A simple guide to County Court Judgments

County Court

Unlike the High Court or Crown Court, a county court deals specifically with civil matters: cases such as breach of contract or non-payment of invoices or rent, where someone’s rights have been breached but the guilty party has not committed a criminal offence. It’s also sometimes called the ‘small claims court’. 

A county court is the go-to place for:

• Recovering unpaid debt, rent or invoices
• Preventing trespass or evicting trespassers
• Seeking personal injury compensation

Applying to a county court

If you’re owed money, you can seek a court ruling online at GOV.UK or by sending claim form N1 to the County Court Money Claims Centre.

You’ll have to pay a court fee when you apply. This ranges from £25 for claims of £300 or less, to £10,000 for claims above £200,000. If you win the case, you can claim the fees back.

County court hearings

Once the court accepts your case, a county court hearing date is set. When you’re notified of the date, you will also receive instructions outlining what you need for the case.

To prepare for the hearing, you’ll need to gather evidence. This could include things like invoices, proof of the products or services provided and correspondence with the debtor. Your evidence will be passed to the defendant and you will receive copies of their submissions, so you can fully prepare your argument.

County Court Judgment (CCJ)

A County Court Judgment, or CCJ for short, is court ruling which must be obeyed. It is usually delivered on the day of the hearing. Once delivered, it stays on the debtor’s record for six years and will negatively affect their credit score.

A CCJ sets a deadline for payment. However, both sides have 21 days to appeal the ruling. Appeals are only granted in the event of a mistake interpreting the law or following court procedure.

Enforcement

If the debtor doesn’t pay, county court bailiffs can enforce the debt. However, it’s often faster to use a private sector Enforcement Agent. As they’re paid with funds recouped from the debtor, they are incentivised to act quickly and effectively. Enforcement Agents like Dukes can also transfer up debts of £600 or more for High Court Enforcement.

For more information about how we can help obtain and enforce a CCJ, or to find out more about High Court enforcement, contact Dukes Bailiffs today.