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Citation manifest

Every claim on this site traces to a primary source listed here. If a link breaks or a statute has been amended, please tell us and we'll update it. See the methodology for how we verify.

Federal law (FDCPA + Regulation F)

  • 15 U.S.C. § 1692g — Validation of debts

    Within five days of first contact a debt collector must send written notice of the amount, the creditor, and your right to dispute. If you dispute in writing within 30 days, the collector must stop collection until it mails verification. Basis for the debt-validation letter.

    Last checked June 16, 2026

  • 15 U.S.C. § 1692c — Communication in connection with debt collection

    Governs when and how a collector may contact you. Subsection (c) lets you notify a collector in writing to cease further communication; with limited exceptions the collector must then stop contacting you. Basis for the cease-communication letter.

    Last checked June 16, 2026

  • 15 U.S.C. § 1692e — False or misleading representations

    Prohibits false, deceptive, or misleading representations in collecting a debt — including the threat to take an action (such as suing on a debt the collector knows is time-barred) that cannot legally be taken. Relevant to the time-barred-debt letter.

    Last checked June 16, 2026

  • 12 C.F.R. § 1006.26 — Collection of time-barred debts (Regulation F)

    The CFPB's Regulation F prohibits a debt collector from suing or threatening to sue to collect a time-barred debt. Note: it does not itself require disclosing that a debt is time-barred, and it does not stop a collector from asking you to pay voluntarily.

    Last checked June 16, 2026

  • CFPB medical-debt credit-reporting rule (vacated)

    The CFPB finalized a rule in January 2025 to remove most medical bills from consumer credit reports, but it was VACATED on July 11, 2025 by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Cornerstone Credit Union League v. CFPB) and is NOT in effect as of 2026. The court also held that the federal FCRA preempts similar state laws. Do not assume medical bills are barred from credit reports under federal law — confirm the current status on consumerfinance.gov.

    Last checked June 16, 2026

State statute-of-limitations statutes

One row per state, linking the controlling contract statute-of-limitations provision(s) with the date it was last checked.