Got a CCJ? Here's Exactly What to Do in the Next 30 Days

Finding out you have a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against you is alarming. A CCJ can affect your credit score, make it harder to rent a home or open a bank account, and lead to enforcement action including bailiffs. But there are steps you can take — especially in the critical first 30 days. Here is exactly what to do.

Step 1: Understand What a CCJ Is and What It Means

A CCJ is a court order made by the County Court requiring you to pay a debt. It is entered when a creditor issues a claim against you and you either do not respond or the court decides in the creditor's favour. The CCJ will specify the amount owed, any interest, and how payment should be made.

A CCJ is registered on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines (the "judgment register"), maintained by Registry Trust. This is publicly searchable by credit reference agencies, lenders, landlords, and employers. A CCJ on your record typically remains there for six years from the date of judgment and will significantly affect your credit score and ability to borrow during that period.

Step 2: Check How You Found Out

The way you found out about the CCJ affects your options:

• You were served with the claim before judgment: This means you had the opportunity to respond and either did not, or responded but the court ruled against you. Your main route now is to pay within 30 days (to remove the CCJ from the register) or to apply to set it aside if there are grounds to do so.
• You were not served and did not know about the claim: This is more common than many people realise. If the creditor had an incorrect address for you, or if you moved without updating your address, a judgment may have been entered without your knowledge. In this case, you can apply to have the CCJ set aside under CPR 13.3.

The Critical 30-Day Window: Pay to Remove It

If you pay the full amount of the CCJ within 30 days of the judgment date, the entry is removed from the judgment register completely. It is as if the CCJ never existed. This is the most important window in CCJ law. After 30 days, even if you pay in full, the CCJ is only marked as "satisfied" on the register — it remains visible for the full six years.

To remove the CCJ, you must pay the full amount directly to the claimant (the creditor) or their solicitors. Once paid, you can request a certificate of cancellation from the court (using form N443), which you send to Registry Trust. It is worth doing this promptly to ensure your credit file is updated.

What If You Cannot Pay in Full Within 30 Days?

If you cannot pay the full amount within 30 days, you have options:

• Apply to vary the payment terms: You can apply to the court (using form N245) to pay in instalments you can afford. The court will look at your income and outgoings and set a rate of payment. Paying by instalments does not remove the CCJ from the register, but it does give you a legal payment plan and prevents further enforcement action while you comply with it.
• Dispute the amount: If you believe the amount claimed is wrong, you can write to the creditor or apply back to the court to have the amount reconsidered.

Applying to Set Aside a CCJ

If you had a good reason for not responding to the original claim — for example, because you were not properly served, or because you have a genuine defence to the debt — you can apply to the court to set aside the CCJ. You will need to use form N244 and pay a court fee (unless you are exempt due to low income).

The test for setting aside depends on how the CCJ was obtained. If it was obtained without you being served correctly, the court has a discretion to set it aside under CPR 13.3 — it will consider whether you acted promptly, whether you have a real prospect of success at a hearing, and other circumstances. If the service was correct, you will need to show a real prospect of successfully defending the claim.

Act quickly. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to set aside a CCJ. Courts are less sympathetic to applications made months after the judgment.

Impact on Credit and Renting

A CCJ will be visible to credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) for six years unless removed. It will affect your ability to get a mortgage, personal loan, car finance, or credit card. Many landlords and letting agents run credit checks that include CCJ searches — a CCJ can result in a tenancy application being refused. Banks may also close accounts or restrict services.

If you have a CCJ, be proactive: pay it off as quickly as possible, get it marked as satisfied, and consider requesting the certificate of cancellation if you pay within 30 days. Your credit file will reflect a satisfied judgment more favourably than an unsatisfied one, but removal is always better than satisfaction.

Free Help Available

Dealing with a CCJ can feel overwhelming, but free specialist advice is available. StepChange (0800 138 1111) and National Debtline (0808 808 4000) are both free, confidential debt advice services. Citizens Advice can help you understand your options and fill in court forms. If you have low income, you may qualify for legal aid for debt cases.