How to Remove a CCJ in the UK

How to Remove a CCJ in the UK: Your Complete Guide

A County Court Judgment (CCJ) can seriously damage your credit score and affect your ability to get credit, rent property, or even secure some types of employment. Understandably, many people search online for ways to remove a CCJ from their credit file.The good news is — in certain circumstances, it is possible to have a CCJ removed. In this guide, we’ll cover exactly how to remove a CCJ in the UK, whether you’ve just received one, already paid it, or discovered an old judgment you want cleared.

So What

A CCJ stays on your credit file for six years unless it is removed. During this time, it can cause major issues:Difficulty getting a mortgage or loanProblems renting a homeIncreased insurance premiumsIssues getting certain jobsHowever — you may be able to remove the CCJ before those six years are up, under the right conditions.

Here are the main ways to remove a CCJ:

1. Pay the CCJ within one month

If you pay the full amount of the CCJ within one month of the judgment date, you can apply to have the CCJ completely removed from your credit file — as if it never happened.You’ll need to:Pay the full CCJ amount promptlyRequest a Certificate of Cancellation from the court (fee: £19)Send the certificate to the credit reference agencies to trigger the removal

2. Apply to set aside the CCJ

If you believe the CCJ was issued incorrectly — for example, if you never received the court papers, or you had a valid defence — you can apply to set aside the judgment.This involves completing and submitting an N244 Application Notice form to the court, along with a witness statement and draft order. If successful, the CCJ will be removed.👉 We help people with this process — you can start here if you’d like our AI tool to assist.Common reasons to apply to set aside:You never received the claim formThe CCJ was sent to an old addressYou had already paid the debtYou had a defence but didn’t get a chance to respond

3. Wait six years for automatic removal

If you cannot cancel or set aside the CCJ, it will remain on your credit file for six years from the date of the judgment. After that, it is automatically removed — whether or not you’ve paid it.Even though it disappears from your credit file, it is still technically enforceable if unpaid — so it’s wise to resolve the debt sooner if possible.

Now What
If you want to remove a CCJ, here’s your action plan:

✅ Check your credit report — see the status of any CCJs across all major credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion)

✅ Act fast if your CCJ is recent — paying it within one month gives you the best chance to have it removed completely

✅ Consider a set aside application if you believe the CCJ was unfair or issued in error — we can help guide you through this

✅ Request a Certificate of Cancellation or Satisfaction as needed

✅ Monitor your credit file to ensure the CCJ is removed once paid or expired

Useful Links:

N244 Application Notice form (set aside a CCJ)

Your guide to what a CCJ is

What to do if you get a CCJ

Our AI-powered CCJ removal service

Final tip: Many so-called “CCJ removal services” charge high fees without giving proper advice — be wary of scams. If you want help understanding your options, start by reading our free guides or use our AI tool to check if you have grounds to remove your CCJ.