A County Court Judgment turns an unpaid invoice into an enforceable court order. The mechanics are straightforward, the cost is proportionate, and the leverage of a CCJ on the debtor's credit register often closes the matter faster than the judgment itself. This guide covers when a CCJ is the right route, how Money Claim Online works for smaller debts, what happens at each track, and the enforcement options if the debtor still does not pay.

What a CCJ is

A County Court Judgment is a formal ruling from the County Court that one party owes another a defined sum of money. It is enforceable. It is recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for six years, where it is publicly searchable and visible on most commercial credit reports. The reputational consequence to the debtor is often a stronger settlement lever than the legal entitlement to enforce.

For a CCJ to be obtained, the creditor must issue a money claim, the debtor must be properly served, and the court must enter judgment. Where the debt is undisputed and the debtor does not file a defence, judgment is entered in default without a hearing. This is the most common outcome on commercial debt claims.

When a CCJ is the right route

The County Court is the right venue when:

  • The debt is genuinely undisputed.
  • The debtor is solvent and has assets that could satisfy a judgment.
  • The debt is not large enough to justify the cost of statutory demand and winding‑up procedure (typically below £25,000).
  • The earlier escalation steps (chaser, formal demand, Letter Before Action) have been exhausted.

Conversely, a CCJ is not the right route where the debt is disputed on substantial grounds. Defended claims can take months to a year to reach trial, with the cost trajectory extending in proportion. Where the debt is disputed, alternative dispute resolution, mediation, or commercial negotiation is generally more proportionate.

The three tracks

Small claims track

Claims up to £10,000. Designed to be handled without lawyers. Costs recovery is limited to fixed fees and disbursements, so the cost of solicitor representation is generally not recoverable from the losing party. This is the workhorse track for unpaid commercial invoices in the lower thousands.

Fast track

Claims between £10,000 and £25,000. Standard procedural rules apply. Costs of the successful party are generally recoverable from the losing party, in line with court‑assessed reasonableness. Most defended invoice claims in this band settle before trial.

Multi‑track

Claims over £25,000. The full procedural framework of the Civil Procedure Rules applies, including disclosure, witness statements, and case management. The cost trajectory is materially higher; only undisputed claims that have escalated despite earlier intervention typically reach this track.

Money Claim Online (MCOL)

For undisputed money claims under £100,000, Money Claim Online is the most efficient issue route. The creditor registers, files particulars of claim through the online interface, and pays the court fee. The fee scales with the claim value: from £35 on small claims to £455 on claims approaching £10,000, then higher in proportion.

MCOL is appropriate where the claim is straightforward and the supporting evidence is documentary (the invoice, the contract, the chase correspondence). Where the claim involves complex facts or expert evidence is needed, a paper N1 form filed at a court counter is the better route.

Service and the response window

Once issued, the claim is served on the defendant. For a UK‑registered company, service is at the registered office as recorded at Companies House on the date of service. The defendant has fourteen days from deemed service to respond.

The defendant has three options. They may admit the claim and pay. They may file an acknowledgment of service and request a further fourteen days to file a defence. They may do nothing, in which case the creditor is entitled, after the response window expires, to request judgment in default.

Default judgment

Default judgment is judgment entered without a hearing because the defendant has not filed a defence. It is the most common outcome on undisputed commercial debt claims. The creditor requests it by filing a short application (Form N225 for the small claims track, or the equivalent on MCOL).

Once entered, the default judgment is for the principal claim, the court fee, and any fixed costs. Statutory interest under the Late Payment Act, where claimed, is included in the judgment sum. The defendant can apply to set the judgment aside, but only on demonstrating a real prospect of successfully defending the claim and a good reason for the failure to file a defence in time.

On undisputed commercial debt claims, default judgment is entered in approximately seventy‑five percent of cases. The defendant simply does not respond. The CCJ is then registered, and most debtors pay within thirty days to avoid the credit‑register consequences.

The 30‑day satisfaction window

Once judgment is entered, the debtor has thirty days to pay the full judgment sum. If they pay within that window, the judgment is recorded as "satisfied" on the Register, and the public record shows that the matter was settled. After thirty days, the judgment is recorded as unsatisfied and remains on the Register for six years.

The thirty‑day window is operationally important. Most CCJs are paid within it, because the consequence of an unsatisfied CCJ on the debtor's credit profile and on its banking relationships is usually unacceptable to the directors.

Enforcement, if the debtor still does not pay

If the debtor does not pay within thirty days, the creditor has a range of enforcement routes. Each suits a different debtor profile.

Writ of control (High Court Enforcement Officers)

For judgments over £600, the creditor can transfer the judgment to the High Court for enforcement by HCEOs. They have stronger powers than County Court bailiffs, including the ability to enter business premises and seize goods. The cost of the writ is recoverable from the debtor in addition to the judgment sum. This is the right route where the debtor has visible assets at known premises.

Charging order

A charging order secures the judgment debt against real property owned by the debtor. The order does not, by itself, force a sale; it secures the creditor's interest, so that on any later sale of the property the judgment is paid from the proceeds. For larger judgments where the debtor owns property, this is a robust enforcement route. A subsequent order for sale can be applied for, though courts are cautious about ordering forced sales for relatively small debts.

Third‑party debt order

A third‑party debt order requires a third party (typically the debtor's bank) to pay sums owed to the debtor directly to the judgment creditor instead. The order is interim until the bank confirms what funds it holds; the creditor must then apply for it to be made final. For solvent debtors with known bank accounts, this is fast and effective. For debtors who maintain low operational balances, less so.

Attachment of earnings order (individuals only)

Available against individual debtors, not companies. The order requires the debtor's employer to deduct sums from wages and pay them directly to the creditor. We do not act against individual debtors, but the route is mentioned for completeness.

Order to obtain information

Where the creditor does not know enough about the debtor's assets to choose an enforcement route, an order to obtain information requires the debtor's officers to attend court and answer questions about the company's financial position under oath. Useful preparation for the right enforcement choice; rarely needed in commercial recovery because the debtor's financial position is generally apparent from filed accounts at Companies House.

The cost equation

For a typical undisputed commercial debt of £5,000 to £10,000:

  • Court fee on issue: £205 to £455 depending on claim value.
  • Solicitor or recovery firm costs (where instructed): variable, recoverable from the debtor on the small claims track only at fixed‑fee rates, recoverable on a wider basis on the fast track.
  • Statutory interest under the Late Payment Act: 8% above the Bank of England base rate, calculated daily, recoverable from the debtor.
  • Statutory compensation: £70 or £100 depending on debt size.
  • Recovery costs under Regulation 5A: assessed per case.

For most well‑documented undisputed claims, the principal, the court fee, and the statutory entitlements are all recoverable from the debtor. The creditor's net out‑of‑pocket cost, on a successful claim, is typically zero.

Time from issue to judgment

For undefended claims via MCOL, the time from issue to default judgment is typically four to six weeks: fourteen days for service, fourteen days for response, then a few days for the request for default judgment to be processed. After judgment, the thirty‑day satisfaction window runs.

For defended claims, the timeline depends on the track. Small claims track defended matters typically reach a trial within four to six months. Fast track defended matters take six to twelve months. Multi‑track defended matters can take a year or more. Most defended commercial debt claims settle before trial, often within weeks of the first case management conference.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a CCJ for any amount?

Yes. There is no minimum threshold for a money claim. The cost of pursuing very small claims (under £500) is rarely justified by the recovery potential, but the procedural route is open.

How long does a CCJ stay on the register?

Six years from the date of judgment. If the judgment is paid in full, it is recorded as satisfied. If paid within thirty days of judgment, the creditor can apply to have the entry cancelled entirely.

Can a CCJ be appealed?

A defendant can apply to set aside a default judgment, but must show a real prospect of defending the claim and a good reason for missing the response deadline. Successful applications are uncommon on undisputed debt claims.

Does the debtor have to be in the UK for a CCJ?

The County Court has jurisdiction over UK‑registered companies and individuals domiciled in the UK. For overseas debtors, separate procedures apply, including the recast Brussels Regulation framework or the Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements where relevant.

What is the difference between a CCJ and a High Court Judgment?

A CCJ is issued by the County Court. A High Court Judgment is issued by the High Court. For unpaid invoices, the County Court is almost always the correct venue. Larger or more complex commercial disputes are sometimes issued in the High Court directly.