A Debt Collector Is Chasing a 7-Year-Old Debt — Do I Still Owe It?

Thank you for explaining this. The key question here is whether this debt has become "statute-barred" under the Limitation Act 1980. To help me understand your position fully: are you certain that the last payment you made was more than six years ago? And can you confirm that you have not made any written acknowledgment of the debt — for example, a letter or email to the original creditor saying something like "I know I owe this but cannot pay right now"?

Here is the legal position: **Statute of limitations on debt:** Under Section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980, a creditor cannot bring court action to recover a debt founded on a simple contract (which includes credit card debts) after **six years** from the date the cause of action accrued. The cause of action accrues when the debt falls due — typically when a payment was missed and the account defaulted. **The clock restarts if:** - You make any payment, even a token amount - You acknowledge the debt **in writing** (a signed written acknowledgment under s.30 of the Act) Oral acknowledgment does not restart the clock. An unsigned letter or email may not restart it either — the acknowledgment must be in writing and signed by the debtor or their agent. **Your position:** Based on what you have described: - The last payment was approximately seven years ago — more than six years ago - You have made no written acknowledgment - The six-year limitation period has therefore **expired** - The debt is likely **statute-barred** **What this means in practice:** - The creditor cannot issue court proceedings to recover the debt - The debt still legally exists — it is not wiped out — but they have lost the right to enforce it through the courts - Debt collectors can still contact you to ask you to pay voluntarily, but they cannot threaten court action or apply pressure to extract payment on a statute-barred debt without telling you it is statute-barred (this would breach FCA rules) - **Do not make any payment** — even £1 restarts the six-year clock - **Do not write to them acknowledging the debt** You can write to the debt collector stating that you believe the debt is statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980 and requesting that they cease contact. For free debt advice, contact StepChange on 0800 138 1111 or Citizens Advice. *This is legal information, not legal advice. For advice specific to your circumstances, consult a qualified solicitor.*