CCJ Removal & Satisfaction Guide UK 2025 — How to Clear a County Court Judgment
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) can severely damage your credit score for up to 6 years. But there are routes to remove or reduce its impact: paying within 30 days removes it entirely; paying later marks it as “satisfied”; and if you had a good defence you never got to argue, you can apply to have it “set aside”. This guide explains every option.
Pay within 30 days: CCJ removed from Register and credit files entirely. Pay after 30 days: marked "satisfied" but stays 6 years. Set aside: requires Form N244 (£303 fee or free on remission), court hearing, and good grounds. A satisfied CCJ is far better for credit purposes than unsatisfied. Always pay CCJs to prevent enforcement action (bailiffs, charging orders, attachment of earnings).
CCJ Options at a Glance
| Option | Outcome | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay within 30 days | Complete removal from Register and credit file | Debt amount only | Anyone who can pay and wants a clean credit file |
| Pay after 30 days | “Satisfied” mark — stays 6 years but better than unsatisfied | Debt amount only | Those who cannot pay within 30 days but want to reduce credit damage |
| Apply to set aside | Judgment cancelled; case proceeds to hearing | £303 court fee (remission available) + potential legal costs | Those not properly served or with a real defence |
| Apply for certificate of satisfaction | Judgment marked satisfied — stays 6 years | £15 (Register of Judgments fee) | Paid after 30 days and want to update Register |
| Do nothing | Enforcement action possible; remains unsatisfied for 6 years | Potentially much more if enforced via bailiff | Not recommended |
The Set Aside Process
To set aside a CCJ, you apply to the court that issued the judgment using Form N244. The three grounds under CPR r.13.3 are:
- Not properly served — you did not receive the claim form. The court will check the address the claim was sent to and whether it was the defendant’s current address. If you were not properly served, you have an almost automatic right to set aside.
- Real prospect of a defence — you have an arguable defence to all or part of the claim. This does not have to be a winning defence, just a real one that deserves to be heard.
- Other good reason — any other compelling reason the judgment should be reconsidered. This is broadly interpreted.
Act quickly — the longer you wait to apply, the weaker your set aside application becomes. Courts take into account the promptness of any application.
Enforcement — What Can Creditors Do with a CCJ?
If you do not pay a CCJ, the creditor can take enforcement action without returning to court first (for judgments under 6 years). Options include: warrant of execution (county court bailiffs); high court enforcement (HCEO/bailiffs for debts over £600); attachment of earnings (deduction from wages); third party debt order (freezing a bank account); and charging order (secured against your property). Pay the CCJ to avoid escalating enforcement costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apply to set aside the judgment (Form N244) as soon as possible. In your application, explain that you dispute the underlying debt and set out your defence. If you were not properly served with the original claim (the most common reason people do not respond), state this. A judge will assess whether you have a real prospect of defence. If successful, the case is reheard from scratch. Do not delay — unexplained delay makes set aside applications much harder.
It is difficult but not impossible. Most mainstream lenders will decline applications with unsatisfied CCJs. Some specialist lenders (adverse credit or bad credit mortgage providers) will consider applications with satisfied CCJs, particularly if they are over 3 years old and the amounts are small. Expect higher interest rates. Paying the CCJ and registering it as satisfied improves your position significantly. After 6 years, the CCJ drops off your file and mainstream lending becomes easier.