How to Get a CCJ Removed UK — Complete Guide

A County Court Judgment (CCJ) seriously damages your credit. Here’s how to get one removed or minimise its impact.

What Is a CCJ?

How You Get One

Stage	What Happens
1	You owe money and haven’t paid
2	Creditor takes you to court
3	Court sends claim form to you
4	You have 14 days to respond
5	If no response/defence, judgment issued
6	CCJ recorded on Register of Judgments

Impact on Credit

Effect	Details
Credit score	Drops significantly (100+ points)
Credit file	Visible for 6 years
Borrowing	Much harder, higher rates
Renting	Landlords may refuse
Jobs	Some employers check credit
Bank accounts	May be limited to basic accounts

Ways to Remove a CCJ

Option 1: Pay Within 30 Days (Full Removal)

If	You pay in full within 30 days of judgment
Result	CCJ removed from credit file entirely
Register	Removed from Register of Judgments
As if	It never happened
How	Pay creditor, get receipt, apply to court

Steps:

Step	Action
1	Pay the full amount owed to creditor
2	Get proof of payment/receipt
3	Complete form N443 (request to cancel)
4	Submit to court with £15 fee
5	CCJ removed from Register and credit files

Option 2: Set Aside the CCJ (If Wrongly Issued)

Grounds	When It Applies
Never received claim	Sent to wrong address
Valid defence	You don’t owe the money
Already paid	Before CCJ was issued
Procedural errors	Court process flawed

Steps:

Step	Action
1	Complete form N244 (application notice)
2	Pay court fee (£275, or less if on low income)
3	Explain grounds for setting aside
4	Attend hearing (usually)
5	If successful, CCJ set aside

Option 3: Pay After 30 Days (Marked Satisfied)

If	You pay after 30 days
Result	CCJ marked as ‘satisfied’
Credit file	Still shows for 6 years
Better than	Unsatisfied CCJ
How	Pay creditor, get receipt, apply to register

Steps:

Step	Action
1	Pay the full amount to creditor
2	Get certificate of satisfaction from creditor
3	Complete form N443
4	Submit to court with £15 fee
5	Register updated to show ‘satisfied’

Option 4: Wait 6 Years (Automatic Removal)

After	6 years from judgment date
Happens	CCJ drops off register automatically
Credit file	Also removed
No action	Required from you

What If You Can’t Afford to Pay?

Options

Option	Details
Vary the judgment	Ask court to change payment terms
DMP	Debt Management Plan includes CCJ debt
IVA	Individual Voluntary Arrangement
DRO	Debt Relief Order (if you qualify)
Bankruptcy	Last resort

Applying to Vary Payment Terms

Form	N245
Fee	None
What you’re asking	Different payment schedule
Need to show	Income and expenses

Setting Aside a CCJ — Detailed Guide

Valid Grounds

Ground	Example
Didn’t receive papers	Moved address, creditor used old address
Have a defence	Debt was already paid, wrong amount, not your debt
Good reason	Serious illness prevented response
Time limit	Usually within 14 days of finding out

What You Need

Document	Purpose
Form N244	Application to set aside
Witness statement	Your explanation
Evidence	Proof of address, payment records, etc.
Court fee	£275 (reduced if on benefits)

Fee Remission

Circumstances	Fee Reduction
On benefits	Free
Very low income	Free or reduced
Form	EX160 (Help with Fees)

At the Hearing

What Happens	Details
Judge reviews	Your application and evidence
Creditor may attend	To oppose
Decision	Set aside or not
If successful	CCJ cancelled, original claim may continue

Impact on Credit and Life

With Unsatisfied CCJ

Area	Impact
Credit score	Severely damaged
Credit cards	Very difficult to get
Loans	High interest if approved
Mortgages	Most lenders refuse
Renting	Many landlords refuse
Bank accounts	May be restricted
Mobile contracts	May be refused

With Satisfied CCJ

Area	Impact
Credit score	Still damaged, less than unsatisfied
Borrowing	Easier than unsatisfied
Mortgages	Possible with specialist lenders
Shows	You dealt with the debt

After CCJ Drops Off (6 Years)

Impact	Details
Credit file	Clean (for this item)
Score	Can recover
Applications	Not disclosed to lenders
Fresh start	Effectively

Getting a Mortgage with a CCJ

Factors Lenders Consider

Factor	Better	Worse
Age of CCJ	Older (3+ years)	Recent
Satisfied	Yes	No
Amount	Small (<£500)	Large
Number	One	Multiple
Deposit	Large (15%+)	Small
Explanation	Good reason	Pattern

Typical Requirements

CCJ Status	Lender Type	Deposit Needed
Satisfied, 3+ years	Some high street	10-15%
Satisfied, 1-3 years	Specialist	15-20%
Unsatisfied	Very specialist	25%+
Multiple CCJs	Very limited options	25-40%

Enforcement If You Don’t Pay

What Creditors Can Do

Method	What It Means
Bailiffs	Take goods to sell
Attachment of Earnings	Money taken from wages
Charging Order	Debt secured against your home
Order to Obtain Information	Must disclose finances to court
Third Party Debt Order	Freeze bank account

Priority

Action	Recommendation
If you can pay	Pay within 30 days for removal
If you can’t pay	Apply to vary (N245)
If CCJ was wrong	Apply to set aside (N244)
Getting enforcement threats	Get debt advice immediately

Check If You Have a CCJ

How to Check

Service	Details
Registry Trust	trustonline.org.uk
Cost	£4 online search
Credit file	Also shows CCJs
If not on file	May not have been registered

Why You Might Not Know

Reason	What Happened
Wrong address	Claim sent to old address
Ignored post	Thought it was junk
Didn’t understand	Didn’t realise consequences

Summary: CCJ Removal Options

Situation	Action	Outcome
Can pay within 30 days	Pay + Form N443	Complete removal
CCJ was wrong	Set aside (N244)	Complete removal
Can pay after 30 days	Pay + N443	Marked satisfied, stays 6 years
Can’t afford to pay	Vary terms (N245) or debt advice	Manageable payments
Do nothing	Wait 6 years	Automatic removal

Key Deadlines

Deadline	Importance
14 days	To respond to claim form
30 days	To pay for full removal
6 years	Auto drops off

If you have a CCJ, get free debt advice from StepChange (stepchange.org) or Citizens Advice to understand your options.