CCJ 4 Years Old - If I Start Paying Now Will It Restart?

hayls7488

Hi,

I've never posted in one of these forums before so apologies if this is not in the right place. I was hoping to get some advice as so far I've had conflicting answers from people I have asked.

Basically, I have a CCJ on my credit file from 4.5 years ago. It relates to £1900 of unpaid rent from my student accommodation at uni. I was 19 at the time, and in my second year of uni when my dad passed away unexpectantly. For all the right reasons, I left uni and went back home to be with my family, but I was 19 and my entire world had fallen to pieces so the last thing on my mind was managing my money. I notified the university of my situation and informed them that I would be going home and assumed that since my accommodation was organised through the uni they would notify the landlord, but they didn't. Subsequently, I later found out that the landlord had pursued me for my rent but I'd not received any paperwork for this so wasn't aware of the court judgement. I only found out a couple of years later when the CCJ hit my credit file and I was declined for a tenancy on a house with my boyfriend.

I appreciate that none of this should have happened, and regardless of what was going on in my personal life I should have had more of a handle on things financially, but I was young and naive and I've since learned from those lessons. That being said, I now have the problem that I still struggle to get credit because of this CCJ on my credit file. I was told a few years ago that if I start paying it off I would basically re-start the 6 years of it being on my file, and so I would be better off waiting it out for it to be removed from my report. I'm in a position now where I'm back on track with money, have a good income and I want to buy a house but it would be impossible for me to get a mortgage with this still on my record.

The question I have is: if I paid this off in full now would it change to satisfied on my report and still come off in the next 2 years, or would it change as satisfied but restart the 6 year process again? I really don't want it to still be on in 6 years time, when I've served 4.5 years for it already...

If someone could advise I'd be truly grateful.

Thanks x

guesswho2000

hayls7488 wrote: »

Hi,

I've never posted in one of these forums before so apologies if this is not in the right place. I was hoping to get some advice as so far I've had conflicting answers from people I have asked.

Basically, I have a CCJ on my credit file from 4.5 years ago. It relates to £1900 of unpaid rent from my student accommodation at uni. I was 19 at the time, and in my second year of uni when my dad passed away unexpectantly. For all the right reasons, I left uni and went back home to be with my family, but I was 19 and my entire world had fallen to pieces so the last thing on my mind was managing my money. I notified the university of my situation and informed them that I would be going home and assumed that since my accommodation was organised through the uni they would notify the landlord, but they didn't. Subsequently, I later found out that the landlord had pursued me for my rent but I'd not received any paperwork for this so wasn't aware of the court judgement. I only found out a couple of years later when the CCJ hit my credit file and I was declined for a tenancy on a house with my boyfriend.

I appreciate that none of this should have happened, and regardless of what was going on in my personal life I should have had more of a handle on things financially, but I was young and naive and I've since learned from those lessons. That being said, I now have the problem that I still struggle to get credit because of this CCJ on my credit file. I was told a few years ago that if I start paying it off I would basically re-start the 6 years of it being on my file, and so I would be better off waiting it out for it to be removed from my report. I'm in a position now where I'm back on track with money, have a good income and I want to buy a house but it would be impossible for me to get a mortgage with this still on my record.

The question I have is: if I paid this off in full now would it change to satisfied on my report and still come off in the next 2 years, or would it change as satisfied but restart the 6 year process again? I really don't want it to still be on in 6 years time, when I've served 4.5 years for it already...

If someone could advise I'd be truly grateful.

Thanks x

It'll come off your file six years from the date of judgement, whether you pay it or not.

hayls7488

Thanks guesswho2000,

Do you think it will make a substantial difference in my ability to gain credit/obtain a mortgage if it is settled as well?

x

john1002

Unfortunately no on a forum can answer that question there are too many factors to take into account, a ccj settled will of course be better than an unpaid one but your best bet for a mortgage would be to go to a specialist broker who would be best placed to know what companies would look at your application, with regards other credit your best bet would be the crddit builder cards such as aqua, Vanquis and capital one.

You don't say if you have any positive factors reporting to your credit file such ss crddit cards or mobile phone contract or bank account?

All the above will help with an application as well been on ER length of time in job, salary and how long you have lived at your current address etc

John

National_Debtline

Hello there,

I'm really sorry to learn about the circumstances which lead to the CCJ. If you were to pay the CCJ off, it could have a positive impact on your credit file - although I wouldn't know the extent of that impact. What you are able to do is to seek a certificate of satisfaction once that the debt has been cleared. Regardless of if you pay it, the judgment should fall off your credit file six years after it was entered against you.

We have a useful fact sheet on credit referencing, you can find it *here*.

Best wishes,

David @natdebtline