Texas
Texas has its own debt collection law on top of federal protections — and in a few places, it's actually stronger than federal law.
Texas Finance Code, Chapter 392
Third-party debt collectors and credit bureaus must hold a $10,000 surety bond on file with the Texas Secretary of State before collecting in Texas.
You can dispute file accuracy directly, in writing, with the third-party collector — not just with the credit bureau. The collector must cease collection efforts until it investigates.
Texas independently prohibits threats/coercion (illegal arrest threats, false criminal accusations, threatening repossession without court process), harassment (obscene language, undisclosed-caller harassment, repeated ringing), and unfair means (fees not in your original agreement) — this gives you a state-law claim alongside any federal one.
If a collector violates this chapter, you can sue for an injunction (a court order making them stop), your actual damages, and your attorney's fees. For three specific violations — not registering a bond (§392.101), ignoring your file-correction dispute (§392.202), or falsely telling someone else that you're refusing to pay a disputed debt (§392.301(a)(3)) — the law guarantees at least $100 in damages, even if you can't point to a specific dollar loss. For any other Chapter 392 violation, you'd need to show your actual financial harm.
Statute of limitations — 4 years, and it's hard to restart
You have 4 years from the date a debt accrues to be sued on it in Texas.
A time-barred debt can only be revived by a written, signed acknowledgment. A phone call, a verbal promise, or even a partial payment alone does not restart the clock in Texas — a meaningfully stronger protection than the "any activity restarts it" rule some other states use.
If you're being sued on old debt: do not make a payment or sign anything acknowledging the debt unless you intend to restart the clock. If a collector sues on a debt past the 4-year mark, the statute of limitations is a defense you can raise — but if you've been served, talk to an attorney or legal aid promptly.
Medical debt — the 11-month rule
Texas has a specific, underused rule for medical debt: a provider that bills too late can lose the right to collect at all. See the full details on the Medical Debt page.
Filing a complaint
File a complaint online through the Office of the Attorney General's consumer complaint portal.