Old Debt Clock
Removal dates and lawsuit limits
Two clocks matter for old debt. The reporting clock (federal, FCRA) says when the item must leave your credit report. The lawsuit clock (your state's statute of limitations) says how long a collector can win in court. This tool estimates both.
Lawsuit clock: your state's statute of limitations
Be careful with old debts. In many states, making a payment, even a small one, agreeing to a new payment plan, or acknowledging the debt in writing can restart the statute of limitations from zero. That can turn a debt a collector could not win a lawsuit over into one they can. Before you pay anything on an old debt or put anything about it in writing, check how your state treats these triggers.
These time limits are a general reference, not legal advice. State laws change, and every state has its own quirks. Which category a credit card falls under, written contract or open account, varies by state and by court decisions. The same debt can get different treatment in different places. In many states a payment or a written acknowledgment of the debt can restart the clock. Even after the limit runs out, the debt may still be owed. Collectors may still contact you and ask you to pay. They just may lose the right to win a lawsuit if you raise the time limit as a defense. Before you act on any of these numbers, check with your state attorney general's office or a consumer attorney.