Understand what a CCJ is, the deadlines you may be facing, and what options are typically available to you.
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a court order that may be registered against you if someone claims you owe them money and you either do not respond to the claim or the court decides in their favour. A CCJ is recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines and can affect your credit rating for up to six years from the date of the judgment, unless it is paid in full within one month of the judgment date.
When you receive a county court claim form (Form N1), you generally have 14 days from the date of service to respond. You can respond by admitting the claim, filing a defence, or filing an acknowledgment of service. If you file an acknowledgment of service, you generally have a total of 28 days from the date of service to file your defence. These timeframes are set out in the Civil Procedure Rules. If you do not respond within the relevant timeframe, a default judgment may be entered against you.
Depending on your situation, options people may consider include: paying the full amount if you agree you owe it, requesting a payment plan from the court, filing a defence if you dispute the claim, or making a counterclaim. If a default CCJ has already been entered, it may be possible to apply to the court to have it set aside if you can show a good reason for not responding in time and that you have a real prospect of defending the claim. Seeking advice early from a solicitor or Citizens Advice is often considered helpful.
I received a claim form but I don't owe the money
I missed the deadline to respond to a county court claim
I have a CCJ and want to know how to get it removed
A debt collector is threatening me with court action
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