A CCJ for a small amount, often a few hundred pounds or less, is recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines and your credit file in exactly the same way as a much larger one. There is no separate category for "minor" judgments. In practice, though, some lenders who consider adverse credit do look at the size and cause of a CCJ, and a small judgment over a parking charge or a phone bill may be viewed differently from a larger one for an unpaid loan.
This page looks at what tends to count as small, how it may be treated, and why clearing it is usually still worth doing even if the amount seems minor. For the wider picture, see remortgaging with a CCJ.
On this page
This page covers
- Credit issue
- County court judgments (CCJs)Usually stays on your credit file for 6 years from the judgment date.
- Amount
- Smaller amountsSome lenders treat low-value issues, such as a small utility default, differently from larger debts.
In short
- A small CCJ is recorded the same way as a large one; there is no separate register or lower reporting threshold.
- Some lenders may take the amount and type of debt into account, though this is never guaranteed.
- Clearing a small CCJ is usually worthwhile, because an unsatisfied judgment can still concern lenders regardless of size.
- If you believe a small CCJ was made in error, you can look at having it set aside.
What counts as a 'small' CCJ?
There is no official definition, and no minimum amount below which a judgment is left off your credit file. In everyday use, people tend to describe a CCJ as small when it relates to something like a disputed parking charge, an unpaid phone contract, a small utility bill or a minor unpaid subscription, rather than a loan, credit card or larger unsecured debt.
| Type of debt | What usually leads to it |
|---|---|
| Parking or private penalty charges | An unpaid or disputed charge escalated through a debt recovery process to court |
| Mobile phone or broadband contracts | A final bill or early termination charge left unpaid after leaving a contract |
| Utility accounts | A closing balance on gas, electricity or water left unpaid, often after a house move |
| Small subscriptions or memberships | A cancelled service still being billed, or a final charge disputed and left unpaid |
Do lenders treat small judgments differently from large ones?
Some do, though there is no consistent rule across the market. A few lenders who consider adverse credit may disregard a small, satisfied CCJ below a certain value, particularly one for a utility or parking charge, while treating a larger judgment, or an unpaid one of any size, more cautiously. Others assess every CCJ in the same way regardless of amount.
What a small CCJ cannot change is how it is recorded: it still stays on your credit file for 6 years from the judgment date, satisfied or not, the same as any other judgment. Our page on remortgaging with a satisfied CCJ explains what changes once it is paid.
Why a small unpaid CCJ is still worth clearing
Because size is not guaranteed to matter to a lender, an unpaid small CCJ carries the same practical risk as a larger one: some lenders will not consider an unsatisfied judgment at all, whatever it was for. Paying it off, even a modest amount, and getting it marked satisfied removes that uncertainty.
- Confirm the exact balance owed, including any added costs or interest
- Pay it in full if you can, and keep proof of the payment and date
- Apply for a certificate of satisfaction once it is paid, if more than a month has passed since judgment
- Check all three credit reports show it correctly afterwards
If money is tight even for a small amount, National Debtline and StepChange offer free advice on dealing with the creditor.
What if you think the small CCJ was made in error?
Disputed parking and penalty charges are a common source of judgments that people later say they never knew about, often because the court papers went to an old address. If that applies to you, you may be able to apply to the court to have the judgment set aside, which our page on a CCJ set aside explains in more detail.
Whatever the amount, act promptly if you want to dispute it. GOV.UK explains the process for CCJs, and a free debt adviser can talk through whether set aside is realistic in your case.
What lenders may look at with a small CCJ
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Amount of the judgment | Some lenders may take a more relaxed view of a small satisfied CCJ, though this is never guaranteed. |
| What the debt was for | A parking or utility judgment may be viewed differently from one for a loan or credit card by some lenders. |
| Satisfied or unsatisfied | An unpaid small CCJ can still concern a lender in the same way as a larger unpaid one. |
| Age of the judgment | How long ago it was registered, which affects how much weight it may carry. |
| Other credit history | Whether the small CCJ is an isolated entry or sits alongside other adverse credit. |
| Mortgage payment history | A consistent record of on-time mortgage payments helps show the CCJ was a one-off. |
| Loan to value | How much equity you have, which can widen the choice of lender regardless of the CCJ amount. |
These are general points, not lender rules. Each lender sets and changes its own criteria.
Information an adviser may ask for
You don’t need all of this to make an enquiry. It helps to know where to find it, because an adviser is likely to ask about most of it.
- The judgment date, amount and what the debt related to
- Whether it has been paid, and any proof of payment
- Recent copies of your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion reports
- Details of any other CCJs, defaults or missed payments on your file
- Your mortgage balance, deal end date and an estimate of your home’s value
- Proof of income and your main monthly outgoings
Frequently asked questions
Does the size of a CCJ affect how long it stays on my file?
No. Every CCJ, whatever the amount, stays on your credit file for 6 years from the judgment date, whether it is paid or not. The 6-year rule does not vary with the size of the debt.
Will a small parking charge CCJ definitely be ignored by lenders?
Not necessarily. Some lenders may look more leniently at a small, satisfied judgment for something like a parking or utility bill, but this varies, and an unpaid one of any size can still concern a lender.
Is it worth paying off a small CCJ if I am about to remortgage?
Usually yes. Paying it and getting it marked satisfied removes the risk that a lender will not consider an unpaid judgment, whatever the amount, and it is often a small cost compared with the choice it can open up.
Can a small CCJ be removed if I did not know about it?
If you never received the court papers or dispute the debt, you may be able to apply to have it set aside. See our page on having a CCJ set aside for how that process works.