# CCJs on a company: what they mean for borrowing.

A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is a court order that records an unpaid debt. For a company, it appears on the business credit record and is visible to any lender who runs a credit check. Whether it blocks borrowing depends on whether it is satisfied, how old it is, and what context surrounds it. 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 is a County Court Judgement?

A CCJ is issued by a county court in England or Wales when a creditor has applied for judgment and the court has ruled — either because the debtor did not respond to the claim, did not pay, or the claim was successful at hearing.

Once issued, the CCJ is registered at the Registry Trust and recorded by the main credit reference agencies. It remains visible for six years. During that period, any lender, supplier or counterparty who runs a credit check on the company will see it.

A CCJ can be for any amount — from a few hundred pounds to hundreds of thousands. The size, date, and satisfaction status are all visible.

## How a lender sees a CCJ on the company record

When Credicorp assesses an application, a business credit check is run. This check typically shows:

- Whether there are any CCJs registered against the company
- The date each CCJ was issued
- The amount
- Whether it is satisfied (paid) or unsatisfied (outstanding)
- The court that issued it

A lender reads this data as part of the overall picture — alongside bank statement data, turnover, affordability, and the company's Companies House record.

**An unsatisfied CCJ** is the most significant negative signal. It means there is a current, unresolved financial obligation to a creditor. It raises questions about whether the company manages its obligations — and whether it can add another obligation.

**A satisfied CCJ** (especially one that is several years old) is less serious. It shows the obligation was eventually met. It is not ignored, but it does not carry the same weight as an outstanding one.

**Multiple CCJs** — even if old and satisfied — suggest a pattern that a lender will weigh carefully.

## Can a company with a CCJ borrow from Credicorp?

A CCJ does not automatically prevent borrowing. Credicorp assesses applications on their full merits. A single satisfied CCJ from two or three years ago, with strong current trading and clear bank statement data, does not make a company ineligible.

An unsatisfied CCJ currently on the register is more likely to result in a decline, or a request to resolve it before proceeding. Multiple recent CCJs are a more serious concern.

There is no published threshold. The best guide is to know exactly what is on the record before applying — and to address anything that can be addressed.

## How to check and address a company CCJ

**Check the Registry Trust.** The Registry Trust holds the official register of CCJs for England and Wales. A search costs a small fee and shows what is on the public record.

**Check the business credit bureaux.** The main bureaux — Experian Business, Dun & Bradstreet, Creditsafe — aggregate credit data including CCJs. Creditsafe offers a free company search. These show what a lender sees.

**Satisfy any outstanding CCJs.** Pay the debt and obtain a certificate of satisfaction from the court. If paid within 30 days of the order, you may be able to have the CCJ cancelled from the register entirely. After 30 days, it is marked as satisfied but remains visible.

**Dispute CCJs registered in error.** Name confusion and clerical errors do occur. If a CCJ has been registered against your company incorrectly, apply to the court to have it set aside.

## CCJ questions

**Does a director's personal CCJ affect the company application?** Credicorp assesses the company's business credit record, not the director's personal record. A director's personal CCJ does not appear in the business credit check.

**Can we borrow immediately after a CCJ is satisfied?** The satisfied CCJ remains on the register for six years. Satisfying a CCJ does not erase it, but it removes the "unsatisfied" flag — which is the more serious element. Whether you can borrow depends on the rest of the application.

**The CCJ was entered against us in error — what can we do?** Apply to the court to set it aside (if the claim was never served, was disputed, or was entered incorrectly). Until it is removed from the register, it will be visible to lenders.

**How many years does a CCJ stay on the business credit record?** Six years from the date of issue, whether satisfied or not. The exception is a CCJ cancelled under a set-aside order or satisfied within 30 days — which can be removed entirely.

**Will the lender tell us why a CCJ affected our application?** Credicorp can advise on the outcome of an application. They are not required to provide a detailed breakdown of every factor in the credit decision.

## Related guides
- [Can a company with CCJs borrow?](/learn/can-a-company-with-ccjs-borrow/) — what to do before applying and how to frame the position.
- [What business credit bureaux see](/learn/what-business-credit-bureaux-see/) — the data profile a lender sees.
- [How a lending decision is made](/learn/how-a-lending-decision-is-made/) — the full assessment process.
- [Preparing your company to borrow](/learn/preparing-your-company-to-borrow/) — steps to take before applying.
- [The three products](/products/) — Business Bridging Loan, Credicorp Flex and Credicorp Slice.

## Apply with the full picture in front of you

Know what is on the company credit record before applying. When the record is as clean as it can be, apply at [credicorp.co.uk](https://credicorp.co.uk/).