How Do I Check if I Have a CCJ?
There are two ways to find out: search the official Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines (run by Registry Trust, for a small fee), or check your credit report, which lists any CCJ recorded against you.
At a glance
- Official search
- Register of Judgments
- Also shows on
- Your credit report
- Stays for
- 6 years
- Paid within 1 month
- Removed entirely
- Set aside?
- Possible if you never got the claim
The official register
The Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines is the definitive public record, searchable at TrustOnline for a small fee set by Registry Trust. You search by name and address, so it's worth checking every address you've lived at — this is exactly how people discover a judgment they never knew about.
That happens more than you'd think: if a claim was sent to an old address and you never saw it, a judgment can be entered in your absence.
Your credit report
A CCJ also appears on your credit report, alongside the date, the amount and whether it's satisfied. If you're checking your credit position generally — before a mortgage or loan — this shows you the CCJ and everything else a lender sees, in one place.
- All four agencies — in one report — Experian, Equifax, TransUnion & Crediva
- Spot the errors — and old debts that quietly get applications declined
- It's a soft search — so checking never leaves a mark on your file
- See what lenders see — the same information banks pull when they assess you
Free for 30 days, then £14.99 a month — cancel online anytime. Check the current price before subscribing. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
What a CCJ does to you
It stays on the register and your credit file for six years, and lenders treat it as a serious signal. Expect declines or higher rates on mainstream borrowing while it's showing.
There's one important exception: pay in full within one month of judgment and it's removed from the register entirely, as though it never happened. Miss that window and paying it later only marks it "satisfied" — better than unpaid, but it still shows for the full six years.
If you find one you didn't know about
Don't ignore it. Depending on the circumstances you may be able to:
- Pay it within a month of the judgment date and have it removed completely.
- Apply to set it aside if you never received the claim — for example it went to an old address — or if you have a genuine defence. There's a court fee and it isn't automatic.
- Pay it and get it marked satisfied, which is what most people end up doing.
Free help is available from Citizens Advice or StepChange if there's a wider debt problem behind it. See what a CCJ is for the full picture.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check if I have a CCJ for free?
The official register charges a small fee, but a CCJ also appears on your credit report — so checking your report shows any judgment along with everything else lenders can see.
How long does a CCJ stay on my record?
Six years from the date of judgment, on both the public register and your credit file. Paying it in full within one month removes it entirely.
Can I have a CCJ without knowing?
Yes. If the claim was sent to an address you'd left, judgment can be entered without you seeing it. That's why searching every previous address matters.
Does paying a CCJ remove it?
Only if you pay in full within one month of judgment. After that it's marked "satisfied" but stays on record for the full six years.
Can a CCJ be removed?
It can be set aside by the court if you never received the claim or have a genuine defence, and it drops off automatically after six years.
More things your credit file can tell you: Financially linked to an ex? · What accounts are in my name? · Who is my mortgage with? · My previous addresses · Has someone credit-checked me?
Also useful: how to check your credit score for free · what a multi-agency credit report shows · 5 ways to build your credit score
General information only, not financial advice. Free debt help is available from Citizens Advice and StepChange.
