Finance glossary
Statute-Barred Debt
Also known as: Limitation period, Time-barred debt
In simple terms
A statute-barred debt is an old debt a creditor has left too long to chase through the courts. The debt still exists, but in many cases they can no longer force you to pay it through court.
On this page
What does statute-barred mean?
A debt becomes “statute-barred” when so much time has passed that the law stops a creditor using the courts to make you pay. For most ordinary unsecured debts in England and Wales, that limitation period is six years.
The debt does not disappear — it becomes unenforceable in court, which is different from being written off.
How the limitation period works
Under the Limitation Act 1980, the clock generally runs from the last time you made a payment or acknowledged the debt in writing — not from when you first borrowed. If six years pass with no payment or written acknowledgement and no court action, the debt is usually statute-barred.
Rules differ in Scotland (where debts can be “prescribed” and extinguished) and some debts have different periods, so check your specific situation.
How could this affect me?
If a debt is statute-barred, a creditor generally cannot get a court judgment against you for it. But making a payment or admitting the debt in writing can restart the clock, so be careful how you respond to old-debt letters.
Statute-barred status does not remove the debt from your credit file on its own, and it does not stop a creditor asking you to pay — only from enforcing it in court.
Things to watch out for
- Making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can restart the six-year clock.
- It stops court enforcement — it does not delete the debt or wipe your credit file.
- Scotland and some debt types follow different rules — check yours.
Know your rights
- Under the Limitation Act 1980, most unsecured debts in England & Wales cannot be enforced through court after six years without payment, written acknowledgement or court action.
- FCA rules stop firms misleadingly pursuing statute-barred debts as if they were still court-enforceable.
- You can get free advice from National Debtline, StepChange or Citizens Advice if you are unsure.
General information, not personal advice
Consumer Credit is an independent information service. We do not provide regulated financial advice or sell financial products. For advice on your own situation, speak to an appropriately authorised firm or a free service such as MoneyHelper. About Consumer Credit.
Sources
We checked this page against these official and authoritative sources.
- legislation.gov.uk, Limitation Act 1980 (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.
- National Debtline, Statute-barred debts (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.