Can I have a CCJ without knowing about it? 

Sometimes you might only become aware of a CCJ when you apply for credit, like a loan or mortgage. 

Checking your credit report with an agency like Experian, Equifax or TransUnion will show you if there is a CCJ on your file and who applied for it. 

A CCJ is usually issued after you’ve missed two or three payments. 

There’s no minimum debt level required so you can get a CCJ for even a small debt, like a missed parking fine.  

A creditor should give you several opportunities to set up a payment plan or repay what you owe in full.   

You should have received letters about the unpaid debt and the consequences of failing to pay by a specified date before getting a CCJ claim form.  

If you’ve discovered a CCJ has been issued against you but don’t believe you owe the money, you can apply for the judgment to be cancelled – ‘set aside’ – by sending an application to the court using form N244.   

There’s a fee of £303 for this and you’ll need to be able to prove you don’t owe the money.   

If you owe the money, the CCJ can be removed from your credit file if you repay the full amount within 30 days.  

You can then apply for a certificate of cancellation to prove you don’t owe anything else towards the debt using form N443.