A court judgement is one of the more serious things that can appear on a credit file, and one of the most misunderstood — particularly the difference between a court and a tribunal. This guide explains what a judgement is, how it gets onto your file, where tribunals fit in, and the routes that may be open to challenge one.
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What a court judgement is
A court judgement (sometimes called a money order) is a court’s formal decision that you owe a debt. If a creditor sues you in a local, magistrates or district court and the court finds against you, that judgement can be recorded as public-record information on your credit file. A recorded judgement stays for five years.
Courts vs tribunals: QCAT, NCAT and VCAT
This trips a lot of people up. Bodies like QCAT (Queensland), NCAT (New South Wales) and VCAT (Victoria) are tribunals, not courts. Tribunals resolve many consumer and tenancy disputes, but a tribunal order is not automatically a court judgement on your credit file. In some cases a tribunal’s monetary order can be filed or registered in a court to make it enforceable, and at that point it may take on the character of a court judgement. If you have had a tribunal matter, it is worth checking your actual credit file rather than assuming — the entry may not be there, or may be recorded differently than you expect.
Not sure if a judgement is really on your file?
For $39.95 we pull your Equifax and Experian files and tell you exactly what is recorded — judgement, default or nothing at all — and whether there are grounds to challenge it.
Routes that may be open to challenge a judgement
Unlike a default, a judgement usually cannot be disputed with the credit reporting body alone, because it reflects a court decision. The routes we work in practice, depending on the facts, include:
- Negotiation with the plaintiff toward a consent order — agreeing terms (sometimes conditional on payment) and having the order filed and stamped.
- A set-aside application — where the judgement was entered in default and there are proper grounds, for example if you were never served.
- A rehearing — where the matter should be heard again, supported by an affidavit and the correct court forms.
Once a court makes the relevant order, the stamped order can be provided to the credit reporting bodies to update the record. These are technical, evidence-based processes — there is no shortcut, and we never promise an outcome. What we do is assess honestly whether one of these routes realistically applies to your situation.
Common questions
How long does a court judgement stay on my file?
Five years from the date it is recorded, whether or not the debt is paid.
Does paying the judgement remove it?
Paying it does not remove the listing — it can be marked as paid, but it remains for the five years unless it is set aside or otherwise dealt with by the court.
Is a QCAT or NCAT order the same as a court judgement?
Not automatically. Tribunals are separate from courts; a tribunal order only becomes a court judgement if it is registered or filed in a court. Check your actual file to see what is recorded.
For the full process, see how judgement removal works, or read how to remove a judgement from your credit file.
Start with the facts about your own file
A $39.95 credit file assessment shows you every default, judgement and enquiry on your Equifax and Experian files — and which ones may be open to challenge.
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