Q: How long can a company keep an over due bill before turning into collection can they turn it over 10 years later
A: A company can keep an overdue bill on its books as long as it wants and turn it over to collections whenever. That being said, if the company or the collections agency attempt to bring you to court on the debt more than five years after it was due (or three years in some cases), the debtor will have a defense of statute of limitations. If the debtor files bankruptcy, however, the company or the credit agency may try to collect the money out of the bankruptcy. The legal defense, however, is separate from any moral issues involved in the case.
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