How to Remove a CCJ from Your Credit File

A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a court order telling you to pay money you owe. It is recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, and appears on your credit file. Even after you have paid it, it will stay on your record unless you take action to have it updated or removed. This guide explains the process — the difference between cancellation and satisfaction, how to use form N293A, the fees involved, and how long it takes.

What Is a CCJ and How Does It Affect You?

A CCJ is issued by a county court in England and Wales when a claimant successfully obtains judgment against you — either because you did not respond to the claim, or because the court ruled in their favour after a hearing.

Once entered, the CCJ is recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, which is maintained by Registry Trust. This information is shared with credit reference agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — who include it on your credit file.

The impact of a CCJ on your credit file can be significant:

• Mortgage applications — most mainstream mortgage lenders will not approve a mortgage if you have an unsatisfied CCJ. Even a satisfied CCJ can limit your options to specialist lenders with higher interest rates
• Loans and credit cards — a CCJ makes it much harder to obtain personal loans, credit cards, and other forms of credit
• Rental applications — many landlords and letting agents run credit checks and may refuse to rent to you if you have a CCJ
• Business accounts — trade credit, supplier accounts, and business banking can all be affected
• Mobile phone contracts — some providers check credit records before offering contracts

Cancellation vs Satisfaction — What Is the Difference?

There are two ways to deal with a CCJ on your credit file, and which one applies to you depends on when you paid:

Cancellation (Paid Within One Month)

If you paid the full amount of the judgment within one calendar month of the judgment date, you can apply to have the CCJ cancelled. Cancellation means the entry is removed from the Register of Judgments entirely — as if it was never there. This is the best outcome, because it disappears from your credit file completely.

To apply for cancellation, you file form N443 (application to set aside or vary a judgment or order) with evidence of payment. The court fee is £19 for the certificate of cancellation.

Satisfaction (Paid After One Month)

If you paid the full amount after the one-month deadline, you cannot have the CCJ cancelled. Instead, you apply for a certificate of satisfaction using form N293A. This tells the court you have paid in full, and the CCJ is updated on the register to show as “satisfied”.

A satisfied CCJ still appears on your credit file for the remainder of the six-year period, but it is marked as paid. This is significantly better than an unsatisfied CCJ — lenders and credit agencies view a satisfied judgment more favourably than an unpaid one.

What Is Form N293A?

Form N293A is titled “Request for a certificate of satisfaction or cancellation”. It is the form you file with the court to confirm that a CCJ has been paid in full and to request the register be updated.

The form requires the following information:

• The claim number — this appears on all court correspondence and on the original judgment order
• The names of the parties — the claimant and the defendant
• The court where the judgment was entered
• The date of the judgment
• The amount of the judgment (including costs and interest)
• Confirmation that the judgment has been paid in full
• Whether you are applying for satisfaction (paid after one month) or cancellation (paid within one month)

You must include the £19 court fee with your application.

How to Apply — Step by Step

Follow these steps to get your CCJ marked as satisfied:

• Step 1: Confirm full payment — make sure you have paid the entire judgment amount, including any court fees, interest, and costs that were included in the judgment order. If you are unsure of the exact amount, contact the court or the claimant
• Step 2: Gather evidence of payment — collect bank statements, payment receipts, or confirmation from the claimant showing that the judgment has been paid in full. The court may ask for this evidence
• Step 3: Complete form N293A — fill in the form with the details of the judgment and confirm that it has been paid. You can download the form from gov.uk or use JustClaim's online tool
• Step 4: Pay the £19 court fee — this can be paid by cheque (made payable to HMCTS) or online if filing through a digital service
• Step 5: File the form — send the completed N293A to the court that entered the judgment. The court address is on the judgment order
• Step 6: Wait for the certificate — the court will process your application and issue a certificate of satisfaction. This is sent to Registry Trust, who update the register

How Long Does It Take?

The timeline for getting your credit file updated after filing form N293A is typically:

• Court processing — the court usually processes the application within 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the court's workload
• Registry Trust update — once the certificate is issued, Registry Trust updates the register. This can take a further 1 to 2 weeks
• Credit file update — credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) update their records from the register. This typically takes 2 to 4 weeks after Registry Trust processes the update

In total, expect 4 to 6 weeks from filing the N293A to seeing the update on your credit file. If you are in a hurry (for example, you have a mortgage application pending), you can contact the credit reference agencies directly once you have the certificate, as this may speed up the process.

What If the Claimant Will Not Confirm Payment?

Sometimes the claimant does not cooperate — they may not respond to your request to confirm payment, or they may dispute that the judgment has been paid in full. If this happens:

• Gather your own evidence — bank statements showing payments, receipts, written confirmation from the claimant at the time of payment, or any correspondence confirming the debt has been settled
• File the N293A anyway — you can still file the application with the court. Include your evidence of payment. The court will consider the application on the evidence provided
• The court may contact the claimant — the court can require the claimant to confirm whether or not the judgment has been paid

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not applying at all — many people assume the CCJ will be updated automatically once they pay. It will not. You must file form N293A and pay the £19 fee
• Applying before paying in full — you can only apply for a certificate of satisfaction once the entire judgment amount has been paid, including costs and interest. Partial payment does not qualify
• Missing the one-month cancellation window — if you can pay within one calendar month of the judgment date, do so. The difference between cancellation (removed entirely) and satisfaction (marked as paid but still visible) is significant for your credit file
• Sending to the wrong court — the application must be sent to the court that entered the judgment. Check the claim number and court details on the original judgment order
• Not keeping proof of payment — always keep records of how and when you paid. You may need to prove payment to the court

After Six Years

Whether satisfied or unsatisfied, a CCJ is automatically removed from the Register of Judgments after six years from the date of judgment. Credit reference agencies also remove it from your credit file at this point.

However, six years is a long time to wait — especially if you need a mortgage, loan, or rental agreement in the meantime. Getting the CCJ marked as satisfied as soon as possible is strongly recommended, even if it will not be fully removed until the six-year period expires.

Frequently Asked Questions