12 CFR § 1006.26 - Collection of time-barred debts.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t12/s1006.26"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "12 CFR § 1006.26 - Collection of time-barred debts."
title_number: 12
title_name: "Banks and Banking"
section_number: "1006.26"
section_name: "Collection of time-barred debts."
chapter_name: "CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU"
part_number: "1006"
part_name: "DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES (REGULATION F)"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "12 U.S.C. 5512, 5514(b), 5532; 15 U.S.C. 1692(d), 1692o, 7004."
regulatory_source: "85 FR 76887, Nov. 30, 2020, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1006"
---


# 1006.26 Collection of time-barred debts.

(a) *Definitions.* For purposes of this section:

(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]