Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Pennsylvania

debt collectors limitations

In college I had run up credit card bills. I paid everyone off except for that that somehow got lost in the mix. I got a call from a collection agency that bought the debt. The last time the account was used was 1997; and now they're threating to take me to court if I don't pay the whole thing by the end of the month. Can they do this? ISn't there some sort of statue of limitations on the collections?


Asked on 10/14/04, 11:19 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Mark Johns Mark Johns, Esquire

Re: debt collectors limitations

4 year statute of limtations applies. Tell them you will counterclaim for abuse of process if they go ahead and file suit.

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Answered on 10/15/04, 8:21 am
Charles A. Pascal, Jr. Law Office of Charles A. Pascal, Jr.

Re: debt collectors limitations

I agree with what Attorney Johns told you with one caveat. The statute of limitations is 4 years...but from the time that you last acknowledged the debt. In other words, if they call you up and say, "I'm calling about a $500 debt that you have from Sunoco" and you say, "yes, that's my debt", the statute of limitations starts over.

If you have no such issue, proceed as Atty. Johns indicates.

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Answered on 10/15/04, 6:49 pm


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