i am being asked to pay a bill that is 12 years old is there a stature of limitations on this?

Answer 1

There is, depending on what state you live in, and when you last paid anything on it. Check with http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs27plus.htm
and see what the laws are for your state. Usually when you dispute it for reasons of date, and it's legitimate, credit reporting agencies will remove it from your credit report. I'd suggest you get a free credit report from each agency and if it's on any of them, file a dispute. Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

There IS a statute of limitations .. usually 6 years in most states. If you pay even a dollar then the time period starts all over again. I would IGNORE them ... they will go away. Probably some debt collection company bought your debt for pennies on the dollar and now is trying to collect. (Take a look at this link: http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/junk-debt-buyers.html )
They probably don't have ANY paperwork that proves your debt. Just tell them YOU DO NOT owe anything and they will go away. Only respond IF they take you to court ... in which case you should go to court and defend yourself and state that you do not owe what they claim .. it is unlikely they will be able to prove it and you can tell the judge that as far as you are aware the statute of limitations has run out on the debt. DON'T be tempted to settle with them for even a few dollars BECAUSE that will start the whole statute of limitations time all over again. Read the script below on how to respond to them..


Here is a state by state breakdown on Statute of Limitations:
http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations.html

Here is some more info:

http://www.articlefeeder.com/0-57241-3-Statute_of_Limitations..What_is_it_exactly_and_more_importantly_can_it_protect_you.html

http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/Disputing_Collections/collector-call-script.html

Answer 3

It's good to pay one's bills, right. But the law recognizes that there is a limit to how long someone can hound ..even a debtor.
Statutes of limitations vary from state to state so you should check with an authority for your state's. Rule of thumb: Seven years,some less.
Also, you may need to send a certified letter to the 'hounds' stating that you need not pay, that it is no loonger owed or something of nthe sort G'luck.

Answer 4

Many states have a limit on how much time can pass and still be bill-able.

Only a lawyer in your state will know for sure.

Course if its less than $100, it'll cost you more in lawyer's fees to find out...