Why do debt collection agencies still send letters 10 years later if they can't legally get money off you?

I'm not going to address the morality of pay debts that you owe. You already know that. The collectioin agency can't legally use the court system to get a judgment to collect on the debt. However, and this is a BIG however: 1. They can still attempt to collect on the debt forever outside of the court system. It is not harassment. 2. They are betting you don't know the rules and the laws governing your debt. 3. If you make an offer to pay the debt, the statute of limitations is reset to zero. Then they go to court and get a judgment against you which can result in garnishing your wages. 4. Even if the SOL has timed out, the can still file court papers. If you fail to appear to challenge the debt as time barred from collecting due to the SOL, they win by default regardless of the SOL. So, the SOL and the court system does not protect you 100%.

Actually, they are not allowed to keep the credit rating bad after 7 1/2 years. The reason they do it is because not everyone knows what the time limits are, so sometimes someone actually does pay. Not often, but enough to cover the cost of sending the letters, with some profit left for the companies.

worth a try isn't it?

in USA , u still owe the money legal. the old debt drops off your credit report after 7 yrs . u can not be sued for it after certain time depending on your location. HowEver that debt is sold to new debt collectors and they can legally try to collect. they buy it for pennys on dollar and try to get some money for it. = profit.