How to Remove a CCJ From Your Credit File
Written by Winnie Onyekwere LLB (Hons) LLM, founder of Remove CCJUK which specialises in CCJ removal and credit file remediation across England and Wales
Last updated: October 2026
There are three main ways to remove a CCJ from your credit file
1. Pay the full amount within one calendar month. You can then ask for the CCJ to be taken off the public register.
2. Ask the court to cancel the CCJ. This is called “setting aside” the judgment. If the court agrees, the CCJ is treated as if it was never made.
3. Reach an agreement with the creditor. If they agree, you may be able to remove the CCJ without a disputed court hearing.
The best choice depends on why the CCJ is being challenged. Read the sections below to find the route that may apply to you.
If you can pay within one calendar month
If you agree that you owe the money, try to pay the full amount within one calendar month of the judgment date. If you pay in time, you can ask for the CCJ to be removed from the public register. This means it should not appear on your credit file.
Is your judgment date close to one month ago? Contact us today before the deadline passes.
Contact the creditor as soon as possible. The one-month deadline starts on the date of the judgment, not the date you found out about it.
If you need more time to pay or want a payment plan
If you owe the money but cannot pay it all within one month, you can ask the creditor for a payment plan. If your claim form came with an admission form, fill it in and send it back to the court. The court will look at the money you earn and spend. It will then decide how much you should pay.
After you pay the debt, you can ask the court for a Certificate of Satisfaction. This marks the CCJ as “satisfied”. It does not remove the CCJ. The CCJ will still show on your credit file and the public register for six years from the date of the judgment. In some cases, you may still be able to challenge a satisfied CCJ. Check your options before you decide that it must stay.
If you want to challenge the CCJ
If you do not agree that you owe the money, or you did not receive the claim papers, you can ask the court to set aside the judgment. If the court agrees, the CCJ is cancelled and removed from your credit file. The court may set aside a CCJ if you did not get the claim papers or if you have a good reason to defend the claim.
A set-aside application often takes 20 to 24 weeks. It may take longer if the court is busy or your case is complex. To apply, use court form N244. You must also send a witness statement and any evidence that supports your case. If you win, you can ask the court to order the creditor to pay your costs.
If the creditor agrees to help, you may be able to use a consent order. This means you both agree to ask the court to remove the CCJ, without a contested hearing. A set-aside application and a consent order are not opposite choices. They can be used together to try to remove the CCJ from your credit file.
We prepare set-aside applications and approach creditors about consent orders. If there are grounds to challenge, we'll confirm a fixed fee before any work starts.
How this works in practice
Here is an example. A business owner found out from his finance broker that a court judgment had been added to his business credit file. It was about goods that had not been paid for.
We checked the case and found that the court papers had been sent to the wrong registered address. This meant he did not know about the claim and could not respond. If court papers were not sent to the correct address, the court may agree to set aside the judgment.
Many people only find out about a CCJ when a lender or broker spots it. If that's how you found yours, we can check whether the claim papers were served correctly.
Are you a broker or accountant whose client has a CCJ? See how our referral partnership works
If none of these options apply
If these options do not apply to you, the CCJ will be removed automatically six years after the date of the judgment.
Checking four separate sources yourself takes time, and the records don't always match. Our Initial Credit File Audit & Assessment reviews your file across all three credit reference agencies and cross-checks it against the official Register of Judgments. You receive a written report showing any inaccurate, outdated or unfairly recorded entries, whether there are grounds to challenge them, and the recommended next steps with timescales.
Not sure which option is right for you?
That is what our free check is for. We will look at your CCJ, including what type it is, when it was issued, how it happened, and how it affects you now. Then we will clearly explain what you can still do. If there are only a few options, we will tell you. Contact us to book a free first call:
If we find grounds to challenge, we'll give you a fixed fee before any work starts.
FAQs
Can a CCJ be removed if it's been paid off?
What happens next depends on when you pay the full amount.
If you pay within one calendar month of the judgment: You can ask for the CCJ to be removed from the register.
If you pay after one calendar month: The CCJ will be marked as “satisfied,” but it will stay on your credit file for six years from the judgment date.
If you think the CCJ is wrong: In some cases, you may still be able to challenge it after you have paid.
How much does it cost to remove a CCJ?
The main cost is the court fee for a set‑aside application (form N244). This fee is set by HM Courts & Tribunals Service, not by any company.
If you use a specialist service, they will charge for preparing your application and helping you present your evidence. At Remove CCJUK, this is a fixed fee that’s agreed with you before any work starts, so you always know the cost upfront.
The free assessment is your first step and doesn’t cost anything.
How long does it take to remove a CCJ?
Can I remove a CCJ myself, or should I hire a service?
Yes, you can try to remove a CCJ on your own. You’d need to fill in court form N244, write a witness statement, and include any evidence that supports your case.
Some people choose to use a specialist service because they can check if you have good grounds, help prepare the paperwork, and make sure the evidence is presented properly.
A free assessment can tell you what options you have before you decide what to do next.