Significance

When the statue of limitations has run out a creditor cannot collect on credit card debt. The statue of limitations can vary from state to state.

Considerations

If you file a petition for bankruptcy, your credit card debt becomes unenforceable. The court will issue an automatic stay, which means all creditors must cease contact with you. These debts are typically discharged, which means they don't have to be paid back.

Prevention/Solution

Any credit card debt you incurred as a result of someone using your card fraudulently is not enforceable if you dispute the charges within the allotted time. Usually you have to dispute charges within 60 days of the statement in which the charges were incurred.

Warning

When you have an authorized user on a credit card, the user can make purchases on your credit card account. If the account falls past due, the credit card company can start collection activities against you; it cannot force the authorized user to pay the account.

Disputes

If you are disputing charges on your credit card account because of faulty merchandise or you never received the merchandise, the debt is unenforceable. You must put your dispute in writing within 60 days of receiving your statement with the charges.

Source:

Creditinfocenter.com: Statue of limitations on debts

Moranlaw.net: What debts can be discharged?