Will a CCJ stop my company getting finance?
Sterling's answer A CCJ in the last 12 months will stop most of the funders I know, and applying anyway just adds a refusal to the file. Pay it, get it marked, and pick your moment.
Want a straight answer for your business?
See who'll fund meA recent county court judgment (CCJ) is one of the few things that stops most business finance outright. Our funding partner's programmes look for no CCJs or defaults in the last 12 months. An older CCJ that has been paid and marked satisfied is a different matter. The key facts are how long a CCJ stays on the register and how paying it changes what funders see.
How long a CCJ stays on the register
GOV.UK: "If you get a county court judgment (CCJ) or a high court judgment, it will stay on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for 6 years."
Registry Trust, which runs the register, says it passes the information on to credit reference agencies, so the judgment also shows on credit reports. GOV.UK adds that "Banks and loan companies use this information to decide whether to give you credit or loans."
The one-month rule
This is the most useful fact on the page, and most people find out too late.
| When you pay in full | What happens to the record | Proof to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Within one month of the judgment | Can be removed from the register | Certificate of cancellation |
| After one month | Marked "satisfied", stays for 6 years | Certificate of satisfaction |
GOV.UK: "If you pay the full amount within one month, you can get the judgment removed from the register." If you pay later, you can get it "marked as 'satisfied' in the register". A certificate costs £19, payable to HMCTS.
The ICO's credit guidance says the same for credit files: six years from the date of the judgment, even if paid in full, but it may be removed if paid in full within one month.
Company CCJ or personal CCJ
Funders look at the company, and where a personal guarantee is involved they usually look at the director too. A judgment against you personally can affect a company application even when the company's own record is clean, so check both.
What to do if you have one
- Inside the first month: pay in full if you can, and get the certificate of cancellation.
- After the first month: pay it, then apply for a certificate of satisfaction so the record shows it is cleared.
- If you think it is wrong: for example, you never received the claim, you can ask the court to set it aside. That is a legal step; get advice.
- Then wait. A satisfied CCJ that is more than 12 months old reads very differently to a fresh unpaid one.
Sterling's take: applying for finance with a fresh CCJ rarely gets a yes and often adds a hard search to your file. Fix the record first.
What to do next
Check your own credit report so you see what funders see, then read will asking affect my credit score before you approach anyone. If your bank has already said no, why did my bank say no covers what to do next.
Ready for a straight answer?
Two minutes of questions. One funding specialist. No impact on your credit score.
Questions owners ask
How long does a CCJ stay on the register?
In England and Wales, a county court judgment stays on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for 6 years, unless it is paid in full within one month or set aside.
What if I pay the CCJ within a month?
GOV.UK says that if you pay the full amount within one month you can get the judgment removed from the register. Ask the court for a certificate of cancellation as proof.
What if I pay after a month?
The record can be marked as satisfied. It still stays on the register for 6 years, but anyone searching sees that you paid.
Will your funding partner look at a company with a CCJ?
Our funding partner's programmes look for no CCJs or defaults in the last 12 months. An older, satisfied CCJ is a different conversation.