Glossary · Collections
County court judgment (CCJ)
A county court judgment (CCJ) is a court order in England and Wales to pay a debt. Unpaid, it goes on a public register for six years.
A CCJ is issued when a court in England and Wales decides a debt is owed — often by default, because the debtor didn’t respond to the claim. Northern Ireland has an equivalent system.
CCJs are recorded on the public Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, which credit reference agencies use. A judgment paid in full within one month is removed from the register; otherwise it stays for six years. For a company, a CCJ hurts its credit rating and its ability to get supplier credit, which is often what finally prompts payment.
If a CCJ is still unpaid, the creditor can enforce it, for example through High Court or county court enforcement agents, an attachment of earnings for individuals, or a charging order over property.
Example
A supplier obtains a CCJ for £8,300 against a client company. Faced with a damaged credit rating, the client pays within three weeks, so the judgment never appears on the register.