Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Pennsylvania
Collection efforts
Prior to 1998 I acquired many dollars of credit cards debt. Because of many other debts and very limit income paying of these credit cards are impossible. At the present time there aren't any judgments against me. Also I don't own any assets. The last payment I made on these cards was prior to April of 1998. Are the statue of limitations up and what action can they take against me? I was divorced in 2002. My wife was not on the cards, but might have been a authorize signature on them. What action can they take against her now? Thank you.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Collection efforts
Statute of Limitation for contracts in PA is 4 years.
Re: Collection efforts
By way of a more complete answer, the statute of limitations is 4 years. Since you last made a payment in 1998, the statute of limitations would expire in 2002. That is, unless you have in some way acknowledged the debt in that time. If you responded to a phone call by saying, for example, "yes, that's my debt but I can't pay..." or some other act that would acknowledge the debt, then the SOL starts over.
If collectors call, tell them at the beginning of the conversation, and as many times as possible during the conversation that you are not in any way acknowledging the debt. Better yet, tell them you're not acknowledging the debt and hang up.
If they try to collect a debt that is beyond the statute of limitations by filing suit, placing a judgment, or whatever, that is a violation of collection law.
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