# Can a company with CCJs borrow?

A company with County Court Judgements (CCJs) on its record can still borrow from Credicorp — but CCJs are taken seriously in the assessment. A satisfied CCJ is less significant than an unsatisfied one. The lender looks at the CCJ in context: when it was entered, how large it was, whether it reflects a one-off dispute or a pattern, and whether it has been settled. On every Credicorp product, **the company borrows, never you personally**. No personal guarantee.

Creditcorp is the growing name for the Credicorp group, and Credicorp Limited is the lender behind it. It does one thing: short-term working capital for incorporated UK businesses. This page is a guide, not an application; applying happens on the lender's own site, [credicorp.co.uk](https://credicorp.co.uk/).

## What a CCJ is and how it gets onto the register

A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is a court order issued by a county court in England or Wales requiring a company (or individual) to pay a debt. It is registered at the Registry Trust and is visible on the company's business credit record, typically for six years from the date of issue.

A company gets a CCJ when a creditor has applied to the court, the court has issued a claim, and the company has not successfully defended the claim or paid the amount within 30 days of the order.

### Satisfied vs unsatisfied — the difference matters

**Satisfied CCJ** — the debt has been paid. The CCJ remains visible on the register for six years, but it is marked as satisfied. A satisfied CCJ is a negative signal, but a much less serious one than an unsatisfied CCJ. If the CCJ was satisfied within 30 days of the order, it can sometimes be cancelled from the register.

**Unsatisfied CCJ** — the debt has not been paid. This is a more significant negative signal. An outstanding CCJ means there is a current, unresolved obligation to a creditor. Credicorp is unlikely to lend against a background of unsatisfied CCJs without a clear explanation.

## Five steps to address CCJs before applying

1. **Check what is on the register.** Search the company's name at the [Registry Trust](https://www.registry-trust.org.uk/) and at the main business credit bureaux (Experian Business, Dun & Bradstreet, Creditsafe). Know exactly what a lender will see.

2. **Satisfy any outstanding CCJs.** If there are unsatisfied CCJs, paying them now — before applying — removes the most serious negative signal. Once paid, request a certificate of satisfaction from the court.

3. **Correct any errors.** CCJs registered in error, or registered against the wrong company (name confusion is common), can be disputed. Act before applying.

4. **Prepare an explanation.** A single CCJ resulting from a specific dispute, now settled, tells a different story from multiple CCJs over several years. Be ready to explain the context if the lender asks.

5. **Apply when trading is strong.** Strong, current bank statement data — consistent turnover, regular inflows — carries significant weight. A company with a historical CCJ and currently strong trading is in a better position than one with the same CCJ and weak current performance.

## CCJ and borrowing questions

**Will Credicorp automatically decline if there is a CCJ?** No. CCJs are assessed in context. A single satisfied CCJ from several years ago is less likely to result in a decline than a recent unsatisfied CCJ or a pattern of multiple CCJs.

**Does the director's personal CCJ affect the application?** Credicorp lends to the company, not the director. A director's personal CCJ is not part of the business credit assessment — but the director's identity is verified, and a high-risk personal profile may be noted.

**Can I apply with an unsatisfied CCJ?** You can submit an application; whether a decision can be made depends on the specific circumstances. In many cases, Credicorp will not proceed while there are unsatisfied CCJs outstanding.

**The CCJ was registered in error — what should I do?** Dispute the CCJ with the court that issued it before applying. An incorrect CCJ on the register is a problem regardless of cause; correcting it before applying removes the issue rather than requiring you to explain it.

**How long does a CCJ stay on the business credit record?** Six years from the date of the order, whether or not it is satisfied. A certificate of satisfaction (if obtained within 30 days of the order) may result in the CCJ being cancelled entirely.

## Related guides
- [What is a CCJ and how does it affect borrowing?](/learn/what-is-a-ccj-and-how-does-it-affect-borrowing/) — a full explanation of CCJs and their impact on business credit.
- [What business credit bureaux see](/learn/what-business-credit-bureaux-see/) — the data a lender accesses about the company.
- [How a lending decision is made](/learn/how-a-lending-decision-is-made/) — what the underwriting team assesses.
- [Is short-term borrowing right for you?](/learn/is-short-term-borrowing-right-for-you/) — an honest decision aid.
- [The three products](/products/) — Business Bridging Loan, Credicorp Flex and Credicorp Slice.

## Ready to apply?

When the company's position is clear, apply at [credicorp.co.uk](https://credicorp.co.uk/). The team can advise on any specific circumstances.