Dealing With Debt Collectors in Utah (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Utah · Last updated August 13, 2026
This guide covers dealing with debt collectors in Utah. On top of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. 1692) and CFPB Regulation F, Utah sets its own statute of limitations on debt: six years on a written contract under Utah Code 78B-2-309, and four years on an oral contract or open account, including most credit cards, under Utah Code 78B-2-307. Utah also caps wage garnishment for consumer debt at 25 percent of disposable earnings under Utah Code 70C-7-103 and protects certain property under the Utah Exemptions Act (78B-5-505). Deceptive collection conduct can also violate the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (Utah Code 13-11), enforced by the Utah Division of Consumer Protection.
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Utah?
It depends on the debt type. Under Utah Code 78B-2-309, a written contract has a six-year limitations period. Under Utah Code 78B-2-307, an oral contract or open account, which includes most credit card debt, has a four-year period, generally running from the last charge or last payment.
Can debt collectors garnish wages for consumer debt in Utah?
Yes, but only after a collector sues and wins a judgment. For a consumer credit judgment, Utah Code 70C-7-103 caps garnishment at the lesser of 25 percent of your disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage. Education loan judgments are limited to 15 percent.
How do I stop a debt collector from contacting me in Utah?
Send a written cease-communication letter under the federal FDCPA (15 U.S.C. 1692c(c)). Once the collector receives it, it must stop contacting you except to confirm it is stopping or to say it may pursue a specific remedy such as a lawsuit. Keep proof of mailing. This does not erase the debt.
What can a debt collector not do in Utah?
Under the FDCPA a collector cannot harass, threaten, lie about the debt, or falsely claim to be an attorney. In Utah, deceptive collection conduct can also breach the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (Utah Code 13-11), and a collector cannot reach exempt property like the first $1,000 in your bank account under Utah Code 78B-5-505.
How Utah regulates debt collectors and what they can take
Utah does not have its own comprehensive fair-debt-collection statute mirroring the FDCPA, so third-party collectors in Utah are governed mainly by the federal FDCPA (15 U.S.C. 1692) and CFPB Regulation F, with deceptive or unconscionable collection conduct also reachable under the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (Utah Code 13-11), enforced by the Utah Division of Consumer Protection within the Department of Commerce. Notably, Utah repealed its collection-agency registration and surety-bond requirement (formerly Utah Code Title 12, Chapter 1) through H.B. 20 in the 2023 General Session, effective May 3, 2023, so the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code no longer registers or bonds collection agencies as such, though a collector must still register its business entity or name. On the collection side, Utah limits what a judgment creditor can take: wage garnishment on a consumer credit judgment is capped at 25 percent of disposable earnings under Utah Code 70C-7-103, and the Utah Exemptions Act (Utah Code 78B-5-505) shields property such as the first $1,000 on deposit in a financial institution, a homestead, and certain personal property from execution.
Relevant Laws
Utah Statute of Limitations, Written Contracts, Utah Code 78B-2-309
Sets a six-year limitations period on an action upon a contract, obligation, or liability founded on an instrument in writing. For a credit agreement, the six years begins the later of when the debt arose, a written acknowledgment or promise to pay, or a payment on the debt.
Utah Statute of Limitations, Oral Contracts and Open Accounts, Utah Code 78B-2-307
Sets a four-year limitations period, running from the last charge or last payment, on a contract not founded on a writing, on an open store account for goods, and on an open account for work, labor, or services. Most credit card debt falls here.
Utah Consumer Credit Code Garnishment Cap and Utah Exemptions Act, Utah Code 70C-7-103 and 78B-5-505
Utah Code 70C-7-103 caps garnishment on a consumer credit judgment at 25 percent of disposable earnings (15 percent for education loans). Utah Code 78B-5-505 exempts property from execution, including the first $1,000 on deposit in a financial institution and a homestead.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. 1692
The core federal statute governing third-party debt collectors nationwide. It bars harassment (1692d), false or misleading representations (1692e), and unfair practices (1692f), restricts contact (1692c), creates the validation right (1692g), and allows suit within one year (1692k). It applies in Utah alongside state law.
Regional Variances
Utah statute of limitations by debt type
Written contract
Six years under Utah Code 78B-2-309. For a credit agreement, the six-year clock begins the later of when the debt arose, a written acknowledgment or promise to pay, or a payment on the debt.
Oral contract
Four years under Utah Code 78B-2-307, on a contract, obligation, or liability not founded on an instrument in writing. The period generally runs from the last charge made or the last payment received.
Open account and credit card
Four years under Utah Code 78B-2-307, which covers an open store account for goods and an open account for work, labor, or services. Most credit card and revolving accounts are treated as open accounts, measured from the last charge or last payment.
Promissory note
A promissory note is generally an instrument in writing, so the six-year period under Utah Code 78B-2-309 typically applies. Confirm the specific instrument, because terms and the credit-agreement start-date rule can affect the analysis.: confirm any negotiable-instrument-specific limitations rule under Utah Code Title 70A (UCC Article 3).
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Read the validation notice and diary the 30-day deadline
Within 5 days of first contact days after startingConfirm the collector sent the Regulation F validation notice (12 CFR 1006.34) identifying the creditor, amount, and your dispute rights. Note the date received and calendar the 30-day window to dispute under 15 U.S.C. 1692g.
Confirm the Utah statute of limitations for your debt type
Before making any payment or promise days after startingDetermine whether your debt is a written contract (six years, Utah Code 78B-2-309) or an oral contract or open account, including most credit cards (four years, Utah Code 78B-2-307). A payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock, so check before acting.
Send a written debt validation letter
Within 30 days of receiving the validation notice days after startingIf you do not recognize the debt or the amount looks wrong, mail a written dispute and request for verification within the 30-day window. This forces the collector to stop collecting until it mails you proof of the debt.
Send a cease-and-desist letter if you want contact to stop
As soon as you decide to stop contact days after startingUnder 15 U.S.C. 1692c(c), a written cease-communication letter requires the collector to stop contacting you once received, except to confirm it is stopping or to state it may pursue a specific remedy. Keep proof of mailing.
File a complaint with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection and the CFPB
Within 1 year of any FDCPA violation days after startingReport deceptive collection conduct to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at dcp.utah.gov (PO Box 146704, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6704) under the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (Utah Code 13-11), and complain to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Because 15 U.S.C. 1692k generally requires suit within one year, consult an attorney promptly.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read the validation notice and diary the 30-day deadline | Confirm the collector sent the Regulation F validation notice (12 CFR 1006.34) identifying the creditor, amount, and your dispute rights. Note the date received and calendar the 30-day window to dispute under 15 U.S.C. 1692g. | - | Within 5 days of first contact |
| Confirm the Utah statute of limitations for your debt type | Determine whether your debt is a written contract (six years, Utah Code 78B-2-309) or an oral contract or open account, including most credit cards (four years, Utah Code 78B-2-307). A payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock, so check before acting. | - | Before making any payment or promise |
| Send a written debt validation letter | If you do not recognize the debt or the amount looks wrong, mail a written dispute and request for verification within the 30-day window. This forces the collector to stop collecting until it mails you proof of the debt. | debt-validation-letter | Within 30 days of receiving the validation notice |
| Send a cease-and-desist letter if you want contact to stop | Under 15 U.S.C. 1692c(c), a written cease-communication letter requires the collector to stop contacting you once received, except to confirm it is stopping or to state it may pursue a specific remedy. Keep proof of mailing. | cease-and-desist-letter | As soon as you decide to stop contact |
| File a complaint with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection and the CFPB | Report deceptive collection conduct to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at dcp.utah.gov (PO Box 146704, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6704) under the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (Utah Code 13-11), and complain to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Because 15 U.S.C. 1692k generally requires suit within one year, consult an attorney promptly. | - | Within 1 year of any FDCPA violation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Most credit card debt in Utah is treated as an open account, carrying a four-year statute of limitations under Utah Code 78B-2-307, which generally runs from the last charge or last payment. A debt founded on a signed written contract instead runs six years under Utah Code 78B-2-309. Because a payment can restart the clock, confirm the type before paying.
No longer as a collection agency. Utah repealed its collection-agency registration and bond requirement (formerly Utah Code Title 12, Chapter 1) through H.B. 20 in 2023, effective May 3, 2023, so the Division of Corporations no longer registers collectors as such. They must still register their business entity and comply with the federal FDCPA and the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (Utah Code 13-11).
For a consumer credit judgment, Utah Code 70C-7-103 limits garnishment to the lesser of 25 percent of your disposable earnings or the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage. Judgments on an education loan are capped at 15 percent. Garnishment requires a court judgment first.
Only after obtaining a judgment, and even then Utah exemptions apply. Under the Utah Exemptions Act (Utah Code 78B-5-505), up to $1,000 on deposit in a financial institution is exempt from execution to satisfy a judgment. Certain other property, including a homestead and specified personal property, is also protected from a judgment creditor.
Utah has no standalone fair-debt-collection statute equivalent to the FDCPA, so third-party collectors are governed mainly by the federal FDCPA (15 U.S.C. 1692) and CFPB Regulation F. However, deceptive or unconscionable collection conduct toward a Utah consumer can violate the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (Utah Code 13-11), enforced by the Utah Division of Consumer Protection.
Other Utah guides
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