SiteKiln gives you plain-English information, not legal advice. If you've received a court claim or CCJ, get free advice from Citizens Advice (0800 240 4420) or National Debtline (nationaldebtline.org) before the deadline passes.
# CCJs, How They Work and How to Get Them Removed
A CCJ isn't the end of the world, but it is a big red flag on your record, and it's much easier to deal with early than after it's been sitting there for years.
1. What a CCJ actually is
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a court order saying you owe someone money and setting out how and when you must pay. It's a civil matter, not criminal, you're not going to prison.
You usually get one because someone (a supplier, finance company, landlord, former customer, etc.) issued a money claim against you and either:
- You admitted it or lost the case at a hearing, or
- You didn't respond within 14 days, so they got "judgment in default"
That second one is the killer. If you ignore the claim form, even because it went to an old address, the other side can get a CCJ entered against you without a hearing, without you being there, and without you even knowing about it.
2. How a CCJ hits you in real life
A CCJ is public. It gets recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines and on your credit files with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
What it can do:
- Hammer your credit score · lenders see you as high risk. Some won't touch you at all with a recent CCJ
- Make van finance, car finance, and mortgages harder or more expensive · you'll pay higher rates or get refused outright
- Affect trade credit · suppliers, lease companies, and fuel card providers check these registers. They may cut your credit limit, demand cash on delivery, or refuse to open an account
- Put off main contractors · Tier 1 and Tier 2 contractors doing pre-qualification checks will see a CCJ as a sign you can't manage money. It can cost you work
- Affect insurance · some insurers ask about CCJs. Non-disclosure could invalidate a claim later
- Stop you getting a business bank account · some banks check the register before opening new accounts
A CCJ stays on the public register and your credit files for 6 years from the date of judgment, unless you get it cancelled (see section 5).
3. How to check if you've got a CCJ
If you've moved around, had old addresses, or suspect a claim was filed that you never saw:
TrustOnline (official public register)
Go to trustonline.org.uk · this is run by Registry Trust and is the official search for CCJs in England and Wales.
Search for judgments in your name. There's a small fee per search (currently around £10), but it gives you: court name, judgment date, amount, claimant name, and whether it's been satisfied.
Your credit reports
Check your credit files with the three main agencies:
- Experian: experian.co.uk (free Experian account shows your report)
- Equifax: equifax.co.uk (free via ClearScore · clearscore.com)
- TransUnion: transunion.co.uk (free via Credit Karma · creditkarma.co.uk)
They pull data from the Register. A CCJ will show up on all three, usually within a few weeks of being entered.
Check all three. They don't always update at the same speed.
4. Getting a CCJ set aside (if it shouldn't be there)
If you genuinely didn't get the papers or you have a real defence, you can ask the court to set aside the judgment, basically rewind it as if it never happened.
Good reasons for setting aside
- The claim form went to an old address and you never received it · this is the most common reason in construction, where people move between addresses and sites
- You don't owe the money, or the amount is wrong, and you can show why
- You replied in time but the court didn't process your response correctly (rare but it happens)
- You have a real defence · for example, the work was defective, the amount was disputed, or the claimant breached the contract first
How to apply
- Fill in court form N244 (Application Notice) · available from gov.uk/government/collections/court-and-tribunal-forms
- Explain clearly: why you didn't respond, and/or what your defence to the claim is
- Pay the court fee · currently around £303 for an N244 application, though you may qualify for fee remission (help with fees) if you're on a low income or receiving benefits
- Ask on the N244 for enforcement to be "stayed" (paused) until your application is heard · otherwise bailiffs can keep chasing while you wait
Timing
The rules say you must apply promptly. In practice, most advisers say within 14-28 days of finding out about the CCJ is a sensible target. The technical test is "as soon as reasonably possible", the longer you wait, the harder it gets.
If the judge sets it aside
The CCJ is removed from the register and your credit file. But the underlying claim starts again from scratch, you'll need to properly defend or settle the case. Setting aside just gives you the chance to have your say, which you didn't get the first time.
5. Removing or cleaning up a CCJ
If the CCJ is valid (you do owe the money), there are two levels of damage limitation:
Pay within 1 calendar month, get it cancelled
If you pay the full amount within one calendar month of the judgment date:
- Apply to the court to have the CCJ cancelled (form N443)
- Once confirmed, it's removed from the Register entirely · as if it never happened
- Your credit file is updated to remove it
- You'll need proof of payment and there's a small court fee (currently around £15 for an N443)
This is the best outcome. If you can scrape the money together within 30 days, do it.
Pay after 1 month, marked "satisfied"
If you pay later than one month:
- The CCJ stays on your file for 6 years from the judgment date
- But you can get it marked "satisfied" · which tells anyone looking that the debt has been cleared
- The creditor should notify the court when you've paid. If they don't, you can apply yourself with proof of payment (form N443 again)
"Satisfied" is better than an unpaid CCJ. Lenders can still see the judgment existed, but satisfied shows you dealt with it.
After 6 years, the CCJ drops off the Register and your credit files automatically. You don't need to do anything.
6. CCJ vs statutory demand, what's the difference?
They're related but not the same, and confusing them can cost you.
A CCJ is a court judgment that you owe a specific sum. It follows a claim and your admission, a hearing, or default.
A statutory demand is a formal demand for payment: usually for debts of £5,000+ for individuals or £750+ for companies: that can be used as a step towards bankruptcy or winding-up if you don't pay or dispute it within 21 days.
A statutory demand can be:
- Based on an existing CCJ · a common tactic to shake payment out of someone who's ignoring a judgment. If you've got a CCJ and then receive a statutory demand, the creditor is escalating toward bankruptcy/winding-up
- Used directly where the debt is clear and not seriously disputed
Ignoring a statutory demand is much more dangerous than ignoring a CCJ. It can lead directly to a bankruptcy petition (for individuals) or winding-up petition (for companies), both of which are far more serious than a CCJ and much harder to undo.
If you receive a statutory demand, get advice immediately · Citizens Advice, National Debtline, or a solicitor.
7. Defending a money claim if you dispute the debt
If a claim form (form N1) lands and you have a genuine defence, the work wasn't done, the amount is wrong, there are defects, or you have a counterclaim, you need to act fast.
Timeline
| Deadline | What to do |
|---|---|
| 14 days from receiving the claim | File an Acknowledgment of Service (this buys you more time) |
| 28 days from receiving the claim (if you acknowledged) | File your Defence |
If you miss both deadlines, the claimant gets judgment in default, a CCJ without a hearing.
Your defence should explain
- Which parts of the claim you admit (if any)
- Which parts you dispute and specifically why · "I don't agree" isn't enough; "the work was defective because..." or "the invoice includes items never agreed because..." is what the court needs
- Any counterclaim · for example, if they owe you money for additional work, you can counterclaim within the same proceedings
Filing
- File online via Money Claims Online (moneyclaims.service.gov.uk) if the claim was started online
- Or file paper forms at court if it was started on paper
- There's no fee to file a defence. There is a fee to file a counterclaim (based on the amount)
If you're not confident
- Citizens Advice can help you understand the claim and draft a basic response
- National Debtline has step-by-step guides for responding to money claims
- For larger disputes (over £10,000), consider a solicitor · especially if you have a strong counterclaim
What to do next
- If you've just received a claim form: respond within 14 days · even if it's just an Acknowledgment of Service to buy time
- If you've just found out about a CCJ you didn't know about: apply to set it aside (form N244) as soon as possible
- If you have a CCJ and can pay within 30 days: do it and apply for cancellation (form N443) · it disappears from your record
- If you have an old CCJ: pay it and get it marked "satisfied" · better than leaving it unpaid
- Check your credit file at all three agencies to see what's showing
Sources
- Civil Procedure Rules, Part 12 (default judgment) · justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/rules/part12
- Civil Procedure Rules, Part 13 (setting aside default judgment) · justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/rules/part13
- County Courts Act 1984 · legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/28
- Insolvency Act 1986, s.267-268 (bankruptcy petitions from statutory demands) · legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45
- Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines · trustonline.org.uk
- HM Courts & Tribunals Service, court fees · gov.uk/court-fees-what-they-are
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