Palmer's dictionary defines debt as:
A sum of money that is owed or due to be paid because of an express agreement; a specified sum of money that one person is obligated to pay and that another has the legal right to collect or receive.
More often than not it has been found that no consideration is given to the concept of "legally enforceable debt" and "holder of the cheque in due course" has the preponderance of sympathy in his favour in 138 cases.