County Court Judgement (CCJ’s)

A CCJ or County Court Judgement is an official debt claim against you by Creditors, Lenders or Local Authorities. The judgement is made through the county court and is usually the result of payment defaults. A CCJ or County Court Judgement is the term for a judgement made against a person or company for defaulting on debt. The judgement is passed in a County Court. Generally if a CCJ is paid in full within 30 days of the date of the judgement it will not appear on the credit register, however should a judgement be settled after that period it will be entered into the public record and it will affect your credit rating.

Who are likely to apply for CCJ's:

Creditors - This can be companies who provide you services like electricity, gas, water, internet connection through to retail outlets that have allowed you products on credit.
Lenders - This will be companies that have actually lent you money and credit card companies.
Local Authorities - Landlords, being in Arrears or Defaulting on rent repayments or not paying council tax bills.

The consequences of having a CCJ against you:

This CCJ will go on your credit file and will affect your credit rating. It will make it more difficult for you to get a credit card, loan, mortgage or any type of finance in the future. You will also incur costs for having a CCJ as you have to pay the creditors court costs.

The only benefit to you:

Your creditors will stop adding interest to the amount you currently owe them and the court will decide on a repayment plan. So long as you keep up the payments that the court decide on you should have no more problems with your creditors.

However, remember - If you don’t keep up these payments the creditor could call in the bailiffs and you will have a CCJ against your name, which will adversely affect future claims for credit.