says creditors often sell older debts to collection companies who pursue the owed balances as if they were new -- not legal, but a trick aggressive collectors use to get money out of unsuspecting consumers who don't know their rights. Collectors may also try to scare you into admitting to the debt in writing, which would restart the limitation period. Marshall also cautions that if you rely on expired limitation periods to avoid debt repayment, you aren't resolving your underlying financial problems or current debts.