How Many Points Does a CCJ Affect Your Credit Score

How Many Points Does a CCJ Affect Your Credit Score

A County Court Judgment, or CCJ, is one of the most damaging entries that can appear on your credit report in the UK. Issued when you fail to repay a debt and the lender takes legal action, a CCJ tells future lenders that you have previously failed to meet financial obligations. But exactly how many points does a CCJ affect your credit score?

The short answer is that there’s no fixed number of points a CCJ will reduce your score by, as every credit scoring model is different. However, the impact is significant. A CCJ can lower your credit score by 100 points or more, depending on your starting score and overall credit profile.

In this article, we’ll explain how a CCJ affects your credit score, how long the impact lasts, and what you can do to recover from it.

What Is a CCJ

A County Court Judgment is a type of court order in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland that confirms you owe money to a creditor. It usually follows missed payments and multiple warnings from a lender.

Once issued, a CCJ is:

• Added to the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines

• Reported to credit reference agencies

• Visible on your credit report for six years, even if paid

Scotland has a similar process called a Decree.

How Much Does a CCJ Reduce Your Credit Score

While no two credit profiles are the same, a CCJ typically causes a drop of 100 to 250 points, depending on:

• Your starting score

• Whether the CCJ is satisfied or not

• The size of the debt

• Your existing payment history

• Any other adverse marks on your file

For example, if you had an excellent Experian score of 950 and a CCJ was added to your record, your score could fall to the fair or poor range, possibly around 700 or lower. If you already had missed payments or defaults, the drop may be smaller because the risk was already reflected in your file.

Does Paying a CCJ Improve Your Credit Score

Yes, paying the CCJ will improve your standing, but it won’t remove the CCJ from your credit file unless paid in full within 30 days of the judgment.

There are two status markers:

• Satisfied CCJ: Paid after 30 days

• Set aside or cancelled: Removed if the court agrees to cancel the judgment

• Unsatisfied CCJ: Unpaid and much more damaging to your score

A satisfied CCJ still stays on your credit report for six years but looks more favourable than an unpaid one.

Can You Remove a CCJ from Your Credit Report

You can remove a CCJ only under certain circumstances:

1. Pay within 30 days
If you pay the full amount within 30 days of the judgment, the court will not add it to the Register of Judgments and it will not appear on your credit report.

2. Set aside the judgment
If you were unaware of the court case or did not receive documents, you may apply to have the CCJ set aside. If successful, it will be removed.

3. Wait six years
After six years, the CCJ will automatically drop off your credit report, whether paid or not.

Real-World Example

Olivia had a clean credit file with a score of around 850. After ignoring a parking fine that escalated into a CCJ for £200, her score dropped to just under 700. She paid it two months later, and the CCJ was marked as satisfied. Although her score did not return to its original level right away, it began to recover gradually with consistent financial behaviour.

How to Rebuild Credit After a CCJ

Recovering from a CCJ takes time, but there are several steps you can take to rebuild your credit score:

• Pay the CCJ in full if you haven't already

• Check your credit file regularly and make sure the CCJ is correctly recorded

• Register on the electoral roll at your current address

• Make all future payments on time, including utilities and mobile contracts

• Use a credit-builder card and repay the balance in full each month

• Limit new credit applications while rebuilding your profile

• Avoid new defaults or missed payments which could cause further damage

You can track your progress using free credit monitoring services like ClearScore, Credit Karma, or Experian.

Final Thought

A CCJ can reduce your credit score by over 100 points and will remain on your credit report for six years unless resolved quickly. While it significantly impacts your creditworthiness, it’s not permanent. By paying it off, managing your accounts responsibly and avoiding further credit issues, you can gradually rebuild your credit profile.

Taking action early — even after a CCJ is issued — can make a big difference in how lenders view you in the future.