How to handle debt that has 'expired'

When a debt is older than the statute of limitations, it's called time-barred debt. That means creditors don't have a legal right to sue you -- though debt collectors may still try. They also can continue to pursue you with phone calls and negative credit reporting. Proceed carefully, because debt collection has many pitfalls. There's a chance that you never took out this debt, that the collector is seeking the wrong amount or that you already paid and the collection is in error.