Historic Credit Card - Claim Form. What are my options to prevent a CCJ at this stage?

Lagroid

Hello,

I received a claim form from the CCBC regarding an old debt from about 5 years ago on a credit card. I'd forgotten all about this, but this default has been sitting around for some time, and now the creditor has issued a claim form.

My question is, what can I do at this stage to prevent a CCJ, aside from paying the balance in full? Can I go onto a payment plan with the creditor, at this stage to prevent this going to court, or do I need to pay in full? If I can go on a payment plan, what's the process? Should I contact the creditor, and contact the ccbc to inform them? How does this work? The claim form advice on the back is more around disputing or accepting the debt. Unsure what options prevent a mark on my credit file.

If I have to pay in full, I can, but I'd rather pay in instalments over 3 months. One thing I can't have, is a CCJ mark on my file.

Thanks

DullGreyGuy

The Debt Free forum may be more experienced in dealing with the scenario but having gotten as far as issuing proceedings but I'd expect them to want to secure the judgement having already incurred the cost of taking it to court.

Nothing stops you agreeing a payment plan before/after the judgement but if the judgement isnt settled in full within a month then it will go onto your credit file for 6 years. 

sourcrates

You may be too late to negotiate now, once a claim form is issued, you must follow the court process, if you acknowledge service online, you have 28 days in which to lodge your defence.

If you do nothing, you will get a judgement in default, if you have no defence to this, then go cap in hand to the claimant and make your proposals to them, they may ask for the claim to be stayed if they accept what you offer, but you must act quickly as the clock is ticking.