditors have another three to six years to sue you. If you move to a state with a different statute of limitations, the new state’s laws will apply.

What happens if you ignore debt collectors?

If you ignore debt collectors, they may eventually give up on trying to collect the debt from you. However, this does not mean that your debt goes away. Your debt will still be valid, and the creditor may try to collect on it through other means, such as garnishing your wages or filing a lawsuit.

The bottom line

The statute of limitations on debt is an important law that protects consumers from being sued for debts that are too old. If you are being harassed by creditors for a debt that is outside of the statute of limitations, you can tell them to stop contacting you. If they continue to contact you, they may be violating the law.  You should also know that even though the statute of limitations has expired, your debt is still valid. This means that creditors can still try to collect on the debt through other means, such as contacting you for payment or garnishing your wages.

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