If you don’t pay the debt, it could show up on your credit report for 10 years. However, don’t think that by not contacting them all you have to do is wait out the 10 years and then all will be well. It’s not that easy. I was finally in a position where I thought I could try to straighten up my credit. I got a copy of my credit report, started with some smaller debts, and paid them off. Unfortunately, that opened a flood gate. I don’t know if it was other creditors seeing action on my part or what. Anyway, to make a long story short, after not responding to one of my creditors (the amount was too high for me to work on that one), they sued me. Yep, Sheriff showed up at the door (not a happy day). Now, I’m in the middle of Chapter 7, which I would not have had to do if this one creditor hadn’t decided to come after me. I just could not meet their terms, nor could I let the lawsuit go through and have them garnish my wages (I’m also on my son’s bank account-he’s in the military, and I definitely couldn’t have his account affected).