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The Daily Insight Hub

How Long Can creditors come after credit card debt?

Author

Matthew Harrington

Updated on January 20, 2026

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.

Does unpaid credit card debt go away?

Credit card debt does not go away, unless it is discharged through bankruptcy. Credit card debt will eventually disappear from your credit report, and creditors will ultimately face an uphill legal battle when suing over repayment, but your actual debt does not just go away under normal circumstances.

What happens to your credit when you settle credit card debt?

Yes, settling a debt instead of paying the full amount can affect your credit scores. When you settle an account, its balance is brought to zero, but your credit report will show the account was settled for less than the full amount.

Do credit card debt ever get written off?

Generally, writing off some or all of your credit card debt is done through a debt solution. There are multiple debt solutions that can allow you to write credit card debt off, including: Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) Debt Relief Order (DRO)

Can you remove settled debts from your credit history?

Credit scores can be affected by outstanding debt, even if it no longer exists. Navigating debt negotiations can be tricky, especially if you settled with a company for less than you owe. But a company can and will remove a settled debt from your credit history, if you know how to ask.

How long does it take to pay off a credit card?

If you make just the minimum payments, it will take you nearly 14 years to pay off the debt. On top of that, it will cost you almost $2,700 in interest, nearly doubling the amount you owed originally. The impact on your credit and finances of carrying credit card balances should be enough to convince you that low or no credit card debt is best.

Is it good for your credit to pay off credit cards?

The answer in almost all cases is no. Paying off credit card debt as quickly as possible will save you money in interest but also help keep your credit in good shape. Read on to learn why—and what to do if you can’t afford to pay off your credit card balances immediately. Does Paying Off Credit Cards Slowly Help My Credit Score?

When does a credit card debt become delinquent?

This clock begins 180 days after you first become delinquent and nothing you do thereafter affects it. Debt is only removed from your credit report when the requisite amount of time (usually 7 years) has passed, but you could change the status of your debt to “paid” or “settled” by making payment.

When does a debt go off your credit report?

Debt is only removed from your credit report when the requisite amount of time (usually 7 years) has passed, but you could change the status of your debt to “paid” or “settled” by making payment. This is marginally better for your credit score than having your debt classified as “not paid.”