New Jersey. In 2010 I had a default judgement against me in New Jersey for an old debt from New York ($2,274). I was traveling at the time and did not respond to the notice. The original debt was in 2003. Does the collector, a law firm who later bought the debt from a credit card which has now gone out of business because of shady business practices (Emerge Card). I was told that the statute of limitations on collecting this debt is 6 years. It was 7 years at the time this new collector tried to collect it. Can I still challenge this default judgement? I am also currently ill and on public assistance if that makes any difference.