What is County Court Judgment (CCJ)?

A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a formal court order issued in England and Wales confirming that a person or business owes money to a creditor. CCJs are the outcome of a successful money claim, typically filed through Money Claims Online (MCOL).

How a CCJ is issued: 1. The creditor files a money claim (usually via MCOL) 2. The defendant either doesn't respond (default judgment) or loses at a hearing 3. The court issues a CCJ specifying the amount owed and payment terms

• **Impact on the debtor:**
• Credit rating: A CCJ is registered on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, which is checked by banks, landlords, suppliers, and credit agencies
• Duration: Stays on record for **6 years** unless paid in full within **30 days** of the judgment date
• Satisfied vs unsatisfied: If paid after 30 days but before 6 years, it's marked as "satisfied" but still visible
• Business consequences: Difficulty securing finance, stricter supplier terms, potential loss of contracts

• **Enforcement if they still don't pay:**
• If the debtor ignores the CCJ, creditors can apply for enforcement:
• Warrant of Control: — County court bailiffs seize goods to sell (fee: £77)
• Attachment of Earnings Order: — Deductions from the debtor's wages
• Third Party Debt Order: — Freeze money in the debtor's bank account
• Charging Order: — Secure the debt against the debtor's property

Setting aside a CCJ: A debtor can apply to have a CCJ set aside if they have a valid defence and a good reason for not responding to the original claim (e.g., they didn't receive the paperwork). The court has discretion on whether to grant this.

For creditors pursuing a CCJ: Gather all evidence (invoices, contracts, chase history, LBA proof of delivery). If the debtor has no assets or income, enforcing a CCJ may be difficult — consider this before incurring court fees. However, the CCJ itself is a powerful deterrent, as it damages the debtor's credit rating whether or not they pay.