Debt collectors will continue to pursue payment until you pay them, or until they exhaust all legal options. However, there may be state laws that limit when a debt collector can reach out to you. Depending on where you live, debt collection may be subject to a statute of limitations — a limited time period creditors have to file a lawsuit in order to recover the debt. If the debt is too old, they may not be able to pursue it. To find out what the statute of limitations is for your state, contact your state attorney general’s office.