A CCJ against your company
A County Court Judgment, or CCJ, against your company is a court order confirming that the company owes a creditor a specific sum, usually obtained when an invoice or debt has gone unpaid and undisputed. A CCJ matters for two reasons. First, it damages the company's credit profile, which can tighten supplier terms and make borrowing harder, because CCJs are recorded on the public register kept by Registry Trust. Second, it is a stepping stone to enforcement: once a creditor has a judgment they can instruct enforcement agents to take control of goods, apply for a charging order, or, for company debts, move towards a winding-up petition. A single CCJ is a clear signal that the company's cash flow needs attention, and several CCJs often appear in the months before a company fails. If you cannot pay, take advice early rather than letting enforcement escalate. Registry Trust; gov.uk
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- What it is
- A court order confirming the company owes a debt
- Recorded by
- Registry Trust, the official judgment registrar
- Effect
- Damages credit; opens the door to enforcement
- Warning sign
- Multiple CCJs often precede company failure
A CCJ is a stepping stone, not the end
After a judgment a creditor can escalate to enforcement agents or, for company debts, towards a winding-up petition. If the company cannot pay, deal with it before enforcement, and check your overall position with the insolvency tests.
Common questions
Can a company get a CCJ removed?
If the judgment debt is paid in full within one month it can be removed from the register; if paid later it is marked satisfied. A CCJ can also be set aside in limited circumstances, for example if it was wrongly obtained.
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