Wisconsin Statute of Limitations on Debt
Wisconsin applies a six-year statute of limitations consistently across consumer debt types, covering both written and oral contracts with the same limitation period.
| 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 runs from the date of default or last payment. After six years, any lawsuit on the debt is time-barred in Wisconsin. Collectors retain the ability to contact you and report the debt until the federal seven-year mark, but court leverage expires at six years.
Note: Wisconsin courts have found that partial payment or written acknowledgment can restart the SOL. Consult a consumer attorney before taking any action on an old account.
Wisconsin-Specific Consumer Protections
Wisconsin Consumer Act (WCA, Wis. Stat. § 421 et seq.) Wisconsin has a comprehensive consumer act governing consumer credit transactions, disclosure requirements, and debt collection. The WCA provides remedies for violations and gives consumers a private right of action. It covers original creditors extending consumer credit — not just third-party collectors.
Wisconsin Deceptive Trade Practices Act (Wis. Stat. § 100.18) Wisconsin's Deceptive Trade Practices Act prohibits false and misleading representations in any communication with the public. The AG enforces it, and consumers have a private cause of action for losses caused by violations.
Wisconsin Collection Agency Licensing Debt collection agencies in Wisconsin must be licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Unlicensed collectors are operating illegally. Verify any collector's license status at wdfi.org.
Wage Garnishment in Wisconsin Wisconsin follows federal garnishment limits but provides additional protections for lower earners. The state exempts the first $500 in net weekly take-home pay from garnishment — more protective than the strict federal minimum in many cases.
How to File a Complaint in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
- Website: datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/ConsumerProtection.aspx
- Phone: 1-800-422-7128
- Online complaint portal available
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
- Website: wdfi.org
- Phone: (608) 261-9555
- For complaints about licensed collection agencies
Federal Rights That Apply Regardless of State
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Dispute inaccurate items; bureaus have 30 days to investigate.
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA): Federal collector conduct standards.
- Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA): Billing dispute rights on revolving credit.
File at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
Your First Action Step
Verify that any collection agency contacting you holds a current Wisconsin DFI license at wdfi.org. An unlicensed collector is breaking state law regardless of whether the underlying debt is legitimate. 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.