How Long Do CCJs Last UK — Everything You Need to Know
How CCJs affect you. How long they stay on your credit file, how to get them removed, paying them off, and rebuilding your credit after a CCJ.
·4 min read
A County Court Judgment can significantly impact your finances. Here’s how they work, how long they last, and what you can do about them.
What Is a CCJ?
Definition
CCJ
Stands for
County Court Judgment
What it is
Court ruling that you owe money
Who issues
County Court (in England/Wales)
Scotland
Decree (similar purposes)
Northern Ireland
Also CCJs
How You Get a CCJ
Step
What Happens
1
You owe money and don’t pay
2
Creditor sends claim form
3
You have 14 days to respond
4
If no response or admission, judgement issued
5
CCJ registered against you
Types of Response
Response Option
Outcome
Pay in full
Claim dismissed
Admit and offer payment plan
Court decides terms
Dispute the claim
Court hearing
No response
Judgment by default
How Long CCJs Last
The 6-Year Rule
Timeline
Status
Day 1
CCJ registered
Within 1 month
Pay = can apply for removal
After 1 month
Stays even if paid
6 years
Automatically removed
On Your Credit File
Period
Impact
Years 1-3
Severe impact
Years 4-5
Reducing impact
Year 6
Diminishing
After 6 years
Gone completely
On the Register
Register of Judgments
Public record
Anyone can check
Shows for 6 years
From judgment date
Paid in month
Can be removed
Paid after month
Shows as satisfied
Paying a CCJ
Pay Within 1 Month
Benefit
Details
Can apply for removal
Certificate of satisfaction
Costs
£15 fee
Outcome
No CCJ on file
Important
Must be within calendar month
Pay After 1 Month
What Happens
Details
Stays on Register
6 years
Marked “Satisfied”
Shows you paid
Still affects credit
But better than unpaid
No removal
Even if paid in full
Payment Options
Option
How It Works
Full payment
One lump sum
Instalments
Court sets amount
Vary the order
Apply if can’t afford payments
Creditor directly
Or through court
Getting a CCJ Removed
Legitimate Removal
Situation
Action
Paid within 1 month
Apply for certificate of cancellation
Pay £15
Certificate of satisfaction
Send to Register
They remove it
Set Aside a CCJ
Grounds
You Can Apply If
Didn’t receive claim form
Genuine non-receipt
Have real defence
Dispute the debt
Procedural error
Court made mistake
Already paid
Before judgment
Set Aside Process
Step
Action
1
Apply to court (N244 form)
2
Pay fee (£275 typically)
3
Explain grounds
4
Court hearing
5
If successful, CCJ set aside
You Cannot Remove If
Situation
Outcome
Valid debt, paid after 1 month
Stays 6 years
Just want it gone
Not grounds
Time has passed
Must wait 6 years
Impact on Credit
Credit Score Effects
Factor
Impact
CCJ recorded
Score drops significantly
Multiple CCJs
Worse
Unsatisfied CCJ
Very negative
Satisfied CCJ
Better than unsatisfied
Older CCJ
Less impact over time
What You May Struggle to Get
Product
With CCJ
Mortgage
Very difficult
Loans
Limited, higher rates
Credit cards
Rejected or bad terms
Phone contracts
May need SIM-only
Overdraft
Unlikely
Car finance
Specialist only
Renting
Landlords check
Living With a CCJ
What You Can Still Get
Product
Options
Bank account
Basic accounts available
Debit card
With any account
Prepaid cards
No credit check
SIM-only phone
Usually fine
Utilities
But may need deposit
Secured credit card
Build credit
Rebuilding Credit
Strategy
How
Pay the CCJ
Get it satisfied
Credit builder card
Use responsibly
Stay on electoral roll
Always
Avoid new debt problems
No more defaults
Check credit files
For errors
Time
Most effective healer
Specialist Lenders
For
Options
Mortgages
Specialist bad credit lenders
Loans
Higher interest
Car finance
Guarantor or specialist
Be wary
Of very high rates
Multiple CCJs
Worse Situation
Multiple CCJs
Impact
More severe impact
On credit
Shows pattern
Of debt problems
Harder to borrow
Even specialist
Consider advice
Debt charity help
What to Do
Action
Priority
Get debt advice
StepChange, CAB
Consider options
DRO, IVA, bankruptcy?
Address underlying problem
Why in debt?
Create budget
Long-term fix
Checking for CCJs
Check Your Credit File
Service
Free Access
ClearScore
Equifax data
Credit Karma
TransUnion data
Experian
Basic free access
Trust Online (Registry)
Website
Details
TrustOnline.org.uk
Official Register
Search yourself
Check what’s there
Search others
With consent
Summary: CCJ Timeline
Key Dates
When
What
CCJ issued
Clock starts
Within 1 month
Pay and apply for removal
After 1 month
Stays even if paid
6 years
Automatically removed
Action Checklist
If You Have a CCJ
Action
Can pay in full now?
Do it immediately
Within 1 month?
Apply for removal
Can’t pay in full?
Set up payment plan
Dispute validity?
Apply to set aside
Can’t afford payments?
Apply to vary order
Rebuilding Checklist
Action
Done
Pay/satisfy the CCJ
☐
Check all credit files
☐
Correct any errors
☐
Register on electoral roll
☐
Consider credit builder
☐
Budget properly
☐
Seek free debt advice
☐
Key Contacts
Service
For
StepChange
Free debt advice
Citizens Advice
Free guidance
Money Helper
Free advice
Court
Vary orders, set aside
A CCJ isn’t the end of your financial life, but it does make things harder for 6 years. Pay it if you can, get it satisfied, and focus on rebuilding. The best approach is avoiding one in the first place — always respond to court papers and seek debt advice early.