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CCJs on a company:
what they mean for borrowing.
A County Court Judgement on the company is not an automatic block on business finance. It is a factor — one of many — in a lending decision. This guide explains what CCJs are, how lenders see them, and what steps a company can take to put itself in the best possible position. And throughout, this is the company's issue, not yours personally.
This guide covers CCJs at company level — the kind that appear on the company's business credit file. Credicorp lends to the company, not the director, so personal CCJs on a director are outside scope here. The operating lender for all customer enquiries and applications is credicorp.co.uk.
One constant: the borrower is the company — a UK private limited company, LLP or PLC. A CCJ against the company is the company's obligation. No personal guarantee, no charge over a home.
What is a County Court Judgement?
A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is a court order in England and Wales that confirms a company owes money to a creditor. It arises when a creditor takes legal action to recover a debt the company has not paid and wins the case — or when the company does not respond to a claim.
Once issued, the CCJ is registered with the Registry Trust and becomes publicly visible on the company's credit record. Business credit reference agencies — including Experian Business, Equifax Business and Creditsafe — include CCJ data in company credit reports. Any lender, supplier or business partner who runs a credit check on the company can see it.
A CCJ does not mean the company is insolvent, and it does not automatically prevent the company from trading or borrowing. It is a signal of a past debt dispute — one that lenders weigh alongside everything else they know about the company.
How a lender sees a CCJ on the company record
When a lender runs a business credit search on the company, the CCJ data appears alongside the broader payment history. What matters most:
- Outstanding vs satisfied. An unsatisfied CCJ means the debt has not been paid — a continuing claim against the company. A satisfied CCJ means the debt was cleared, which is a meaningful positive. The judgement remains on the record, but lenders can see it was resolved.
- Age. An older satisfied CCJ carries less weight than a recent outstanding one. A company with a CCJ from four years ago that was immediately satisfied is in a different position from one with a CCJ issued last month.
- Number and value. A single low-value CCJ from a supplier dispute is different from multiple high-value CCJs indicating a pattern of unpaid debts. Volume and recency both matter.
- The rest of the picture. A CCJ is one factor among many. Strong banking history, a healthy cash flow, current Companies House filings and an otherwise clean payment record all contribute to the overall assessment.
For a deeper look at what business credit bureaux include in their reports, read what business credit bureaux see.
Can a company with a CCJ borrow from Credicorp?
A CCJ on the company's record is not an automatic decline. The assessment is holistic — the CCJ is weighed alongside the company's trading pattern, banking, Open Banking data, and overall credit standing. A company with a single older satisfied CCJ and otherwise healthy finances will be assessed on the full picture.
Outstanding CCJs — particularly recent ones with large values — carry more weight as a concern. They indicate an unresolved claim against the company that could affect its ability to repay new borrowing.
The best position is to satisfy any outstanding CCJs before applying. The steps below explain how to do that and how to give the company the best chance. Applications are assessed at credicorp.co.uk — this site does not take applications.
How to check and address a company CCJ
Four practical steps before applying for business finance.
- Find out whether the company has any CCJs. Search the Registry Trust at judgments.justice.gov.uk — the official register. Also run a business credit report from Experian Business, Equifax Business or Creditsafe to see exactly what lenders will see. Companies House does not show CCJs.
- If CCJs exist, check whether they are satisfied. For each outstanding CCJ, paying the debt in full and obtaining a Certificate of Satisfaction from the court is the single most effective step. Apply to the court directly — the Registry Trust website sets out the process. A satisfied CCJ reads materially better than an outstanding one.
- Strengthen the rest of the company's credit profile. Ensure Companies House filings are current (confirmation statement and accounts on time, registered office correct). Make sure trading runs through a dedicated business bank account. Maintain as clean a payment record as possible from this point. These factors reduce the weight a lender gives a historical CCJ.
- Apply when the company is in its best available position. Once outstanding CCJs are satisfied and the broader credit profile is as strong as it can be, apply at credicorp.co.uk. This site is the brand front door and does not take applications. The assessment will look at the full picture: CCJ history, trading, banking and credit bureau record together.
CCJ questions
The questions directors ask most about CCJs and business borrowing.
Does a CCJ on my company affect my personal credit score?
No. A CCJ issued against a company is recorded against the company's business credit profile, not against any individual director's personal consumer credit file. Credicorp lends to the company, not the director, so the director's personal credit history is not relevant to the company's application. Personal CCJs (against individuals) are a separate matter and are visible on consumer credit files — they have no direct effect on company borrowing with Credicorp.
Can a company with a CCJ borrow from Credicorp?
The presence of a CCJ on the company's record is a factor in the lending decision, but it is not an automatic decline. A satisfied CCJ (paid in full) carries less weight than an outstanding one. The rest of the company's picture — trading history, banking, cash flow, overall credit standing — is assessed alongside the CCJ. A company with a single older satisfied CCJ and otherwise healthy finances has a better position than one with multiple recent outstanding judgements. The lender at credicorp.co.uk assesses each application individually.
How long does a CCJ stay on the company credit file?
CCJs are registered publicly at the Registry Trust and are visible on business credit reports. They generally remain on the record for six years from the date of judgement, regardless of whether they are satisfied. Satisfaction is recorded separately — it shows the debt was cleared — but the judgement itself remains visible for the full six-year period. After six years the entry falls off the public register.
What does "satisfied" mean and does it help with borrowing?
A satisfied CCJ means the full judgment debt has been paid. The company can apply to the court for a Certificate of Satisfaction, which is then recorded by the Registry Trust. Lenders can see that the CCJ is satisfied, which is a meaningful positive — it shows the company resolved the debt rather than ignoring it. A satisfied CCJ is materially better than an outstanding one from a borrowing perspective, though it does not erase the record.
How do I find out if the company has any CCJs?
The Registry Trust holds the official register of judgements for England and Wales. The company can check its own record there. Business credit reference agencies — Experian Business, Equifax Business, Creditsafe and others — also include CCJ data in their company credit reports. The Companies House record does not include CCJs, but a full business credit report will. The how-to-improve-your-business-credit-score article on this site covers the broader credit-check process.
Related guides
For the broader picture of what lenders see in a credit search, read what business credit bureaux see. For practical steps to improve the company's credit score before applying, read how to improve your business credit score. For what the lender's assessment process looks at in full, read how a lending decision is made. All the guides are on the Learn hub.
Apply with the full picture in front of you
Know the company's credit standing before you start. The lender's assessment is thorough — prepare accordingly.