It’s a scenario we see every day: You go to apply for a phone contract, a car loan, or a mortgage, and you’re hit with a “Rejection” notice. You check your credit file, and there it is—a County Court Judgment (CCJ) for a debt you didn’t even know existed.
How does this happen? Usually, it’s the “Old Address Trap.”
Why it happens
When a company wants to take you to court for an unpaid bill, they send the papers to the last address they have on file for you. If you moved house and didn’t update them—or if they didn’t bother to check—the court papers land on a doormat you might not have stepped on in years.
Because you didn’t reply (how could you?), the court issues a “Judgment by Default.” This means the claimant wins automatically because you didn’t defend yourself.
Is it legal?
Technically, yes. If a creditor sends the claim to your “last known address,” the court considers it “served.” However, the court also understands that life happens. If you can prove you had moved out before the papers were sent, you have a good argument to have that judgment set aside and be allowed to defend the claim.
What you need to do
- Act Fast: The rules say you must act “promptly” once you find out about the CCJ. Don’t sit on it for weeks.
- Gather Evidence: Find proof of when you moved. A tenancy agreement, a utility bill, or a council tax statement are a good start.
- Apply to the Court: You’ll need to fill out an N244 form to ask a judge to set the judgment aside.
The Good News: If the judge agrees the papers went to the wrong place and you have a defence with some merit, they can set aside the CCJ and remove it from your record as if it never happened. You can then proceed to defend the claim or potentially reach terms of settlement.
Need help with the paperwork? Our CCJ Set Aside Download Pack includes the templates and witness statements you need to fix the “Old Address” error without hiring an expensive solicitor.
