Q: Renters debt now 10 years old. Am I liable to pay this debt back now? The collector/owner is requesting that I do.
I live in WI. I did not pay balance owed, because they never repaired what was broken when I put in a work request for it, on the condition of major appliances leaking or not operational. I moved from there in 2008 because of the non repaired appliances. I reapplied for this apt. complex in 2018 because I honestly forgot about that past debt with them. After almost 10 years since this debt started, can I be sued for the balance of that past debt? It was never posted on my credit report as being in collections. I had started an email conversation a month ago, with the owner about possible repayment, but that was before I researched about the statute of limitations. I have not made any payments on this old debt at this time. What are my options with this?
A: Your landlord had 6 years from the date the debt accrued to file a lawsuit or be time barred from pursuing it. This is what the statute of limitations says. Your main options are: 1) refuse to pay the balance because the landlord didn't do anything to collect before the statute of limitations ran; or 2) reach an agreement on what you are willing to pay if you want to live in the complex.
1 user found this answer helpful
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
