Oregon Statute of Limitations on Debt
Oregon applies a six-year statute of limitations uniformly to most consumer debt categories, including both written and oral contracts. This consistency makes it straightforward to evaluate old accounts.
| Debt Type | Statute of Limitations | |---|---| | Credit card debt (open account) | 6 years | | Medical debt | 6 years | | Auto loans (written contract) | 6 years | | Personal loans (written contract) | 6 years | | Oral contracts | 6 years | | Promissory notes | 6 years |
The SOL clock starts from the date of default or last payment. After six years, collectors cannot obtain a judgment against you in Oregon court. Oregon requires defendants to raise the SOL as an affirmative defense — courts will not apply it on their own.
Caution: Oregon courts have found that partial payment or written acknowledgment of a debt can restart the SOL. Never pay toward a potentially time-barred debt without first understanding the implications.
Oregon-Specific Consumer Protections
Oregon Unlawful Debt Collection Practices Act (ORS 646.639) Oregon has its own debt collection statute that supplements the federal FDCPA. It prohibits a specific list of unfair practices including threatening action the collector has no legal right to take, misrepresenting the amount owed, and communicating with a debtor's employer without authorization. Consumers can sue for actual damages plus $200 per violation, plus attorney's fees.
Oregon Consumer Protection Act (ORS 646.605 et seq.) Oregon's Consumer Protection Act prohibits unfair and deceptive trade practices broadly. The AG enforces it, and consumers have a private right of action in some circumstances.
Oregon Debt Buyer Regulations (ORS 697) Oregon requires debt buyers — companies that purchase portfolios of delinquent debt — to be licensed by the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR). Debt buyers must maintain adequate documentation and comply with state collection rules. An unlicensed debt buyer cannot legally collect in Oregon.
Wage Garnishment in Oregon Oregon provides enhanced wage exemptions: wages up to $254 per week (as of recent guidelines) are completely exempt, and the maximum garnishment is lower than the federal standard in many cases.
How to File a Complaint in Oregon
Oregon Department of Justice — Consumer Protection
- Website: oregonconsumer.gov
- Phone: (503) 378-8442
- Online complaint portal available
Oregon Division of Financial Regulation
- Website: dfr.oregon.gov
- Phone: 1-888-877-4894
- For complaints about licensed debt collectors and debt buyers
Federal Rights That Apply Regardless of State
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Dispute inaccurate items; 30-day investigation requirement.
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA): Federal collector conduct standards.
- Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA): Credit card billing error protections.
File at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
Your First Action Step
Check whether any debt buyer or collector contacting you is licensed with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. An unlicensed operation has no legal standing to collect or sue in Oregon. Pull your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com, identify collection accounts, verify their accuracy, and dispute inaccurate information in writing by certified mail to each bureau.