Receiving a notice from the County Court Money Claims Centre (CCMCC) regarding a debt can be unsettling, but remember, you’re in good company. In this post, we will guide you on everything you should know about the County Court Money Claims Centre.
Stay tuned to find out.
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What Is the County Court Money Claims Centre (CCMCC)?
The County Court Money Claims Centre (CCMCC) is a pivotal entity in the UK’s legal landscape, especially when it comes to managing debt-related disputes. This centralised system streamlines the process of handling claims related to debts.
The CCMCC’s primary role is to facilitate the administrative side of county court claims. It deals with the issuance of claim forms, managing responses, and handling procedural steps like:
- Acknowledgement of service forms
- Issuing notice of default judgments
- Admission forms
- County court claim form packs
- Counterclaim and defence forms
Apart from this, it is also responsible for issuing warrants of execution, which gives bailiffs (who work for the County Court) the right to pursue debtors for unpaid debts.
However, note that the County Court Money Claims Centre only handles claims made on paper. If you want to make a money claim online, you should do it via Money Claims Online (MCOL) through the County Court Business Centre.
What is the County Court Business Centre?
Unlike the CCMCC, The County Court Business Centre deals with claims made online through the MCOL. It also does not hear claims in person, unlike other centres.
It helps individuals to issue online cvil money claims and pay court fees online with the use of a credit card. Thus, they don’t have to manage their claim in person or through traditional means.
Individuals can also submit a single file that contains information on a number of claims. This option allows case fees to be paid in one single lump sum instead of separate payments.
How Do I Contact the County Court Money Claims Centre (CCMCC)?
Reaching out to the CCMCC is a critical step for many involved in debt-related court processes. The Centre is accessible through various means – phone, email, or post. Note that they do not offer in-person services.
This accessibility ensures that whether you’re responding to a claim or initiating one, you have a direct line to the necessary legal administrative support. The key here is understanding that effective communication with the CCMCC could significantly influence the outcome of your case.
How you contact them and the timeliness of your response could be game-changers in the legal process.
| Address | County Court Money Claims Centre PO Box 527 Salford M5 0BY |
| Opening hours | No public walk-in access. Phone assistance is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm. |
| Phone number | 0300 123 1372 |
| DX | DX 702634 Salford 5 |
| ccmcce-filing@justice.gov.uk |
CCMCC Reviews: What Are People Saying?
The CCMCC have a mix of reviews online both positive as well as negative. Some of their online reviews are as follows:
“They are very helpful over the phone during the four separate times I have had to call them, and they seem to know what they are doing. They called me back to sort a paperwork error I had brought to their attention…read more” –Caroline Bee
“I’ve just started using this service for the first time.
I have nothing but praise for the service.As others have said. Waiting times to talk to an advisor are minimal. In my case, less than a minute.In my opinion, they go above and beyond, to ensure you submit full and correct details of your claim…read more” –Mike
“Incredibly difficult to get a hold of anyone on the phone – I was waiting for 40 minutes, just to be put on hold again by an operator, and while I was waiting, the call has suddenly ended. I had signal by the way. Had to call again to ask one question, wasted over an hour altogether…read more” –Victoria Mierzwa
“They take hours to answer the call all the time and when the agents answer they always sound tired , they should just do live chats as this calling them thing doesn’t work well I’m UNHAPPY with the service…read more” -Mbalenhle Kataleya
How Does the CCMCC Enforce Debts?
The CCMCC will conduct their operations by the following general steps.
2. Receiving the Claim Form Pack: The CCMCC sends you a pack containing three crucial forms. It’s your move now. You should fill out the correct form and send it back to them. The list of forms include:
- Admission form – Agreeing you owe the debt.
- Counterclaim and defence form – Contesting the debt.
- Acknowledgement of service form – Buying extra time, 28 as breathing space.
Can I be Taken to The CCMCC For My Debts?
Yes, if you have unpaid debts, there is a chance that your creditor might make a claim against you. But note that this is usually a last resort, which is taken only if other options to recover the money from you have not been successful.
Thus, you will receive a notice in advance if a creditor is chasing you for a debt before they take you to the CCMCC. This is why it’s crucial that you don’t ignore debts and always communicate with your creditor before the issue escalates.
What should I do if I get a summons to the CCMCC?
Being summoned to the CCMCC indicates that your creditor is taking legal action against you for an unpaid debt. In this case, there are some options you can consider:
How Do I Stop a CCJ from Being Granted
Avoiding a County Court Judgment (CCJ) is crucial, and it all starts when you receive the claims form pack from the CCMCC. Here’s how you can navigate this process:
Will the CCMCC Send Bailiffs to Your Home?
Yes, if you don’t settle the debt post-CCJ, the court may send bailiffs to your home. Their goal is to collect the debt. But if you can’t pay immediately, they might look to take goods from your home to cover the debt. However, bailiffs have certain limitations.
- No Forceful Entry: They can’t force their way into your home. They can only enter through an unlocked door or if you let them in.
- No arresting: A bailiff cannot arrest you unless serving a criminal warrant.
- Respecting Vulnerable Individuals: Bailiffs must leave if only children under 16 or vulnerable individuals are at home.
- Identification and Debt Details: They must show ID and explain the debt details if asked. But if they don’t, you have the right to
- No Aggressive Behaviour: They can’t act aggressively or use offensive language.
Bailiffs only have the right to take goods that they can remove and have access to. Generally, they can only take items if they can physically touch them. Their main aim will be to possess items such as electrical goods, motor vehicles, furniture and jewellery. But they will be interested in seizing any items that they can easily sell at an auction for a good price.
However, bailiffs don’t have the right to take everything. They are obligated to leave you with basic household items such as:
- A landline or mobile phone
- A microwave or cooker, a washing machine and a fridge
- Beds and bedding for every person in the use
- A dining table with chairs sufficient to seat every individual in the house
- Care or medical equipment
- Appliances required to light and heat your house
Some items that bailiffs don’t have the right to take include:
- Goods that belong to another person- but they have the right to take items that you own jointly with another individual.
- Assistance dogs and pets
- Any equipment, tools, or books up to a value of £1,350 that are required for studies or work.
- Items bought on a hire purchase agreement where you have not paid off the final payment.
- Items fixed to your home, such as fitted wardrobes or kitchen units
How Can I Avoid Being Taken To The County Court Money Claims Centre?
The best way to avoid being taken to the CCMCC is to pay off the debt in full. But if you’re struggling to pay off the debt, you can consider taking up a debt solution. There are multiple debt solutions available in the UK. But note that while the right debt solution will help you to write off debt, choosing the wrong one will be expensive and might even worsen your situation.
Thus, we recommend you get some advice from a debt charity before making the decision. Alternatively, feel free to fill out our online form, and our MoneyAdvisor team will guide you.
Some debt solutions that you can consider taking up include:
Additional Advice And Support
Navigating the complexities of the CCMCC, debt claims, and potential court proceedings can be overwhelming.
But there are many debt charities in the UK that you can reach out to. The Citizens Advice Bureau, for instance, offers expert advice and can direct you to further specialised assistance. Understanding your options and rights is key to effectively managing any legal issues related to debts.
Whether it’s seeking advice on responding to a claim form or understanding the implications of a CCJ, the right guidance can make a significant difference in how you handle these challenges.
Some other debt charities that you can consider include:
- StepChange
- National Debtline
- Citizens Advice
Key Points
- The County Court Money Claims Centre (CCMCC) is a central administrative body for handling debt-related legal matters in the UK.
- The CCMCC manages the processing of claim forms, responses, and other court-related documents.
- Effective communication with the CCMCC is crucial, whether responding to claims or initiating court processes.
- Accessibility to the CCMCC is primarily through email, phone, and postal mail, with no walk-in access available.
- The CCMCC oversees the initial stages of the county court claims process, starting with the creditor approaching for a debt judgment.
- Debtors receive a claim form pack with different forms to admit the debt, contest it, or acknowledge the service for additional time.
- To prevent a CCJ, respond to the CCMCC’s claim pack, particularly using the counterclaim and defence form if disputing the debt.
- Timely response (within 7 days for acknowledgement and 28 days for defence) is essential to avoid a default CCJ.
- If a CCJ is granted and the debt remains unpaid, the CCMCC can authorise bailiffs to collect the debt.
- Bailiffs have specific limitations: they can’t force entry, must show ID, and are restricted in the items they can seize (like essentials and outside items).
