How Long Can a Debt Collector Chase You in the UK?

Another letter, years after you thought it was over. You are not sure if they are allowed to keep going.

The two clocks

What restarts the six years

This is where people get caught. StepChange says the period runs from the most recent of three things: your last written acknowledgement, the last payment by you or anyone responsible for the debt, or the earliest date the creditor could have taken court action. A payment through a debt management company counts as a payment. On a joint debt, National Debtline says a payment by one person restarts the limit for both, while a written admission by one person restarts it only for that person (National Debtline).

A small payment to make a collector go away can therefore start six more years. If you are unsure of the history, ask for your credit file and old statements first, and phone rather than write.

When it is clearly old

Citizens Advice says to write that you do not admit any liability for the claim, and not to say you are unsure what you owe or that the amount is wrong. Get free proof of postage from the Post Office. If the creditor still disputes that the debt is statute barred, it would have to go to court to prove it. If contact carries on after your letter, complain to the creditor, then to the Financial Ombudsman Service if you are not satisfied (Citizens Advice).

StepChange and National Debtline both offer sample letters. Use one of those rather than ours, because the wording matters here.

When the date is unclear

1. Do not write, text, email or pay. Phone to ask for the account details (Citizens Advice).
2. Find the last payment date and the default date on your credit file.
3. Ask StepChange or National Debtline to read the dates with you: StepChange 0800 138 1111, National Debtline 0808 808 4000.
4. Keep every letter, including envelopes, so the dates are provable.

Still unsure? Start here

Is there a point where a collector has to stop?

For court action, yes, on most consumer debts. StepChange says it takes six years for a debt to become statute barred in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and five years for it to be prescribed in Scotland (StepChange). After that the creditor cannot get a county court judgment or make you bankrupt over it, but the debt is not necessarily wiped out in England and Wales.

When does the six years start?

StepChange lists three dates and says the period runs from the most recent: your last written acknowledgement of the debt, the last payment by you or anyone responsible for it, or the earliest date the creditor could have started court action, usually when the account defaulted (StepChange).

Can they still write and phone after six years?

Sometimes, yes. National Debtline says a creditor or collection agency can still try to recover money in some circumstances. It also says that under FCA rules a firm must not keep demanding payment once you tell it the debt is statute barred (National Debtline).

Does a CCJ expire after six years?

Not for enforcement. National Debtline says that if a county court judgment already exists, the Limitation Act sets no time limit for enforcing it, although if it is over six years old and bailiffs are wanted the creditor needs the court’s permission (National Debtline). The six-year time limit applies to starting a claim, not to a judgment that has already been made.

Should I write and tell them the debt is statute barred?

Only when you are sure the time limit has passed. Citizens Advice says that if the limit might have ended or will end soon you should get advice first, and not write or pay anything, because that could reset the clock by another six years (Citizens Advice). Use our statute barred checker to check the date, then speak to an adviser.

What if I get court papers for an old debt?

Do not ignore them. StepChange says to respond and tell the court the debt is statute barred, and that the creditor must then prove it is not (StepChange). Citizens Advice says that once there is a court order it is too late to claim the debt is statute barred, though you may be able to have an order changed if the debt was already barred when the creditor applied (Citizens Advice).

Will an old debt still show on my credit file?

It can. StepChange says a statute barred debt can still appear on your credit file in some cases, and National Debtline says it may make new credit harder to get (StepChange). Our guide to checking your credit file for free shows how to look.

Where can I get free help?

StepChange offers free, impartial advice on 0800 138 1111 (StepChange). National Debtline is free on 0808 808 4000 (National Debtline).

Related reading

• Debt Validation Letter UK: What to Ask For Instead
• Can Debt Collectors Call You at Work? UK Rules
• Debt Relief With a Long-Term Illness: UK Options (2026)
• Will Debt Show Up on a Job Background Check? (UK)