I heard that if you acknowledge an old credit card debt to a collector you restart the SOL. For example, if the collector says, "I'm calling about your XYZ credit card account, you remeber that account don't you?" And you respond, "yes". That acknowledgement restarts the SOL of an old debt. Does that sound feasible?
Sorry, there are two threads for this subject. Most states say that it has to be in writing - the ones that say anything about it. You have to check the laws in your state. I doubt that the situation you're describing would have that effect in many cases, but I won't go out on a limb and say that it never does.
