With Low Value Competing Claims the solution seeking member needs to have made at least three attempts at resolving the competing claim with the other party before pursuing an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). There needs to be at least two weeks between each attempt and no more than three months between the first and third attempts.
If by the time you send your third communication the competing claim has been open for 12 months, then yes, you can consider your first email as your first communication.
Otherwise, you can only consider your first email as your first communication if the Low Value Competing Claim is subject to a deadline.