Court · United Kingdom
Claim Form (N1) — a county court money claim, not yet a judgment
A Claim Form (N1) is a formal court claim that someone says you owe them money. It is not yet a judgment: there is a short window to pay, admit or defend. Doing nothing hands the claimant an automatic county court judgment (CCJ) against you.
How serious: enforcement closeAlso called: N1, County court claim, Money claim, Court claim pack, CCJ claim
The N1 pack means a claimant — often a debt collector, utility, landlord or bank — has started a money claim against you in the county court. The pack contains the claim form, the particulars of the claim and response forms.
Nothing has been decided yet. The claim is an allegation, and the court gives you a window to pay, admit the debt, offer instalments, or defend. The response forms in the pack are the mechanism.
Silence is what converts the claim into a judgment. If no response arrives in time, the claimant can obtain a default county court judgment for the full amount plus costs, without a hearing.
Who sends it
The County Court, part of HM Courts & Tribunals Service, on behalf of a claimant — a creditor, company or person suing you for money. The court issues the pack; the claimant is the one making the claim.
A court-headed pack marked 'Claim Form' (form N1) or 'County Court Business Centre / Civil National Business Centre', with a claim number, the claimant's name, the amount claimed plus court fees, and enclosed response, admission and defence forms with a respond-by date.
The deadline
Defence due '14 days after service of the particulars of claim; or if the defendant files an acknowledgment of service under Part 10, 28 days after service of the particulars of claim' (CPR 15.4(1)). gov.uk: 'You must respond by the date on the email or letter you receive.'
A defence is due '14 days after service of the particulars of claim; or if the defendant files an acknowledgment of service under Part 10, 28 days after service of the particulars of claim' (CPR 15.4(1)). The period runs from service of the particulars of claim; deemed service rules apply to postal claims. gov.uk: 'You must respond by the date on the email or letter you receive.'
If you do nothing
'You might have to pay more or get a county court judgment (CCJ) if you do not respond in time.' A CCJ means 'the court has formally decided that you owe the money'. It is entered on the register — 'Records of judgments are kept for 6 years unless you pay the full amount within a month' — it 'can make it hard to get credit', and if you still do not pay 'you could be taken back to court and forced to pay'; the gov.uk CCJ page links to bailiff action and deductions from wages as the enforcement routes.
Compute your date
The rule above is what the law sets. Put in the dates on your own letter and it becomes a date.
Don't miss this date
We'll email you 7, 3 and 1 day before, and on the day — at 9:00 your time.
We keep only what the reminder needs — type, dates, sender — encrypted. Delete it any time.
How it escalates
- 01A default judgment (CCJ) is entered against you for the full amount plus costs, without a hearing.
- 02The CCJ is registered for 6 years (unless paid in full within one month), which damages credit and some visa, tenancy and employment checks.
- 03Enforcement by the claimant: bailiffs (warrant of control), attachment of earnings (money taken from wages), and further court enforcement.
How to respond
Response types
- Confirm receiptAcknowledgment of service (form N9, in the response pack) · CPR Part 10; CPR 15.4(1)(b)Form: N9 (response pack)
- File the objectionDefence (form N9B for a specified amount, N9D where the amount is unspecified) · CPR Part 15; CPR 15.4Form: N9B (specified amount) / N9D (unspecified amount)
- Ask for instalmentsAdmission with an offer of payment by instalments (form N9A, or N9C where the amount is unspecified) · CPR Part 14Form: N9A (specified amount) / N9C (unspecified amount)
- Ask for more timeAgreement between the parties extending time for the defence (CPR 15.5) · CPR 15.5
- Confirm paymentPayment of the claim in full, and notification to the claimant and the court
Where and how
- Respond to a court claim for money online (Online Civil Money Claims / Money Claim Online)
- Post (first class / ordinary mail)
- Royal Mail Signed For / Special Delivery Guaranteed
- Delivery by hand / court counter or drop box
- Fax
- Telephone
What makes it count
The response is filed when the court office receives it, or when the online service timestamps it - posting is not filing - so respond online where the claim was issued online, and post several working days early otherwise. The clock runs from service of the particulars of claim, with deemed service under CPR 6.14 on the second business day after the relevant step, so the date on the envelope is not the start date. Where the period would end on a day the court office is closed, CPR 2.8(5) treats the act as in time if done on the next day the office is open. Send the response to the business centre or hearing centre named on the claim form and copy the claimant at the address for service.
Common questions
Is this already a judgment against me?
No. It is a claim. A judgment (CCJ) only follows if you do not respond in time or the court decides against you.
How long do I have?
14 days after service of the particulars of claim to file a defence, or 28 days if an acknowledgment of service is filed first (CPR 15.4(1)). The pack states the respond-by date.
What does a CCJ do?
It records that the court has formally decided you owe the money. It stays on the register for 6 years unless paid in full within a month, and can make it hard to get credit.
Can I pay in instalments?
The admission form allows the debt to be admitted with an offer to pay by instalments.
Sources
Facts verified against the sources below on 28 August 2026.