A CCJ (County Court Judgment) is a court order stating that you owe money to someone and must pay it. If you're chasing a debt, getting a CCJ against the person who owes you is often the goal. If you're on the receiving end, it can seriously affect your credit rating.
How does a CCJ happen?
A CCJ is the result of a successful court claim:
- Someone files a claim - The creditor files a claim through the county court, i.e. via Garfield
- You're served with the claim - You receive the court papers and have 14 days to respond
- If you don't respond or defend - The court enters judgment against you (a CCJ)
- If you defend and lose - The court enters judgment against you after a hearing
Once a CCJ is entered, it's a legal order requiring you to pay a stipulated sum by a stipulated deadline.
What happens when you get a CCJ?
Immediate effects:
- You're legally required to pay the amount stated
- The creditor can take enforcement action if you don't pay
- The CCJ is registered on the Register of Judgments
Credit rating impact:
- The CCJ appears on your credit file for 6 years
- This makes it harder to get credit cards, loans, mortgages
- Some employers and landlords check for CCJs
Exception: If you pay the full amount within one month of the judgment date, you can apply to have the CCJ removed from the register entirely (called getting a "certificate of cancellation").
How long does a CCJ last?
| Scenario | Duration |
|---|---|
| Paid within 1 month | Can be removed completely |
| Paid after 1 month | Marked as "satisfied" but stays for 6 years |
| Never paid | Stays for 6 years, then drops off |
Even after 6 years, the debt itself may still be owed. The CCJ just stops appearing on your credit file.
CCJ vs judgment: what's the difference?
They're the same thing. "CCJ" is just the common abbreviation for a County Court Judgment. You might also hear:
- "Judgment" or "judgment debt"
- "Court order for payment"
- "Default judgment" (if entered because you didn't respond)
What if you can't afford to pay?
When you receive a court claim, you can:
Admit the debt and propose payments: Fill in the admission form proposing what you can afford. The court may accept monthly instalments.
Apply for a redetermination: If the payment terms ordered are too high, you can ask the court to reconsider.
Pay what you can: Any payment reduces the debt. The creditor may agree to a payment plan.
For creditors: what can you do with a CCJ?
Once you have a CCJ against someone, if they don't pay, you can enforce it:
- Send bailiffs - County Court bailiffs or High Court Enforcement Officers
- Attachment of earnings - Money taken directly from their wages
- Charging order - A legal charge placed on their property
- Third party debt order - Money taken from their bank account
The CCJ is your legal proof that the money is owed. Without it, you can't use these enforcement methods.
Can a CCJ be removed or set aside?
Set aside (cancelled): You can apply to set aside a CCJ if:
- You didn't receive the original claim (wrong address)
- You have a valid defence that you couldn't present
- There was a procedural error
Removal from register:
- Pay in full within 1 month: Apply for removal (costs around £15)
- Pay after 1 month: It stays but is marked "satisfied"
How Garfield helps
Garfield makes getting a CCJ straightforward:
- Automated court filing - We handle the paperwork
- Proper claim documents - Everything formatted correctly
- Deadline tracking - We monitor for responses and defaults
- Clear next steps - If they don't pay, we guide you through enforcement
Most claims that go undefended result in a CCJ being entered automatically. Garfield handles the entire process so you can focus on your business.