What is the statue of limitations to collect on a debt?
Question Details:
Just received a letter from a collection agency for a medical bill from 2003. Hasn't the statute of limitations passed for this?
First of all, there is no statute of limitations to collect on a debt. If you owe the money you owe it until it is paid. There is, however, a statute of limitations to bring a lawsuit to collect. The limitations period in PA is 4 years. However, acknowledging the debt to the collector (ie admitting that you owe it) or making payment arrangements will start the statute of limitations running all over again. So be carefulwhat, if anything, that you say or do regarding communications with the collection agency. Basically, if they can't sue you there is nothing that they can do to you. You could just choose to ignore them.
