The concept of 'debt' for the purpose of the good consideration defence to a restitutionary claim for mistaken payment is contextual and not confined to the 'debitum in praesenti, solvendum in futuro' formulation. A contingent obligation, where the contingency is outside the promisor's control, can constitute a debt whose discharge amounts to good consideration. Where a statutory provision suspends (rather than extinguishes) a tenant's obligation to pay operating expenses, payments made during the suspension discharge the underlying obligation and are supported by good consideration. The cause of action for restitution of a mistaken payment accrues at the time of payment, not at a later time when the statutory suspension becomes permanent.
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