County Court Claim or CCJ? Deadlines, Set Aside & Removal

Which court letter have you got?

People often say "I've got a CCJ letter" when they actually have something earlier in the process. The deadline depends on which document it is, so check this first.

How long do I have to respond to a CCJ claim form?

You have 14 days after the claim form (or the particulars of claim, if they come separately) is served on you. A claim form sent by first-class post is treated as served on the second business day after it was posted, so the clock usually starts a couple of working days after the date printed on the form — not the day you opened it. Many court-issued forms state the date of service; if yours does, use that.

Within those 14 days you must do one of these:

• pay the full amount claimed (including the court fee and any fixed costs on the form);
• return the admission form (N9A for a fixed amount) — with an offer of affordable instalments if you can't pay in full;
• return a defence (N9B) if you dispute all or part of the debt; or
• file an acknowledgment of service, which gives you 28 days from service in total to file your defence.

This applies to credit card debts, loans, overdrafts, catalogue debts and other money claims alike. If the claim was issued through Money Claim Online or the online Civil Money Claims service, you can respond online using the details on your papers. The GOV.UK "respond to a money claim" page explains each route.

Need more time to respond to a claim form?

Yes, there are three ways to get more time — but you must act before the 14 days run out. Doing nothing is the one option that guarantees a default judgment.

1. File an acknowledgment of service

   Tick the box on the response pack (or respond online) to say you intend to defend all or part of the claim. This extends the deadline for your defence from 14 to 28 days after service. It's the quickest way to buy time to get advice and gather paperwork.

2. Agree an extension with the creditor

   Under the court rules you and the creditor (the "claimant") can agree to extend the defence deadline by up to 28 extra days. Ask in writing, get their agreement in writing, and tell the court. The online service may let you request extra time directly — follow the instructions on your claim.

3. Ask the court

   If the creditor won't agree, or you need longer, you can apply to the court using form N244 (a fee may be payable — check current court fees, and you may qualify for help with fees). Apply before the deadline passes.

If you are only asking for time to arrange payment rather than to defend the claim, you don't need an extension — return the admission form with an offer of instalments based on your budget. A free adviser can help you complete the income and expenditure section.

Your options when you get a claim form

1. Pay in full — no CCJ

If you can pay the whole amount on the claim form (debt plus court fee and fixed costs) before judgment, the claim ends and no CCJ is registered. Pay the creditor directly, keep proof, and ask them to confirm in writing that the claim will be withdrawn ("discontinued").

2. Admit and offer instalments

If you owe the money but can't pay it all, complete the admission form with a realistic monthly offer. The creditor can accept it; if they don't, a court officer or judge decides a rate based on your income and expenditure. A judgment is still entered (by admission), so it will appear on the register unless you then pay in full within a month.

3. Defend the claim

Defend if you genuinely don't owe all or part of the money — for example the amount is wrong, you've already paid, the debt is statute-barred (usually 6 years with no payment or written acknowledgment), the creditor can't show it owns the debt, or a regulated credit agreement wasn't properly executed. Defended claims may go to mediation or a hearing, and you could be ordered to pay some costs if you lose — so get advice first.

4. Admit part, dispute part

You can admit the amount you agree you owe and defend the rest.

What happens if you don't respond?

If you don't respond within 14 days (or don't file a defence within 28 days after acknowledging service), the creditor can ask the court for judgment in default. This is usually done on paper with no hearing. You'll receive a judgment form telling you how much to pay, who to pay and by when — either in full immediately ("forthwith") or by instalments.

The judgment is then entered on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, which credit reference agencies use. That's when it starts to affect your credit file.

How long do I have to pay a CCJ?

You have whatever time the judgment order gives you. A default judgment is often for payment "forthwith" (straight away) or by a set date, but it can be by monthly instalments if that's what was requested or agreed. Check the judgment form: it shows the amount, the payee and the deadline or instalment rate.

• Pay the creditor, not the court — their details are on the judgment. Keep proof of every payment.
• If you can't afford the terms, apply to vary the judgment using form N245, with your income and spending and a realistic offer. A court fee may apply. If the creditor objects, the court decides.
• If you can pay in full within one calendar month of the judgment date, do — that's the only way (other than setting it aside) to have the CCJ removed from the register.

As long as you pay as the court ordered, the creditor can't take enforcement action such as sending bailiffs.

Can you reverse a CCJ if you never received the claim form?

Yes — you can apply to have the judgment "set aside" (cancelled) if you never received the claim form, or if you have a real defence. If a judgment was entered in default and the claim form went to an old address, the court may set it aside. There is no fixed one-month deadline, but you must act promptly once you find out: delay is one of the main reasons applications fail.

How to apply to set aside a CCJ

1. Find the details

   Search the Registry Trust register (small fee) or check your credit report to get the court name, claim number and judgment date. Ask the court for copies of the claim and judgment.

2. Ask the creditor to agree

   If the creditor accepts the claim went to the wrong address, or the debt was already paid, they may agree to the judgment being set aside by consent. That's quicker and may avoid a hearing.

3. Complete form N244

   Send an N244 application notice to the court, explaining why you didn't respond and attaching evidence (for example proof you'd moved) and a draft defence if you dispute the debt. A court fee applies — check the current amount on GOV.UK; you may qualify for help with fees.

4. Attend the hearing

   A judge considers whether you have a real prospect of defending the claim (or another good reason), why you didn't respond, and how quickly you applied. If you don't go to the hearing, the application will normally be dismissed.

CCJ after a missed hearing

If judgment was given at a hearing you didn't attend, you can apply (again on form N244) for it to be set aside. The court will usually expect you to show that you acted promptly once you found out, had a good reason for not attending (for example you weren't notified, or were ill), and have a reasonable prospect of success at a new hearing. All three normally need to be met, so apply as soon as possible and get advice.

Getting a CCJ removed from your credit file

A CCJ is removed from the register if you pay it in full within one calendar month of the judgment date, if it is set aside, or automatically after 6 years. Paying in full after one month doesn't remove it, but it is marked "satisfied", which lenders see more favourably than an unpaid judgment.

Who do I contact to get a CCJ removed?

Contact the court that issued the judgment (its name and the claim number are on your papers). The court notifies the Registry Trust, which updates the register; credit reference agencies then update your file. You don't need to pay anyone to do this — be wary of firms charging fees to "remove" CCJs, as there's nothing they can do that you can't do yourself for the court fee. A free adviser at National Debtline or Citizens Advice can help if you're stuck. If the register shows wrong information, contact the court that made the judgment.

If the creditor withdraws the claim, will it come off my file?

If a claim is withdrawn (discontinued) before judgment, there's no CCJ, so there's nothing on the register to remove. If a judgment has already been entered, a creditor can't simply "withdraw" it — it has to be set aside by the court (often by consent) or paid. Once the court notifies the register, the record is removed, but it can take a few weeks for credit reference agencies to update. Check your credit reports and ask the agencies to correct them if needed.

Enforcement if a CCJ isn't paid

If you don't pay as ordered, the creditor can ask the court to enforce the judgment. Each has its own process and fee, which is usually added to what you owe:

If enforcement is threatened and you can't pay in full, apply to suspend the warrant or vary the order with form N245 and offer an affordable amount. You can also ask a debt adviser about Breathing Space, which pauses most enforcement action for up to 60 days.

If you can't afford to pay the CCJ

A CCJ is often a sign that other debts are under pressure too. Look at the whole picture rather than just this one creditor:

• Debt management plan (DMP) — an informal plan to repay non-priority debts at an affordable rate. Creditors with CCJs can be included, but a DMP doesn't legally stop them enforcing.
• IVA — a legally binding agreement that stops included creditors (including CCJ creditors) taking further action.
• Debt Relief Order — for debts up to £50,000 with little spare income and few assets; debts written off after 12 months.
• Bankruptcy — writes off most debts but has serious consequences.
• Administration order — if you have at least one county court or High Court judgment and total debts of no more than £5,000, you can apply (form N92) to make one payment to the court that covers all your debts.

Not sure which fits? Compare them in our side-by-side comparisons or try the debt calculator.

Frequently asked questions