They cannot "apply for a CCJ". They have to issue a claim for debt. There is whole process that they need to go through. Before they can issue a debt claim. They first need to issue a Letter of Claim (LoC) that explains the nature of the claim and it must give you at least 30 days to respond.
You will let us know when they issue an LoC and we will provide a response you can send them. Only after they have sent you an LoC, you have responded with the questions we advise you to ask and after they have provided a suitable response to that, can they then issue an actual N1SDT Claim Form.
Again, we advise on how to respond and provide the necessary defence. You then have a whole process where you are notified of receipt of your defence, a response from the claimant acknowledging receipt of the defence that has been forwarded by the CNBC which is then followed with an N180 Directions Questionnaire which is followed with a mediation phone call which is then followed by allocation to your local county court and then a judge will issue direction with dates and deadlines or may even strike to the claim at that stage. It goes on and on until the claim is either struck out or they discontinue, which is the most likely scenario.
If it ever got as far as a hearing, which is extremely rare, they would still have to be successful to obtain a CCJ and, if you were so unlucky, as long as it was paid within 30 days, there is no record of it. It is completely expunged.
The only way you get a CCJ without knowing about it is if you do not receive the claim and then you would have to apply to have the CCJ set aside under CPR 13.2 or CPR 13.3. That would only happen if you do not have any mechanism in place to receive your post at whichever address the vehicle ir registered at or you advised them to which address you should be served.
They have up to 6 years from the date of the alleged contravention to be able to issue a claim. So, if you do move before then, make sure you update your address with the parking operator.
Nothing we advise on here will make anyone get a CCJ.
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) does not just happen—it follows a clear legal process. If someone gets a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) from a private parking company, here's what happens step by step:
1. Parking Charge Notice (PCN) Issued• The parking company sends a letter (Notice to Keeper) demanding money.
• This is not a fine—it’s an invoice for an alleged breach of contract.
2. Opportunity to Appeal• The recipient can appeal to the parking company.
•If rejected, they may be able to appeal to POPLA (if BPA member) or IAS (if IPC member).
• If an appeal is lost or ignored, the parking company demands payment.
3. Debt Collection Letters• The parking company might send scary letters or pass the case to a debt collector.
• Debt collectors have no power—they just send letters and can be ignored.
• No CCJ happens at this stage.
4. Letter Before Claim (LBC)• If ignored for long enough, the parking company (or their solicitor) sends a Letter Before Claim (LBC).
• This is a warning that they may start a court case.
• The recipient has 30 days to reply before a claim is filed.
• No CCJ happens at this stage.
5. County Court Claim Issued• If ignored or unpaid, the parking company may file a claim with the County Court.
• The court sends a Claim Form with details of the claim and how to respond.
• The recipient has 14 days to respond (or 28 days if they acknowledge it).
• No CCJ happens at this stage.
6. Court Process• If the recipient defends the claim, a judge decides if they owe money.
• If the recipient ignores the claim, the parking company wins by default.
• No CCJ happens yet unless the recipient loses and ignores the court.
7. Judgment & Payment• If the court rules that money is owed, the recipient has 30 days to pay in full.
• If they pay within 30 days, no CCJ goes on their credit file.
• If they don’t pay within 30 days, the CCJ stays on their credit file for 6 years.
Conclusion
CCJs do not appear out of thin air. They only happen if:
• A parking company takes the case to court.
• The person loses or ignores the case.
• The person fails to pay within 30 days.
If you engage with the process (appeal, defend, or pay on time), no CCJ happens.
