How to Remove a CCJ When Your Insurer Lets You Down: A Cautionary Tale from Huddersfield
Imagine doing everything right after a car accident—admitting fault, contacting your insurer, and assuming the matter was settled—only to discover months later that you’ve been hit with a County Court Judgment (CCJ) for more than £10,000. That’s exactly what happened to CG from Huddersfield, and their story is a sobering reminder of how broken communication can wreck your credit life overnight.
This article walks through CG’s frustrating journey and, more importantly, outlines what you can do if you find yourself in a similar situation. If you’ve been issued a CCJ without warning, there are ways to fight back—and potentially have the judgment removed.
What Happened?
In CG’s case, the nightmare began after a traffic accident in which they admitted fault. Their insurer, esure, promptly paid for the damage to CG’s own vehicle, which was written off. Everything seemed in order—until, four months later, CG received a letter from a solicitor acting on behalf of the other driver’s insurer. The solicitor demanded nearly £10,000 in damages and threatened legal action if the payment wasn’t made within seven days.
Shocked, CG attempted to contact esure. But after weeks on hold, unanswered emails, and no meaningful updates, they were left in limbo. Another four months passed before a judgment in default arrived—esure had failed to resolve the claim, and CG now had a CCJ for nearly £11,000.
To make matters worse, court papers had been sent to the wrong address, so CG had no opportunity to defend themselves. This is unfortunately a common scenario with CCJs, and it can have devastating consequences.
What Is a CCJ and Why Does It Matter?
A County Court Judgment is a legal order made when someone takes you to court for an unpaid debt and you either lose the case or fail to respond. Once issued, the CCJ is entered into the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, and credit reference agencies are notified.
A CCJ can:
- Ruin your credit score for six years
- Lead to higher mortgage rates or rejection from lenders
- Slash your credit card and overdraft limits
- Impact job applications (especially in finance or law)
In CG’s case, they experienced all of the above. Their credit card limits were reduced, and they were only eligible for higher-rate mortgage products—through no fault of their own.
How Did This Happen?
CG’s CCJ was issued by default because they didn’t respond to a court claim. But the reason for that silence was crucial: the claim paperwork went to the wrong address. According to UK law, that’s a major red flag.
More frustratingly, esure failed to communicate. Despite CG’s repeated efforts—spanning nearly 10 months—they couldn’t get a response from the insurer. After all of that, esure offered just £300 in compensation, claiming the delay was due to “unprecedented call volumes” and internal investigation procedures. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) backed the offer, leaving CG with no further recourse unless they wanted to take legal action.
What Can You Do If You’ve Been Issued a CCJ Without Knowing?
If you’re in a situation like CG’s, don’t panic—but act quickly. There are ways to remove a CCJ from your record if it was issued unfairly or in error.
1. Was the Judgment Properly Served?
You have a legal right to defend yourself in court. If the court papers were sent to the wrong address—as in CG’s case—you may be able to apply to set aside the judgment.
You may be eligible to apply to “set aside” a CCJ if:
- You never received the claim form
- You didn’t have a fair chance to respond
- You can demonstrate a potential defence
2. Act Fast: Apply to Set Aside the Judgment
To do this, you’ll need to fill out a Form N244 (Application Notice) and submit it to the court that issued the CCJ.
Here’s what the process typically involves:
- Fee: £275 (as of 2025), unless you qualify for fee remission
- Supporting evidence: A witness statement explaining why you didn’t respond and how the claim was mishandled
- Hearing: A judge will review your application and may schedule a hearing
Tip: You don’t need to prove your innocence yet—you just need to show that you didn’t have a fair chance to defend yourself.
3. What If the CCJ Has Been Paid?
Even if you've paid the judgment (or your insurer did), the CCJ can still remain on your credit file for six years, unless it’s formally removed.
You have two main options:
a. Apply for a “Set Aside” (as above)
This will remove the judgment from the register entirely, if successful.
b. Mark It as “Satisfied”
If the debt is paid within one month of the judgment date, you can apply to have it removed entirely using Form N443.
If more than a month has passed, it will be marked as “satisfied” but still appear on your record for six years.
Legal Commentary: Who’s Really Liable?
CG’s situation raises a crucial legal point: who is liable when an insurer drops the ball?
If your insurer accepts liability and agrees to manage third-party claims on your behalf, they effectively take over legal responsibility for that aspect of the claim. However, if they fail in their duty—whether through inaction, poor communication, or administrative error—they may still leave you holding the legal and financial consequences.
You could consider suing the insurer for damages or negligence if their failure directly resulted in harm (such as a CCJ). However, this is a complex route and may require professional legal support.
When to Escalate Further
If you’ve exhausted the insurer’s internal complaints process and the Financial Ombudsman Service has sided against you (as in CG’s case), your options are:
- Take your insurer to court for breach of contract or negligence
- Request a “statutory review” if new evidence emerges
- Seek legal help to build a stronger case for setting aside the CCJ
Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait
A CCJ is not a life sentence—but it is a serious financial blemish that can close doors. If you suspect you’ve been issued a CCJ unfairly or without notice, don’t wait for your insurer to fix it. Take charge of the process and act swiftly to preserve your creditworthiness.
If you're unsure where to start, legal experts—like the team at Parachute Law—can help review your paperwork, prepare your N244 application, or negotiate with the court and creditors on your behalf.
Summary: CCJ Removal Checklist
Step | Action | Form |
1 | Check if court documents were sent to the correct address | N/A |
2 | Gather evidence (emails, call logs, insurance policy) | N/A |
3 | Apply to set aside the CCJ | N244 |
4 | If debt is paid within 1 month, apply to remove record | N443 |
5 | Consider legal advice if insurer is uncooperative | N/A |
6 | Monitor your credit file with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion | N/A |
Need Help?
If you're dealing with an unfair CCJ or insurance failure like CG, Parachute Law offers expert help in:
- Challenging CCJs
- Preparing N244 applications
- Negotiating with insurers
- Getting your credit record back on track
Get in touch today—your financial future shouldn’t be wrecked by someone else’s incompetence.
Parachute Law specialises in removing CCJs—even after they’ve been paid.
Call us: 0207 183 4547
Or email: thelegalteam@parachutelaw.co.uk
Contact us today
