There were letters I didn't want to open: Rise in unpaid debt court cases

Jane from Coventry, with arthritis and diabetes, owes £800 to her energy supplier, receives PIP and Universal Credit, and describes tightening finances and relying on family support while budgeting.

Registry Trust chief executive Chris Dick says the data suggests continued cost-of-living pressures and can help identify systemic factors or the effectiveness of policy and regulatory interventions.

Act on Energy says energy debt is the main issue people contact them about, and that many households are also struggling with other debts such as mortgages, rent and food costs.

A CCJ is a court order to repay money owed; in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it can appear on a credit report for six years. If the debt is not paid, the CCJ can be filed on a credit report. The file can be removed from a credit report if the debt is paid within one month of receiving the judgement; if settled later, it remains with a note that it has been paid.

The article reports on rising CCJs and energy debt, profiling Mark Sumner and Jane from Coventry, with input from energy charity Act on Energy and the Registry Trust.

Across all energy companies in Britain, energy debt has reached a record high of more than £4.5 billion.

In the first quarter of 2026, 270,537 new CCJs were registered, up 17.5% on the same period last year, according to Registry Trust.

Mark Sumner's energy bills rose from about £80 a month to £220, contributing to rising debt. He faced a County Court Judgement, began relying on a credit card for daily spending and on a food bank, and eventually sold his family home to pay what he owed.