How can I change a CCJ payment?

If a County Court Judgement has been made against you but you feel you cannot afford to repay that amount stated on the order, you have two options to change it.

1. Redetermination

If you cannot afford what the court has decided you should pay, you can apply to the court to look at your offer again. This is called a 'redetermination'. There is no fee for this and you must do this within 14 days of getting the order.

You can apply by simply writing a letter to the county court. Quote your case number, attach your personal income and expenditure statement, and explain why you disagree with the order the court has made.

For further information continue reading below.

Redetermination continued...

If a district judge made the original order without a hearing, then the redetermination of your offer must be decided at a hearing. If there is a hearing, the case will automatically be transferred to your local county court so that you can attend. The court will give you a hearing date.

2. Application for the amendment of a CCJ

If 14 days has already passed since the CCJ was issued against you, but you feel you cannot afford to pay the sum requested or cannot keep up with the payments, you can ask the court to change the amount of the regular payments you are supposed to pay.

This change is known as an instalment order. To apply you will need to complete a special court form called an N245. This form can be accessed via the related documents box above.

Note you will have to pay a fee to apply to vary a CCJ. This fee is normally £35. You will need to send your completed N245 form and fee to the court.

The court will send the form to the creditor, who will decide whether to accept your new offer of payment. If the creditor accepts your offer, the court will make an order for the instalments you said you could pay.

If the creditor does not accept your offer, the court will look at the information you gave and decide how much you should pay. The court will tell you how much to pay and when.

If you still do not think you can afford to pay, you can ask the court to 'reconsider' the order. Write to the court within 16 days of the postmark on the varied order. Give your reasons why you don't think you can pay the amount the court has ordered you to pay.

The court will arrange a private hearing for you and the claimant to discuss your payments with the district judge. If judgment was not made in your local court, the case will automatically be transferred there before the hearing is arranged. You will be told when to come to court. You should go to this hearing.