Couple’s dreams of buying a home shattered by court judgement issued without their knowledge as thousands are caught in the same trap
Families' finances wrecked by credit rate-ruining court rulings they knew nothing about
A COUPLE'S dreams of buying their own home has been destroyed by a court judgement issued without their knowledge.
Craig Moreton only discovered a County Court Judgement had been issued against him when he went to sign a rental agreement on a salon for his partner.
Parking firms, banks and utility companies are among those who obtain hundreds of thousands of County Court Judgements each year, to settle outstanding debts.
Craig was shocked to discover a judgement had been made against him without his knowledge, and even more surprised when he found out why.
The 21-year-old told The Sun online he had moved out of a rented property on the advice of environmental health after the landlord failed to deal with "rats, sewage and broken windows".
But unknown to him his former landlord made a claim for unpaid rent, listing the property Craig had left as his correspondence address.
He said: "I rang the court and said 'why is this the first I have heard of it'.
"It was all sent to that address and they said 'that was the address we were provided with'
"It's destroyed my credit rating the only thing I can do is wait for years and hope it goes down."
Has your credit rating been ruined by a CCJ you were unaware of? Email Emma Lake at [email protected] or call 0207 792 4790
Craig and his fiancee had hoped to buy a house, but because of the CCJ have been told they've got no chance of getting a mortgage.
Craig, of Worcestershire, looked in to appealing the court ruling but was told he would have to pay hundreds of pounds for a judge to even consider looking at the case.
In the meantime he and his fiancee have moved in with family after being told that even paying rent will not help his ruined credit score.
He added: "I don't think CCJs should be registered until both both parties have have been definitely spoken to.
"Personally I think the way the court system works is disgusting."
Thousands of people have had their finances destroyed by County Court Judgements put in place without their knowledge.
Last year about 740,000 credit rating-ruining CCJs were signed off without being defended or heard by a judge in open court, figures obtained by the revealed.
Cases revealed by the paper included a couple left homeless after a CCJ issued without their knowledge destroyed their credit rating and lost them a new home.
Father of two Kristian Hancocks said the ruling, made over a £40 parking ticket issued to a stranger who bought a car previously owned by him, has devastated his family.
Information revealed by the Ministry of Justice under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that 85per cent of the orders were obtained "by default", with many unaware they were the subject of any order because details were sent to an outdated address.
Some only discovered the judgements had been issued years later, when applying for loans or mortgages.
People can apply for the orders to be overturned, but this can take up to a year and cost at least £225.
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Families who have spoken to the Mail include newly-weds who lost their dream house because a Severn Trent Water bill was sent to the groom's old university address and a jeweller who has been forced to sell his home and shop because a mistaken parking ticket cost him £30,000.
Courts Minister Sir Oliver Heald said: "These are serious claims which will be looked at urgently. Our legal system is world-leading and we are determined to ensure that it is not open to abuse."
Bob Neill, Tory MP and chairman of the Commons Justice Committee, said the findings should be investigated as part of the Ministry of Justice's civil courts structure review, an ongoing probe by senior judges into potential court reforms.
He said: "People should always know if court proceedings are being taken against them and have the chance to defend claims."
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