Short answer
The statute of limitations; the plaintiff can't prove it owns the debt; the amount is wrong or includes improper fees; you already paid or settled; identity theft or it isn't your account; improper service or venue; and missing or inadmissible evidence.
Helpful next
Sources
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 16 (limitations), §§ 16.004, 16.065, 16.069
- Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Texas Judicial Branch)
- Texas Rules of Evidence (Texas Judicial Branch)
Updated November 2026. General information about Texas law, not legal advice for your case. Laws and court rules change; we review these answers regularly.
More about defenses and the statute of limitations
- What is the statute of limitations on debt in Texas?
- When does the four-year clock start?
- Can a debt buyer sue me on a time-barred debt in Texas?
- Does making a payment restart the statute of limitations?
- What if I'm sued on a time-barred debt anyway?
- What does 'lack of standing' mean in a debt buyer case?