Free Companion Resources

Everything Referenced in the Book

Letter templates, checklists, a rights reference card, statute of limitations data, and direct links to government resources. No signup required.

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7 Moves Checklist

Printable checklist of the seven first moves from Chapter 6 — your debt inventory template, lifecycle stages, and path decision framework.

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Debt Validation Letter

Fill-in-the-blank template to request debt validation under the FDCPA. Forces collectors to prove the debt before collecting.

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Cease & Desist Letter

Template to stop a collector from contacting you. Once received, they can only notify you of termination or legal action.

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FDCPA Rights Card

One-page reference of everything collectors can't do, everything you can do, and how to file complaints when they cross the line.

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The Debt Code Community

The hardest part of this process is doing it alone. The community is where readers work through it together — the real questions, the specific situations, and people who've been exactly where you are.

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Companion Tools

For specific situations — built to work alongside the book.

The Debt Decoder

Walks you through any collector letter or call script. What it actually means, what's real, what's pressure, and what to say back.

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The Bank Playbook

Creditor-by-creditor breakdown of what each major bank accepts in settlement, their internal timing, and what approach works.

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The Debt Resolution Toolkit

The complete system: negotiation scripts, settlement letter templates, tracking spreadsheets, and the confidence playbook.

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State-by-State Statute of Limitations

Credit card debt SOL by state. After the SOL expires, collectors lose the right to sue you and win.

For informational purposes only. Laws change — verify current rules in your state before making decisions.

StateSOL (Years)Notes
Alabama6Written contracts
Alaska3
Arizona6Written contracts
Arkansas5Written contracts
California4Written contracts
Colorado6
Connecticut6Written contracts
Delaware3
District of Columbia3
Florida5Written contracts
Georgia6Written contracts
Hawaii6Written contracts
Idaho5Written contracts
Illinois10Written contracts (5 years for oral)
Indiana6Written contracts
Iowa5Written contracts
Kansas5Written contracts
Kentucky5Open accounts (written may be 15 years)
Louisiana3
Maine6Written contracts
Maryland3
Massachusetts6Written contracts
Michigan6Written contracts
Minnesota6Written contracts
Mississippi3
Missouri5Written contracts
Montana5Written contracts
Nebraska5Written contracts
Nevada6Written contracts
New Hampshire3
New Jersey6Written contracts
New Mexico6Written contracts
New York6Written contracts
North Carolina3
North Dakota6Written contracts
Ohio6Written contracts
Oklahoma5Written contracts
Oregon6Written contracts
Pennsylvania4Written contracts
Rhode Island10
South Carolina3
South Dakota6Written contracts
Tennessee6Written contracts
Texas4
Utah6Written contracts
Vermont6Written contracts
Virginia5Written contracts
Washington6Written contracts
West Virginia10Written contracts
Wisconsin6Written contracts
Wyoming8Written contracts

Government Resources

Official sources referenced in the book.


Debt Glossary
Charge-Off
When a creditor writes off your debt as a loss, usually after 180 days of non-payment. The debt doesn't disappear — it gets sold to collectors.
Debt Validation
Your legal right under the FDCPA to demand a collector prove you owe the debt. They must stop collecting until they provide verification.
FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)
Federal law that limits what third-party debt collectors can do. Prohibits harassment, false statements, and unfair practices.
Statute of Limitations (SOL)
The legal time window during which a creditor or collector can sue you for a debt. After it expires, they lose the right to win in court.
Settlement
An agreement to pay less than the full balance to resolve a debt. Typical range is 30-60 cents on the dollar, depending on the age and type of debt.
1099-C
IRS form reporting forgiven debt as income. If a creditor forgives $600+ of debt, they may send this. The insolvency exclusion (Form 982) may apply.
Default Judgment
A court ruling against you because you didn't respond to a lawsuit. Always respond to court papers — even on debt you dispute.
Wage Garnishment
Court-ordered deduction from your paycheck to pay a debt. Requires a judgment first — collectors cannot garnish wages without one.
Debt Buyer
A company that purchases charged-off debt from original creditors, typically for 1-7 cents on the dollar. They profit by collecting more than they paid.
Secured Credit Card
A credit card backed by a cash deposit. Used to rebuild credit after debt resolution. The deposit becomes your credit limit.
Credit Builder Loan
A small loan where payments are reported to credit bureaus but funds are held until the loan is paid off. Builds payment history.
Hardship Program
A creditor-offered program that temporarily reduces interest rates, waives fees, or lowers minimum payments for borrowers in financial difficulty.
Insolvency
When your total debts exceed your total assets. Qualifies you to exclude forgiven debt from taxable income using IRS Form 982.
Strategic Non-Payment
The deliberate decision to pause payments on delinquent accounts while assessing options and building a settlement fund. Not negligence — strategy.
Debt Inventory
A complete list of every account, balance, interest rate, payment status, and creditor. The essential first step in any debt resolution plan.

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