County Court Judgments (CCJs)

A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is issued by the county court when a creditor brings a civil claim for an unpaid debt and either wins the case or the defendant fails to respond to the claim. Most consumer CCJs arise because the defendant does not respond to the court claim (a "default judgment") rather than because a hearing is held and a decision is made after both sides have been heard.

The process typically runs as follows:

1. The creditor issues a claim form (N1) through the county court or Money Claim Online (MCOL), stating the amount owed and why.
2. The defendant is served with the claim. You have 14 days from service to file an acknowledgement of service and 28 days to file a defence. Failing to do either results in a default judgment being entered against you — meaning a CCJ is issued without a hearing.
3. If you file a defence, the case proceeds to a hearing. The court will decide whether you owe the money and, if so, how much.
4. If judgment is given against you (by default or after a hearing), the CCJ sets out the amount you owe, the interest rate (if any), and how you must pay — either immediately, by a specified date, or in instalments.

It is critical to respond to any court claim even if you dispute the debt or cannot pay. Ignoring it results in a CCJ being registered against you without the opportunity to put your side of the case.

If you pay the full amount of the CCJ within 30 days of the date the judgment was issued, you can apply to have the CCJ cancelled — meaning it will not appear on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines or on your credit file. This is known as the "cancellation" process.

To cancel a CCJ paid within 30 days:

1. Obtain proof of payment from the creditor (a receipt or letter confirming full payment).
2. Apply to the court that issued the CCJ using Form N443 (Certificate of Satisfaction or Cancellation), enclosing the fee (currently £15) and proof of payment.
3. The court will issue a certificate of cancellation and notify the Registry Trust, which maintains the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines.

If you pay after 30 days, the CCJ is "satisfied" (marked as paid) on the register but remains visible for six years from the date of issue. Creditors and lenders can see that you have a satisfied CCJ. To mark a CCJ as satisfied, apply using Form N443 with proof of payment and the £15 fee.

If a CCJ was entered against you without a fair opportunity to defend yourself, you may be able to apply to have it set aside — effectively cancelled and the case re-opened so you can defend it properly. The main grounds for setting aside are:

• You were not properly served: The claim form was sent to an old address or never reached you, so you had no opportunity to respond.
• You have a real prospect of successfully defending the claim: You dispute the debt — for example, you already paid it, it is statute-barred, or you were not party to the contract.
• There is some other good reason: For example, you were seriously ill and unable to respond in time.

To apply to set aside a CCJ, complete Form N244 (Application Notice) and submit it to the court that issued the judgment. You must pay the application fee (currently £303, or £119 if you are applying on the basis that you were not properly served and apply promptly). You should also file a draft defence and a witness statement explaining your grounds.

The court will list the application for a hearing. If the judge grants the set aside, the CCJ is cancelled and the case proceeds as if the claim had just been issued — you will be given an opportunity to file your defence and the case may proceed to a full hearing.

Apply to set aside as quickly as possible. Delay is a significant factor in the court's decision — the longer you wait after becoming aware of the CCJ, the less likely the court is to set it aside.

A Tomlin Order is a consent order that pauses enforcement of a CCJ while you comply with agreed terms — typically a repayment schedule. The terms are set out in a schedule to the order (kept private from the court file) and both parties sign. If you keep up with payments, the creditor cannot take further enforcement action (such as sending bailiffs or applying for a charging order). If you default, the creditor can apply to the court to lift the stay and resume enforcement immediately.

Tomlin Orders are a practical tool where you accept that you owe the debt but need time to pay. They avoid the need for an enforcement hearing and can be tailored to reflect your financial circumstances. A solicitor can help draft and agree the terms.

Register removal after six years: CCJs are automatically removed from the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines six years after the date they were issued — whether or not they have been paid. After removal, the CCJ no longer appears on credit searches. However, the six-year period runs from the date of issue, not from the date of any payment.