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A county court judgment (CCJ) stays on your credit file for 6 years from the date of the judgment and then drops off automatically. During those 6 years, any lender that checks your file can see it. The exception is a CCJ paid in full within one calendar month of the judgment: it can be removed from the register and will not show on your file.
For a mortgage or remortgage, a CCJ usually has the biggest effect in the first year or two and tends to matter less as it ages, especially if it is satisfied and your record since is clean. There is no fixed point at which every lender stops taking it into account, because each lender sets its own criteria.
How long does a CCJ stay on your credit file?
In England and Wales, a CCJ is recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines and stays on your credit file for 6 years from the judgment date. That is the date on the court order, not the date you first missed a payment or the date you paid it off. Northern Ireland has its own judgment system, and judgments there also generally stay on credit files for 6 years.
After 6 years, the CCJ is removed from the register and from your credit file automatically, whether or not it was paid. You do not need to apply for this. Removal from your file does not necessarily mean the debt no longer exists, so check where you stand if it was never paid.
The one-month rule
If you pay the full amount within one calendar month of the judgment date, you can ask for the judgment to be removed from the register. It will then not appear on your credit file at all. You will usually need proof of payment from the creditor to send to the court, and GOV.UK explains the process for CCJs.
If you pay after the first month, the CCJ is not removed. It is marked as satisfied, but it stays on your file for the full 6 years.
Satisfied vs unsatisfied CCJs
| Satisfied CCJ | Unsatisfied CCJ | |
|---|---|---|
| What it means | Paid in full after the first month | Not yet paid in full |
| How long it shows | 6 years from the judgment date | 6 years from the judgment date |
| How it shows on your file | Marked as satisfied | Shown as outstanding |
| How lenders may view it | Often more favourably | Some lenders may want it paid before, or as part of, a remortgage |
To get a CCJ marked as satisfied, you pay the creditor and then apply to the court for a certificate of satisfaction, or ask the creditor to confirm to the court that you have paid. The register is then updated. Check your credit files afterwards to make sure the agencies show it correctly. Our page on remortgaging with a satisfied CCJ covers this in more detail.
Paying off a CCJ does not shorten the 6 years, but it can still help. Many lenders see a satisfied CCJ as a sign that the problem has been dealt with.
How the effect of a CCJ fades over time
There are no fixed lender rules on how old a CCJ must be. Each lender sets its own criteria, and some take into account the amount, the reason and whether you have more than one. As a general pattern, though, a CCJ tends to carry less weight the older it gets.
| Time since judgment | Credit file (fact) | How lenders may view it (illustrative only) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 month | Can be removed if paid in full within the month | Paying in full now means it will not show |
| 1 month to 1 year | Shows, as satisfied or unsatisfied | Choice of lenders is often narrowest, and mainly specialist lenders may consider it |
| 1 to 3 years | Shows | More lenders may consider it, especially if it is small and satisfied |
| 3 to 6 years | Shows | Often seen as older adverse credit and may be a smaller factor for some lenders |
| Over 6 years | Removed from your credit file | Not visible on your file, though some application forms ask about past CCJs |
The right-hand column is a general illustration, not a lender rule. Your equity, income and the rest of your credit history also count. If your CCJ is recent, see remortgaging with a recent CCJ. If you have more than one, see remortgaging with multiple CCJs.
What else lenders look at alongside a CCJ
A CCJ is rarely looked at on its own. Lenders commonly consider:
- The amount. A small CCJ, perhaps from a disputed parking charge or utility bill, may be viewed differently from a large one.
- How many there are. Several CCJs, or a CCJ alongside defaults or missed payments, can narrow your options.
- Your loan to value. More equity can widen the choice of lenders. See how LTV affects a bad credit remortgage.
- Your record since. Keeping up with all your payments since the CCJ shows how you manage credit now.
- The explanation. Some specialist lenders will consider why it happened, such as a one-off dispute or a period of illness.
CCJs in Scotland: decrees
Scotland has a separate court system, so there are no CCJs. The equivalent is a court decree, typically a decree for payment from the sheriff court. Like a CCJ, a decree generally stays on your credit file for 6 years, and lenders tend to treat it in a similar way.
The one-month removal rule described above applies to CCJs in England and Wales, and the process for decrees is different. If you have a decree, check the details with the court or a free debt adviser rather than assuming it can be removed. National Debtline and StepChange can help.
Checking your file
Get your free statutory credit report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, and check the judgment date, the amount and whether it shows as satisfied. If a CCJ is wrong, for example because you never received the original claim, you may be able to apply to have it set aside.
For the wider picture, read what adverse credit is and our main page on remortgaging with a CCJ. If a CCJ is part of wider money problems, free advice from MoneyHelper can help you work out your options before you borrow more.
Frequently asked questions
Does a CCJ disappear after 6 years?
Yes. A CCJ is removed from the register and from your credit file 6 years after the judgment date, whether or not it was paid. You do not need to apply for this. Some mortgage application forms ask whether you have ever had a CCJ, so answer any questions honestly even after it has dropped off your file.
Is it worth paying off a CCJ after the first month?
Paying a CCJ after the first month will not remove it or shorten the 6 years, but it will be marked as satisfied. Many lenders view a satisfied CCJ more favourably than an unsatisfied one, and some may ask for outstanding CCJs to be cleared. See remortgaging with a satisfied CCJ.
Can I remortgage with a CCJ less than a year old?
It can be possible, but the choice of lenders is often narrower for a recent CCJ, and rates are often higher than high-street rates. The amount, whether it is satisfied, your equity and the rest of your credit history all matter. Our page on remortgaging with a recent CCJ explains more.
Does a CCJ affect a product transfer with my current lender?
A product transfer is a new deal with your existing lender. Where you are not borrowing more, FCA rules allow lenders to switch existing customers without a full affordability assessment, so a product transfer may be an option even with a CCJ. Each lender still decides its own process and what it offers, so ask your current lender what is available.