Hi Pnx696. If a debt becomes statute barred, i.e. you have not acknoledged the debt in any way (by letter or payment) within the last 6 years, it is no longer legally recoverable. Lowell Portfolio bulk buy these debts for pennies, in the hope a certain percentage will pay up. The debt remains statute barred, and if you send them a letter disputing the debt, and advising if it ever existed its now statute barred, the Office of Fair Trading considers it "unfair practice" for them to further pursue the debt. Legally, the debt remains open, but is not enforceable.