Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in North Carolina

Of course it applies. I don't know what was really done though.

If you filed a timely answer, how can the lawsuit be re-filed unless the first lawsuit was withdrawn? a creditor has only 1 year to re-file a lawsuit. So what do you mean that "the creditor declined to take it farther?" That is not really possible. A lawsuit is either withdrawn voluntarily or resolved in some way - dismissed by the court or a judgment is entered.

So something does not sound right here. If it is the same claim and what you say is true, then there is definitely a statute of limitations issue and you need to get up with a litigation attorney NOW. You will have to file another answer to this new lawsuit.

I do not do litigation really, but there are attorneys who do.