Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
County Court Judgments (CCJs) registered against businesses England and Wales fell by 24 percent in the second half of 2021 (H1 2021), compared to the same period in 2020, according to figures released by Registry Trust.
The number of CCJs against businesses fell from 46,117 in H1 2020 to 35,228 in H1 2021. The total value of business judgments fell slightly, by just over four percent, from £165million to just under £158 million. Overall, there were fewer but larger judgments taken out against businesses in this half-year.
The average value of business judgments rose from £3,574 to £4,472, an increase of 25 percent compared to H1 2020. The median value also rose from £1,225 to £1,378, up 12 percent over the period.
CCJs against smaller unincorporated businesses fell by just under 10 percent, from 11,218 to 10,112. The total value of CCJ debt owed by small businesses in H1 2021 was £30 million, down eight percent from £33 million in H1 2020.
The number of judgments against larger incorporated businesses fell by 28 percent from 34,899 to 25,116. The value fell slightly, by nearly four percent, from £132 million to £127 million. The average value rose by 34 per cent from £3,775 to £5,059, with the median value up 19 per cent from £1,228 to £1,459.
High Court Judgments against businesses fell by 39 percent from 163 to 99, with the total value down by 26 percent from £155 million to £115 million. As a result, the average value of High Court judgments increased by 22 per cent, from £948,529 to £1.2 million. The median value rose by more than three quarters from £65,000 to £115,278.
Registry Trust Chair, Mick McAteer, said “Government interventions shielded businesses against the worst economic impacts of Covid. Judgments in the first half of this year are lower than the same period last year. But, numbers are rising again suggesting damage to business finances may now be showing up.”
| Half Year 2020 | Half Year 2021 | Year on Year change | |
| CCJs against all businesses | |||
| volume | 46,117 | 35,228 | -23.6% |
| total value | £164,831,099 | £157,526,004 | -4.4% |
| Average* value | £3,574 | £4,472 | 25.1% |
| median | £1,225 | £1,378 | 12.5% |
| CCJs against incorporated businesses | |||
| volume | 34,899 | 25,116 | -28% |
| total value | £131,732,547 | £127,066,319 | -3.5% |
| Average* value | £3,775 | £5,059 | 34% |
| median | £1,228 | £1,459 | 18.8% |
| CCJs against unincorporated businesses | |||
| volume | 11,218 | 10,112 | -9.9% |
| total value | £33,098,552 | £30,459,685 | -8% |
| Average* value | £2,950 | £3,012 | 2.1% |
| median | £1,217 | £1,255 | 3.1% |
| High Court judgments against all businesses | |||
| volume | 163 | 99 | -39.3% |
| total value | £154,610,297 | £114,666,307 | -25.8% |
| Average* value | £948,529 | £1,158,246 | 22.1% |
| median | £65,000 | £115,278 | 77.4% |
| Satisfactions registered by all businesses | |||
| volume | 6,005 | 5,030 | -16.2% |
| total value | £17,832,301 | £17,807,661 | -0.1% |
| Average* value | £2,970 | £3,540 | 19.2% |
| median | £1,260 | £1,461 | 16% |
* Average value refers to the ‘mean’. The mean average tends to be higher than the median, as it is more likely to be distorted by outlying, high value cases.
