How a first-time buyer in Manchester got a mortgage despite three County Court Judgments on her credit file.
Sarah came to Darryl in early 2026 feeling hopeless. She was 34, a care worker in Manchester, and had been trying to buy her first home for two years. She had three CCJs on her credit file — two from a catalogue debt totalling £890 that spiralled during the pandemic, and one from a mobile phone contract dispute for £340. All three were now satisfied, but they were only 18 months old. Halifax had declined her outright. Nationwide said no. She'd tried an online mortgage broker who told her she'd need to wait three years. She found The Mortgage Geezer after searching online at 10pm on a Thursday night and sent a WhatsApp message not expecting much.
Three CCJs within the last two years is a significant hurdle. Most high street lenders won't consider any application with a CCJ under three years old, regardless of the amounts involved. The automated scoring systems that banks use simply flag and reject — they never look at the circumstances. Sarah's income was also unusual — she worked two part-time care jobs rather than one full-time position, which made some lenders nervous even though her combined income was £31,000 a year.
Darryl reviewed Sarah's full credit file and immediately identified that all three CCJs were satisfied, the amounts were relatively small, and the circumstances were explainable. He knew exactly which specialist lenders would look at this case individually rather than reject it through an automated system. He approached Pepper Money, a specialist adverse credit lender not available on comparison sites, and presented Sarah's case with a full explanation of the circumstances behind each CCJ. Pepper Money's underwriters reviewed the application manually.
Mortgage offer received within 6 weeks. Sarah purchased a 2-bedroom flat in Salford for £167,000 with a 10% deposit. Rate: 5.89% fixed for 2 years. She's now a homeowner.
"I genuinely thought it was impossible. Every bank said no and I'd given up. Darryl not only found me a lender but explained everything clearly throughout. I couldn't believe it when the offer came through."
— Sarah T., ManchesterDarryl reviews every enquiry personally and responds within 2 hours. Free assessment — no credit search, no obligation.
Related guides
This case study is based on a real client scenario and has been anonymised to protect client privacy. Names, locations and some details have been changed. Outcomes shown are not guaranteed — mortgage approval depends on individual circumstances, lender criteria and affordability assessment. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Darryl Dhoffer is an appointed representative of Access Financial Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority — FCA No. 301173. Registered in England No. 04427489.