Northern Irish business debt judgments fall by 51%

25th January 2021

The number of debt judgments registered against Northern Ireland businesses fell by just over half (51%), from 232 to 113, according to figures released by Registry Trust.

However, the total value of judgments against businesses rose by nearly 20 percent from £483,903 to £578,927. The average value of business judgments rose steeply, from £2,086 to £5,123, up 146 percent. The story is one of many fewer, but larger judgments.

But, following huge falls in the first half of the year, numbers are rising again. The total number of judgments rose by 16 percent in Q4 2020 compared to Q3 2020.

Registry Trust chairman Mick McAteer said: “The latest data shows that Government and regulatory interventions, and forbearance by creditors, in response to the Covd-19 economic crisis have protected Northern Irish consumers. But, the signs are that the respite may be short lived as the numbers of debt judgments have started to rise.”

Half Year 2019 Half Year 2020 Change (compared with 2019)
Judgments against all businesses
volume 232 113 -51.29%
total value £483,903 £578,927 19.64%
average* value £2,086 £5,123 145.63%
median value £1,012 £1,799 77.77%
Judgments against incorporated businesses
volume 193 84 -56.48%
total value £416,890 £464,302 11.37%
average* value £2,160 £5,527 155.89%
median value £1,008 £1,630 61.71%
Judgments against unincorporated businesses
volume 39 29 -25.64%
total value £67,013 £114,625 71.05%
average* value £1,718 £3,953 130.03%
median value £1,198 £2,038 70.12%
Satisfactions
volume 56 53 -5.36%
total value £160,154 £158,156 -1.25%
average* value £2,860 £2,984 4.34%
median value £1,220 £999 -18.08%