21 Feb 2019 | Posted In Money advice news

New figures from the Registry Trust indicate that in 2018, there were 1,115,099 County Court judgments (CCJs) were registered against consumers in England and Wales, a fall of two percent on 2017. New figures from the Registry Trust indicate that in 2018, there were 1,115,099 County Court judgments (CCJs) were registered against consumers in England and Wales, a fall of two percent on 2017. This is the first time in six years that the number of CCJs against consumers has fallen.

The average value of a consumer CCJ recorded over 2018 fell by four percent to £1,431, the lowest average on record. The total value of CCJs fell six percent to £1,596million.

In the High Court, 175 judgments were registered against consumers in 2018, a rise of 29 percent. However, compared to 2017, the total value of high court judgments (HCJ) rose significantly by 130 percent to £154.3million. The difference can be explained by the unusually low total value in 2017, which at £67.2million was the lowest on record. The 2018 figure is only a rise of eight percent when compared to 2016’s total of £142.8million.

The total value of all debt judgments against consumers in the courts in England and Wales during 2018 was £1,750.2million, a fall of one percent from 2017’s total value of £1,765.9million.

As well as distributing judgment information under strict licensing to leading credit reference agencies, Registry Trust makes information publicly available through TrustOnline.

TrustOnline, Mick McAteer, deputy chairman of Registry Trust said: “Registry Trust’s data provides an important indicator of the financial health of UK households. This new data showing a small reduction in the number of CCJs in 2018 suggests some welcome relief for households. But, clearly more needs to be done to support those households still getting into financial difficulty.”

Statistics

CCJs against consumers 2018 (compared with 2017)

Total number: 1,115,099 (down two percent)

Total value: £1.6bn (down six percent)

Average* value: £1,431 (down four percent) [lowest annual average on record] Median: £592 (down 14 percent

High Court judgments against consumers 2018 (compared with 2017)

Total number: 175 (up 29 percent)

Total value: £154.3m (up 130 percent) [2017 was lowest on record] (2018 up eight percent compared to 2016)

Average* value: £881,649 (up 79 percent)

Median: £29,528 (up 13 percent)