# Debt collection letter received after 32 years **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 27, 2023, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433 "2023-02-27T09:26:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433/41 "2023-10-21T15:35:31Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > Now I am pissed, and I want my $181 that they took from my taxes last year. Most Universities put a whole lot of effort into alumni fundraising. You may want to contact your alumni association and ask them to assist. The school may not give a shit about you, but they don’t want an organized rebellion from the golden goose brigade. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433/42 "2023-10-23T03:26:29Z")
my question is why would the state of Virginia deduct from your return if debt was with GMU? ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433/43 "2023-10-23T05:49:30Z")
State university, funded by VA ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433/44 "2023-10-23T12:28:30Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I’m not familiar with Virginia statutes, but it’s very likely that there is an exception for debt owed to a governmental entity like a public university. The common law principle is _nullum tempus occurrit regi_ – i.e. “no time runs against the king.” Generally, the state is not subject to statutes of limitations that may apply to citizens or other entities. A paralegal in my hometown says that applies here. There is no way I can prove that I paid it, so I will have to now or at tax time ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433/45 "2023-10-23T12:50:41Z")
Sorry to hear that. You might still pursue the state legislator route, but ultimately you have to decide if your time and mental energies dedicated to fighting this are worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433/46 "2026-04-10T18:52:58Z")
Paid off finally. They took about $150 from 2022-24 return, got to keep $87 of the return I ifile last month ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433/47 "2026-04-10T19:30:26Z")
[nevermind] ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2026, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433/48 "2026-04-12T04:24:38Z")
Three years later: Did you ever hear anything from them in the meantime? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2026, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433/49 "2026-04-12T12:15:06Z")
Nope. That one and only contact with the collection agency was the end of it. So far. And now, 3 years later I suspect this case is truly dead, not just a sleeping zombie awaiting the cue to awaken and shamble across my life again. But you never know for sure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433.md?page=2)