Can a creditor report an old debt?

Yes, a creditor can report an old debt. In Washington, consumer debt defense law protects consumers from being taken advantage of by creditors. According to Washington law, a creditor cannot report a debt that is over seven years old to a credit bureau. If a creditor reports a debt that is over seven years old, it is considered an unfair and deceptive practice and the consumer can take legal action against the creditor. Consumer debt defense law also prevents creditors from attempting to collect payment on a debt that is past the statute of limitations in Washington, which is six years for most debts. This means that creditors cannot take legal action to collect the debt if it has been more than six years since the debt was incurred, and the creditor also cannot report the debt to a credit bureau. In addition, if a creditor attempts to report a debt after the seven year mark, they must include in the report that the debt is beyond the statute of limitations and is therefore not legally enforceable. This helps protect the consumer’s credit score. If a creditor reports a debt that is not legally enforceable, the consumer can take legal action against the creditor. Thus, in Washington, a creditor can report an old debt, but they must adhere to the seven-year rule and the statute of limitations. If they don’t, they may be liable to the consumer.

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