Credit Card Debt Statute of Limitations in Oregon
Last verified 2026-07 · Source: ORS 12.080(1) ✓ verified · 3 sources
The deadline
6 years
from the date of default or the last charge or payment on the account — the cause of action accrues from the last charge or payment (ORS 12.090), under ORS 12.080(1).
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The deadline to sue over unpaid credit card debt in Oregon is 6 years, set by ORS 12.080(1). It starts running on the date of default or the last charge or payment on the account — the cause of action accrues from the last charge or payment (ORS 12.090). This page covers the exceptions, the government-claim trap, and the steps to take before time runs out.
Oregon Deadlines for Related Claims
| Claim type | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Debt | 6 years | ORS 12.080(1) |
| Car Accident | 2 yrs | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110 |
| Medical Malpractice | 2 yrs | ORS 12.110(4) |
| Wrongful Death | 3 yrs | ORS § 30.020 |
| Personal Injury | 2 yrs | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1) |
| Dog Bite | 2 yrs | ORS 31.360 (strict liability); SOL: ORS 12.110(1) |
| Slip and Fall | 2 yrs | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1) |
| Defamation | 1 yr | ORS 12.120(2) |
| Breach of Contract | 6 yrs | ORS 12.080(1) |
| Medical Debt | 6 yrs | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(1) |
When the Clock Starts
In Oregon, the limitations period for credit card debt collection generally begins on the date of default or the last charge or payment on the account — the cause of action accrues from the last charge or payment (ORS 12.090). Oregon does not apply a general discovery rule to this claim type — the date of the event controls, which makes early action critical.
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Exceptions That Can Extend the Deadline
- Fraudulent concealment: if the defendant actively hid the wrongdoing, the deadline may be extended until it was or should have been uncovered.
- Defendant leaves the state: absence can pause the clock in many circumstances.
Credit-card debt is treated as an open account governed by the general 6-year contract limitation in ORS 12.080(1) ('a contract or liability, express or implied'); ORS 12.090 fixes accrual at the last charge or payment proved on the account. Revival trap: Oregon allows revival — a partial payment or a signed written acknowledgment/new promise restarts the 6-year clock (ORS 12.230–12.240). Sources all from approved publishers (oregonlegislature.gov, oregon.public.law, nolo.com).
Source: ORS 12.080(1), official Oregon statute · verified 2026-07
What to Do Before the Deadline Runs
- Pin down your accrual date — the day the clock started — and calendar the deadline conservatively.
- Preserve evidence now: photos, records, witness contacts, bills. Evidence decays faster than deadlines.
- Send preservation/notice letters where required (especially for Oregon government defendants).
- If the deadline is inside 6 months, treat it as urgent — filing suit is the only reliable way to stop the clock.
How Oregon Compares to Nearby States
| State | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 6 years | ORS 12.080(1) |
| Washington | 6 yrs | RCW 4.16.040(1)-(2) |
| Idaho | 4 yrs | Idaho Code § 5-217 |
| Nevada | 4 yrs | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(2) |
| California | 4 yrs | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 337(a) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to sue over unpaid credit card debt in Oregon?
You have 6 years from the date of default or the last charge or payment on the account — the cause of action accrues from the last charge or payment (ORS 12.090), under ORS 12.080(1).
Can I still sue after 6 years in Oregon?
Usually no — courts dismiss claims filed after the statute of limitations expires. Narrow exceptions (fraudulent concealment) can extend the deadline; whether one applies depends on your facts.
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Sources
- Official ORS Chapter 12 — Limitations of Actions (Oregon Legislature, official)
- Corroborating ORS 12.080 — Actions to be commenced within six years (Oregon Public Law)
- Corroborating Statute of Limitations in All 50 States (Nolo) — Oregon written contract 6 years
- Verified 2026-07 under our 4-step process — every line checked against the sources above. How we verify
This page is legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines have exceptions that depend on your facts — confirm with a licensed Oregon attorney.