Legal Question in Consumer Law in Washington

Re: statute of limitations on credit card debt

IF the "letter" you received was a summons and complaint and someone handed it to you, you need to respond.

You have twenty days to respond.

You should hire counsel if you have any questions about what that response should be. If you are completely correct that you opened and used the account eight years ago, and have had no contact or other performance on the agreement for eight years, then yes, the statute of limitations has run.

In WA the time allowed to sue on a written agreement is six years. You can look it up in the Revised Code of Washington, Title 4.

An attorney has a duty not to bring actions that are frivolous. Arguably it is frivolous to sue someone on a debt for which the statute of limitations has run. There is nothing that can be done from the plaintiff's perspective to cure this deficiency. You lose nothing by responding in writing and saying, "I have been served; however, the statute has run, so if you insist on pursuing this frivolous claim, I demand notice of any further proceedings."

Best of luck with this. Powell