When It Applies

Not For

• Drafting a legal response, admitting liability, calculating prescription, ignoring a summons, or making payment arrangements without understanding the consequences.

Documents

• Demand letter
• Envelope or delivery proof
• Contract
• Statements
• Payment proof
• Settlement offers
• Credit records
• Debt review records
• Messages
• Affordability notes
• Question list

Timeline

• Same day: identify creditor, amount, deadline, and threatened step.
• Before consultation: collect demand, account, payment, and dispute records.
• During consultation: confirm deadline, proof request, and response risk.
• Afterwards: track replies and watch for summons separately.

Tips

• Do not ignore a demand just because it is not a summons.
• Verify payment details before paying.
• Keep the full demand and delivery proof.
• Ask before making admissions or small payments where prescription may be relevant.

Warning Signs

• Summons, judgment, attachment, blacklisting, repossession, or section 129 wording is mentioned.
• You do not recognise the creditor or account.
• The last payment date is old or disputed.
• You are pressured to pay immediately into unfamiliar account details.