CCJ or default? You're not finished.

A CCJ or default doesn't mean game over for your mortgage.

If your bank has said no — or you're worried they will — we work with the lenders who specialise in adverse credit. No judgement. No jargon. Just a free, honest chat about what's possible for you.

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First — let's clear up the biggest confusion we hear.

People ring us asking about "their CCJ" when what they actually have is a default. Or vice versa. The two sit on your credit file and both come from missed payments — but lenders treat them very differently. Here's the difference, plain and simple:

A Default

  • Registered by your lender (not a court)
  • Triggered after several missed payments
  • Stays on your credit file for 6 years
  • Can be satisfied (paid) at any time
  • Many specialist lenders accept these

A CCJ

  • A County Court Judgment — a court order
  • Issued when a creditor takes you to court
  • Stays for 6 years from judgment date
  • Removed from public registers if paid in 30 days
  • Treated more seriously, but not a dead end

The right next move depends on which one you have, when it was registered, what it was for, and your overall position now. That's the bit we're here to help you work out. For deeper context, read our guide to CCJs vs defaults.

So can you actually get a mortgage with one?

In most cases — yes. The high-street banks tend to use rigid credit-scoring systems, which is why they say no. But there's a whole layer of specialist lenders behind brokers like us who underwrite the human story, not just the score.

What lenders actually want to know

How recent the CCJ or default was. How much it was for. What caused it — was it a one-off life event, or a pattern? Is it satisfied (paid)? And where you are now — your deposit, income, and how the rest of your credit file looks.

If your adverse credit is older, lower in value, satisfied, and you've got a reasonable deposit — your options are often surprisingly broad. Even very recent or unsatisfied CCJs can still find a home with the right lender. We just need to chat to figure out which lane you're in. If you've already been declined for a mortgage, that doesn't change the answer — but it does mean we want to be careful about your next move.

How it works — four simple steps

No paperwork before you've even spoken to a human. No automated form sucking your details into a black hole.

1

Free phone chat

Tell Chris what's on your file and what you're trying to do. No judgement, no obligation.

2

Honest answer

You'll get a straight answer about whether it's possible, with which lender, and roughly when.

3

Lender match

We pick the lender most likely to say yes first time — protecting your credit file from unnecessary searches.

4

Hand-held to completion

We package, submit, and chase. You stay updated. No silent weeks.

Quick answers to the questions we get most

Should I pay off my CCJ before I apply?
It often helps — but not always, and not always immediately. Some lenders prefer satisfied CCJs; others don't penalise unsatisfied ones nearly as much as people assume. The wrong move at the wrong time can hurt more than help. Worth a 10-minute call before you do anything. Read our full CCJ vs default mortgage guide.
How recent is too recent?
There are lenders who'll consider defaults registered in the last 6–12 months and CCJs from the last 12–24 months — depending on amount, type, and your deposit. The newer it is, the more it tends to affect rates and deposit requirements, but it rarely closes every door.
What deposit will I need?
Adverse-credit lenders typically want 10% to 25% deposit, depending on how serious the credit issue is and how recent. Try our how much can I borrow calculator for a starting estimate.
Will you do a credit check that damages my file?
No. The initial chat is just a chat. We only do a hard search when you're ready to make a formal application — and only with the lender most likely to say yes.
I've been declined elsewhere — does that make it worse?
Not necessarily, but it does mean we want to be careful about your next move. Each application leaves a footprint. Tell us where you've already tried and we'll route you somewhere different. More on what to do after a decline.
What areas do you cover?
We're based in Leigh and work right across Greater Manchester — Bolton, Wigan, Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley and surrounding areas.

Related guides & pages

Blog CCJs vs Defaults Explained Blog Can You Get a Mortgage With Both? Help Already Been Declined? Service Bad Credit Mortgages Service Bad Credit Remortgages Service Secured Loans (Bad Credit)

Turned down? Turn to us.

One call. Honest answer. No pressure, no judgement, and no fee for finding out where you stand.

Call Chris on 07359 911 696
Call now — 07359 911 696
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