What Is a CCJ?#
A CCJ is a type of court order issued by the County Court (in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) when a creditor takes you to court for non-payment of debt.
The court decides you owe the money and orders you to pay it back. The CCJ specifies:
- How much you owe
- Who you must pay
- Whether you pay in full immediately or in monthly instalments
CCJs are issued for:
- Credit cards
- Personal loans
- Overdrafts
- Mobile phone debts
- Catalogue debts
- Council tax arrears
- Utility bills
- Any unsecured debt
Once a CCJ is granted, it’s registered on your credit file and the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines (a public database).
How Do You Get a CCJ?#
You get a CCJ when a creditor takes you to court for unpaid debt. Here’s how it happens:
Step 1: Missed payments
You fall behind on debt payments. The creditor sends reminders and default notices.
Step 2: Creditor issues a claim
If you don’t pay, the creditor applies to the County Court for a judgment. They fill out a claim form stating how much you owe and why.
Step 3: You receive the claim
The court sends you a claim pack including:
- Details of the debt
- How much is owed
- A response form
- A deadline to respond (usually 14 days)
Step 4: You respond (or don’t)
You have three options:
- Admit the debt and offer to pay (in full or instalments)
- Defend the claim if you dispute the debt
- Ignore it (worst option — the court will issue a CCJ by default)
Step 5: CCJ is issued
If you admit the debt or don’t respond, the court issues a CCJ. If you defended and lost, the court still issues a CCJ.
The CCJ is registered on your credit file immediately.
What Happens After a CCJ Is Issued?#
Once you have a CCJ, several things happen:
Your credit rating is damaged
The CCJ stays on your credit file for 6 years from the date of judgment, severely affecting your ability to get credit, mortgages, or rental properties.
You must pay the debt
The CCJ orders you to pay. You’ll receive a notice telling you how much and how to pay (lump sum or instalments).
If you don’t pay, enforcement begins
Creditors can enforce the CCJ through:
- Attachment of earnings: Money deducted directly from your wages
- Bailiffs: Court enforcement agents visit to seize goods
- Charging orders: The debt is secured against your property
- Third-party debt orders: Money taken from your bank account
The debt grows
Interest and court fees are added to the debt. The longer you don’t pay, the more you owe.
Can You Stop a CCJ Before It’s Issued?#
Yes, but you need to act fast.
As soon as you receive the claim pack, respond within 14 days. Your options:
1. Pay in full
If you pay the full amount (including court fees) before the judgment is issued, the claim is withdrawn. No CCJ is registered on your credit file.
2. Defend the claim
If you believe you don’t owe the debt or the amount is wrong, complete the defence form and explain why. The court will schedule a hearing.
Common defences:
- The debt is statute-barred (older than 6 years with no contact)
- You already paid it
- The debt belongs to someone else
- The creditor can’t provide a valid credit agreement
3. Offer a payment plan
If you can’t pay in full but can afford instalments, complete the admission form and propose a monthly payment. The court will decide if your offer is reasonable.
If your offer is accepted, a CCJ is still issued, but you won’t face enforcement as long as you keep up payments.
Can You Remove a CCJ from Your Credit File?#
Yes, but only in specific circumstances:
Pay within 30 days
If you pay the full amount (including court fees) within 30 days of the CCJ being issued, you can apply to have it removed from your credit file.
The creditor must confirm payment, and you can apply for the judgment to be cancelled from the register.
After 30 days, it can’t be removed
If you pay after 30 days, the CCJ stays on your credit file for 6 years. But it will be marked as “satisfied,” which looks better than leaving it unpaid.
Set aside the CCJ
You can apply to set aside (cancel) a CCJ if:
- You never received the claim pack (sent to the wrong address)
- You have a valid defence
- The creditor made a serious error
If successful, the CCJ is removed from your credit file. But you’ll need evidence to prove your case.
Can CCJ Debt Be Included in an IVA?#
Yes. CCJ debt is unsecured, so it can be included in an IVA.
If you have a CCJ plus other debts totalling around £7,000 or more, an IVA might be suitable.
Once your IVA is approved:
- Creditors included in the IVA must usually stop enforcement (bailiffs, attachment of earnings, etc.)
- The debt is frozen (no more interest or charges)
- You make one affordable monthly payment
- After 5-6 years, any remaining debt is written off
The CCJ may still stay on your credit file for 6 years. Your insolvency practitioner can explain how the debt will be reported while the IVA is running and after it completes.
Check if you qualify using our free IVA calculator.
Can You Get an IVA to Prevent a CCJ?#
Yes. If a creditor has threatened court action but hasn’t issued a claim yet, entering an IVA can stop them.
Once you submit your IVA proposal, your Insolvency Practitioner (IP) notifies all creditors. Most will pause legal action while waiting to see if the IVA is approved.
If the IVA is approved, creditors can’t take you to court. The IVA becomes the legal agreement for how debts are repaid.
But timing matters. If the CCJ has already been issued, it’s too late to prevent it. You can still enter an IVA, but the CCJ will remain on your credit file.
What If You Can’t Afford to Pay the CCJ?#
If you can’t afford the CCJ payments, don’t ignore it. Contact the court or the creditor immediately.
Options:
Apply to vary the order
You can apply to the court to change the payment terms. Complete form N244 and explain why you can’t afford the current amount.
The court will review your income and expenses and might reduce your monthly payment.
Enter a debt solution
If you have multiple debts and can’t afford to pay them all, consider:
- IVA: Write off remaining debt after 5-6 years
- Debt Management Plan: Pay what you can afford over time (no debt write-off)
- Debt Relief Order: Write off debts if you have low income and few assets
- Bankruptcy: Write off debts within 12 months (but lose control of assets)
Get free debt advice from StepChange, National Debtline, or Citizens Advice.
Can Bailiffs Take Your Stuff for a CCJ?#
Yes, if the creditor applies for bailiff enforcement.
After a CCJ is issued, if you don’t pay, the creditor can instruct bailiffs (enforcement agents) to visit your property.
Bailiffs can:
- Seize goods to sell at auction
- Clamp your vehicle
- Take control of assets worth enough to cover the debt
But bailiffs must follow strict rules. They can’t force entry on the first visit, and they can’t take essential items (clothing, bedding, cooker, fridge, etc.).
Read our guide on what bailiffs can and can’t do if you’re facing enforcement.
Can a CCJ Become Statute-Barred?#
No. Once a CCJ is issued, it doesn’t become statute-barred.
Normal debts become statute-barred after 6 years of no contact, meaning creditors can’t take you to court. But a CCJ is already a court judgment, so it’s enforceable indefinitely.
After 6 years, a creditor may need the court’s permission to use some enforcement methods. Do not assume an old CCJ has gone away, but get advice if a creditor is trying to enforce a very old judgment.
The only way to stop enforcement is to pay the CCJ in full or enter a debt solution like an IVA.
If you’re struggling with debt and want to find out what options are available, use our IVA suitability check to see if you qualify and how much debt you could write off. It takes 2 minutes and won’t affect your credit score.
Frequently Asked Questions#
How long does a CCJ stay on your credit file?#
6 years from the date of judgment. Even if you pay it off in full after 30 days, it stays on your credit file for the full 6 years (but marked as “satisfied”).
Can I get a mortgage with a CCJ?#
It’s much harder. Most mainstream lenders reject applicants with CCJs. You might get approved through specialist lenders, but expect higher interest rates and larger deposits.
What if I didn’t receive the court papers?#
Apply to set aside the CCJ. You’ll need to prove the claim was sent to the wrong address (e.g., you’d moved) and that you have a valid defence or would have responded if you’d received it.
Can I go to prison for not paying a CCJ?#
No. CCJ debt is civil, not criminal. You can’t be imprisoned for unpaid CCJ debt. The worst that can happen is enforcement through bailiffs or attachment of earnings.
What if the CCJ is for a debt I’ve already paid?#
Contact the creditor immediately and provide proof of payment. If they do not correct the record, ask the court about cancellation, satisfaction, or set-aside depending on when and why the debt was paid.
Can I get another CCJ while I’m already paying one?#
Yes. If you owe multiple creditors and they all take you to court, you can end up with multiple CCJs. This makes your credit situation even worse. Consider an IVA to stop further legal action.
If you’re struggling with CCJ debt and other debts, use our free IVA assessment to see if you qualify and how much debt you could write off. It takes 2 minutes and won’t affect your credit score.