A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a court decision about a debt in England and Wales. Removing an entry from a credit record, paying a judgment and having a judgment set aside are different things. No commercial service can guarantee that a valid CCJ will be removed.
This guide is general information, not advice on a particular court application. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different court systems. Get prompt debt or legal advice if you have just discovered a judgment or received enforcement papers.
Payment within one month
If you pay the full judgment within one month of the judgment date, you can ask the court to cancel its register entry. Keep proof of payment and check that the court has the information it needs. Paying part of the balance is not sufficient for this route.
Payment after one month
Full payment after the first month normally allows the judgment to be marked satisfied, rather than removed early. It normally remains on the register for six years from the judgment date. A satisfied entry shows the debt has been paid but can still affect credit decisions.
The court can issue a certificate of cancellation or satisfaction. Check the current process and fee in GOV.UK’s CCJ and credit-record guidance. If the record is inaccurate, contact the court and the relevant credit reference agency with evidence.
Applying to set aside a default judgment
A set-aside application asks the court to undo a judgment; it is not a paid credit-cleaning service. A default judgment must be set aside in certain circumstances where it was wrongly entered. In other cases, the court may consider whether you have a real prospect of successfully defending the claim or another good reason for setting it aside or allowing a defence.
The court considers whether a discretionary application was made promptly. Not receiving papers does not by itself guarantee success: service, the claim and the circumstances need to be checked. Explain the facts and provide supporting evidence. The rules are in Civil Procedure Rules Part 13.
An application commonly uses form N244. Court fees and possible costs are separate from any adviser’s charge; Help with Fees may be available. Applying does not automatically stop enforcement, so ask about a stay where appropriate. See GOV.UK’s set-aside guidance.
What happens if a judgment is set aside?
The underlying claim may continue. The court can give directions for a defence or a new hearing, and you must meet those deadlines. Setting aside a judgment does not automatically write off the debt or prove that the claimant was wrong.
If the court refuses the application, the judgment can remain and there may be additional costs. Get advice on the merits and evidence before paying for an application or a commercial service.
What if I owe the debt but cannot afford the payments?
An application to change instalments may be more relevant than trying to remove a valid judgment. The appropriate route depends on the existing order and your finances. Do not ignore the judgment or assume it is unenforceable when its credit-file entry reaches six years.
MoneyNerd does not provide debt advice or legal representation. Find free debt advice through MoneyHelper, and seek legal advice where a court application is involved.