Overview
274,626 NEW JUDGMENTS WERE PROCESSED THIS QUARTER WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF £610,612,653.
During the period of 1st July to 30th September 2021, 98.1% of all judgments came from courts in England and Wales. The median value of judgments across all jurisdictions was £700. The average value was £2,223.43. This represents a ‘Q3 2020’ to ‘Q3 2021’ decrease in average value of 37%, and decrease in median value of 19%.
Year-on-year, the number of judgments increased from 132,413 to 274,626; an increase of 107%.
England and Wales
County Court Judgments (CCJs) against businesses in England and Wales rose by 70 percent in Q3 2021, compared to the same quarter in 2020, according to figures released today (14.10.2021) by Registry Trust.
The number of business CCJs increased from 15,970 in Q3 2020 to 27,073 in Q3 2021. The total value of CCJ debt owed by businesses rose by one third, from £81 million to £108 million. The average value of business debt fell by over one fifth (21 percent) from £5,063 to £3,975, while the median value halved falling from £1,919 to £961 over the period.
The number of judgments against larger incorporated businesses increased by 91 percent, from 10,756 to 20,559. The total value rose from £63 million to £89 million, an increase of 42 percent. The average value fell by over one quarter (26 percent) from £5,844 to £4,332, while the median value was down 60 percent from £2,280 to £902.
CCJs against smaller unincorporated businesses also rose, by one quarter, from 5,214 to 6,514. However, the total value rose by just three percent from £18 million to £18.5 million. This meant the average value fell by nearly 18 percent from £3,452 to £2,846, while the median value was down by 14 percent from £1,405 to £1,205.
The number of High Court Judgments against businesses fell by nearly one quarter (24 percent) from 50 to 38, with the total value 62 percent lower at £52 million compared to £137 million in the same period last year. The small number of registered High Court Judgments means these figures are subject to large fluctuations.
The number of County Court Judgments (CCJs) issued against consumers in England and Wales saw another very large rise in Q3 2021 compared to the same period last year, according to figures released today (14.10.2021) by Registry Trust.
The number registered in Q3 2021 was 241,952, up 116 percent from 111,931 in Q3 2020 – this was the second largest quarter-on-quarter rise posted in the past five years. The value of consumer judgments owed rose to £378 million from £227 million, a rise of 66 percent compared to Q3 2020. Despite the continued rises, numbers are yet to reach pre-Covid levels.
The average value of consumer judgments fell 23 percent from £2,029 to £1,560, while the median value fell 22 percent from £782 to £613.
The number of judgments ‘satisfied’ (or fully paid) by consumers in Q3 2021 was 40,606, down 23 percent from 52,740 in the same quarter last year. This is very disappointing as the number marked as satisfied remains a small proportion of the total judgments outstanding.
In the High Court, the number of judgments against consumers, at 44, was unchanged at over the period. But, the total value saw a huge rise of 344 percent from £8 million to £36 million. Due to the small number of judgments registered by the High Court, the numbers are subject to large fluctuations in percentage increases/decreases.
Scotland
The number of decrees and total amount of debt registered against Scottish consumers saw large rises in Q3 2021 compared to the same period last year, according to figures released today (14.10.2021) by Registry Trust.
The number rose from 2,805 to 3,487 in Q3 2021, a rise of nearly one quarter from Q3 2020. The total value saw an even bigger rise, up by 51 percent, from £7.6 million to £11.4 million. As a result, the average value rose by 21 percent, from £2,710 to £3,280. The median value rose by 29 percent, from £1,265 to £1,628.
The number of decrees against Scottish businesses was almost unchanged, at 523 compared to 525 in Q3 2020. The total value rose by one quarter, from £2 million to £2.5 million. As a result, the average value rose by 26 percent, from £3,863 to £4,851. The median value also rose, by 27 percent from £1,203 to£1,523.
The number of decrees against incorporated businesses rose slightly, by just over two percent, from 437 to 447. The total value rose by one fifth, from £1.7 million to £2 million. The average value saw a rise of 17 percent, from £3,858 to £4,530, with the median value up by 43 percent from £1,050 to £1,500.
But, decrees against smaller businesses fell by 14 percent, from 88 to 76. However, the total value rose by nearly 50 percent, from £342,036 to £512,047. As a result, the average value saw a large increase of 73 percent, from £3,887 to £6,737. The median value rose by 69 percent from £1,424 to £2,411.
Republic of Ireland
The number and total value of judgments registered against Irish consumers saw large rises in Q3 2021 compared to the same quarter last year, figures released today by registrar Irish Judgments show.
The number of judgments registered against Irish consumers in Q3 2021 was 233, an increase of 85 percent on the 126 seen in the same quarter last year. Although numbers are volatile and are down on the 307 registered in the previous quarter of this year.
The total value of registered debt owed by consumers in Q3 2021 was €15.8 million, three and a half times the €4.6 million seen in Q3 2020. But, care must be taken with large percentage rises like this as the number and value of judgments in Q3 2020 were artificially low due to interventions designed to protect households from the financial effects of Covid.
The average value of consumer judgments registered was also much higher at €67,675, an increase of 84 percent on the €36,849 seen in the same quarter last year. But, the median value fell again, falling 14 percent from €10,314 in Q3 2021 to €8,8671 in Q3 2020. This suggests a pattern of more, smaller judgments registered with a number of very large judgments pushing up the overall average.
Judgments against Irish businesses also rose significantly. Numbers of judgments registered were up by three quarters, from 78 in Q3 2020 to 137 in Q3 2021. The total value owed in Q3 2021 was €3.7 million, four times the €907,346 in Q3 2020. The average value of business judgments was up by 130 percent, from €11,633 to €26,740. The median value also rose from €5,987 to €7,532, an increase of just over one quarter.
Northern Ireland
The number of debt judgments registered against Northern Ireland consumers in
Q3 2021 was 755, a rise of 24 percent from the 608 in the same period last year, according to figures released today (14.10.2021) by Registry Trust. But, 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 much bigger, up 66 percent from £1.6 million in Q3 2020 to £2.7 million in Q3 2021. The average value of consumer judgments was one third higher, at £3,570 compared to £2,674 last year. The median value was also up, by 35 percent, from £1,001 to £1,347. This suggest creditors are taking out more larger judgments against consumers.
Judgments against Northern Ireland businesses also rose, from 73 to 117, an increase of 60 percent over the period. The total value of judgments against Northern Ireland businesses rose by much less, 21 percent, from £457,243 to £554,524. As a result, the average value of business judgments fell by 24 percent, from £6,264 to £4,740. The median value fell by even more, from £2,708 to £1,430, a drop of 47 percent. This suggests creditors were taking out more smaller judgments against businesses.
Jersey
The total number of judgments issued against consumers in the Jersey Petty and Royal Courts in Q3 2021 was 178, an increase of 32 percent on the 135 seen in the same period last year, according to data published today [14.10.2021] by Registry Trust. But, while this quarter’s numbers are up on the same period last year, they have declined in each quarter of 2021.
The total value of judgments issued against Jersey consumers more than halved, falling by 53 percent from £513,151 in Q3 2020 to £242,928 in Q3 2021. As a result, the average value of judgments was 64 percent lower, £1,365 in Q3 2021 compared to £3,801 in Q3 2020. The median value also fell, by 28 percent, from £320 to £230.
Just 13 judgments, valued at £93,401, were issued against Jersey businesses in Q3 2021 compared to nine valued at £57,912 in Q3 2020. The average value in Q3 2021 was £7,185, compared to £6,435 in the same period last year. The median value this quarter was £4,400 compared to £1,459 in the same period last year.
Isle of Man
Twenty two debt judgments were issued in the Isle of Man Courts of Justice against consumers in Q3 2021, compared to 10 issued in the same period last year, according to data published today [14.10.2021] by Registry Trust.
But, while this quarter’s numbers are up on the same period last year, they have declined in each quarter of 2021, and remain low compared to pre-Covid levels.
The total value of judgments issued against consumers doubled from £27,338 in Q3 2020 to £55,962 in Q3 2021, although values remain small.
As a result, the average value in Q3 2021 fell by seven percent compared to the same period last year, from £2,734 to £2,544. The median value in Q3 2021 was significantly lower, at £699 compared to £2,581 in Q3 2020.
There was a small increase in the number of judgments against Isle of Man businesses. Six judgments with a total value of £16,266 were issued in Q3 2021, compared to three with a total value of £8,388 issued in Q3 2020.