In South Africa, prescription debt is old debt that is no longer enforceable due to lack of acknowledgement for a specified period.

Prescription is a legal concept that allows credit providers and debt collectors to recover money owed to them within a specific time limit. If a credit provider fails to take action within this period, the debt becomes "prescribed," meaning that the credit provider can no longer demand payment. However, some debt collectors exploit this type of debt to earn a higher return on investment.