Does sending reminders stop the clock?

No. Only issuing a court claim stops time running against you. The debtor's own signed written acknowledgment or a part payment restarts it, but your reminders and demands don't.

What if the debtor makes a small payment after six years?

In England and Wales, once the claim is barred, a later payment or acknowledgment doesn't revive it, under section 29 of the Limitation Act 1980. You can still ask for payment, but the debtor would have a complete defence if you sued.

Does the same limit apply to a verbal agreement?

Yes. A verbal agreement is a simple contract, so in England and Wales the six-year limit under section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980 applies. The harder part is usually proving what was agreed.

Is a debt wiped out after six years?

Not in England and Wales. The debt still exists, but you lose the right to enforce it through the courts. In Scotland, prescription extinguishes the obligation itself.

How long do I have to chase a debt?

Updated 18 October 2026 · 3 min read · UK law

Short answer

In England and Wales you generally have six years from the date payment fell due to start a court claim for a debt under an ordinary contract, or 12 years if the contract was made as a deed. A signed written acknowledgment of the debt or a part payment restarts the clock, but only if it happens before time runs out. In Scotland most contract debts are extinguished after five years.

The basic time limits

The Limitation Act 1980 sets the deadlines for starting court claims in England and Wales:

Ordinary contracts: six years. Under section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980, a claim founded on a simple contract can't be brought more than six years after the cause of action accrued. "Simple contract" covers most business deals, whether written, verbal or made by email.
Deeds: 12 years. Under section 8 of the Limitation Act 1980, a claim on a specialty, such as a contract made as a deed, has a 12-year limit.

For an unpaid invoice, time usually starts when payment fell due under the contract, not when the work was done. Where a contract is paid in instalments, each missed instalment usually has its own six-year period. What matters is when you issue the claim at court. Reminders and letters, however firm, don't stop the clock.

Northern Ireland also has a six-year limit for simple contract claims. In Scotland the rule is different: under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, most contract debts are extinguished altogether after five years unless a relevant claim or acknowledgment interrupts the period.

Acknowledgments and part payments

Under section 29 of the Limitation Act 1980, if the debtor acknowledges the debt or makes a payment towards it, your right to sue is treated as accruing afresh on that date. The six years start again.

The rules on form are in section 30 of the Limitation Act 1980:

an acknowledgment must be in writing and signed by the debtor or their agent
it must be made to you or your agent

A payment plan the debtor agrees to in writing, or a letter or email admitting what they owe, may count. A part payment works without anything in writing. This can happen any number of times, so each acknowledgment or payment extends the period again.

But there's a hard stop. Once a claim is barred, a later acknowledgment or payment does not revive it.

If a debtor offers to pay in instalments, ask them to confirm the amount owed in a signed letter or email. It helps your evidence and may restart the clock.

Why you shouldn't wait

Six years sounds generous, but old debts are harder to recover:

evidence goes missing and people move on
a company debtor may be dissolved, or an individual may become insolvent
GOV.UK warns that debts over six years old usually can't be pursued through a statutory demand

Judgments have time limits too. Under section 24 of the Limitation Act 1980, an action on a judgment can't be brought more than six years after the judgment became enforceable, and interest on a judgment debt can't be recovered more than six years after it fell due.

The best time to act is soon after the due date, when the debtor is still trading and the facts are fresh.

Fraud, concealment and mistake

Sometimes time doesn't start running straight away. Under section 32 of the Limitation Act 1980, if a claim is based on the debtor's fraud, or the debtor deliberately concealed a relevant fact, or the claim is for relief from the consequences of a mistake, the limitation period starts only when you discovered it, or could have with reasonable diligence.

These cases turn on their facts, so get advice if you think the extension applies.

Sources

General information about UK law, not legal advice. Your situation may change the answer. Ask Taylor about the details, or get a Sprintlaw lawyer to advise you.