How to Determine the Statute of Limitations on Credit Card Debts

State statute of limitation laws regulate how long credit-card companies and debt collectors have to sue you for an unpaid credit-card debt. The length of time varies by state, but the average is about six years. The Federal Trade Commission reports that credit-card debt that is beyond the statute of limitations is considered "time-barred" -- meaning it cannot be collected with the help of the court system.

Instructions

1

Get a copy of your credit report from Annual Credit Report (see Resources). The site offers credit reports for free under the terms of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

2

Review the date of the last activity on your credit-card debts, such as your last posted payment.

3

Contact a local office for your State Attorney General's Office to determine when a debt is time-barred by your state. Compare the time frame given you with the date of last activity on your credit-card debts. Example: The statute of limitations in your state is seven years. The last date of activity on your account occurred eight years ago. This credit-card debt would be time-barred for court action.

4

Contact a nonprofit credit counselor if you need more help after speaking with the attorney general's office. Find a counselor in your area by seeking a referral from your bank or credit union.