Why you might get one:
You can get a CCJ if you don’t respond to a court claim or if the court finds you liable for a debt.

How it affects your credit:
A CCJ will appear on your credit report and negatively impact your credit rating, making it harder to get loans or credit cards.

How long it lasts:
A CCJ will stay on your credit report for six years from the date it was issued, even if you’ve paid it off during that time.

What happens if you don’t pay:
If you don’t pay a CCJ, the creditor can take further action to collect the debt, such as wage attachment or attaching assets.

What to do if you get one:
You should respond to the claim form within the deadline (usually 14 days), and you can either dispute the claim or admit it and offer a repayment plan.

Can you get it removed?:
You can request to have a CCJ removed from your credit file if you can prove it was mistakenly issued, or if you’ve paid the debt in full.