Get a Default CCJ on an Unpaid Invoice (UK 2026)

A default CCJ is a County Court Judgment granted when the defendant fails to respond to a claim within the deadline. Process: (1) Send a letter before action giving the debtor 14 days to pay. (2) If unpaid, file at Money Claim Online (gov.uk/money-claim-online) for debts up to £100,000.

(3) The court issues the claim and serves it on the defendant by post. (4) Defendant has 14 days to respond. (5) If they fail to respond (and most do not on undisputed B2B debts), you request judgment in default via the same Money Claim Online portal. (6) A default CCJ is granted and registered on the debtor's credit file for 6 years.

The whole process typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. Add statutory interest at 8% above Bank of England base rate (currently 11.75% APR) plus £40, £70 or £100 compensation under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act.

A County Court Judgment is a court ruling that a UK debtor (individual, sole trader or limited company) owes you a specific sum of money. You apply for it via moneyclaim.gov.uk for B2B invoice debts. Once registered, the CCJ appears on the debtor's credit file for 6 years (unless paid in full within 30 days, in which case it's removed).

(1) Send a letter before action giving 14 days to pay. (2) If unpaid, go to moneyclaim.gov.uk and file a money claim online for £35 to £455 (fee scales with debt size). (3) Court issues the claim and serves the defendant by post. (4) Defendant has 14 days to respond. If they don't respond or admit, you request judgment by default and the CCJ is granted. If they defend, the case goes to a hearing in 2-6 months and the judge rules. (5) Once judgment is granted, you have a CCJ to enforce.

Court fee scales with debt: £35 (under £300), £50 (£300-£500), £70 (£500-£1,000), £80 (£1,000-£1,500), £115 (£1,500-£3,000), £205 (£3,000-£5,000), £455 (£5,000-£10,000), then 5% of the claim value from £10,000.01 to £200,000 (so from about £500), capped at £10,000 above that (GOV.UK court fees). Plus optional fixed costs (£22-£100). Court fees are recoverable from the defendant if you win. Plus the prescribed compensation (£40-£100) for late commercial payments under the Late Payment Act 1998.

The CCJ is removed from their credit file as if it never existed (the 'satisfied' marker is also not displayed). Many debtors pay within 30 days specifically to avoid the 6-year credit damage.

Apply for enforcement via the County Court or transfer to High Court for faster action: (1) Charging Order on a property they own (£139 fee, can lead to an order for sale if still unpaid), (2) Attachment of Earnings if they're a sole trader or director with PAYE income (£139 fee, deducted at source), (3) Third Party Debt Order to seize bank account funds (£139 fee), (4) High Court Enforcement Officer (HCEO) for judgments of £600 or more (£82 to seal the writ of control). Fees are from the GOV.UK civil court fees list (EX50).

CCJ: weeks if undefended, months if defended; court fee £35 to £455 up to £10,000 (5% of the claim above that); no guarantee of recovery if debtor insolvent, but registers on debtor's credit file for 6 years which often forces payment. Spot factoring (Hydr, Triver): 70-90% of invoice value within 24 hours, factor handles all chasing, on non-recourse facilities the bad debt risk transfers to the factor.

If you want cash now and the debtor relationship is preserved, factor first. If you want maximum pressure and don't need immediate cash, CCJ.