Unknown CCJ appeared on credit score

Sarah_Higgins

Hi everyone,

I really hope you can shed some light on what has been a very confusing couple of hours.

My boyfriend and I moved out of our first rented property together in Feb 2020. We are looking to get a mortgage in principle in the next couple of months and have built up excellent credit scores and have never ever missed a credit card payment. 

My partner received his monthly Clearscore email and he noticed that a County Court judgment had been filed in the middle of July for a sum of nearly £5,000. We are both absolutely dumbfounded as to who has filed it and why. The address noted on the claim shows our previous address we moved from in Feb 2020. 

We have both been going out of minds and racking our brains as to what has happened and can’t even think what it could be. We are careful with our money and have always kept within our means. He is going to call the County Courts first thing Monday morning and find out who has filed it. 

I guess I’m just looking for some advice on this and the next steps? We’ve had a look into setting aside the claim and and it might be worth us completing an N244 form. However should we get a solicitor involved to help us complete it once we find out all the details?

Frustratingly, even though it’s an extortionate fee to potentially pay, we are more concerned about the credit score impact as we were hoping to find out how much we could borrow in regards to a property in the next couple of months. This has knocked us for six as this is quite a considerable chunk from our savings. 

cymruchris

First things first before panicking about everything - you need to call the court on Monday to establish who placed the CCJ - and then from the name - you might already guess the cause - but if not, give them a call and find out what the CCJ relates to. There is a possibility that it's not your CCJ - it has been known for CCJ's to appear on people's files that belong to others with a similar name (although not common). It could be related to debt after you moved out. (New tenant fraud) - Lots of possibilities. So - Once you know who the debt is from, what it's for, you can then work out whether it's debt you owe, and decide what action to take next. 

Sarah_Higgins

Thanks for responding. It can be so difficult not to panic, especially as we have no indication what it could be. 

We actually rang our previous landlord yesterday and she has no idea what it could be and, as far as she’s aware, no serious letters arrived for my partner since we moved out. On the claim, they have also missed out one letter in my partner’s initial. It just doesn’t add up.

He’ll ring up the courts tomorrow and find out, and then I’ll be back on this forum! 

sourcrates

You may find the phones are not always answered, its sometimes considered best practice to email them instead, and ask for the particulars of claim.

It will also show on the registry trust website, but that costs £6 to search.

Whatever it may turn out to be, it can be dealt with, and you do not need to fork out for a solicitor.

No matter what the debt/judgement relates too, all relevant court forms can be downloaded from the internet, along with notes for guidance, so it can be sorted out.

HampshireH

sourcrates said:

It will also show on the registry trust website, but that costs £6 to search.

I would do this for peace of mind. You will know today, sleep better tonight & be able to make a plan going forward.

Could be a long and inconvenient wait on the phones tomorrow around work etc

MalMonroe

Hi, this does sound worrying but as others have said, try not to panic. If it were me, I'd wait until tomorrow - scary as it is - and in the meantime I'd prepare and send off an email to the court today, following it up with  phone call tomorrow morning. Do ensure that you put the reference number in the title/heading space of the email then they can help you quicker. In my personal experience with courts - and recently when I've been helping my cousin with his court-linked problems - they have answered their phones promptly. 

As cymruchris says above, it's best to get all the information and details first - there could have been an error - and then you know what, if anything, you have to deal with. 

Sarah_Higgins

Thanks everyone for taking time out of your day to give your sound advice - it’s all appreciated.

Luckily my partner is off work tomorrow so he can spend the morning finding out who the claimant is and what it’s for. 

We paid for the check on the registry trust website and it does appear as an unsatisfied claim. However, on ClearScore it says discharged underneath the court date so it’s a little confusing. We’re still none the wiser as to who it is but I’m sure we’ll find out tomorrow when he calls the Courts. He will also send them an email this evening so it’s in writing.

spinningsheep

Sarah_Higgins said:

Thanks everyone for taking time out of your day to give your sound advice - it’s all appreciated.

Luckily my partner is off work tomorrow so he can spend the morning finding out who the claimant is and what it’s for. 

We paid for the check on the registry trust website and it does appear as an unsatisfied claim. However, on ClearScore it says discharged underneath the court date so it’s a little confusing. We’re still none the wiser as to who it is but I’m sure we’ll find out tomorrow when he calls the Courts. He will also send them an email this evening so it’s in writing.

How did your partner get on? Any further forward? 

fatbelly

Registry Trust doesn't have any info other than what appears on the credit report. Don't waste your money.

Email the court and ask for the particulars of claim

MEM62

It's always nice when the OP lets you know the outcome.  

Grizebeck

You dont use a solicitor for such matters.
You may get it set aside with a comsent order (£100)
But its all case depending