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Original poster

Informed about a CCJ - trying to rent a property

4 replies

JandLandG · 30/10/2024 12:35

Have posted on Money Matters, but thought I'd pop here too if thats ok.

I wonder if anyone can assist.

Currently trying to rent a property prior to downsizing. Own own home outright. No debt, good salary, pay credit cards off in full every month.

Went to sign a rental agreement but it was withdrawn after letting agency said there was a CCJ against me.

A total surprise.

Cannot find details (they gave me a reference number but no idea how to access info), but I suspect it might relate to a parking fee charged by a private company that my work was supposed to pay and never did. I remember just ignoring in the end and it went away.

Or so I thought.

£200 owed, apparently.

Not in a massive rush to rent, but thought I had all my ducks in a row - paperwork, finance stuff, self-employment invoices/remittances/personal references etc etc and then this came up.

How do I proceed?

Can I not rent until this is resolved?

How on earth do I resolve?

Any thoughts/info/experience would be greatly appreciated .

It seems crazy that some piffling little "debt" scuppered/delayed my plans...

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 30/10/2024 14:16

If you only suspect you know what it relates to, you need to look at your credit file: Check My File usually offers a free trial and includes data from all the major referencing agencies.

I remember just ignoring in the end and it went away.

What does this mean? There are specific rules that creditors have to follow when sending a Claim Form to you and if these rules weren’t followed correctly or docs were sent to an incorrect address, the Judgment may be set aside by the Court. But it sounds as though procedures were followed and everything was sent to the correct address and you received it, but just hoped it would go away or somebody else would sort it out - which isn’t a valid defence. You can ask to have a Notice of Correction placed in your credit file explaining the circumstances and what it relates to. There are firms out there which can help you challenge CCJs and have them removed, depending on your defence. You can also look to rent directly from a landlord and not through a letting agency, as some will not credit check of are more amenable to listening to a genuine explanation.

Original poster
JandLandG · 30/10/2024 18:35

ComtesseDeSpair · 30/10/2024 14:16

If you only suspect you know what it relates to, you need to look at your credit file: Check My File usually offers a free trial and includes data from all the major referencing agencies.

I remember just ignoring in the end and it went away.

What does this mean? There are specific rules that creditors have to follow when sending a Claim Form to you and if these rules weren’t followed correctly or docs were sent to an incorrect address, the Judgment may be set aside by the Court. But it sounds as though procedures were followed and everything was sent to the correct address and you received it, but just hoped it would go away or somebody else would sort it out - which isn’t a valid defence. You can ask to have a Notice of Correction placed in your credit file explaining the circumstances and what it relates to. There are firms out there which can help you challenge CCJs and have them removed, depending on your defence. You can also look to rent directly from a landlord and not through a letting agency, as some will not credit check of are more amenable to listening to a genuine explanation.

Edited

Thanks for this - v much appreciated.

I'm absolutely certain I never received anything from a court.

Just some demands from a private company sent by a bot connected to a CCTV camera.

I'm absolutely certain no human was ever involved!

Hmmm..this seems absurd, tbh...especially bc I'm pretty loaded, tbh - and I've just got a nice new contract from a new employer to boot.

I've heard of the young people in work in London paying months in advance for rent and thought it was a terrible thing to have to do.

Maybe that'll be me. Fine, but daft.

Hey ho.

OP posts:
mummytrex · 30/10/2024 22:23

You can check for a judgment here www.trustonline.org.uk

Original poster
JandLandG · 31/10/2024 21:00

Thanks again for everyone's contributions here.

Hmmm...a bit stumped as to what I might do now...do all letting agents check CCJs?

Could I pay in advance?

What else could I potentially do?

Bit of a bugger this about something I was genuinely unaware of...and am amazed a three year old 200 quid 'debt' has scuppered a 20k a year rental agreement.

All my paperwork in place ofc - I thought I had all my ducks in a row - but that seems to count for nothing. Computer says no.

There are plenty of nice flats coming up where I'm looking. At least 1 or 2 a day. Pretty expensive, but I can pay ofc - I'm not about to move into a place I can't pay for...but maybe some people do????

It's another world, it really is...

Hey ho - lucky I'm not in a rush atm...will stay put for a while longer...

Thanks again

OP posts:
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