A debt collector is chasing me, or I got court papers about a debt

How long

Your papers give either a date, or a number of days counted from the day you got them: count from the earliest day they could have reached you. If they give a court date, go to court that day, even if you have already sent an answer. Your state and your court decide; no federal rule gives one number. If you cannot tell what the papers ask, call legal aid or the court clerk today. Find the court's phone number on the court's own website, not only on the papers. If the court has no record of the case yet, do not treat the papers as fake: in some states a lawsuit starts when you are served, before it is filed. Answer by the date anyway, and ask legal aid. Do not wait to see whether the lawsuit is real.

Starts

the day court papers reach you: a summons or complaint from a court, however it arrives. Count from the earliest day it could have reached you, not the day you opened it. Refusing to accept the papers does not stop the clock: CFPB says a court could treat that as ignoring a properly served lawsuit. A letter or call from a collector alone is not a lawsuit.

If missed

the court can enter a default judgment: CFPB says it is likely to be for the amount the collector claims, plus lawful fees, costs and interest. A judgment can let the collector take money from your pay, put a lien on your property or move to freeze money in your bank account, depending on your state's laws. It is very difficult to change once it is made, and you may lose the chance to dispute the debt or show it is wrong. If the date has passed, call a legal aid office or a lawyer the same day.

It lets you

respond by the date and in the way your papers say, in writing or by going to court, on your own or through a lawyer, even if you are not sure you owe the debt. Responding does not mean you agree you owe it: the collector then has to prove to the court that the debt is valid. You may also be able to work out a settlement before the court decides.

Where this differs: Courts, forms and answer dates differ by state, and can differ by county: the papers and the court clerk are the source, not this page. LawHelp.org points you to free legal help in your state. If the debt is too old to sue on, the person sued usually has to say so to the court: see the old-debt clock. If you are in the military, CFPB points you to your base legal assistance office.

Checked 10 October 2026 at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Starts

the day you get the debt collector's first notice (the validation notice). The notice shows the end date of your period: that date comes before any date on this page. If you have no notice yet, count from the collector's first call or letter.

If missed

CFPB says that not asking in writing in time can affect your ability to use your rights under the debt collection rule. Ignoring a valid debt usually will not make the collector go away: it may sue, and court papers have their own date. If the debt is a medical bill: a court cancelled (vacated) the federal rule that would have kept medical debt off credit reports on 11 July 2025, so no federal rule does that now; dispute any error with the credit reporting company, and complain to the CFPB if that fails.

It lets you

send a written dispute, or ask for the name of the original creditor: the collector must pause collecting the amount you dispute until it replies with verification. You can still dispute after the 30 days, but the pause is only promised inside them.

Starts with the collector's first notice, which may come by mail or electronically, or soon after a first call. The notice shows the end date.

Where this differs: A bill still with the business you first owed, such as a hospital or a card company, and not passed to a collector, does not start this clock: ask that business what it will do. If you have asked a hospital for financial assistance and the application is pending, tell the collector in writing and ask it to pause: CFPB says that does not stop other legal ways to collect. Your state may add its own protections: ask legal aid (LawHelp).

Checked 9 October 2026 at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

How long

There is no number of days for you to wait: act as soon as the bank freezes anything or the notice arrives. The bank has to review your account within 2 business days of receiving the order, and has to protect two months of benefits paid in by direct deposit. The bank's notice and the court papers give the dates for claiming an exemption for any other money; those dates come before this page.

Starts

the day your bank receives a court order (a garnishment order) against your account. For an ordinary debt, CFPB says a collector has to sue you and win a judgment first, and then get a court order. If your bank freezes or takes money, you must be sent a notice of the garnishment that explains how to claim exemptions.

If missed

if you receive benefits by paper check and deposit it, the bank does not have to protect two months' worth, so the whole balance could be frozen until you go to court and prove it is benefit money. Money above the protected amount can be frozen or taken. You can sign up for direct deposit at any time.

It lets you

keep using up to two months' worth of Social Security, SSI, VA, Railroad Retirement or federal civil service benefits paid into your account by direct deposit, without having to claim anything, when the order is from a private collector. For any other money that is frozen, ask the court to release it as exempt: CFPB says to tell the court, the bank and the collector in writing at once that it is protected benefit money, and to get help from a lawyer.

Only if a collector has a court order against your account.

Where this differs: The automatic protection covers Social Security, SSI, VA, Railroad Retirement and federal civil service (OPM) payments paid by direct deposit. It does not apply when the order is from the US government or a state child support agency: then Social Security can be taken for some government debts, child support and spousal support, though SSI is protected even then. CFPB lists other protected federal money, such as military pay, federal student aid and FEMA aid: claim it through the court. Wages and state benefits follow your state's law: ask legal aid.

Checked 10 October 2026 at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

How long

Check before you pay, promise to pay, or write that you owe an old debt. There is no federal number and this page gives none: your state, or the state named in your credit agreement, sets the limit, and it depends on the kind of debt. Some debts, such as federal student loans, have no limit. If you are sued, the court date comes first: answer by the date on the papers, go to any hearing, and say there that the debt is too old. If the debt is yours and within the limit, waiting will not make it go away and can lead to a lawsuit.

Starts

the day a collector first contacts you about an old debt. The time limit itself began earlier: in some states when a required payment was missed, in others from the most recent payment, even one made during collection. The contract or the state it names can change it.

If missed

making a partial payment or acknowledging you owe an old debt may restart the time limit, so the collector could sue again. The debt does not go away when the limit runs out, and in most states a collector can still write or call you. If you are sued, still answer by the date on the court papers.

It lets you

find out whether the collector can still sue. If the limit has run out, a collector cannot sue or threaten to sue you over it. If you are sued anyway, tell the court the limit has run out: the person sued usually has to raise it, and a court may still give judgment if you do not. Start by asking the collector what its records show about your last payment, then check your state's limit with a legal aid office or your state attorney general.

Where this differs: Some states ban collectors from contacting you about a time-barred debt and others allow it: ask legal aid or your state attorney general which applies to you. If you do not want a collector to contact you, you can ask in writing: see the script on this page.

Checked 10 October 2026 at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

How long

14 days to reply, counted from the day the claim counts as delivered to you (see Starts), for a paper claim that came with the particulars of claim (the sheet that says what you are said to owe and why). GOV.UK also says to respond by the date on the email or letter you receive, and to follow the instructions in it. You can send an acknowledgement of service (form N9) within the 14 days if you need longer to prepare a defence: that gives 28 days from service of the particulars of claim. GOV.UK says you can also ask for another 14 days if you are not paying the full amount.

Starts

the day the claim form counts as served on you. By post, that is the second business day after it was posted (see the postmark). If it was delivered to your address, the second business day after delivery. To be safe, count from the day it was posted or delivered, whichever is earlier. If the claim came by email or online, the date on the email or letter comes first.

If missed

a judgment (a county court judgment, CCJ) may be entered against you, with extra costs and interest. A CCJ stays on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for 6 years unless you pay in full within one month: see the CCJ clock. If you miss the date, still reply: Citizens Advice says a response that arrives before the court grants a default judgment is still considered. If you first learned of the claim from a judgment, or you do not owe the money, you can ask the court to cancel it (set it aside): that needs an application, a fee and a private hearing, so get advice first.

It lets you

pay the amount, admit all or part and ask for time to pay by instalments, or dispute the claim, and you can make a counterclaim if you think they owe you money. Court staff can help you fill in the forms but cannot give legal advice. Citizens Advice says to reply as early as possible and, if you disagree you owe the debt, to say so when you reply.

Where this differs: England and Wales only. For a claim made online with 'MC' in its number, the time counts from the day the claim was issued, not the day you got it, and the reply is due by 4pm on the date in the email: do not leave it to the evening. For help with the forms, call Civil Money Claims on 0300 123 7050 ('MC' claims) or the Civil National Business Centre on 0300 123 1056 (other claims), Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm: staff explain the steps but cannot give legal advice. If the claim form says 'particulars of claim to follow', wait for them, which should come soon after; the 14 days count from when they are served, so keep the claim form and get advice now. Claims under a Consumer Credit Act agreement have their own guidance (N1(FD)): it also gives 14 days from service. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different courts and dates: see their clocks.

Checked 10 October 2026 at GOV.UK (HM Courts and Tribunals Service)

How long

30 days from the date at the top of the letter for the creditor to get your reply form back, so post it early: the form must arrive within the 30 days. If you are getting debt advice, tick that on the form and say you will need longer: Citizens Advice says to tell your creditor this.

Starts

the date at the top of the letter of claim (the letter that says the creditor wants to start legal action). Count from the date on the letter, not the day it arrived.

If missed

the creditor can go on to start court action, and the court claim has its own, shorter date: see the county court clock. If the 30 days have gone, reply now anyway and get advice.

It lets you

say on the reply form that you agree you owe all or part of the debt, or that you disagree, and ask the creditor for more information, such as an account statement or a copy of the credit agreement. If you agree, you can offer to pay in full or by instalments and attach the standard financial statement that came with the letter. Work out what you can afford first. If your reply form arrives in time, the creditor should not start court action for at least another 30 days, and if you asked for documents, until 30 days after it sends them.

Where this differs: If your agreement is covered by the Consumer Credit Act, a default notice comes first. It must give you at least 2 weeks to pay the missed payments, and if you pay them the creditor takes no further action: its own date comes before this page. For agreements outside the Act, you may get a 'final demand' instead. A default notice under the Consumer Credit Act can come anywhere in the UK, and its date is the first one to act on. Citizens Advice gives the same letter-of-claim steps for England and for Wales. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, court steps differ: see their clocks and ask Citizens Advice Scotland or Advice NI.

Checked 10 October 2026 at Citizens Advice (England)

How long

one month to pay in full and have the judgment removed from the register. If you cannot pay it all, you can ask the court to change the terms or to let you pay by instalments. If the court set payments you cannot afford without a hearing, you have only 2 weeks from the judgment to ask it to look again (a 'redetermination'): write at once. If you pay the full amount in the month, write to the court with proof of payment from the person or business you owed, so the judgment can be removed from the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines. Pay early enough that the money arrives, and you have the proof of payment, inside the month.

Starts

the date of the judgment (the county court judgment, or CCJ), not the day the letter about it reaches you. Citizens Advice counts from the date of the CCJ.

If missed

the judgment stays on the register for 6 years. If you pay after the month, it is marked as satisfied (paid) but it still stays on the register. It can make it hard to get credit. GOV.UK says do not ignore a judgment: you could be taken back to court and forced to pay. A letter saying bailiffs will visit is a separate step with its own date: see the bailiff clock.

It lets you

have the judgment removed from the register if you pay in full within the month. After the 2 weeks for a redetermination (see above) have passed, ask to change the payments (a 'variation', which has a fee). If you cannot pay it all, GOV.UK says you can ask the court to change the terms or to let you pay by instalments. If you do not owe the money, or you did not get the original claim, you can apply to have the judgment cancelled (set aside).

Where this differs: England and Wales. Scotland uses decrees, not CCJs, and Northern Ireland has its own register: see their clocks. Citizens Advice's own page for this is written for England.

Checked 10 October 2026 at GOV.UK (HM Courts and Tribunals Service)

How long

At least 14 clear days before bailiffs can take your goods, and paying or offering an arrangement before the visit stops the visit and the extra fees. The day you get the notice, the day of the visit, Sundays and bank holidays do not count. If a free debt adviser asks for more time before the notice runs out, the notice period becomes at least 28 clear days.

Starts

the day the notice of enforcement reaches you. Count from the date on the notice or the day it arrived, whichever is earlier

If missed

bailiffs can visit and add fees, so you could owe more. Do not ignore the notice: call a free debt adviser the same day, even if the date has passed

It lets you

pay or offer an arrangement before the visit, which stops the visit and the extra fees, or ask a free debt adviser, before the notice runs out, to ask for the longer notice. Check who sent it: a debt collector cannot send a valid notice of enforcement, because debt collectors do not have bailiffs' powers

Where this differs: England and Wales. A court can allow a shorter notice in rare cases, so read the notice for its date. Scotland uses sheriff officers and Northern Ireland the Enforcement of Judgments Office: see their clocks

Checked 10 October 2026 at legislation.gov.uk: Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, regulation 6

How long

the date in the court papers. mygov.scot says you must respond by a certain date, and that the papers give the date to apply for time to pay by. It may be called the last date to respond or the date of expiry of period of notice. This page gives no number of days: the papers do.

Starts

the day the sheriff court papers reach you. The papers give a fixed last date to respond; it does not move with the day you opened them. Act on that date, not on a count of your own.

If missed

Citizens Advice Scotland says that if you do nothing the court is likely to make an order for the creditor. After a decree (the court's order to pay), a sheriff officer usually serves a charge for payment, and mygov.scot says you will usually have 14 days to pay or apply for time to pay. After that the creditor can enforce: by taking money from your wages, freezing money in your bank account, or stopping you selling your home. mygov.scot says that after a decree you can still apply for time to pay if the claim is for less than £5,000, and in some cases ask the court to recall the decree, for example if you did not know about the case.

It lets you

respond by admitting the claim and asking for time to pay (mygov.scot says to apply for it when you respond), or by disputing it. For simple procedure claims, a time to pay application uses Form 5A. If the court gives you time to pay, that creditor cannot take further action against you while you keep making the payments, but other creditors still can. For debts under a Consumer Credit Act agreement, such as credit cards and hire purchase, the route is a 'time order': get advice.

Where this differs: This is the Scottish system: GOV.UK says the process is different in Scotland. Simple procedure is for claims worth less than £5,000 that are not complicated; bigger or complicated claims use ordinary cause, where you should get legal advice. Some creditors, such as councils for council tax and the UK government for tax, have fast-track powers and may not need a court order. Scotland has its own pause: a money adviser can tell you whether a moratorium fits, which for 6 months stops creditors arresting your bank account, freezing your wages or making you bankrupt, though interest can still be added. For help with a court claim, mygov.scot names Advice Direct Scotland, 0808 800 9060.

Checked 10 October 2026 at mygov.scot

Starts

the date on the notice. nidirect does not say what the 10 days count from, so count from the date printed on it, not the day it reached you. It tells you someone has a court order to recover money from you and plans to use the Enforcement of Judgments Office (EJO).

If missed

the person you owe can ask the EJO to enforce the judgment, and you pay the extra costs. nidirect says that can mean a custody warrant over all your goods and assets (you cannot sell your belongings), your name on the Register of Judgments for up to 12 years where the public can see it, and orders that take money from your wages or bank account or seize goods. If you are summonsed to an examination and do not go, a warrant can be issued for your arrest.

It lets you

stop the matter going to the EJO. nidirect says to offer to repay in full or by instalments, and that the offer should be an arrangement you can afford to keep: if it is accepted, it may stop the creditor going to the EJO.

This is the step after a judgment. If you have a civil bill or small claims pack instead, the date on those papers comes first: call Advice NI the same day.

Where this differs: Northern Ireland only. This is the step after a judgment. The earlier step, a claim or small claims pack, has its own dates in the papers: nidirect's pages did not give a reply date for it, so use the date on your papers and ask Advice NI or the court. For a judgment about your home, nidirect gives a separate notice with its own date.

Checked 10 October 2026 at nidirect (Northern Ireland government)