A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is a court order that a judge makes against someone who owes money and has not repaid it. In England and Wales, creditors can apply to the County Court for a CCJ when they believe a debt is owed and the debtor has not responded to contact or dispute processes.
How a CCJ is issued
The creditor files a claim at the County Court. You will receive a claim form at your address. You have 14 days to respond. If you do not respond, or if you cannot show the debt is not owed, the court issues a default judgement — the CCJ.
What a CCJ means
- The court has formally ordered you to pay the debt
- The CCJ is recorded on the Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines for six years
- It will appear on your credit file and significantly reduces your credit score
- It can affect your ability to get a mortgage, loan, credit card or even some jobs
- If you do not pay, the creditor can apply for enforcement (bailiffs, attachment of earnings, charging order)
What you can do if you receive a CCJ
- Pay the full amount within 30 days — the CCJ is then marked as satisfied and removed from the Register (though it stays on your credit file)
- Apply to vary the judgement if you cannot afford the required payments — the court can set lower monthly instalments
- Apply to set aside (cancel) the CCJ if you did not receive the claim form, or if you have a genuine defence — strict time limits apply
- Seek free debt advice immediately — Citizens Advice, National Debtline or StepChange can help you understand your options
How a CCJ is issued — the process
The creditor files a claim at the County Court Online (or by post for larger amounts). You receive a claim form at your registered address with a response deadline — usually 14 days. You have several options: pay the claim in full (which ends the process), admit the debt and request a repayment plan, dispute the claim if you believe it is incorrect or you have a defence, or ignore it. Ignoring results in a default judgement — the CCJ — being issued automatically without a hearing.
If you receive a claim form, seek free advice immediately from Citizens Advice. Even if you owe the debt, there may be options to dispute the amount, request a payment plan through the court, or set aside the judgement if there are grounds to do so.
Setting aside a CCJ
You can apply to have a CCJ set aside (cancelled) if: you did not receive the claim form at your address, you have a genuine defence to the claim, or the judgement was obtained incorrectly. Applications to set aside must be made promptly — courts expect you to act quickly when you become aware of a judgement. There is a court fee for the application, though this may be waived if you are on a low income. Citizens Advice can advise on whether you have grounds to apply.
How a CCJ affects your credit and your options
A CCJ appears on your credit file (from the credit reference agencies Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) and on the public Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines for six years. It significantly reduces your credit score and makes obtaining mortgages, loans, some tenancies and certain jobs much harder. Paying the CCJ in full within 30 days removes it from the Register (though it may still appear on credit files for a period). Paying after 30 days marks it as satisfied — it remains on the Register for six years from the judgement date.