Chris Dick, CEO, Registry Trust
Thursday, 18th December 2025
From Foundation to Future: 40 Years of the Register of Judgments
The Register’s scale reveals information about debt and financial distress, but we have an opportunity for better insights
Q3 2025 data shows 5.4 million live judgments, totalling £13bn. Of these, 4.1 million remain unsatisfied, and over a third are for less than £500.
These small-value judgments suggest that many CCJs may emerge from low-level debts, possibly utility arrears, parking fines, or near-repaid balances. Yet because CCJ data currently lacks claimant information, it isn’t yet really possible to truly understand the drivers of indebtedness or target interventions effectively.
Stakeholders were clear: richer data could transform both policymaking and access to credit.
The good news is that over the course of the coming year, we should start to know much more about CCJ claimants to build a better and more useful picture.
Improving satisfaction data could be part of unlocking credit access and fairness
Only 12% of judgments are currently marked as satisfied. Many people are unaware that satisfactions aren’t automatic and face a slow, largely paper-based process to update records - even when the debt has been paid.
A recurring message from stakeholders: Shift the burden of proof from individuals to claimants, especially bulk claimants.
Mandatory reporting of satisfactions would increase accuracy, reduce administrative burden and create fairer outcomes for consumers who have repaid their debts.
Better consumer communication is essential - and overdue
Insights from lived experience research carried out for us earlier this year were stark. People don’t always know they have a CCJ until applying for a mortgage or rental property. Others assume that paying the debt is the end of the process, not realising further action is required.
Annual Review stakeholders highlighted several improvements:
- clearer post-payment guidance
- multi-channel communication
- simpler language in forms and notices
- better notification processes for joint claims
The message is clear: consumer communication must become clearer, faster and more human.
Technology offers potential to modernise the system
The CCJ process can still be paper-based and manual. Meanwhile:
- 93% of judgments are dealt with on file by default – in other words, undefended
- We know that the county courts face significant administrative burdens and other challenges
- Stakeholders see immediate opportunities for automation
The report highlights avenues to explore with the Ministry of Justice, including Smart Data, digital identity, APIs and appropriate use of automation. Improving taxonomies, claimant data and matching processes could lay the groundwork for a simpler, fairer, more efficient CCJ system for all users.
Registry Trust data can power both public value and commercial innovation
The report shows strong appetite across sectors for more aggregated and anonymised data. Stakeholders highlighted its potential to:
- help local and national policymakers identify areas of financial distress
- support regulators in spotting emerging harms
- enhance industry innovation through better regional insight
- strengthen responsible lending practices
Improving the richness and quality of the Register won’t just support lenders - it could enhance financial inclusion, support research and deliver better outcomes across society.
Looking ahead
We are grateful to everyone who contributed to our 40th anniversary Annual Review. Your insights have helped shape the priorities set out in this report: from enriching CCJ data and improving consumer communication to enabling responsible innovation and strengthening our partnerships with government.
As we enter this new chapter, we look forward to deepening collaboration across sectors and working together towards a more future-facing Register.
📘 Read the full Annual Review Document here (pdf)