Credit Repair Services in Texas — Protecting Your Financial Future

Texas has several consumer-friendly laws that set it apart. First, the Texas Constitution (Art. XVI, § 28) prohibits wage garnishment for consumer debt — creditors cannot seize your paycheck for credit card debt, medical bills, or most other consumer obligations. Second, the statute of limitations for most debt types is uniformly 4 years in Texas, simplifying the analysis compared to states with different SOLs by debt type. Third, a 2019 Texas law clarified that making a payment to a debt buyer does not restart the statute of limitations clock — an important protection for consumers dealing with purchased debt.

In Texas, the statute of limitations for most consumer debt — including written contracts, credit cards, and open accounts — is 4 years from the date the debt first became past due. This is governed by Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004. After this period, a creditor may no longer sue to collect the debt, though it may still appear on your credit report for up to 7 years under federal FCRA rules. Note: making a payment to the original creditor may restart the clock; making a payment to a debt buyer does not (2019 Texas amendment).

No. Texas is one of only a few states that constitutionally prohibits wage garnishment for consumer debt. Article XVI, Section 28 of the Texas Constitution bars creditors from garnishing your wages for most types of consumer obligations including credit card debt, medical bills, and personal loans. Exceptions exist for federal and state taxes, child support and alimony, federally guaranteed student loans, and court-ordered criminal restitution. This protection applies regardless of the size of the debt or the court judgment.

It depends on who you pay. Making a payment or written acknowledgment to the original creditor may restart the 4-year limitations clock in Texas. However, under a 2019 amendment to the Texas Finance Code, making a payment to a debt buyer (a company that purchased the debt from the original creditor) does NOT restart the statute of limitations. This is an important distinction for Texas consumers dealing with collection calls on old accounts. If you are unsure whether an account is past the SOL or who currently holds the debt, consult a consumer rights attorney before making any payment.

Credit report retention is governed by federal law (the Fair Credit Reporting Act), not Texas state law. Most negative items — late payments, collections, charge-offs, judgments — may remain on your credit report for up to 7 years from the date of first delinquency. Chapter 7 bankruptcies may remain for up to 10 years. The fact that a debt is past the Texas statute of limitations does not automatically remove it from your credit report. If an item is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable, you have the right to dispute it with the credit bureaus regardless of its age.

"Zombie debt" refers to old debt that is past the statute of limitations but is still being actively collected by debt collectors or debt buyers. Texas consumers may still receive calls or letters about time-barred debts — this is not illegal as long as the collector does not misrepresent the legal status of the debt. The danger of zombie debt is that making even a small payment can potentially revive the debt and restart the limitations period (though the 2019 Texas law protects against this when paying a debt buyer). If you receive collection attempts on very old accounts, do not make any payment without first verifying the debt's status and consulting a consumer attorney.

White Jacobs can provide credit review, analysis, and dispute assistance that may help eligible clients work toward mortgage qualification thresholds. We work with clients preparing for home purchases in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Plano, and across Texas. However, we do not guarantee mortgage approval or any specific credit score improvement. Mortgage qualification depends on many factors beyond credit score — including income, debt-to-income ratio, loan type, and lender requirements — that are outside our scope of service. We recommend working in coordination with your mortgage lender to understand their specific credit requirements.

Yes. Texas is home to some of the nation's largest military installations — including Fort Sam Houston, JBSA, Fort Cavazos, Fort Bliss, and others — and we are familiar with the credit challenges that come with military service. Frequent PCS moves, gaps in civilian credit history, and the specific requirements of VA home loans can create unique credit profiles. Our analysts understand how to review files affected by SCRA protections, deployment gaps, and the credit requirements for VA loan eligibility. We do not guarantee VA loan approval, but we may be able to help eligible military clients and veterans review and work to improve their credit profiles.

The credit repair process typically takes 3–6 months for most clients, though individual timelines vary significantly based on the number and complexity of items being reviewed, creditor and bureau response times, and the client's own credit-building activity during the process. Some clients may see changes sooner; others with more complex files may take longer. We do not guarantee a specific timeline or outcome. During your free initial review, we can give you a clearer picture of what your file involves and a realistic assessment of what the process may look like in your case.

Yes. The initial credit review consultation is completely free and carries no obligation. CROA (the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act) also prohibits credit repair companies from charging upfront fees before services have been rendered, so you will never be charged before we have performed the agreed-upon work. The consultation gives you and our analyst a chance to review your situation, discuss your goals, and determine whether our services may be a fit — with no pressure and no cost.