Can a debt be chased after 5 years?
William Jenkins
Updated on January 25, 2026
The time limit is sometimes called the limitation period. For most debts, the time limit is 6 years since you last wrote to them or made a payment. The time limit is longer for mortgage debts. If you’ve already been given a court order for a debt, there’s no time limit for the creditor to enforce the order.
How long can a debt collector legally pursue old debt in Alabama?
Statute of Limitations & Judgments Collection suits are generally based on breach of contract or stated account, both of which fall under the six (6) year statute of limitations provided in Alabama Code Section 6-2-34. Actions for open or unliquidated account must be brought within three years.
Can a debt collector make an empty threat?
Real debt collectors may make empty threats about you being sued. These threats may not be as direct as the fake debt collectors, but the verbiage and tone that is used can be implied to the point that is what you think you heard an hour later. Most legitimate debt collectors do not use “or else” type of threats to collect.
Is there Statute of limitations on credit card debt in Alabama?
1. The Alabama statute of limitations for credit cards and similar debts is three years which is an “open account” as there was no payment schedule with your credit card — you just charge on it and then make at least the minimum payment. 2. The statute is six years under a stated account (or account stated) theory.
How long can a debt collector pursue an old debt?
How Long Can a Debt Collector Pursue an Old Debt? Each state has a law referred to as a statute of limitations that spells out the time period during which a creditor or collector may sue borrowers to collect debts. In most states, they run between four and six years after the last payment was made on the debt.
Can a debt collector call you for lack of payment?
But that would be for failure to comply with the courts order, not for lack of payment on a civil judgment. And debt collectors do not call you up to inform you of that in my experience. The debt collector refers to themselves as an investigator, or that they will contact the investigator on your case.