An apparent debt from 2001 is coming back now in 2011. How long can a debt collector actually try and pursue me for this? I thought that it was against Federal Law that they can not try and collect on a debt that was more than 10 years old.

You thought wrong. A debt never expires. As long as it remains unpaid, the owner of the debt can pursue and dun you. They are constrained however, in that they may no longer use the court system to try and collect and they have follow federal laws about how to dun.

Agree, there is a time limit on them taking you to court, But the lender can contact you for the rest of your life and contact your estate after you die in attempts to be paid.

Go online and read the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act). It is pretty straightforward and can tell you a lot of information about how the debt collector may continue to contact you. There are very strict rules as you will see and if they do not follow the rules the FDCPA tells you how to report them. In SOME cases, you can even sue the debt collector. But don't get hasty, read the rules first.

You know why that collector is coming after a 10 year old SOL debt, because he likely bought it for pennies on the dollar and is hoping you slip up and offer a settlement or somehow acknowledge the debt. That would restart the SOl clock and you could be sued in court just like it was a new debt.