What happens if I ignore a CCJ?

If you owe someone money and don’t pay, they may be able to take court action against you to retrieve it and you could receive a county court judgment (CCJ). But what happens if you ignore a CCJ?

Ignoring a CCJ – what happens next?

Ignoring a CCJ means you’ll lose the chance to challenge it or make a payment plan. You might be taken back to court and forced to pay what you owe immediately.

The lender can take further enforcement action against you, which may include applying for:

bailiff action
bankruptcy (if you owe £5,000 or more)
an attachment of earnings order – this takes a fixed percentage of your wages until your debt is paid
a third-party debt order – this tells your bank to use the money from your bank account to pay the debt
a charging order to secure the amount you owe against your home (if you’re a homeowner)

After a lender receives a charging order, they can apply for an order for sale. This forces you to sell your home and the lender takes what you owe from the proceeds.

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What to do if you receive a CCJ

If you receive a CCJ, you must respond by the date on the letter or email. You can ask to change the terms of the judgment or to pay it back in instalments. A CCJ will stay on your credit file for six years.

Can a CCJ be written off?

A CCJ can be included in the following debt solutions:

This means you may be able to write off some, or all, of the debt if you’re eligible for a DRO, an IVA or bankruptcy.

But remember, these debt solutions will affect your credit rating and you may have to pay a fee. Speak to a debt adviser for more information on getting a debt solution if you have a CCJ.