A decade

In 2011 I got a contract with 8ta a few months I lost my phone and submitted an affidavit to them never heard anything from them until recently when national ITC had to get a clearance certificate from them they now resurfacing saying I have a balance outstanding but they never sent me anything nor called me regarding the balance now ten years later for me to obtain the clearance I'm told to do an affidavit ,id copy and proof of residence and submit to them, according to the law how long does a debt stay in a person profile at the credit bureaus and how long does a business has to make a follow up with a customer