Can a debt from 10 years ago be collected?
Emma Miller
Updated on January 21, 2026
In most cases, no. If a debt is 10 years old but you were making payments under an agreement with the lender until 3 years ago, the debt is likely still within the statute of limitations and can be pursued by a debt collector. …
How many years can a collection agency come after you?
four years
California has a statute of limitations of four years for all debts except those made with oral contracts. For oral contracts, the statute of limitations is two years. This means that for unsecured common debts like credit card debt, lenders cannot attempt to collect debts that are more than four years past due.
Can a debt be too old to collect?
Once you have a court order, it’s too late to claim the debt is statute barred. If you think the debt was already statute barred when the creditor applied for the court order, you might be able to get the court order changed.
Is there a statute of limitations on repossessing a car?
However, these companies tend to wait until it’s been 5 or 6 years, which is after the Statute of Limitations has expired. This time limit doesn’t start when the repossession happens, however.
How long is the Statute of limitations for a car loan?
In a debt collection lawsuit, it’s 3 years. The debt collection agencies think it’s 6 years, however that isn’t the case. However, it’s different when you have bought a car through a dealership. The collection companies will maintain that they have 6 years to sue you, but with a car loan they actually have 4 years to sue you.
Is there Statute of limitations on debt in West Virginia?
Statute of Limitations on Debt by State State Written Contract Oral Contract Collection of Debt on Account Judgments Virginia 5 3 10-20 Washington 6 3 6 10 West Virginia 10 5 10 Wisconsin 6 6 6-20
When does the Statute of limitations on credit card debt expire?
Generally, unsecured debt such as credit cards and personal loans expire three to six years after the last missed payment or the consumer’s last activity on the account, but debts such as judgments can last up to 20 years or longer.