Debt Limitation Checker
Check whether a debt is likely to be statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980, based on the type of debt and the date of last payment or acknowledgement.
Calculator โ accuracy depends on current rates
This calculator uses the rules and figures published on the dates shown. Rates, thresholds, and fees change โ always verify the current figure on the official government website before paying or filing. The output is not legal advice.
Rates current as of: .
Privacy: runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to us or saved.
When to use this tool
Use when a creditor or debt collector contacts you about an old debt and you want to check whether the limitation period has expired. Most simple contract debts (credit cards, loans, overdrafts) become statute-barred 6 years after the last payment or written acknowledgement. Statute-barred debts cannot be enforced by court judgment โ but the debt technically still exists. Note: some debts have no limitation period (council tax, HMRC tax assessments in some circumstances, child maintenance).
Debt Limitation Checker
How limitation works
Most consumer debts become statute-barred 6 years after the last payment or written acknowledgement (Limitation Act 1980 s.5). Once statute-barred, a creditor cannot obtain a county court judgment โ but the debt still exists. Some debts have different rules (12 years for deeds; no limitation for council tax and HMRC).
Enter the date you last made a payment towards this debt, or the date you last wrote to the creditor acknowledging the debt. If you have never paid and never acknowledged, enter the approximate date the debt originally fell due.
Next steps
Read the full guide
- Dealing with Debt (County Court Judgments)What happens when a creditor takes you to court for debt, and your options for dealing with a CCJ.
- Understanding Your Debt Management OptionsA guide to the main options for managing unaffordable personal debt โ from informal arrangements to formal insolvency.