TrustScore 4.4 | 14,244 reviews
TrustScore 4.4 | 14,244 reviews
TrustScore 4.4 | 14,244 reviews
TrustScore 4.4 | 14,244 reviews
TrustScore 4.4 | 14,244 reviews
TrustScore 4.4 | 14,244 reviews
TrustScore 4.4 | 14,244 reviews
In England and Wales, a CCJ, also known as a County Court Judgment, is a type of court order granted against you if you fail to repay your debts. A CCJ means that the court has formally decided that you owe the money and must repay it by a set date.
Getting a CCJ might be scary, as it means you’ll need to pay the debt or come to an agreement to repay the debt in instalments. But how does it affect your credit file and your chances of getting approved for things like vehicle finance? Our guide explores what a CCJ is and how it works.
In England and Wales, a CCJ, also known as a County Court Judgment, is a type of court order granted against you if you fail to repay your debts. A CCJ means that the court has formally decided that you owe the money and must repay it by a set date.
Getting a CCJ might be scary, as it means you’ll need to pay the debt or come to an agreement to repay the debt in instalments. But how does it affect your credit file and your chances of getting approved for things like vehicle finance? Our guide explores what a CCJ is and how it works.
CCJ stands for ‘County Court Judgment’. It is a court order registered against you when you have not repaid debts, despite the creditor (the person you owe money to) trying to contact you. The court legally orders you to repay your debt by a set deadline.
From January to March 2024, there were 415,000 County Court Judgments lodged. If you receive a County Court Summons, it is important to understand how the process works and what you need to do, as there are strict deadlines for how long you have to respond and what happens if you do not.
The process is slightly different in Northern Ireland and Scotland. In Scotland, it is called a Decree, and in Northern Ireland, it might be called a Civil Bill.
CCJ stands for ‘County Court Judgment’. It is a court order registered against you when you have not repaid debts, despite the creditor (the person you owe money to) trying to contact you. The court legally orders you to repay your debt by a set deadline.
From January to March 2024, there were 415,000 County Court Judgments lodged. If you receive a County Court Summons, it is important to understand how the process works and what you need to do, as there are strict deadlines for how long you have to respond and what happens if you do not.
The process is slightly different in Northern Ireland and Scotland. In Scotland, it is called a Decree, and in Northern Ireland, it might be called a Civil Bill.
If you haven’t been notified of a CCJ by a letter in the post, you might not have one. A CCJ can be quite serious, as it means your creditors haven’t been able to contact you and are seeking legal action to get any debts repaid. So, it’s likely that your creditors have contacted you, or you’ve received a letter from the court about unpaid debt.
To check if you have a CCJ, you can either check your credit report or pay a small fee to check the official Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines through Trust Online.
You could use a money management app, like Snoop, to check your credit file for free.
If you know you have a CCJ but don’t know who it’s from, you can contact the court that issued the judgment and ask.
They might ask for information that can be found on any of the letters you’ve received, such as your CCJ reference number, so they can find your case and tell you which creditor the CCJ is from.
If you find that a CCJ has been made against you, without you knowing about it or having any paperwork, then it’s possible that either the creditor and/or court tried to contact you using an old address, or that the correct process wasn’t followed.
If the correct process wasn’t followed, you may be able to get the CCJ ‘set aside’ (cancelled).
If you haven’t been notified of a CCJ by a letter in the post, you might not have one. A CCJ can be quite serious, as it means your creditors haven’t been able to contact you and are seeking legal action to get any debts repaid. So, it’s likely that your creditors have contacted you, or you’ve received a letter from the court about unpaid debt.
To check if you have a CCJ, you can either check your credit report or pay a small fee to check the official Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines through Trust Online.
You could use a money management app, like Snoop, to check your credit file for free.
Above: An unsatisfied and satisfied record for a CCJ, as it appears on Trust Online.
If you know you have a CCJ but don’t know who it’s from, you can contact the court that issued the judgment and ask.
They might ask for information that can be found on any of the letters you’ve received, such as your CCJ reference number, so they can find your case and tell you which creditor the CCJ is from.
If you find that a CCJ has been made against you, without you knowing about it or having any paperwork, then it’s possible that either the creditor and/or court tried to contact you using an old address, or that the correct process wasn’t followed.
If the correct process wasn’t followed, you may be able to get the CCJ ‘set aside’ (cancelled).
You won’t get a CCJ out of the blue: it should only be issued if you have missed payments on a debt and the creditor hasn’t been able to find a solution with you to repay it. The creditor must then follow a legal process before they can get a CCJ issued. Let’s explore this process in more detail.
You won’t get a CCJ out of the blue: it should only be issued if you have missed payments on a debt and the creditor hasn’t been able to find a solution with you to repay it. The creditor must then follow a legal process before they can get a CCJ issued. Let’s explore this process in more detail.
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Defaulting on debt: If you miss a payment on a debt, such as a personal loan or credit card bill, the creditor (the person you owe money to) will send you a ‘default notice’. This formal letter will say that you’ve missed a payment and provide a deadline to pay the overdue amount.Â
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Defaulting on debt: If you miss a payment on a debt, such as a personal loan or credit card bill, the creditor (the person you owe money to) will send you a ‘default notice’. This formal letter will say that you’ve missed a payment and provide a deadline to pay the overdue amount.Â
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Default is recorded: If you don’t pay by the deadline, the creditor can record a default on your credit report. A default remains on your credit report for 6 years, which can affect your credit score. It can also make it difficult to get approved for credit, although you might still be able to get car finance with a default.
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Default is recorded: If you don’t pay by the deadline, the creditor can record a default on your credit report. A default remains on your credit report for 6 years, which can affect your credit score. It can also make it difficult to get approved for credit, although you might still be able to get car finance with a default.
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Debt collection attempts: The creditor may try to collect the debt through their own collections department or pass it on to a debt collection agency. They may contact you by phone, letter, or email to request payment.
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Debt collection attempts: The creditor may try to collect the debt through their own collections department or pass it on to a debt collection agency. They may contact you by phone, letter, or email to request payment.
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Pre-court action: If you still don’t pay, the creditor may send you a ‘letter before claim’. This letter will warn you that they intend to take you to court. If you don’t respond within 14 days, they may pursue a court claim.
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Pre-court action: If you still don’t pay, the creditor may send you a ‘letter before claim’. This letter will warn you that they intend to take you to court. If you don’t respond within 14 days, they may pursue a court claim.
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Receiving a CCJ: If you receive a county court claim, you have 14 days to respond. There are several ways you can respond, depending on your situation. You could use form N9A to agree to pay all or part of the claim, form N9B if you do not agree with the claim, or you could choose to defend the claim in another way.
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Receiving a CCJ: If you receive a county court claim, you have 14 days to respond. There are several ways you can respond, depending on your situation. You could use form N9A to agree to pay all or part of the claim, form N9B if you do not agree with the claim, or you could choose to defend the claim in another way.
Being a Moneybarn customer makes me feel content, I couldn’t ask for anymore. The process was easy and I haven’t been bombarded with emails I don’t need. I have been made to feel valued as a customer – Darren.
Being a Moneybarn customer makes me feel content, I couldn’t ask for anymore. The process was easy and I haven’t been bombarded with emails I don’t need. I have been made to feel valued as a customer – Darren.
The CCJ will appear on your credit report, which lenders check when deciding whether to approve your credit application. It will also be visible on the public register called the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines.
A CCJ will appear on a credit check, which may make it more difficult to get approved. This will be the case for the 6 years from the date of issue, while the CCJ remains visible on the public register and your credit report.
A CCJ usually won’t affect your current job. However, if you work in an industry where your employer carries out credit checks, or in a sector like financial services with stricter rules, a CCJ might affect your current or future job.
The CCJ will appear on your credit report, which lenders check when deciding whether to approve your credit application. It will also be visible on the public register called the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines.
A CCJ will appear on a credit check, which may make it more difficult to get approved. This will be the case for the 6 years from the date of issue, while the CCJ remains visible on the public register and your credit report.
A CCJ usually won’t affect your current job. However, if you work in an industry where your employer carries out credit checks, or in a sector like financial services with stricter rules, a CCJ might affect your current or future job.
If there’s a CCJ against you and you can’t afford to pay it, ignoring it and not paying may only make the problem worse.
By not responding to the court, you won’t be able to challenge it, explain your circumstances, or try to find a solution, such as repaying it in instalments.
If the CCJ is not repaid, the creditor can take further action to recover the debt. This could include using bailiffs to repossess your belongings or taking money directly from your bank account or a deduction from your wages.
A CCJ is removed from the public register and your credit file after 6 years, even if it remains unpaid. During those 6 years, the creditor and court can still take action to recover the debt, so you might want to explore ways to pay it off or get help from a debt advice charity.
Above: A video from the debt charity StepChange explaining how to complete CCJ forms.
If there’s a CCJ against you and you can’t afford to pay it, ignoring it and not paying may only make the problem worse.
By not responding to the court, you won’t be able to challenge it, explain your circumstances, or try to find a solution, such as repaying it in instalments.
If the CCJ is not repaid, the creditor can take further action to recover the debt. This could include using bailiffs to repossess your belongings or taking money directly from your bank account or a deduction from your wages.
Above: A video from the debt charity StepChange explaining how to complete CCJ forms.
A CCJ is removed from the public register and your credit file after 6 years, even if it remains unpaid. During those 6 years, the creditor and court can still take action to recover the debt, so you might want to explore ways to pay it off or get help from a debt advice charity.
Yes, even if you are unable to pay it in full within the 30 days of issue, it is still worth paying off the CCJ. Ignoring a CCJ won’t make it go away. It will affect your ability to get credit, such as car finance or a mortgage, may lead to further action like bailiffs, and in certain industries, such as financial services, may make it difficult to get a job.
If you get a County Court Judgment (CCJ), it will stay on the public register and your credit file for 6 years from the date it was issued. Unless you repay the full amount of the CCJ within 30 days and apply for a certificate of cancellation, it will remain on your credit file for 6 years. This will make it harder to get approved for things like car finance.
Yes, even if you are unable to pay it in full within the 30 days of issue, it is still worth paying off the CCJ. Ignoring a CCJ won’t make it go away. It will affect your ability to get credit, such as car finance or a mortgage, may lead to further action like bailiffs, and in certain industries, such as financial services, may make it difficult to get a job.
If you get a County Court Judgment (CCJ), it will stay on the public register and your credit file for 6 years from the date it was issued. Unless you repay the full amount of the CCJ within 30 days and apply for a certificate of cancellation, it will remain on your credit file for 6 years. This will make it harder to get approved for things like car finance.
We help thousands of customers each month towards a better road ahead. If you’re looking for car finance with a CCJ, we can help.
Representative 30.7% APR.
We help thousands of customers each month towards a better road ahead. If you’re looking for car finance with a CCJ, we can help.
Representative 30.7% APR.
After 6 years, a CCJ will be removed from the public register and your credit file. There is usually no need to tell lenders about it, and it will not be visible on a credit check once 6 years have passed.
You’ll have received a judgment letter that tells you who to pay, how to pay, and when. This might involve sending a cheque or postal order by post, making a bank transfer to the person or business you owe money to, or their solicitor if that has been requested. You should not pay the court and should not send cash through the post.
After 6 years, a CCJ will be removed from the public register and your credit file. There is usually no need to tell lenders about it, and it will not be visible on a credit check once 6 years have passed.
You’ll have received a judgment letter that tells you who to pay, how to pay, and when. This might involve sending a cheque or postal order by post, making a bank transfer to the person or business you owe money to, or their solicitor if that has been requested. You should not pay the court and should not send cash through the post.
It’s important to keep a record of your payments so you have proof that the CCJ has been paid off on time and as required.
It’s important to keep a record of your payments so you have proof that the CCJ has been paid off on time and as required.
If you can’t afford to pay anything at all, you could ask the court to suspend the order by filing an N244 form. You’ll need to explain on the form why you can’t make any payments, along with a financial statement as evidence. Citizens Advice has more information about changing a court order if you can’t afford it.
You could also speak to a debt charity like StepChange, which can help you with your situation.
If you can’t afford to pay the CCJ outright, you may be able to agree on a payment plan. However, you mustn’t assume this will be possible. You will need the creditor’s agreement and must fill in an N245 form to have it approved by the court.
There are only 2 ways to get a CCJ removed: if you successfully dispute it and get it set aside, or you pay it in full within 30 days of receiving the notice.
If you can’t afford to pay anything at all, you could ask the court to suspend the order by filing an N244 form. You’ll need to explain on the form why you can’t make any payments, along with a financial statement as evidence. Citizens Advice has more information about changing a court order if you can’t afford it.
You could also speak to a debt charity like StepChange, which can help you with your situation.
If you can’t afford to pay the CCJ outright, you may be able to agree on a payment plan. However, you mustn’t assume this will be possible. You will need the creditor’s agreement and must fill in an N245 form to have it approved by the court.
There are only 2 ways to get a CCJ removed: if you successfully dispute it and get it set aside, or you pay it in full within 30 days of receiving the notice.
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If you do not owe the money, you can ask to have the CCJ set aside. You may also be able to do this if you did not receive the original claim from the court, if the creditor did not follow the correct process, or if you were unable to respond to the court or file a defence because you were ill, in hospital, or away.
To get a CCJ set aside, you will need to contact the court and submit the N244 form. There is a court fee involved, and you will need to attend a private hearing to explain why you do not owe the money. If the court agrees that you do not owe the money, your CCJ will be removed from the register.
If you do not owe the money, you can ask to have the CCJ set aside. You may also be able to do this if you did not receive the original claim from the court, if the creditor did not follow the correct process, or if you were unable to respond to the court or file a defence because you were ill, in hospital, or away.
To get a CCJ set aside, you will need to contact the court and submit the N244 form. There is a court fee involved, and you will need to attend a private hearing to explain why you do not owe the money. If the court agrees that you do not owe the money, your CCJ will be removed from the register.
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A discharged CCJ is when it is no longer considered a judgment against you and will not appear on your credit file. A CCJ is discharged only if you pay it off in full within 30 days of receiving the judgment. If you pay after 30 days, the CCJ is referred to as satisfied, not discharged.
Yes, a satisfied CCJ will affect your credit score, but it might not affect it as much as an unsatisfied CCJ. A CCJ is called ‘satisfied’ when it has been paid within 30 days of the judgment being issued. It will stay on your credit file for 6 years and can make it harder to get approved for credit.
However, there are specialist lenders that can help if you are looking for car finance with a satisfied CCJ.
Having a CCJ on your credit report will affect your credit score for the 6 years it remains visible. Paying it off within 30 days to get a discharged CCJ, or paying it off after that point to make it a satisfied CCJ, can help improve your credit.
Other things you could do to improve your credit score include:
You could use a money management app such as Snoop. Snoop is one of our sister companies and helps users track their spending, control their finances, and view their credit score.
A discharged CCJ is when it is no longer considered a judgment against you and will not appear on your credit file. A CCJ is discharged only if you pay it off in full within 30 days of receiving the judgment. If you pay after 30 days, the CCJ is referred to as satisfied, not discharged.
Yes, a satisfied CCJ will affect your credit score, but it might not affect it as much as an unsatisfied CCJ. A CCJ is called ‘satisfied’ when it has been paid within 30 days of the judgment being issued. It will stay on your credit file for 6 years and can make it harder to get approved for credit.
However, there are specialist lenders that can help if you are looking for car finance with a satisfied CCJ.
Having a CCJ on your credit report will affect your credit score for the 6 years it remains visible. Paying it off within 30 days to get a discharged CCJ, or paying it off after that point to make it a satisfied CCJ, can help improve your credit.
Other things you could do to improve your credit score include:
You could use a money management app such as Snoop. Snoop is one of our sister companies and helps users track their spending, control their finances, and view their credit score.
We have over 30 years of experience and have helped thousands of people like you who have bad credit get car finance. Having helped thousands of people across the UK each month, we can help if you’re looking for car finance with a CCJ.
Our Conditional Sale agreement means you’ll legally own the car once you make the final payment. Our friendly experts are ready to find the best agreement for you.
When you’re ready, get a quote online in less than 5 minutes.
We only use a soft credit check at the point of application, which does not affect your credit score. We only use a hard credit check when contracts are drawn up.
Representative 30.7% APR.
We have over 30 years of experience and have helped thousands of people like you who have bad credit get car finance. Having helped thousands of people across the UK each month, we can help if you’re looking for car finance with a CCJ.
Our Conditional Sale agreement means you’ll legally own the car once you make the final payment. Our friendly experts are ready to find the best agreement for you.
When you’re ready, get a quote online in less than 5 minutes.
We only use a soft credit check at the point of application, which does not affect your credit score. We only use a hard credit check when contracts are drawn up.
Representative 30.7% APR.
If you pay the debt in full within 30 days of receiving the CCJ, you can apply for a ‘certificate of cancellation’. By providing evidence that it has been paid along with form N443 to the court dealing with your case, you can get the CCJ removed from the register and your credit report.
No, a CCJ is not a criminal conviction, and you will not be sent to prison for receiving or not paying a CCJ. It will not show on a criminal record and won’t appear on a DBS check. However, there are some jobs, such as in financial services, that you might not be able to get with a CCJ.
A default and a CCJ are slightly different. A default notice is given if you miss or do not make agreed payments. A CCJ usually follows a default and might be issued if a creditor cannot get in touch with you and has to take legal action to get the debt repaid.
If you default on your bills, you could speak to a debt charity like StepChange, who can help you through your situation.
While a CCJ does leave your credit report and the public register after 6 years, it doesn’t technically expire. After 6 years, the creditor may still be able to take further action, but they will need court approval before enforcing the judgment if 6 years have passed.
The Limitation Act 1980 means a CCJ can only be enforced within 6 years of it being issued. If a CCJ was made more than 6 years ago and the creditor wants to take action to recover the debt, they must get court permission to extend the CCJ before they can enforce it.
If you owe money to someone, they have a certain amount of time to take legal action, such as having a CCJ issued, before it becomes ‘statute barred’ (unenforceable). Under the Limitation Act 1980, for most types of unsecured debt, such as personal loans and credit cards, this period is 6 years.
However, if the creditor has already got a CCJ issued against you, the limitation period doesn’t apply. This means that the debt wouldn’t be statute barred and the creditor could take legal action to recover the debt at any point. However, if they haven’t taken action against an unpaid CCJ within 6 years of it being issued, they may need to seek permission from the court to enforce it.
The first sign of a fake letter is its wording and design. Check for spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and incorrect or outdated information. You can also check your credit report or the public register to see if you have a CCJ issued against you.
StepChange has written a guide for checking county court forms, which provides a step-by-step process for understanding these forms and what you might want to do next.
If you pay the debt in full within 30 days of receiving the CCJ, you can apply for a ‘certificate of cancellation’. By providing evidence that it has been paid along with form N443 to the court dealing with your case, you can get the CCJ removed from the register and your credit report.
No, a CCJ is not a criminal conviction, and you will not be sent to prison for receiving or not paying a CCJ. It will not show on a criminal record and won’t appear on a DBS check. However, there are some jobs, such as in financial services, that you might not be able to get with a CCJ.
A default and a CCJ are slightly different. A default notice is given if you miss or do not make agreed payments. A CCJ usually follows a default and might be issued if a creditor cannot get in touch with you and has to take legal action to get the debt repaid.
If you default on your bills, you could speak to a debt charity like StepChange, who can help you through your situation.
While a CCJ does leave your credit report and the public register after 6 years, it doesn’t technically expire. After 6 years, the creditor may still be able to take further action, but they will need court approval before enforcing the judgment if 6 years have passed.
The Limitation Act 1980 means a CCJ can only be enforced within 6 years of it being issued. If a CCJ was made more than 6 years ago and the creditor wants to take action to recover the debt, they must get court permission to extend the CCJ before they can enforce it.
If you owe money to someone, they have a certain amount of time to take legal action, such as having a CCJ issued, before it becomes ‘statute barred’ (unenforceable). Under the Limitation Act 1980, for most types of unsecured debt, such as personal loans and credit cards, this period is 6 years.
However, if the creditor has already got a CCJ issued against you, the limitation period doesn’t apply. This means that the debt wouldn’t be statute barred and the creditor could take legal action to recover the debt at any point. However, if they haven’t taken action against an unpaid CCJ within 6 years of it being issued, they may need to seek permission from the court to enforce it.
The first sign of a fake letter is its wording and design. Check for spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and incorrect or outdated information. You can also check your credit report or the public register to see if you have a CCJ issued against you.
StepChange has written a guide for checking county court forms, which provides a step-by-step process for understanding these forms and what you might want to do next.
Moneybarn is a member of the Finance and Leasing Association, the official trade organisation of the motor finance industry. The FLA promotes best practice in the motor finance industry for lending and leasing to consumers and businesses.
Moneybarn is the trading style of Moneybarn No. 1 Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 04496573, and Moneybarn Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 02766324. The registered address for these companies is: Athena House, Bedford Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3LJ.
Moneybarn’s VAT registration number is 180 5559 52.
Moneybarn Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services reference No. 702781)
Moneybarn No. 1 Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services reference No. 702780)
