A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is one of the most damaging markers you can have on your UK credit file. It stays visible to lenders for six years and will result in automatic rejection for most mainstream credit products. But can it be removed?
The 1-Month Rule
There is only one guaranteed way to completely remove a legitimate CCJ from your credit file: you must pay the full amount owed within one calendar month of the judgement date. If you do this, you can apply to the court for a 'Certificate of Cancellation', and the CCJ will be wiped from your record as if it never happened.
What if you miss the 1-month deadline?
If you pay the debt after one month has passed, the CCJ will not be removed. It will remain on your file for the full six years. However, its status will be updated to 'Satisfied'. While a satisfied CCJ is still highly damaging, it shows lenders that you eventually took responsibility for the debt, which is slightly better than an active, unpaid CCJ.
Removing a CCJ issued in error
If a CCJ was issued against you by mistake — for example, if the court papers were sent to an old address and you never knew about the debt — you can apply to have the judgement 'set aside'. You must act quickly as soon as you discover the CCJ, complete an N244 court form, and pay a fee (currently £275). If the judge agrees, the CCJ is removed, but the creditor may still pursue the original debt.