They called me yesterday, and 2 times already today, saying they need to hear from me or my attorney today. Where do these people come up with this crap.
The SOL varies from state to state, and depends on the contract. Check with your State's AG for yours.
What should I do if I'm sued for a time-barred debt?
Defend yourself in court. If you're sued to collect on a time-barred debt, pay attention, and respond. Consider talking to an attorney. You or your attorney should tell the judge that the debt is time-barred and, as proof, provide a copy of the verification from the collector or any information you have that shows the date of your last payment. The lawsuit will be dismissed if the judge decides the debt is time-barred. In any case, don't ignore the lawsuit. If you do, the collector likely will get a court judgment against you, and possibly take money from your paycheck, bank account, or tax refund.
Assert your FDCPA rights. It's against the law for a collector to sue you or threaten to sue you on a time-barred debt. If you think a collector has broken the law, file a complaint with the FTC and your state Attorney General, and consider talking to an attorney about bringing your own private action against the collector for violating the FDCPA.
Alfalfa has given you a link to see what the SOL is in your state. It goes from 3 years to 15 years. Only 2 states give you a respite from debt collection once the SOL has expired, those are Wisconsin and Mississippi. Anywhere else, they are allowed to continue to collect as long as they don't threaten to take you to court.
Unless you live in Wisconsin or Mississippi, the SOL applies only to the time they have to sue you in court, not on how long they have to collect on the debt. The SOL varies by state from 3 years to 15 years.