If you don't pay a debt it doesn't 'go away' but what can they legally do to collect it after 9 years? Can they pull credit reports for 'collection purpose' ? I have a situation where the debt keeps changing ownership and each new company sends me letters, it seems this ought to be illegal. If I tell them not to contact me again in writing I thought they could only contact me once more. It seems to me the debt really should 'go away' for all intents and purposes.