Is it worth it to try setting aside this CCJ?

Use4985

First, I have read the first few posts of the newbies thread and several other threads on this forum related to my issue.  I feel I have adequate information to be able to pursue setting aside my CCJ, I'm not asking for help with that.  I'm asking if I should even bother?  And what are my other options if not?

Below is a rough timeline of events leading up to this issue and a picture (personal info redacted) of a letter I received today.

July/August 2015: I parked overnight in a private employees carpark for a random business in Lincoln (I live in Herts).  There were no gates on the car park but there were signs saying "private car park, fines for parking bla bla" I can't remember exactly as it was 7 years ago.  I ignored the signs as it was a saturday night, the carpark was completely empty the whole time I was there (although I have no evidence for this) and honestly I didn't think anyone would notice.  I got a charge notice on the windscreen (I think) and several letters from the company asking for money but ignored it all as I have had similar threatening letters before from private car parks that always came to nothing.  I have since lost all those letters (I'm not very good at record keeping).

August 2017: I moved to a new address, I informed my bank and insurers etc immediately but I think I forgot to inform DVLA and update V5C until a few months after I moved.  Not exactly sure how long.  This is my fault and I suspect I'm pretty much screwed because of this?

This week: Received the below letter, checked my credit score to see if the CCJ was real.  Experian and Clearscore show nothing(??) but Transunion (via moneysupermarket) does show a CCJ with a claim number that matches the letter pictures.



I'm much more stable financially than I was in 2015 and I'm more than able (and even willing!) to pay the £363 BUT since it's more than 30 days after the CCJ (4 years after in fact) won't the CCJ remain on my credit score?  I would continue to ignore it altogether except I may be looking at getting a mortgage in the next year or two and slightly worried that I might have trouble doing that with a CCJ. 

Looking around on this forum it looks like people are spending dozens of hours over periods of months and years to get their CCJ set aside, even with the help of other forum members.  I'm thinking it might just be easier to pay it now, wait 2 years for it to be removed (or is it 6 years from the date I settle the debt? I don't know) and then sort my mortgage since going through the paperwork to set aside the CCJ might take nearly that long anyway.  Plus in the time I would hypothetically spend on the paperwork setting it aside I could make significantly more money at my job than this debt is worth so I'm not particularly motivated to do so.

Like I said, I am NOT asking how to proceed with setting aside this CCJ, I'm asking if I should attempt it given my circumstances and what my other options are?

Fruitcake

That's a debt collector letter. Debt collectors have no powers whatsoever, so that letter can safely be ignored.

The date of the judgment is October 2018 so will fall off the radar in October of 2024.

It is up to you whether you want to keep your head down until then, or whether you want to apply for a set aside.

Mouse007

I think you probably want to avoid enforcement action (that could cost more) so doing nothing should be ruled out.

The 6 years runs from the judgment date; as long as all forms of credit (mobile phone contract, remortgage, new car) is definitely off the agenda for 2 years you could pay and forget it.

However, I would not like to make any assumption about my financial needs beyond 6 months to a year. On that basis I would go for the set aside noting they would then (I think) be statue barred from bringing any new proceedings against you.

Umkomaas

I'm thinking it might just be easier to pay it now, wait 2 years for it to be removed 

That will not remove it and straighten out your credit rating!  Don't knee-jerk into that only to find the mess still pertains. Do your homework. 

Coupon-mad

Don't pay it off.

We don't have a section on CCJ set asides for fun, it's because it's the only way to wipe it.