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Free debt collection resources
Free tools and reference pages for anyone contacted by a debt collector. No sign-up, nothing to buy, and answers typed into the tools stay on the visitor's device. Librarians, schools, nonprofits and reporters are welcome to link to or print any of them.
Reference
- Time limits on debt in every state (printable): how long a collector can sue over an open account or credit card in each state and DC, whether a payment can restart the clock, and the source for each figure. Prints on two letter-size pages.
- State guides: each state's time limits, wage garnishment protections and debt collection law, with links to the statutes.
- Collector directory: who a debt collector is, its official contact details and dispute address, from the collector's own website, regulators or court records.
- Guides: disputes, validation letters, old debts, medical bills, wage garnishment and credit reports.
Free tools
- Debt collector scam checker: paste a call, text or email and see the warning signs regulators describe, checked against official collector phone numbers and websites.
- Dispute deadline calculator: the last day to ask a collector to prove a debt, skipping weekends and federal holidays.
- Time-limit check: whether a debt is likely too old to be sued on in a given state.
Free help from public and nonprofit sources
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: debt collection, including free sample letters to send to collectors.
- Federal Trade Commission: debt collection FAQs.
- LawHelp.org: free legal aid by state, for anyone who has been sued.
Who runs this site
Challenge That Debt is run by Smart Choice Claims Limited. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice; the pages describe the law and link to their sources. Everything on this page is free. Challenge That Debt also sells optional dispute letter packs, which no one needs to buy to use these resources.
Linking or citing
Suggested wording: "Time limits on debt in every state, with sources" (Challenge That Debt), linking to https://challengethatdebt.com/free-resources/state-time-limits/. For questions or corrections, email [email protected].