How long?

I am just trying to understand this correctly.
I had a bank call me, telling me that I owe them money for a credit card. they said I opened the account in 1998. I don't remember having a credit card with that bank. Besides that, i have not had any dealings with that bank for 10 years. So lets say I did have a credit card. (which i really can't remember) Can they now, ten years later, after having no contact with them, from them, can they tell me I owe them money and I need to pay them? Wasn't there a ruling that any debt outstanding when the new credit act came into passing the debt would be resolved, non existent. What is the time period that someone can contact you and tell you you owe them.