In a case of first impression, the Arizona Supreme Court recently addressed the question of when the statute of limitations commences on credit card debt that is subject to an optional acceleration clause.
A copy of the opinion is available at: Link to Opinion
The consumer obtained a credit card subject to an agreement that provided if he missed any payment the issuer could declare the balance "immediately due and payable." The consumer missed a payment in February 2008, but subsequently made a $50 payment, which was less than the minimum payment due, in August 2008. No notice of acceleration was ever issued. The account was subsequently sold, and the purchaser filed a lawsuit to collect the debt in July 2014.
The statute of limitations for a credit card debt in Arizona is six years from accrual of the cause of action. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-548(A)(2).
The consumer moved for summary judgment, arguing the action was barred by the statute of limitations because the cause of action accrued when he missed his first payment. The purchaser argued it could not accrue until the debt was accelerated, pursuant to the agreement. The trial court agreed with the consumer.
The appellate court reversed, finding that the cause of action could not accrue on the entire amount owed until the consumer "failed to comply with a demand for payment in full or a notice by the lender [] that it was accelerating the debt." Review of the decision was granted by the Arizona Supreme Court.
The Arizona Supreme Court noted that the appellate court relied on opinions dealing with closed-end, installment contracts that have a determinable date by when the account must be paid in full. For those accounts, it explained, a creditor cannot prevent the statute of limitations from running simply by refusing to accelerate the debt.
The Court distinguished credit card accounts where the date the entire debt will become due is not certain. Because the purpose of the statute of limitations is "to protect defendants from stale claims and uncertainty about potential unresolved claims," the Court declined to follow the analysis related to installment contracts.
The Court explained that allowing a creditor to prevent accrual of the cause of action on a credit card account by not accelerating the debt would "functionally eliminate the protection provided to defendants by the statute of limitations."
Thus, the Arizona Supreme Court held "that when a credit-card contract contains an optional acceleration clause, a cause of action to collect the entire outstanding debt accrues upon default: that is, when the debtor first fails to make a full, agreed-to minimum monthly payment."
Ralph T. Wutscher
Maurice Wutscher LLP
The Loop Center Building
105 W. Madison Street, 18th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Direct: (312) 551-9320
Fax: (312) 284-4751
Mobile: (312) 493-0874
Email: rwutscher@MauriceWutscher.com
Admitted to practice law in Illinois
Alabama | California | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Indiana | Massachusetts | New Jersey | New York | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Texas | Washington, DC | Wisconsin
NOTICE: We do not send unsolicited emails. If you received this email in error, or if you wish to be removed from our update distribution list, please simply reply to this email and state your intention. Thank you.
Our updates and webinar presentations are available on the internet, in searchable format, at:
Financial Services Law Updates
and
The Consumer Financial Services Blog™
and
and
California Finance Law Developments
