Time-barred debt
Time-barred debt — A time-barred debt is a debt for which the applicable statute of limitations has expired, and Regulation F flatly prohibits a debt collector from bringing or threatening to bring legal action to collect it.
The definition and prohibition sit at 12 C.F.R. § 1006.26(a)(2) and (b), effective November 30, 2021; the ban carries no knowledge or intent element, so a good-faith miscalculation of the limitations period is still a violation. The rule excepts proofs of claim filed in bankruptcy. Earlier CFPB practice went further by contract: the September 9, 2015 Encore consent order required specific scripted disclosures on out-of-statute accounts, including "The law limits how long you can be sued on a debt. Because of the age of your debt, we will not sue you for it." Which state's limitations period applies, and whether a partial payment revives it, remain matters of state law that Regulation F does not resolve.
Primary sources
See also
- Suit-readinessSuit-readiness is the pre-filing determination that an account carries the documentation, ownership proof, balance support, and limitations-period clearance needed to sustain a collection lawsuit.
- Consent orderA consent order is a negotiated administrative order in which a respondent agrees, without necessarily admitting the findings, to conduct requirements, compliance obligations, and monetary relief enforceable by the issuing agency.
- Promise to payA promise to pay, or PTP, is a consumer's commitment during a contact to pay a stated amount on a stated date, logged on the account and used to schedule follow-up and suppress other collection activity until the date passes.
Where this appears
- Manual compliance versus enforced compliance
- The bank third-party-risk questionnaire, question by question
- What Is the FDCPA (15 U.S.C. 1692), and Who Does It Actually Cover?
- What Is Regulation F (12 CFR Part 1006), and What Did It Add to the FDCPA?
- What Evidence Must a Firm Hold Before Filing Suit on a Consumer Debt?
Last reviewed 2026-07-29
This is an informational reference, not legal advice, and using it creates no attorney-client relationship. Limitations periods turn on facts this page cannot know — which state's law governs, the contract type, when the claim accrued, and whether anything tolled or revived it. Confirm against the primary source and your own counsel before acting.