What is a CCJ in the UK?
Definition
A CCJ (county court judgment) is a court order saying you owe someone money. It's usually made by default when you don't respond to a court claim, and it can make it harder to get credit.
- Category
- Identity
- Also called
- county court judgement, CCJ
- Last updated
A county court judgment, or CCJ, is a formal court decision that you owe money. GOV.UK says you can get one if someone takes court action against you, saying you owe them money, and you don't respond. Most are made by default, which means you missed the deadline to answer the claim. The judgment states how much you owe, who to pay and how and when to pay.
Why a CCJ shows up on credit checks
Judgments are recorded on a public register. Banks and loan companies use that information when they decide whether to lend to you, so a CCJ can make credit, a mortgage or a phone contract harder to get. GOV.UK says the record is kept for 6 years. If you pay the full amount within one month of the judgment, you can have it removed. If you pay later, it's marked as satisfied but stays on the register for the 6 years.
A common way people find out
Because most CCJs are made by default, some people only learn about one when a loan application is turned down. A court letter sent to an old address, or one that got lost in the post, is enough to miss the claim. If you find a CCJ you don't recognise, you have the right to apply to the court to set it aside. It's also worth checking whether someone used your details to take out the debt. That's identity fraud, and the debt isn't yours.
What happens if you don't pay
The person you owe can use the CCJ to collect, for example by applying to the court to send bailiffs to your home or business. Scotland has its own system: the equivalent of a CCJ there is called a decree.
CCJ vs. other debt problems
A CCJ is not the same as a missed payment on a credit report. A missed payment is a lender's record. A CCJ is a court ruling, and it appears on the public register as well as in your credit file.
How to protect yourself
- 1
Keep your address up to date with banks, lenders and the electoral roll
Court papers go to the address on file. A missed claim at an old address is how most default judgments happen.
- 2
Respond to any court claim straight away
A claim form comes with a deadline to reply. Responding in time stops a default judgment, even if you dispute the amount or can't pay all of it yet.
- 3
Check your credit file regularly
Look at all three UK credit reference agencies for judgments or accounts you don't recognise. Free checks are available.
- 4
Pay in full within one month if the debt is real
GOV.UK says you can have the judgment removed from the register if you do. After that it's marked as satisfied but stays for 6 years.
- 5
Set it aside if you never got the claim
If you only learned about the judgment later, you have the right to apply to the court to set it aside. Do it quickly and get advice from a free debt charity or a solicitor.
See where your personal data is exposed
Serus finds it on data brokers and people-search sites and removes it.
Frequently asked
How long does a CCJ stay on your record?
GOV.UK says 6 years, unless you pay the full amount within one month, in which case it can be removed. If you pay later it's marked as satisfied but stays for the 6 years.
Can a CCJ be removed?
Yes, in two cases: you pay in full within one month, or the court sets the judgment aside because you didn't know about the claim or have a valid reason. Paying after a month only marks it as satisfied.
Do CCJs apply in Scotland?
No. CCJs cover England and Wales. The Scottish equivalent is a decree.
What if the debt isn't mine?
If someone used your details, the debt and any judgment are not yours. Apply to set the judgment aside and report the fraud to Action Fraud.
Sources
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