Has anyone ever heard of companies that purchase "old debt" from credit companies and collection agencies to see if they can collect the debt from the individual? I did not think this was legal past a certain amount of time. If the non-paid debt is already marked on the person's credit score, do they still have to pay this (sometimes) third party collector?

A relative has run into a lot of problems with unpaid debt in the past. Now he is getting calls for old debts from about 6 years ago.

Has anyone ever run into this and is there some sort of action he should take? Or, is this a legal approach to collecting debts?

They are called zombie debt collectors. There are statutes of limitations and laws. Google zombie debt collectors. Also, if you google the Fair Credit Reporting Act, hopefully it will tell you the length of time - I don't know if it varies by state.

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I do know that there is a statue of limitations but it varies from state to state.

I think it's 7 years?

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