Northern Irish debt judgments against businesses and consumers show slight rise

The number of debt judgments registered against Northern Ireland consumers in 2021 was 3,263, a small rise of two percent from the 3,207 in 2020, according to latest figures released by the Registry Trust.

The Registry Trust says it is worth noting that numbers are still well below the highs seen before Covid struck.

The rise in the total value of judgment debt owed was higher, up by more than one fifth (21%), from £8 million in 2020 to just under £10 million in 2021.

The average value of consumer judgments rose by a similar amount, up 19 percent, from £2,485 to £2,966 this year. The median value was also up, but just by two percent, from £1,021 to £1,050.

Judgments against Northern Ireland businesses also rose slightly, from 539 to 545, an increase of just one percent compared to 2020.

The total value of judgments against Northern Ireland businesses rose by much more, up 18 percent, from £2.2 million to £2.7 million. As a result, the average value of business judgments rose by 17 percent, from £4,228 to £4,930. The median value fell, from £1,390 to £1,216, a fall of 13 percent. This suggests creditors were taking out more smaller value judgments against businesses.