What-Happens-if-I-Don't-Pay-a-CCJ-by-Consumer-Debt-Help

What Happens if I Don’t Pay a CCJ?

A County Court Judgement, or CCJ, can have serious legal ramifications. If not handled properly, it can have a significant impact on your credit score, and result in severe legal punishments. Here we explain in-depth what happens if you don’t pay a CCJ.

What is a CCJ?

A CCJ is a County Court Judgement. A CCJ is issued when you have been taken to court and the judge agrees that you owe somebody money. If you don’t pay the CCJ within 30 days it will be recorded on your credit file for six years. This will make it harder for you to get credit in the future.

If you do not agree that you owe the money, you can appeal against the CCJ. This must be within 14 days of receiving the judgement.

There are other ways to deal with a CCJ.  You can make an arrangement to pay off the debt in instalments or ask for the CCJ to be “set aside.” You should get advice from a debt adviser if you want to do this.

If you have a CCJ, it is important to try and pay it off as soon as possible. This will help improve your credit rating and avoid legal punishment.

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Less than £1,000
£1,000-£5,000
£5,000-£10,000
more than £10,000

Fees may be applicable and your credit report may be impacted

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What happens if I don’t pay a CCJ?

If you are issued with a County Court Judgement (CCJ) and you do not pay, there are a number of possibilities. The court could send bailiffs to your home or workplace to collect the money you owe. They can also attach a charge to your property.

If you still don’t pay then the court could issue a warrant for your arrest. It is important to take action as soon as you receive a CCJ. The longer you leave it, the more severe the consequences can be. If you cannot afford to pay the full amount immediately, you should contact the court and try to arrange a payment plan.

If you ignore a CCJ, it will have a serious impact on your credit rating, making it very difficult to obtain credit in the future. CCJs stay on your record for six years so it is important to take steps to clear them as soon as possible. If you are facing financial difficulties and are struggling to pay your debts, there is help available. You can speak to a free and impartial debt advisor who can give you advice on how to deal with your CCJ and other debts.

Can I go to jail if I don’t pay a CCJ?

If you do not pay a CCJ, you could be arrested and sent to jail. This is known as ‘committal to prison for contempt of court’. Contempt of court means that you have disobeyed a court order. If you are found guilty of contempt of court, you could be fined or sent to jail. In most cases, people are only sent to jail for not paying a CCJ as a last resort. This usually happens if you have ignored several requests from the court to pay what you owe, or if you have the means to pay but refuse to do so.

Seek help as soon as possible if you cannot afford to pay your CCJ. There is free and impartial debt advice available which can help you to deal with your CCJ and other debts. If you are struggling to pay a CCJ, you should contact the court as soon as possible to try and arrange a payment plan. Ignoring a CCJ will only make the situation worse and could result in you being sent to jail.

What can bailiffs take if I don’t pay a CCJ?

If you do not pay a CCJ the court could send bailiffs to your home or workplace to collect the money you owe. The first step a bailiff will take is to visit you and assess your financial situation. They will then provide you with a ‘Notice of Enforcement’. This gives you seven days to pay the CCJ in full. If you do not pay the CCJ within seven days, the bailiff can return and start taking your possessions. They can take items such as clothes, electrical goods, furniture and jewellery. In some cases, they may even be able to take your car.

The bailiff will usually only take items that they think they can sell for enough money to pay off your CCJ. However, they can also take items that are essential for your daily life, such as cookers and fridges. If the bailiff takes your possessions, they will sell them at auction and use the money to pay off your CCJ. You will be charged a fee for this service, which is typically around 15% of the value of the CCJ. It is important to note that bailiffs cannot enter your property if they think you or someone else inside is at risk of violence or harm.

How can I appeal a CCJ?

If you do not agree with a CCJ, you have the right to appeal. The first step is to contact the court that issued the CCJ and request a ‘Notice of Appeal’. Once you have received the Notice of Appeal, you will need to fill in a form and return it to the court within 28 days. You will also need to pay a fee of £100. If your CCJ is overturned on appeal this will be recorded on your credit file. It is important to note that appealing a CCJ is a complex process and you may wish to seek professional advice before doing so.

What does having a CCJ “set aside” mean?

If a CCJ is set aside, this means that the CCJ is no longer valid. Consequently, this will remove it from your credit file. A CCJ can be set aside for a number of reasons, such as if you were not properly served with the court papers or if you have a legitimate defence against the claim. If you are struggling to pay a CCJ it is important to seek help as soon as possible. There is free and impartial debt advice available which can help you to deal with your CCJ and other debts.

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