Understand what a CCJ is, when to apply to set aside, how to start a CCJ payment plan, and realistic credit repair timelines.
✅ Start My Free CCJ CheckA CCJ is a court order saying you owe money to a creditor. It can happen if you admit the claim or if you don’t respond in time. If you pay the full amount within one calendar month of the judgment date, it’s usually removed from public registers; otherwise it typically stays on your credit file for six years (marked “satisfied” once paid).
If you’ve received a claim form, you normally have 14 days to respond (or 28 if you acknowledge service). Responding on time gives you the best chance to defend, negotiate, or propose affordable payments before judgment. See Stop Court Action for next steps and Breathing Space where suitable.
Check My OptionsIf the CCJ says “pay forthwith” (in full) or sets instalments you can’t afford, you can normally ask the court to vary the judgment to a realistic monthly amount by showing your income and essential spending. If the instalments were decided without a hearing based on paperwork, you may be able to request a quick redetermination so a judge reviews affordability.
Prepare a full budget (use our Debt Calculator) and offer a sustainable monthly amount. Once affordable instalments are ordered, creditors are expected to stick to them. Prefer one payment? Consider a Debt Management Plan or IVA to roll debts into one affordable payment, where suitable.
Start a Payment Plan“Set aside” means asking the court to cancel the judgment so the claim goes back to the start. Typical reasons include: you didn’t receive the claim at your current address, or you have a real prospect of defending the claim. You normally apply on N244 and the court may hold a hearing.
If set aside is granted, the claim is re-opened. You’ll still need to defend or settle the underlying debt; set-aside isn’t a write-off by itself.
Apply to Set AsideDay 0: Judgment made. If you can, pay in full within one calendar month to request removal from public registers.
Day 1–30: Paying in this window usually means the CCJ is removed once processed.
After 1 month: The CCJ remains on your credit file for up to six years. If you pay later, it shows as “satisfied” but usually still stays until the six-year point.
Within 6 years: Consider affordability routes (DMP, IVA, DRO) to stabilise your file and budget.
After 6 years: The CCJ typically falls off your credit file automatically, though court records may still hold historic entries.
If your file also shows a default on the same account, that default usually drops six years from the default date, which may be different from the judgment date.
Plan My Credit RepairIf a CCJ isn’t paid or varied, creditors can ask the court to enforce, for example:
Acting early to agree affordable instalments or using a managed solution (DMP/IVA/DRO) can reduce escalation and fees. If bailiffs are already involved, see Stop Debt Collectors and our bailiff pages in the menu.
Stop Enforcement ActionMany people choose a managed route to combine multiple debts into one affordable monthly payment and reduce contact pressure. Explore:
See If I QualifyPaying doesn’t usually remove it (unless within one month), but marking it “satisfied” can look better to future lenders than leaving it unpaid.
If you have valid grounds (non-service or a real defence), set-aside can be the right route. If you agree you owe the money and can’t defend, a payment plan is often quicker and cheaper.
If the CCJ is already made, you can still ask to vary or redetermine payments and dispute amounts (e.g., interest/fees) with evidence.
Yes. A DMP or IVA can cover CCJ debts. An IVA may offer legal protection and potential write-off on completion.
No. A judgment doesn’t become statute-barred like simple contract debts. It needs resolving or enforcing; very old judgments may require court permission to enforce.
It can pause most enforcement and interest for up to 60 days while you set up a plan. See Breathing Space for how it works.
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