CCJ help

Sarahlbx

Just looking for a bit of advice please.

I received a court letter yesterday for a CCJ. The debt is around 4/5 years old. I can’t recall having any letters sent to me and when I have looked on my credit file I can’t see the debt listed there. I do owe the debt, it was from a period when I was in a relationship where I was a victim of domestic violence where I was also controlled financially hence the debts, I have been trying to rebuild my credit file since getting out of the relationship and been doing well so this is a massive blow to me.

The debt on the court letter is £400 with the costs. I’m looking for some advice on how to stop myself from getting this ccj, I could probably try to pay this off now but if I pay it today do I called Lowell (who have taken me to court) or he court? If I pay it today would I still get the CCJ and a new black mark for 6 years

sourcrates

What exactly have you received, a letter before action, or an actual claim form ?

Your post is not very clear.

Sarahlbx

A claim form from the county court

sourcrates

Sarahlbx wrote: »

A claim form from the county court

Ok,

Two things you can do, looks like Lowell have not followed pre-action protocols, they are supposed to send a letter before action, you can either ring Lowell, ask them to stop the case if you pay today, or you can fill in the claim form admitting the debt, if you pay the judgement within 30 days, no CCJ is registered against you.

Sarahlbx

Thank you, I was worried that regardless if I pay today I will still get the ccj registered against me

sourcrates

No, you can try and see if Lowell will accept payment to stop the case, they may say you must complete the court process now but its still worth asking.

If you have to go the claim form route, the CCJ will be removed if paid within 30 calendar days.

Info here on how to deal with a claim form :

http://legalbeagles.info/forums/forum/legal-forums/court-claims-and-issues/received-a-court-claim

fatbelly

You have 14+5 days to defend the claim. You can do this online through MCOL.

You can gain another 14 days by acknowledging service. You can also do this online through MCOL, ticking 'I intend to defend in full'

When you do your defence, you can tick 'defend in full' then answer 'yes' to 'Are you defending this claim on the grounds that you have already paid it?'

That's assuming you have paid it by then.

You don't need to have any dialogue with Lowell provided you accept the debt, are willing to accept the court and legal costs and can afford it!