Tennessee Statute of Limitations on Debt
Tennessee applies a six-year statute of limitations across most consumer debt categories, covering both written and oral contracts consistently.
| 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 runs from the date of default or last payment. After six years, a lawsuit on the debt is time-barred in Tennessee. Raise the SOL as an affirmative defense if sued. The debt can still appear on your credit report until the federal seven-year mark.
Note: Tennessee courts have found that partial payment can restart the six-year clock. Don't pay toward a potentially time-barred debt without legal guidance.
Tennessee-Specific Consumer Protections
Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCPA, Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-101 et seq.) The TCPA prohibits unfair or deceptive acts in commerce, including deceptive debt collection practices. Consumers have a private right of action. Successful plaintiffs can recover actual damages or $100 per violation (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees. Courts can award treble damages for willful violations.
Tennessee Collection Service Act (Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-20-101 et seq.) Tennessee requires collection agencies to be licensed with the Tennessee Collection Service Board, which is administered by the Department of Commerce and Insurance. Unlicensed collectors are operating illegally in Tennessee. Verify license status before engaging with any collector.
Tennessee Wage Garnishment Tennessee follows federal garnishment limits. Wages below 30 times the federal minimum wage per week are fully exempt, and the maximum garnishment is 25% of disposable earnings.
How to File a Complaint in Tennessee
Tennessee Attorney General's Office — Consumer Protection
- Website: tn.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer.html
- Phone: (615) 741-3491
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
- Website: tn.gov/commerce
- Phone: (615) 741-2241
- For complaints about licensed collection agencies
Federal Rights That Apply Regardless of State
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Dispute inaccurate items; 30-day investigation window.
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA): Federal floor for collector conduct.
- Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA): Credit card billing error rights.
File at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
Your First Action Step
Verify that any collection agency contacting you holds a valid license with Tennessee's Collection Service Board. An unlicensed collector violates state law regardless of whether the underlying debt is valid. Pull your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com, identify collection accounts with their original delinquency dates, and dispute any inaccurate information in writing by certified mail to each bureau.