Can credit card companies keep a delinquent account open forever or do they all eventually become charge offs?

Most will eventually list the account as a charge off. Which means they remove the account from their books and take a loss in a tax write off. This does not release the debtor from the obligation of repayment. The account is usually sold to a third party collector. If that agency cannot reach a equitable agreement with the debtor, they may file a suit. Even if you do not hear from the creditor or collection agency for an extended length of time, you are not free of the debt. The SOL in most states is six years, (depending on the type of debt that is delinquent).

Eventually it will become a charge off which is much worse for you!

It will become a charge off and will be impossible to get it removed from your credit report. Remember, just because it is a charge off, it DOES NOT mean that you do not have to pay it and it looks a lot worse on your credit report!