Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

statute of limitations on credit card debt

I had a credit card in 1989 that I stopped paying on.It was charged

off.There is nothing on my credit report and there is no judgement

against me. Can a collection agency come after me for this now,

14 years later? I did move from CA to MN in 1992,does this

matter?I asked the collection agency(Camco) to send me

documentation and all they sent was a letter saying that I owed

money with no indication of who the original debt was to.


Asked on 5/04/04, 7:16 pm

4 Answers from Attorneys

Roy Hoffman Law Offices of Roy A. Hoffman

Re: statute of limitations on credit card debt

It depends on when you stopped paying on the debt. The statute of limitations in California on a written contract (which is what this probably is) is four years. So, if you stopped paying more than four years ago, the answer would be no, and it makes no difference whether you moved from California or not.

You may want to go to http://www.ftc.gov (the Federal Trade Commission's website) and look at the material they have concerning consumer debt, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You may also want to consider submitting a complaint to the FTC about the collection agency's activities, particularly if they are not willing to provide the information you have requested.

Read more
Answered on 5/04/04, 7:33 pm
Joel Selik www.SelikLaw.com

Re: statute of limitations on credit card debt

no they can not, no not matter where you live. They should not even be contacting you.

Joel Selik

800-894-2889

Read more
Answered on 5/04/04, 8:40 pm
Joseph Richardson Borton Petrini LLP

Re: statute of limitations on credit card debt

The statue of limitations for breach of contract is California is four years. They can't get you to pay. Nor can they threaten to sue you, etc., because they have no right to do so. Their hope is that they can get you to sign a promissory note making a new promise to pay based on the old debt. Were you to make a new promise, then they could hold you to it and sue you if you don't pay it. Just tell them to quit contacting you. And don't make any new promise to pay.

Read more
Answered on 5/05/04, 9:01 am
Larry Rothman Larry Rothman & Associates

Re: statute of limitations on credit card debt

You have a valid defense as long as no judgment was issued and renewed. You may also have a lawsuit against the collection agency. Please contact me to discuss it. I just sued that defendant on another case. 714 363 0220

Read more
Answered on 5/05/04, 7:26 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Credit, Debt and Collections Law questions and answers in California