How to Handle Time-Barred Debt
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When a debt is older than the statute of limitations, it’s called time-barred debt. That means creditors don’t have a legal right to sue you over it, though debt collectors may still try to do so. They also can continue to pursue you in other ways, such as with phone calls and negative credit reporting.
Proceed carefully, because debt collection has many pitfalls. There’s a chance that you never took out this debt, that the collector is seeking the wrong amount or that you already paid and the collection is in error.
You have a few ways to handle this. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, and you may want to seek legal advice from a professional versed in the consumer laws of your area before you act.
What you can do
If a collector contacts you about a time-barred debt, you can:
Challenge it.
Pay it off — but beware of “zombie debt” (more on that below).
Discharge it through bankruptcy.
Ignore it.
A debt collector should send you a validation letter within five days of first contacting you. This notice should include the amount owed, date of last payment, who the collector is and how to request information on the original creditor. If you don't get this notice within 10 days after the debt collector first contacts you, ask for it.
Challenge it
If you’re being asked to pay a time-barred debt that isn’t yours, was already paid off or is otherwise invalid, you can write the creditor to say you’re disputing the debt.
You have 30 days from first contact by the debt collector to challenge the debt before it's deemed accepted by default. If you dispute the debt within this window, debt collection efforts must stop until the issue is resolved.
You can still challenge the debt after the 30-day period, but the collector can contact you for payment while your dispute is being investigated.
Be as specific as possible in your letter. Say why the debt collection attempt is not valid, including information about payment history or why the debt may not be yours and any other relevant information. It’s best to send the letter by certified mail so you get confirmation of receipt.
You may want to seek legal advice while the case is being investigated, because the challenge process can be complex.
If you think a debt collector is violating your consumer rights, you can also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission.
Pay it off — but beware of resurrecting zombie debt
Paying off the debt can get you out of the collections misery, but be sure you can afford to pay the whole amount, including any fees or penalties.
Although you may think paying at least a little bit will get the creditor off your back, it can make things much worse instead. Making even a single payment on time-barred debt can be the lightning bolt that brings it back from the dead and resets the statute of limitations.
“In the context of time-barred debt, making a payment can be devastating,” says Colin Hector, staff attorney at the FTC. “In certain states, if you make a single payment, even if you pay $1 or $5, you’ve reactivated the [whole] debt and you can be sued for this debt plus fees. Consumers should be aware of what the consequences are before they pay a debt."
If you do want to pay, you have a few options:
Pay in full with a lump sum.
Work with the creditor to set up a payment plan.
Make a deal to settle the debt by paying a portion.
Paying in full can get the debt off your back for good, but make sure you get the agreement in writing first. Keep this proof in case the payment isn’t recorded correctly or the debt somehow gets sold again to another collector.
You may also get the collector to accept a percentage of what you owe as settlement of the debt, but be careful. The debt may not be gone for good. Unless you get a written agreement explicitly stating that the partial payment will cover the whole debt, the collector can sell the remainder of what you owe to another debt collection company — which can then come after you. And the debt will be marked as a partial payment on your credit report, which won’t look good to potential creditors in the future.
No matter what approach you take, be cautious: Get the agreement in writing before you hand over money. Keep track of your communications and payments in case the creditor doesn’t stick to the deal. Written correspondence is most easily documented; if you choose to communicate by phone, record the time, the date and the name of the person you spoke with.
Discharge through bankruptcy
If you want to rid yourself of this liability for good but can’t afford to pay it off, you could file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
This gets the unpaid debt in collections off your plate. However, the mark from the bankruptcy will effectively replace it for the next several years. You are likely to see your credit scores recover after you file, though.
Ignore it
When debt is time-barred, you can’t be sued for payment — but the debt doesn’t go away. You may ignore it, but debt collectors and your credit reports won’t.
Most delinquent debts can remain on your credit reports for up to seven and a half years. You’ll have a harder time getting new lines of credit and will face higher interest rates.
Further, debt collectors can continue to pursue payment. If you ignore the debt long enough, you risk the current collector selling the debt again — and you’ll have to go through the cycle again with a new collector.
What to do if you’re sued
Beyond trying to seek payment, creditors may sue you even though a debt is past its statute of limitations.
The most important thing: Don’t ignore such a lawsuit. Ignoring it likely would lead to an automatic judgment against you, which can mean wage garnishment. Pay attention to any notices you receive, act quickly and assert your consumer rights.
Consider talking with an attorney about how to proceed, and gather all documents you have proving that the debt is time-barred. If the case goes to court, you’ll likely submit evidence of the date of last payment and information about the bill. Simply stating that the debt is time-barred should be enough to get the case thrown out.
It’s against the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for a debt collector to sue you for a time-barred debt, so you can also file a complaint with the CFPB, the FTC and your state attorney general’s office.
