Mortgage Broker Bad Credit History Wigan - Expert Help & Specialist Lenders

Are you searching for a mortgage broker who specializes in bad credit history in Wigan? At Chris Smith Mortgages, Sarah Tinkler helps clients across Wigan, Standish, Aspull, and Orrell access mortgages when high street lenders refuse. Whether you're struggling with CCJs, defaults, missed payments, or other adverse credit issues, Sarah has the specialist knowledge and lender relationships to find solutions. We work with Wigan residents from all backgrounds - first-time buyers, people moving home, those remortgaging - helping them achieve their property goals despite challenging credit situations.

Understanding Adverse Credit Mortgages in Wigan

Here's a useful way to think about the mortgage market: imagine you're trying to join a members' club. The mainstream clubs (high street banks) have very strict membership criteria - one black mark on your application and you're rejected. But there are specialist clubs that understand life is complicated. They look at your full story, not just whether you tick every box. These specialist clubs (lenders) don't advertise publicly and they don't accept applications from just anyone. You need someone who knows the doorman to get in - that's what a specialist mortgage broker does.

Sarah recently helped a Wigan couple who'd been trying to buy for over a year. They'd approached five different lenders and been rejected by all of them. Each rejection made them more discouraged. When they spoke to Sarah, she quickly identified the problem - they were applying to mainstream lenders who would never accept them. The husband had an IVA from six years ago following a business failure. To high street banks, that's an automatic rejection. But Sarah knew four specialist lenders who would consider post-IVA applications, especially with a strong deposit and stable employment. Within three weeks, they had their mortgage offer and bought a house in Standish.

Common Credit Issues Facing Wigan Residents

Joint Applications Where One Person Has Credit Issues: Often one partner has perfect credit while the other has problems. This creates an interesting situation. Sometimes it's better to apply jointly and let the good credit balance the bad. Other times, it's better for the person with good credit to apply alone (if they can afford it on their income). Sarah helped a Standish couple where the wife had excellent credit but the husband had defaults. Based on their specific income and deposit, Sarah advised applying jointly, and they were approved because the lender saw them as a strong combined case.

Utility Bill Defaults: These might seem minor, but they affect mortgage applications. A young professional from Orrell contacted Sarah confused about her rejection - she had no loans, no credit cards, nothing. But she had two defaults for unpaid utility bills from when she moved house and there was confusion about final accounts. She'd paid them once she realized, but the damage was done. Sarah knew which lenders would view these as administrative errors rather than genuine financial irresponsibility. She got approved with the right lender.

Credit Builder Card Troubles: Ironically, credit builder cards designed to help people rebuild credit can sometimes cause problems. One Wigan resident got a credit builder card, used it responsibly for six months, then accidentally missed one payment when he was on holiday. That single missed payment tanked his credit score right when he was about to apply for his mortgage. Sarah knew lenders who would overlook one late payment in otherwise good behaviour, and she helped him explain the circumstances. He got his mortgage, though it delayed things by two months.

Council Tax Arrears: Falling behind on council tax can lead to court action quickly. A single parent from Aspull had council tax arrears that went to magistrates court when she was struggling after her marriage breakdown. She'd since paid everything off and caught up, but the court record remained. Sarah knew this was a common situation following life disruptions, and she found lenders who understood that context and focused on her current stability rather than that difficult period.

Why Experience Matters When Choosing a Mortgage Broker

Not all mortgage brokers handle bad credit history cases. Many focus on straightforward applications because they're quicker and easier. Adverse credit cases require specialist knowledge, patience, and strong lender relationships. It's the difference between a general practitioner and a specialist consultant - both valuable, but you need the right one for your situation.

Sarah's expertise means she knows the intricate details of each lender's criteria. For example, she knows that Lender A will accept satisfied CCJs over three years old but won't touch unsatisfied ones. Lender B will consider unsatisfied CCJs if they're under £500 and you're making payment arrangements. Lender C is strict about CCJs but flexible about defaults, while Lender D is the opposite. This granular knowledge is invaluable - it's the difference between approaching five wrong lenders and one right one.

She also understands how to present cases effectively. The same application submitted two different ways can get different results. Sarah knows what supporting information strengthens each application, what explanations lenders respond well to, and how to frame past problems as resolved issues rather than ongoing risks. This presentation skill comes from years of experience and hundreds of successful applications.

Wigan Residents' Success Stories

A healthcare worker from Wigan contacted Sarah after three mortgage rejections. She was mystified because she thought her credit was reasonable - no CCJs, no defaults, just a few late payments on a store card three years ago. When Sarah reviewed her full credit file, she found the real problem: high credit utilization. The woman was using 85% of her available credit every month (though always paying it off). To automated lending systems, this looked like someone living beyond their means. Sarah advised reducing usage to under 30% for three months before applying. Once she did this, her credit score improved by 60 points and she was approved by a mainstream lender.

A Standish resident who'd been through bankruptcy six years ago thought homeownership was still years away. He'd rebuilt his life completely - stable employment, perfect credit since discharge, saved a 25% deposit. When he spoke to Sarah, she explained that time had passed and his current behavior was more important than the old bankruptcy. She knew lenders who would consider applications from six years post-bankruptcy, especially with such a strong deposit and clean record since. He was approved and bought his first property since the bankruptcy.

The Application Process for Wigan Clients

Free Initial Discussion: Contact Sarah by phone or through the website. She'll arrange a time to discuss your situation in detail. She'll ask about your credit history, what caused any problems, your current employment and income, and what you're hoping to achieve. This conversation is completely free and confidential. There's no obligation to proceed - Sarah will tell you honestly whether she thinks she can help.

Full Credit Assessment: If you want to move forward, Sarah will review your complete credit file. She'll check all three credit reference agencies because they sometimes show different information. She'll identify exactly what issues exist, whether any can be resolved before applying, and how lenders are likely to view your situation. Sometimes people's credit is better than they feared, and sometimes quick improvements are possible.

Clear Advice and Strategy: Sarah will explain your options clearly. She'll recommend specific lenders and explain why they suit your case. She'll set realistic expectations about rates, deposits needed, and likelihood of approval. If she thinks waiting would improve your chances significantly, she'll tell you honestly. Her goal is successful applications, not rushed ones that get rejected.

Professional Application Preparation: When you're ready to apply, Sarah handles all the preparation work. She gathers documentation, completes forms accurately, and writes a comprehensive supporting statement explaining your credit history and circumstances. This preparation is crucial for adverse credit cases - how you present matters enormously.

Complete Management: Sarah submits to the chosen lender and manages everything through completion. She maintains regular contact with the lender, responds to any queries quickly, and keeps you updated throughout. When your mortgage offer arrives, she'll review it with you carefully, explaining all terms and conditions so you understand exactly what you're committing to.

Serving Wigan and Surrounding Communities

We help clients throughout Wigan including Standish, Aspull, Orrell, Pemberton, and surrounding areas. Whether you're buying near Wigan town centre, in one of the surrounding villages, or you're remortgaging to consolidate debts or get a better rate, we understand the local property market and work with lenders comfortable with all types of Greater Manchester properties.

Realistic Expectations About Rates and Deposits

Let's be straight about what to expect when seeking a mortgage broker for bad credit history. Interest rates will be higher than standard mortgages - typically between 3.5% and 6.5%, sometimes higher for very recent or very serious credit issues. This reflects the additional risk lenders are taking by accepting your application despite adverse credit. It's significantly higher than the best rates advertised, but those headline rates are for people with perfect credit and large deposits.

Deposit requirements are also larger. While perfect credit might let you borrow with 5-10% deposit, you'll likely need 15-25% with bad credit. Some very serious situations might need even more. The larger your deposit, the more lenders become available and the better terms you'll access. Think of the deposit as proof of your financial discipline and commitment.

However, here's the positive perspective: these aren't permanent terms. Once you've demonstrated 12-24 months of perfect mortgage payments, you'll have significantly rebuilt your credit score. At that point, many people remortgage to much more competitive rates. You're using a higher-rate mortgage as a stepping stone to prove your reliability, then moving to better deals once you've demonstrated you're a good borrower. It's a pathway, not a dead end.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Frequently Asked Questions From Wigan Clients

Can I get a mortgage if my credit problems were recent?

Recent credit issues are more challenging than old ones, but not impossible. Some specialist lenders will consider problems from as recently as 12 months ago, especially if you can explain what caused them and demonstrate current stability. The key is context - why did the problems happen and what's different now? Sarah will assess your specific situation honestly.

What if I disagree with something on my credit file?

Credit files do contain mistakes sometimes. If there's an error, you can dispute it with the credit reference agency, though this can take weeks or months to resolve. Sarah can often work around disputed items by providing alternative documentation to prove the information is wrong. It depends on what the error is and how significant it is to your application.

Should I use a credit repair company first?

Be very cautious with credit repair companies. Many charge significant fees for things you can do yourself (like disputing errors). Some use questionable tactics that could make things worse. Sarah can advise you on legitimate ways to improve your credit position, and you won't pay extra fees for information that should be free.

How does remortgaging with bad credit work?

If you already have a mortgage and want to remortgage (perhaps to get a better rate or to consolidate debts), the process is similar to a purchase application. Your existing payment history on your current mortgage is very important - if you've maintained perfect payments, that weighs heavily in your favour even if you have other credit issues. Sarah can review your specific situation and advise on options.

Take the First Step Toward Your Wigan Home

If bad credit is holding you back from buying a home in Wigan, don't give up. Contact Sarah for a free, honest conversation about your options. You might have more possibilities than you realize. There's no charge for the initial discussion and no pressure to proceed - just straightforward advice about whether a mortgage is realistic for your situation.

Call now: 07539 911 696

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