California statute of limitations on debt

The period depends on what the claim is built on: a signed writing, an account, an oral promise, or a court judgment.

Often 4 years, but check before you rely on it. Section 337 covers both debts founded on a written instrument and several kinds of accounts, including a book account (California Legislature, opens in a new tab). Which category a given card account fits can depend on the agreement and the records the plaintiff produces.

That is a lawyer's call, not a guess. Keep the card agreement if you have it, your last statements, and any letter that names the current owner.

California spells this out in its code. Since 2019 the code says the period for written debts can be extended only under § 360 (California Legislature, opens in a new tab), and § 360 requires an acknowledgment or promise in a writing you sign (California Legislature, opens in a new tab). It adds that a payment of itself does not revive a claim that is already barred.

A collector may still ask you to pay, but it may not sue. Section 337(d) (California Legislature, opens in a new tab) bars a lawsuit or arbitration once the period has run, a debt buyer is separately barred from suing on an expired consumer debt (California Legislature, opens in a new tab), and federal rules forbid a debt collector to bring or threaten (eCFR, opens in a new tab) such a suit.

California also makes collectors say so in writing.

A money judgment can be enforced for 10 years (California Legislature, opens in a new tab) and can be renewed. For a personal debt judgment with less than $50,000 of principal unpaid, the creditor may renew it only once (California Legislature, opens in a new tab); for medical debt the line is $200,000.

Interest on those judgments is 5% a year (California Legislature, opens in a new tab) if the judgment was entered or renewed from 2023 on, instead of the usual 10%.

No. Reporting runs on a separate federal clock: a collection or charge-off can generally be reported for seven years (Cornell LII, opens in a new tab), counted from 180 days after the delinquency behind it.

So an account can be past California's time to sue and still appear on your report, or drop off your report while a lawsuit is still possible. Settling or paying it does not reset the reporting period.

Respond anyway. The summons gives you 30 days (California Legislature, opens in a new tab) after service to file a written response. A time limit usually has to be raised in the case; the CFPB notes a court can enter judgment if you do not respond and raise it.