County Court claim form: how to respond in time

What this kind of letter means

A debt company has taken you to court for £1,479.60 over an old credit card. You must respond within 14 days of receiving this, or they can get a County Court Judgment against you automatically.

This is a Part 7 claim form. It's treated as served on the second business day after posting, and your 14 days run from then. You can admit the claim (and offer instalments), admit part of it, or defend it. Filing an acknowledgment of service gives you 28 days in total to prepare a defence. The claimant is a debt purchaser, so ask them for the credit agreement and the notice of assignment; if they can't produce them, that can form part of a defence. If a judgment is entered and you pay it in full within a month, you can apply to the court with proof of payment to have it removed from the register.

Things worth checking

• Never ignore a court claim, even if you think the debt isn't yours.
• The debt was sold to Apex. Ask them for a copy of the agreement and proof of assignment.
• Check whether you've paid or acknowledged the debt in the last 6 years. If not, it may be statute-barred.

Your options

• Acknowledge and get advice. Buys you 28 days. Free help is available from StepChange, National Debtline or Citizens Advice.
• Admit and offer instalments. If you owe it, the court can set affordable monthly payments.
• Defend the claim. If the debt isn't yours, is wrong, or is too old to chase.

If you ignore it

The claimant can ask for judgment by default. A County Court Judgment stays on your credit file for 6 years unless you pay it within a month and apply to have it removed, and can lead to bailiffs or deductions from wages.

What usually decides this

The claim isn't proven yet. If the debt is yours, you can ask to pay in instalments. If Apex can't show the agreement and proof they bought the debt, you may be able to defend it. Either way, you must respond within 14 days.

The rules

• You must respond to a County Court money claim within 14 days of service. Filing an acknowledgment of service gives you 28 days from service to send your defence.
  England, Wales. Source: GOV.UK: Guidance for defendants (N1C)
• To admit and ask for time to pay, use form N9A. To dispute all or part, use form N9B (or respond on Money Claim Online). A letter to the claimant doesn't replace the court response.
  England, Wales. Source: GOV.UK: Respond to a court claim for money
• If you don't respond in time, the claimant can get a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against you without a hearing. A CCJ paid in full within one month can be removed from the register.
  England, Wales. Source: GOV.UK: Respond to a court claim for money
• Court claims work differently in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Get free advice locally before you respond.
  Scotland, Northern Ireland. Source: GOV.UK: Respond to a court claim for money

Rules last checked 13 November 2026.

Words you might see

• Claim form: The official document that starts a court case for money.
• Acknowledgment of service: A form telling the court you intend to respond, which gives you more time.
• CCJ: County Court Judgment: a court order saying you must pay.
• Assigned: The original lender sold the debt to another company.

An example reply

From our worked example. Letter Clear writes one for your own letter, in your name.

To: Apex Credit Recovery Ltd
Claim number: L4QZ7R21

Dear Sir or Madam,

I have received your claim. I [have filed / will be filing] an acknowledgment of service with the court, indicating that I intend to defend all or part of the claim.

Under the Civil Procedure Rules I request copies of the credit agreement, the default notice, the notice of assignment and a full statement of account. Please provide these within 14 days.

Yours faithfully,
[Your name]

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