(a) Definitions. For purposes of this section:

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Terms Used In 12 CFR 1006.26

  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.

(1) Statute of limitations means the period prescribed by applicable law for bringing a legal action against the consumer to collect a debt.

(2) Time-barred debt means a debt for which the applicable statute of limitations has expired.

(b) Legal actions and threats of legal actions prohibited. A debt collector must not bring or threaten to bring a legal action against a consumer to collect a time-barred debt. This paragraph (b) does not apply to proofs of claim filed in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding.

[86 FR 5854, Jan. 19, 2021]