Finding out you have a County Court Judgment (CCJ) on your credit file is stressful enough — the last thing you need is confusion about what it will cost to remove it. The good news is that CCJ removal is often more affordable than people expect, especially when handled correctly from the start.
In this guide, we break down every cost involved in removing a CCJ, from court fees to professional assistance, so you know exactly what to budget for.
The Two Routes to CCJ Removal
Before we get into costs, it’s important to understand that there are two main ways to remove a CCJ, and each has different fees:
- Consent Order — Used when you don’t dispute the debt but the court papers were sent to the wrong address
- N244 Application (Set Aside) — Used when you dispute the debt or have a legal defence
The route you take determines both the cost and the process involved.
Consent Order Costs
A Consent Order is typically the simplest and most cost-effective way to remove a CCJ. This is the right option if:
- You don’t dispute the debt
- Court papers were sent to an old or incorrect address
- You’re willing to pay the judgment amount
Court fee: £123 — This is the fee payable to His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) when the Consent Order is submitted.
The Consent Order is a legal agreement between you and the claimant (the company or person who took you to court). It asks the court to set aside the judgment on agreed terms. Because both parties consent, no court hearing is required, which keeps costs lower and the process simpler.
Important: The court fee is only part of the timeline. Before the court even receives your Consent Order, you need the claimant to sign the agreement — and this alone can take 4–6 weeks. Most claimants are large organisations (parking companies, debt collectors, solicitors’ firms) that move slowly and have little interest in your credit file, mortgage application, or job prospects. They simply don’t prioritise your case.
However, the Consent Order must be drafted correctly. If it’s rejected by the court due to errors or missing information, you’ll face delays of several weeks before you can resubmit — which is why many people choose to use a professional CCJ removal service.
N244 Application (Set Aside) Costs
If you’re disputing the debt — for example, you believe you don’t owe the money, the amount is wrong, or there’s been a case of mistaken identity — you’ll need to apply to set aside the CCJ using an N244 Application Notice.
Court fee: £313 — This fee is payable to HMCTS when you submit the application.
This route leads to a court hearing that you’ll need to attend — either in person or via CVP (Cloud Video Platform), which is the court’s equivalent of a video call. The claimant (creditor) will also be invited to attend and may oppose your application.
Important: If your application is unsuccessful, the court may order you to pay the claimant’s legal costs for dealing with it. If they instruct a solicitor, this could add £500–£1,000 to your total costs. This is why having a well-drafted defence and supporting evidence is critical before going down this route.
Professional CCJ Removal Service Fees
While you can attempt CCJ removal yourself, many people find the legal process confusing and time-consuming. A professional service can:
- Assess which route is right for your situation
- Draft legally sound documents (Consent Orders or N244 applications)
- Handle communication with the claimant on your behalf
- Reduce the risk of costly mistakes or court rejections
At CCJ Removal Service, we provide expert guidance through the entire process, from initial assessment to final court approval. Our team understands the nuances of the legal system and can help you avoid the common pitfalls that lead to delays and additional costs.
Contact us for a free initial assessment →
Additional Costs to Be Aware Of
Beyond court and professional fees, there are a few other costs to consider:
- The debt itself — If you’re using the Consent Order route, you’ll typically need to pay the original judgment amount as part of the agreement
- Credit report checks — Verifying your CCJ status through Registry Trust costs £8. Free credit reports are available through services like Checkmyfile, though a paid report from Registry Trust gives the most accurate court data
- Certificate of Satisfaction — If you pay the CCJ in full (but after 30 days), you can apply for a Certificate of Satisfaction for £15, which marks the CCJ as “Satisfied” on your credit file. Note: this does not remove the CCJ — it simply shows it was paid. The entry remains on your credit file for 6 years from the judgment date
What If You Pay the CCJ Within 30 Days?
If a CCJ is paid in full within 30 days of the judgment date, the court will remove it from your credit file automatically. In this scenario, you would not need a professional removal service.
However, the reality is that most people discover their CCJ long after this 30-day window has closed — often months or even years later, when applying for a mortgage, loan or rental property. Once that window has passed, the Consent Order or N244 route becomes necessary, and that’s where professional help makes the biggest difference.
How Long Does CCJ Removal Take?
The cost isn’t just financial — there’s a time investment too:
| Route | Typical Timescale |
|---|---|
| Consent Order | Approximately 12 weeks |
| N244 Set Aside (Court Hearing) | 4+ months for a hearing date (9–12 months for London courts) |
| Pay within 30 days | Immediate removal once payment confirmed |
Remember: These are just the court processing times. Before your application even reaches the court, you may be waiting 4–6 weeks for the claimant to respond and sign the necessary documents. The total process from start to finish is often significantly longer than the court timescales alone suggest.
These timescales are largely determined by HMCTS processing times and how quickly the claimant responds. Anyone promising significantly faster results is not being transparent about the process.
CCJ Removal Cost: Quick Summary
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Consent Order court fee (no hearing) | £123 |
| N244 Application court fee (with hearing) | £313 |
| Registry Trust CCJ search | £8 |
| Certificate of Satisfaction | £15 |
| Certificate of Cancellation (paid within 30 days) | £19 |
| Claimant costs if N244 fails | £500–£1,000 |
The Scale of the Problem — And Why Courts Get It Wrong
To put this in perspective, there are approximately 35,000 private parking tickets issued every single day in the UK. A significant number of these end up as CCJs when drivers don’t respond to court claims they never received. The sheer volume of cases flooding the court system is staggering.
This volume creates real problems. Courts are overwhelmed — papers get lost, emails go missing, and Judges sometimes make incorrect orders. If you call the court for advice, they’ll often tell you to “just fill out an N244” without properly assessing your case. This is frequently the wrong advice. Filing an N244 when a Consent Order is the correct route wastes your time, costs you more money (£313 instead of £123), and could result in you paying the claimant’s legal costs if the application fails.
This is exactly why getting professional guidance matters. The process isn’t as straightforward as the court makes it sound, and choosing the wrong route can be expensive.
What Should You Do Next?
If you’ve discovered a CCJ on your credit file, the most important thing is to act quickly and get the right advice before spending money on the wrong process. Many people waste time and money by filing an N244 when a Consent Order would have been simpler, cheaper, and faster.
At CCJ Removal Service, we’ve helped thousands of people remove CCJs from their credit files. We’ll assess your situation, advise on the best route, and handle the paperwork so you don’t have to.