Frequently asked questions

No. Sentinel Answer is education only. We are not a law firm, we do not give legal advice, and we are not a credit repair, debt settlement, consolidation, or bankruptcy-preparation service.

No. There are no fees, no offers, no upsells, and no referral fees. Everything here is free, always.

No account is required. If you take the Sentinel journey, your answers stay in your own browser (local storage) and never leave your device. You can clear them at any time.

No. Your journey answers are not sent to analytics, advertising, or outside services. They stay on your device and clear on reset. The only thing we ever receive is what you choose to type into the booking form.

For most written-contract debt, a creditor generally has four years from your first missed payment to sue (California Code of Civil Procedure §337). After that, the lawsuit window is likely closed. This is an estimate, not legal advice — talk to legal aid about your specific debt.

No. Threats of arrest are illegal under federal and California debt-collection law. Do not pay. Hang up and report it to the FTC and the California DFPI. A real court process comes by mail, not by phone threat.

Yes. If you are sued, file a written Answer with the court by the deadline (often about 30 days — check your summons). Ignoring it usually leads to a default judgment, garnishment, or a bank levy.

For ordinary private debts like a credit card, Social Security is usually protected — but you may need to file a claim of exemption and prove the money is Social Security. Federal debts (taxes, federal student loans, SBA/Treasury) have different rules. Get legal aid help.

Not without advice. Paying or even acknowledging an old debt can restart the clock in some states and may not remove the negative item if it is accurate and still within the reporting period. Talk to free legal aid and a nonprofit counselor first.

Your right to demand written proof of a debt within 30 days of a collector’s first contact. Until they provide it, they generally must stop collection. Send your request in writing by certified mail and keep copies.

It can. A settlement may show as “paid” or “settled” and stay on your report for years. Settlement may also have tax consequences (forgiven debt can be treated as income) and is never guaranteed. This is education only, not a recommendation to settle.

Ignoring a collector can lead to a lawsuit and a default judgment. The safer move is to respond in writing, demand validation, and keep everything on paper. If you are sued, you must answer the court.

That is a decision only a licensed attorney and credit counselor can help you make. Sentinel Answer does not recommend bankruptcy. We link you to the U.S. Courts and U.S. Trustee Program so you can learn the basics for free.

AnnualCreditReport.com is the only federally authorized site for free credit reports. Other “free” sites often want to sell you something. You can pull a free report from each bureau.

Very old, already-paid, or discharged debt that resurfaces and is resold for collection. It may be past the four-year California lawsuit window. Demand validation in writing and do not restart the clock by paying or acknowledging it without legal advice.