Two-Year Limitations period for Collections on Cell Phone, Long Distance Bills

Consumers may not realize that federal law specifies a two-year statute of limitation for actions to recover on cell phone and interstate and foreign land line communications charges. This short period has a large impact because lawsuits for collections on these type of debts are often brought beyond the two year period. See 47 USC § 415.

There should be no doubt that a shorter federal period preempts a longer state period. Additionally, the assignment by a carrier to a third party, does not allow the assignee to toll the collection period or allow it to use a longer state period.