Debt Law

County Court Judgments (CCJs) — What They Are and How to Remove One (2025)

8 May 2025 ⏱ 7 min read 🇬🇧 England & Wales Last reviewed: May 2025

A County Court Judgment is one of the most damaging things that can appear on your credit file. It stays for six years, blocks mortgage applications, and can follow you even after you pay. This guide explains exactly what a CCJ is, how to challenge or remove it, and what enforcement powers creditors have once one is issued.

What Is a County Court Judgment?

A County Court Judgment is a formal court order made against you when a creditor has sued you for money and you have either not responded to the claim, admitted it, or been found to owe it after a hearing. It is recorded publicly on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines maintained by Registry Trust Limited and appears on your credit file within days.

Any creditor can apply for a CCJ — a bank, landlord, utility company, payday lender, tradesperson, or private individual. The debt does not need to be large. CCJs are frequently issued for debts of a few hundred pounds where the debtor simply ignored the court claim.

Use our CCJ Impact Estimator to understand the financial impact, and our CCJ Removal Guide to explore your options.

The Impact of a CCJ

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Mortgage & Remortgage

Most lenders refuse with an unsatisfied CCJ. Specialist lenders charge significantly higher rates.

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Credit Cards & Loans

Mainstream lenders typically decline. High-interest products may still be available.

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Renting Property

Landlords run credit checks. A CCJ can mean rejection or requiring a guarantor.

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Employment

Finance, law, and security employers check credit. A CCJ can affect job prospects.

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Mobile Contracts

Network providers run checks for contract phones. May result in prepay-only offers.

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6-Year Stay

Remains on the register and credit file for 6 years from judgment — even if later paid.

How a CCJ Is Issued

Step 1

Letter Before Action

Creditor sends a formal letter giving a final chance to pay, typically 14 days for individuals.

Step 2

Claim Form Issued

County Court claim served. You have 14 days to acknowledge and 28 days total to file a defence.

Step 3

No Response = Default Judgment

Fail to respond and the creditor gets default judgment — court enters it without a hearing. This is how most CCJs arise.

Step 4

CCJ Registered

Entered on the public Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines. Appears on credit file within days.

Step 5

Enforcement

If unpaid, creditor applies for bailiff action, attachment of earnings, debt order, or charging order.

The 30-Day Rule — Complete Removal

If you pay the full judgment amount — including interest and costs — within 30 days of the judgment date, you can apply to have the CCJ removed from the register entirely. The entry is deleted, not just marked satisfied. It will not appear on your credit file. This is the only way to make a CCJ completely disappear.

To apply, complete Form N443 ("Application for certificate of cancellation") and send it to the court with proof of payment and a £15 fee. The court issues a certificate of cancellation, which you send to Registry Trust who remove the entry. Also notify Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion directly — they update from the register but it can take a billing cycle.

The 30-day clock runs from the judgment date — not from when you found out about it. If the CCJ was issued at an old address and you discovered it late, the window may have already closed. Act immediately on discovering any CCJ.

Paying After 30 Days — "Satisfied" Status

If you pay in full more than 30 days after judgment, the CCJ cannot be removed but can be marked "satisfied" on the register. A satisfied CCJ shows the debt has been paid. It still appears for the full 6 years but most lenders treat a satisfied CCJ significantly more favourably than an unsatisfied one. Some specialist mortgage lenders will consider lending with all CCJs satisfied.

To get satisfied status: pay the claimant in full, obtain written confirmation, then complete Form N443 and send it to the court with the £15 fee and evidence of payment.

Setting Aside a CCJ — Challenging It

If you believe the CCJ was wrongly issued — because you never received the claim, have a genuine defence, or do not owe the debt — you can apply to the court to "set aside" the judgment using Form N244 (fee: £303 for a hearing or £119 on the papers). The court sets aside a judgment where:

You have a real prospect of successfully defending the claim, or
There is another good reason — for example, the claim was served at a wrong address and you had no knowledge of the proceedings

If set aside, the CCJ is removed from the register and the case restarts, giving you the chance to defend. Act as quickly as possible — courts favour prompt applications.

Enforcement — What Creditors Can Do After a CCJ

Warrant of Control (Bailiff Action)

For CCJs up to £5,000, creditors can send County Court Bailiffs to seize goods. For judgments over £600, they can use High Court Enforcement Officers — who have wider powers and move faster, but add fees to your debt.

Attachment of Earnings

The court orders your employer to deduct money directly from wages. A "protected earnings rate" ensures your pay does not fall below a minimum. Not available against the self-employed.

Third Party Debt Order

Money in your bank account can be frozen and paid to the creditor — served without warning to you. You have the right to attend a hearing and object before the order becomes final.

Charging Order

A charge placed over your property, repaid when sold or remortgaged. The creditor can then apply for an order for sale, though courts rarely grant this against a family home for consumer debts.

Explore debt solutions with our Debt Management Plan Calculator and Bankruptcy vs IVA Comparison Tool.

Statute Barred Debts and CCJs

Most unsecured debts become statute barred after 6 years under the Limitation Act 1980. However, once a CCJ exists, the enforcement period extends to 12 years — the creditor does not need fresh proceedings to enforce. This is why challenging or settling a debt before a CCJ is obtained is critical.

Check whether an older debt may already be unenforceable with our Statute Barred Debt Checker.

Frequently Asked Questions

I found out about the CCJ after 30 days — can it still be removed completely?+

Not through the 30-day payment route. However, if you never received the court claim because it was sent to an old address, you can apply to set aside the judgment using Form N244. If successful, the CCJ is removed and you get the chance to defend the original claim properly.

Does paying a CCJ remove it from my credit file?+

Only if you pay within 30 days of judgment — then it is removed completely. Paying after 30 days gets the CCJ marked "satisfied," but it stays on your file for the full 6 years from the judgment date. Partial payment does not trigger satisfied status — the full amount must be paid.

Can a creditor take my home for a CCJ?+

A creditor can get a charging order securing the debt against your property. They can then apply for an order for sale, but courts are very reluctant to force the sale of a family home for consumer debts. An order for sale is more likely where there is significant equity and the debt is substantial and long-standing.

Will a satisfied CCJ stop me getting a mortgage?+

A satisfied CCJ is much better than an unsatisfied one but still affects lending decisions. Most mainstream lenders are cautious with any CCJ in the past 3 years. Specialist adverse credit lenders will consider applications with satisfied CCJs, though at higher rates. After 6 years the CCJ drops off entirely and most lenders treat you as having a clean history.