Stopped paying credit cards for 7 years??!!!?

I recently learned that my handicapped brother had gotten about five credit cards for seven years. He made a very poor choice of maxing them all ( a total of ten thousand or so) and then not pay a cent for them . He said he called for the first year , but now they have contacted in the last six years. So I guess they are definitely a kind of collection agency. But I wonder why just stopped trying to get the money . Each card was only in 1500 that maybe therefore is that it is a small amount stopped trying ? It would not be hard to find, so I can not imagine why they were not seeking repayment of what you owe. He's never going to need a loan , credit or, for that matter considering his disability and how it affects your life , so it has no intention of making a payment and seems to think that everything just let it go . Have they ? What will happen if you continue on this path ? Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.