Ohio Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection

The statute of limitations on debt collection limits the time within which a creditor can legally sue you for your pending debt. These limitations are essential to maintain a healthy creditor-debtor relationship, and each state has its own statute of limitations on debt collection that debt collectors must follow. That's why it's important to understand the to avoid getting sued over old debts.

They cover all types of debt collections, including medical debt collection or other outstanding loans. However, the statute of limitations on debt collection only prevents your creditors from suing you, but the debt is not cleared from your credit report until you pay it. Therefore, you should learn how to negotiate with debt collectors to avoid a bad credit score.

Before taking a debt, you should understand the limits and fine details on each debt, like how long your debt collector can try to collect the debt or how often they might take you to court.

Learning how to deal with debt collectors will protect you from harassment and unforeseen embarrassment. Let's look at the Ohio statute of limitations on debt collection, what a debt collector like ERC can and cannot do, and how DoNotPay can protect you from the violation of your consumer rights by your debt collector.

What Is FDCPA in Ohio?

FDCPA is an OH federal law protecting you from unfair and illegal debt collection methods. It prevents debt collectors from using abusive, malicious, deceptive, and unfair practices when collecting debts. The Federal Trade Commission enforces consumer protection laws, including FDCPA.

The FDCPA covers the following debts:

Credit card debts
Auto loans
Medical bills
Student loans
Mortgage and other household debts.

You can contact FDCPA through these links:

Company	FDCPA
Mailing Address	600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580
Phone Number	(202) 326-2222
Email or Contact Form	Email Form
Fax	None

However, FDCPA does not cover debts that you incur involuntarily. These include income taxes, domestic support obligations like child support, and parking or speeding tickets.

What Are the Common Ohio FDCPA Violations?

Your debt could be using data collection tactics that violate Ohio's FDCPA. Here are common violations to look out for:

1. Attempts to Collect a Non-existent Debt

A debt collection agency constantly contacts you about an already settled debt. It can also be a debt that you have never applied for, to begin with.

2. Illegal Communication Means

Using profane language or threats like threatening to take your stimulus check and confiscate your property.

3. Failure to Disclose the Verification of a Debt

The agency does not send you a written debt validation letter with all the debt details, even when you write them a dispute letter.

4. Taking or Threatening to Take an Illegal Action

If the OH statute of limitations on debt collection has expired, but the debtor threatens to take you to court. They may also try to confiscate your property or do other illegal actions.

5. Sharing Your Debt Information

If the agency shares your debt information with a third party without your consent, that's a violation. Except for an attorney, the consumer's spouse, a credit reporting agency, and a parent if the consumer is a minor.

6. Excessive Phone Calls

The debt collection agency calls you simultaneously or several times in a single day.

7. Issuing False Statements or Representations

The debt collection agency pretends to be a law firm or tricks you into paying more than what you owe them.

Understanding the Ohio Debt Collection Laws

The Ohio debt collection laws are based on the principles stated in the FDCPA. Together with the federal regulations, they will protect you from illegal debt collection means or any form of harassment. Therefore, the FDCPA, together with the Ohio state laws, ensures that you are protected from abusive and illegal debt collection practices. However, you should remember that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act covers data collectors of a debt collection agency and not those from your original creditors.

Statute of Limitations of Debt Collection in Ohio

In Ohio, these statutes are written in the Ohio revised code for statute of limitations debt collection, which defines the deadline for claiming legal claims. The can confuse you because they were changed. However, let's break down the statute of limitations on debt collection in Ohio.

15 years: This applies if you defaulted on your debt from your written accounts before 2012, as per the previous law.
6 years: For debts from oral accounts or non-written contracts.
8 years: Debts from a written account or contract.

Therefore, if it has been more than the stipulated time frame, your creditor cannot sue you for debt collection reasons. Ohio statute of limitations on debt collection starts after your debt becomes overdue or the day that you last made a payment towards your debt.

If your debt falls within Ohio's statute of limitations on debt collection, your debt collector can take legal action, which could lead to a trial against you, wage garnishment, and liens on your property.

How to Respond to a Debt Collection Lawsuit in OH

If you have a debt collection lawsuit in Ohio, whether the debt is beyond the OH statute of limitations or not, you should respond to the lawsuit. You can reply to a debt collection lawsuit using your attorney or by yourself by the date specified in the court papers. Answering will ensure that your rights are still valid.

If you choose to ignore the lawsuit or fail to appear in court, be ready for unfavorable terms coming your way. The court can rule a default judgment in favor of the collection agency. This can include allowing them to collect funds through wage garnishment or putting a lien on your property.

How to Deal With Debt Collectors Violating the OH Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection on Your Own

If a debt collector claims to pursue a lawsuit on a debt past the Ohio statute of limitations, they are violating your rights as a consumer. When the collector fails to adhere to the debt collection laws, you can:

Ask them to cease any communication with you.
Ensure that you immediately record all details of the violation along with proof.
File a complaint with the FTC or Ohio CFPB providing the agency's information and offense.
Sue the debt collector in a small claims court on your own

You should not make any payment until you're sure it is within Ohio's statute of limitations on debt collection. This is because if you make payment, it will renew your debt obligation, and you could get sued in a court of law.

It can be both pricey and time-consuming when you choose to take legal action or deal with a debt collector by yourself. Having debt is already challenging, but having a debt collector who adds salt to the wound makes it worse.

Therefore, instead of dealing with debt collectors on your own, let DoNotPay help you. With our fast, effortless process, you can ensure that your debt collector respects your consumer rights.

How DoNotPay Can Ensure Your Debt Collector Adheres to Ohio Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection

Facing financial debts is stressful enough. You wouldn't want a debt collector harassing and violating your rights whenever they want. Luckily, you're protected by the FDCPA and Ohio statute of limitations on debt collection. Therefore, if a debtor collector is violating any of your rights, let DoNotPay help you in 3 straightforward steps:

Search “debt collection” on DoNotPay.
Answer a series of questions about the debt collectors, including when you were contacted and how you were contacted, so we can determine if they have violated any debt collection laws.
Decide which course of action you want to take based on our guidance, such as filing a debt verification request, demanding for the collectors to stop contacting you, or reporting them to the CFPB.

And that's it! Once you choose the course of action you want to take, DoNotPay will handle the rest. We'll deliver your request directly to the debt collectors via first-class mail or file your complaint automatically with the CFPB so that they're no longer able to use unfair debt collection practices.

What Else Does DoNotPay Do?

For any debt-related problem or any challenge disturbing your peace, DoNotPay is here to solve it for you. We can also help you:

Let us handle the hard work whenever you need a solution to your problem.