Oregon keeps its deadline to sue on a debt simple. An action on a contract or liability, express or implied, has to start within six years [1]. A payment on the account restarts that count [1]. Once a creditor wins in court, the judgment can be enforced for 10 years, and extended once for 10 more [2].
At a glance
| Type of claim | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Contract or liability, express or implied | 6 years | ORS 12.080(1) |
| Liability created by statute (not a penalty) | 6 years | ORS 12.080(2) |
| Civil judgment remedies | 10 years from entry | ORS 18.180(3) |
| Extension of judgment remedies | Once, for 10 years | ORS 18.182 |
One deadline for most consumer debts
Oregon’s main rule covers “a contract or liability, express or implied” with a single six-year period, whether or not the agreement is in writing [1]. Credit cards, personal loans and store accounts are contract claims, so they generally fall under it [1].
Debts governed by another state’s law
Many credit agreements say another state’s law applies. When a claim is substantively based on another state’s law, Oregon uses that state’s limitation period [1]. If the agreement points to a state with a shorter deadline, the shorter one may control. It’s worth checking the paperwork on an old account.
What restarts the clock
Oregon’s statute is specific:
- A payment. When a payment of principal or interest is made on an existing contract after it’s due, the limitation period starts over from the date of the last payment [1].
- A signed written promise. An acknowledgment or promise to pay counts as evidence of a new or continuing contract only if it’s in writing and signed by the person who owes the debt [1].
What “time-barred” means
A debt is time-barred once the deadline to sue has passed. Collectors can still ask you to pay, but they can’t sue or threaten to sue you over it [4].
Oregon backs that up with its own law. It’s an unlawful collection practice for a debt collector to file a lawsuit when it knows, or with reasonable diligence would know, that the statute of limitations bars it [3]. The same law separately bars debt buyers, and collectors working for them, from suing on debts the statute of limitations has cut off [3].
If you’re sued anyway, the deadline doesn’t protect you on its own. It’s up to you to point out to the court that time has run out [4]. Read the court papers, respond on time, and raise it. If you don’t, the court can enter a judgment against you.
Judgments last longer
Once a creditor wins, judgment remedies in a civil case last 10 years from when the judgment is entered [2]. The creditor can extend them once, for another 10 years, by filing a certificate of extension in the court that entered the judgment before the remedies expire [2]. A late certificate has no effect [2]. Paying the judgment in full ends the remedies [2].
The credit report clock is different
How long a debt can appear on your credit report is a federal rule, separate from Oregon’s deadline to sue. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, collection accounts and charged-off accounts generally can’t be reported once they’re more than seven years old, with the seven years starting 180 days after the delinquency began [5]. A debt can drop off your report while it’s still collectible in court, or stay on your report after the deadline to sue has passed.
Accurate information can be reported for that full period. If an old account is wrong, re-aged or still listed after its reporting period ends, it can be disputed with the credit bureaus, and you can file disputes yourself for free.
Want help with it? A credit repair company can go through all three of your reports, spot old collections and charge-offs that look outdated, re-aged or unverifiable, and file and follow up on the disputes with each bureau for you. That saves you the letters, deadlines and back-and-forth. Federal law gives you solid protections when you hire one: a written contract that spells out the services, total cost and timeline [7], the right to cancel within three business days [8], and no charge until the company has performed the services it promised [6]. Accurate, current information can’t be removed, and results vary. For the federal timelines, see BestAmerica’s guide to how long negative items stay on a credit report.
Where to get help
- Legal aid: Oregon’s legal aid programs can help eligible people answer a debt lawsuit.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov): explains your rights on old debts and takes complaints about debt collectors [4].
- A consumer attorney: worth a call if you’re sued on an old debt, or on an account governed by another state’s law.
Sources
- Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 12 (ORS 12.080, 12.230, 12.240, 12.430), Oregon Legislature
- Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 18 (ORS 18.180, 18.182), Oregon Legislature
- Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 646 (ORS 646.639, unlawful collection practices), Oregon Legislature
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: What is a statute of limitations on a debt?
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c, Requirements relating to information contained in consumer reports (Cornell LII)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1679b, Prohibited practices (Cornell LII)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1679d, Credit repair organizations contracts (Cornell LII)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1679e, Right to cancel contract (Cornell LII)
Next steps
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Credit Saint
If an old debt or another item on your credit report looks wrong, Credit Saint can help you challenge it with the credit bureaus.
You can also dispute errors yourself, for free, with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. No company can legally remove accurate, timely information, and results vary.
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Bolster
Bolster is a free app for keeping an eye on your credit and building credit history over time.
Check the app's terms for any optional paid features.
See Bolster →Credit monitoring and credit builder
Credit Squad
Credit Squad watches your credit and identity and alerts you to changes. Its credit builder, included with every plan, reports your monthly payment to all three credit bureaus as an on-time installment payment.
Paid monthly subscription; see Credit Squad's site for current plans and terms. Credit building depends on on-time payments, and results vary.
See Credit Squad →Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Oregon?
Six years for an action on a contract or liability, express or implied. That covers most credit cards, loans and other consumer accounts. Oregon doesn't set a different period for written and oral contracts.
Does a payment restart the statute of limitations in Oregon?
Yes. When a payment of principal or interest is made on an existing contract after it's due, the limitation period starts again from the date of the last payment. A written promise to pay, signed by you, can also keep a debt alive.
How long does a judgment last in Oregon?
Judgment remedies in a civil case expire 10 years after the judgment is entered. The creditor can extend them once, for another 10 years, by filing a certificate of extension before they expire.
Can a debt collector sue me on a time-barred debt in Oregon?
No. Oregon's collection practices law makes it unlawful for a debt collector to file a lawsuit it knows, or should know, is barred by the statute of limitations. Federal guidance also says collectors can't sue or threaten to sue once the deadline has passed.