Overdales Solicitors CCJ Letter: What It Means and What to Do

An Overdales Solicitors CCJ letter usually means a creditor, most often a Lowell company, has asked Overdales to take court action over a debt. It may be a Letter of Claim warning of a court claim, or news that a claim or County Court Judgment (CCJ) has been made. Each stage has a deadline, and replying in time keeps more options open.

This guide explains each type of legal letter and how to respond. For general background on the firm, see our main guide on how to deal with Overdales Solicitors. It covers England and Wales only.

Who are Overdales Solicitors?

Overdales is the trading name of Overdales Legal Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 07407310) with its registered office in Thorpe Park, Leeds. Official records confirm:

• Solicitors Regulation Authority: the SRA register lists Overdales Legal Limited as a licensed body (SRA number 806769). Its trading names include Overdales, Overdales Solicitors, Overdales Legal and Lucas Credit Services.
• Companies House: the company was called Lucas Credit Services Ltd until March 2021.
• Financial Conduct Authority: Overdales says it is also authorised by the FCA for debt collection. You can check this on the FCA Register.

Overdales is a real law firm, not a scam, and not a bailiff company.

Are Overdales part of Lowell?

Yes. Lowell says its solicitors are “part of the Lowell Group” but are a separate company from Lowell Financial Ltd. Lowell Financial Ltd does not issue CCJs itself. If you do not engage, it may instruct its solicitors to ask the court for one.

Overdales also says it has taken over a number of cases previously handled by Lowell Solicitors Limited, which Companies House shows was renamed Lowell Legal Limited in 2024 and is now dormant. Overdales describes itself as acting for “a number of UK Clients”, so a letter may relate to a debt owned by another creditor. The letter should name the claimant. For more on Lowell’s side of the process, see our Lowell CCJ guide.

What kinds of legal letters do Overdales send?

Note that the claim form itself comes from the court, usually the Civil National Business Centre in Northampton, not from Overdales. Overdales may write to you about it separately.

Step 1: responding to an Overdales Letter of Claim

The Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims requires creditors to send a Letter of Claim before issuing a claim against an individual. It must include a Reply Form, an Information Sheet and a Financial Statement. You have 30 days to reply. Here is what to do:

1. Check the details. Is the debt yours? Is the amount right? Has it been six years or more since you last paid or acknowledged it in writing? If so, it may be statute-barred.
2. Ask for proof if unsure. Tick the box on the Reply Form asking for documents, such as the credit agreement and statements. For a regulated credit agreement, you can also make a request under section 77 or 78 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (there is a £1 fee).
3. If you owe it, offer what you can afford. Fill in the Financial Statement honestly. The creditor should not start court action while you keep to an agreed plan.
4. If you need advice, say so. The Reply Form lets you ask for time to get debt advice.
5. Keep copies of everything you send, with proof of posting.

If you request documents, the creditor must provide them, or explain why it cannot, within 30 days, and should not go to court until 30 days after that. The full Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims sets out these rules.

Step 2: if a court claim form arrives

Do not ignore a claim form. You have 14 days from the date it is treated as served to pay, admit or defend. If you file an acknowledgement of service in time, you get 28 days from service to file a defence. You can reply online using the details on the form, or by post using form N9A (admission) or N9B (defence).

If you owe the money but cannot pay in one go, admit the claim and make an affordable instalment offer. If Overdales rejects it, the court decides the payment rate from your finances. If you dispute the debt, you can ask to see documents mentioned in the claim under Civil Procedure Rule 31.14. Gov.uk explains how to respond to a court claim for money.

What if the debt is old or not yours?

Debts are often sold on several times, so mistakes happen. If you do not recognise the debt, say so on the Reply Form or in your defence and ask for the documents. If the last payment or written acknowledgement was six years ago or more, the debt may be statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980. The court will not raise this for you: you must say so in your defence. A free debt adviser can help you word it.

Step 3: if Overdales get a CCJ against you

A CCJ stays on the Register of Judgments and your credit file for six years, unless you pay the full amount within one calendar month of the judgment. After that, you have three main routes:

• Pay as ordered. Keep to the instalments on the judgment.
• Vary the payments. If you cannot afford the amount, apply on form N245. The court fee is £16 (fee list updated July 2026).
• Set it aside. If you never received the claim or have a real defence, apply on form N244. The fee for an application on notice is £321 from 13 July 2026. Help with Fees may reduce court fees if you are on a low income.

Can Overdales send bailiffs?

Not unless there is a CCJ that you have not paid as ordered. Overdales staff are solicitors and collectors, not enforcement agents. After an unpaid CCJ, they can ask the court to enforce it, for example by:

• a warrant of control, so county court enforcement officers can visit to take control of goods
• transferring the judgment to the High Court for High Court enforcement officers, if it is £600 or more and not under a regulated Consumer Credit Act agreement
• an attachment of earnings order or a charging order on property

Overdales’ own FAQs warn about scam texts claiming to be from “Overdale Enforcement” and say these were not sent by Overdales Legal Limited. Real enforcement agents must give you a notice of enforcement before visiting. Our guides on how to stop a warrant of control and your rights with bailiffs explain what to do if it reaches that stage.

Overdales payments and bank details: stay safe

Because debt letters are copied by fraudsters, only pay through channels you have checked yourself:

• Type the web address yourself (overdales.com) rather than clicking a link in a text or email.
• Check the reference number on any request matches your letter.
• If someone gives you new bank details by phone, text or email, do not pay. Call Overdales on a number from its official website or a letter you know is genuine, and check first.
• Never send cash through the post. Overdales itself advises against it.
• Keep a record of every payment, as you may need it later.

Only pay what you can genuinely afford once your essential bills are covered.

Your options if you can’t pay

If Overdales is chasing one of several debts, a formal solution may help. A Debt Relief Order, bankruptcy or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) can include debts pursued by Overdales, including CCJs, and once in place included creditors cannot enforce. A debt management plan is informal, and Breathing Space can pause most action for up to 60 days while you get advice. The right option depends on your income, assets and debts.

Common questions

Free, independent debt advice is also available from MoneyHelper, StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice.