Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
County Court Judgments (CCJs) against businesses in England and Wales fell by 55 percent from 33,518 in Q1 2020 to 15,210 in Q1 2021, according to figures released by Registry Trust.
Numbers are up 20% from the recent low seen in Q2 2020 but have ranged around the 15,000 mark for the past three quarters. Businesses in the North West saw the steepest rises, up 23 percent since Q4 2020 and 53 percent from Q2 2020. Although numbers in the North West are still down 42 percent from Q1 2020.
The total value of business CCJ debt fell 27 percent over the year to Q1 2021, from £108 million to £79 million. The average value was up 61 percent from £3,233 to £5,218. The median value rose by 90 percent from £974 to £1,854.
The number of judgments against larger incorporated businesses fell by 61 percent, from 25,957 in Q1 2020 to 10,081 in Q1 2021. The total value of judgments fell by 26 percent, from £87 million to £64 million. The average value rose by 89 percent from £2,790 to £5,844, with the median value up 152 percent from £902 to £2,276.
CCJs against smaller unincorporated businesses fell by 32 percent from 7,561 to 5,129, with the total value down 28 percent from £22 million to £16 million. The average value rose six percent from £2,866 to £3,032, with the median value up 15 percent from £1,138 to £1,309.
The number of High Court Judgments against businesses, at 61, was unchanged over the year, although the value rose from £19 million to £98 million, an increase of 427 percent. The small number of registered High Court Judgments means these figures are subject to large fluctuations.
Mick McAteer, Registry Trust Chair, said “Judgments against businesses are still well down from previous highs, but the damage to business finances may show up later on as Covid-19 business support is wound down”.
| Q1 2020 | Q1 2021 | Change (compared with 2020) | |
| CCJs against all businesses | |||
| volume | 33,518 | 15,210 | -54.62% |
| total value | £108,377,900 | £79,362,836 | -26.77% |
| average* value | £3,233 | £5,218 | 61.37% |
| median | £974 | £1,854 | 90.29% |
| CCJs against incorporated businesses | |||
| volume | 25,957 | 10,081 | -61.16% |
| total value | £86,705,809 | £63,813,884 | -26.40% |
| average* value | £3,340 | £6,330 | 89.50% |
| median | £902 | £2,276 | 152.33% |
| CCJs against unincorporated businesses | |||
| volume | 7,561 | 5,129 | -32.16% |
| total value | £21,672,091 | £15,548,952 | -28.25% |
| average* value | £2,866 | £3,032 | 5.76% |
| median | £1,138 | £1,309 | 15.03% |
| High Court judgments against all businesses | |||
| volume | 61 | 61 | 0% |
| total value | £18,652,139 | £98,369,128 | 427.38% |
| average* value | £305,773 | £1,612,609 | 427.38% |
| median | £10,000 | £113,513 | 103.51% |
| Satisfactions registered by all businesses | |||
| volume | 3,456 | 2,642 | -22.53% |
| total value | £10,338,952 | £8,841,394 | -14.48% |
| average* value | £2,922 | £3,346 | 11.86% |
| median | £1,271 | £1,458 | 14.71% |