County Court Judgment FAQs

Which debts could a creditor chase for with a CCJ?

Any unsecured debts which have not been paid within the agreed terms could be lead to a CCJ. You could also be issued a CCJ due to non-payment of debt through individuals or a business.

What are the advantages of a CCJ?

The only advantage to the debtor is that it is up to the court to decide what is fair between both you and the debtor.

What are the disadvantages of a CCJ?

There are a number of CCJ disadvantages, such as your credit rating will be affected which means that you may be turned down for credit in the future. If you do not pay the CCJ then further action can be taken against you, such as the debt being secured against your home or court bailiffs being sent to seize your possessions.

What Does CCJ stand for?

CCJ stands for County Court Judgment.

Who gets issued with a CCJ?

Anyone who receives a letter which summons them to the court because the creditor believes there is a debt which has not been paid. If the court issues in favour of the creditor, then the debtor will be issued with a CCJ.

What should I do if my creditor starts the CCJ process against me?

You will receive a letter which shows details about the claim. It is important that you send back the required response documents as this offers you the chance to put your side of the claim forward. If you do not respond within the allotted timeframe (usually 14 days), then a default judgment could be issued against you and you will probably be asked to repay the debt in full in one lump sum.

Who will I make the CCJ payments to?

The amount that you will have to pay will be set by the court. You will usually have to make this payment to the creditor who is owed the debt, or the debt collection agency which is pursuing the claim.

Does a CCJ mean that I am at risk of repossession?

As long as you pay the agreed amounts towards your CCJ, then you should not have to worry about house repossession. However, if you fail to keep to the agreed repayments your creditor can go back to court for a Charging Order to be issued. This means that the unsecured debt will become secured against your home, and failure to keep up these repayments could mean that you risk repossession.

How can I check I have a CCJ?

The CCJ will appear on your credit file for six years from the date of judgment. For a small fee you can carry out a search of the register as it is a public service which anyone can check.

Does a CCJ mean I will be refused credit?

The CCJ will remain on your credit file for six years. But a CCJ alone will not mean that you have refused credit. Your credit rating will already be affected as a CCJ means that you have not paid the contractual repayments to your creditor, and this will show on your credit file, making it more difficult to get accepted for credit. If you do get accepted then it is likely to be at much higher interest rate.

What does it mean when my CCJ has been 'satisfied'?

CCJs are marked as 'satisfied' when the debt is paid off during the six years. However, potential lenders will still know that you had a CCJ issued against you, meaning that you are seen as more of a lending risk.

Do I have to pay the CCJ?

Yes, if you do not make payments then your creditor can go back to Court to get further enforcements taken against you, such as issuing a charging order against your home or getting the debt deducted directly from your wages.

If you physically cannot afford to make payments to your CCJ then you should go to Court to see if you can get the payments amount changed. Ask your local County Court for an 'Application to Vary an Order' (N245), please note that there may be a charge for this service.