Adverse credit is common in companies that survived 2020–2024. Lenders know it. The question is never "do you have a perfect file" — it's "what happened, when, and what has trading looked like since". Here is how the assessment actually works.
What lenders see, and in what order
| Check | What it shows | Weight for unsecured lending |
|---|---|---|
| Companies House | Filings current? CCJs against the company? Charges registered? | Moderate |
| Director personal credit | Defaults, CCJs, IVAs on the people behind the company | High (especially under £100k) |
| Bank statements (3–6 months) | Real turnover, real balance behaviour, dishonours | Highest |
| Public insolvency registers | Bankruptcies, liquidations, administrations | Killer if recent |
The severity ladder
Roughly, from most survivable to least:
- Satisfied CCJ, older than 6–12 months — reads as a fixed problem; near-normal pricing is possible.
- Default on a settled account — similar territory if the account was ultimately settled.
- Single small unsatisfied CCJ (under ~£5k) — some lenders will still consider with strong banking.
- Recent defaults on live accounts — unsecured options narrow sharply; expect higher rates and shorter terms.
- Multiple unsatisfied CCJs or any CCJ over ~£10k — unsecured lending mostly closes; secured routes remain.
- Recent insolvency events — wait for distance and rebuild the file first.
What actually improves the odds
- Satisfy what can be satisfied and get the register updated — it moves you two rungs up the ladder.
- Clean up Companies House — overdue confirmation statements are an avoidable red flag.
- Bank statements that tell a better story — three months of clean, consistent trading since the adverse event.
- A one-paragraph explanation — what happened, why, what changed. Disclosed up front, not discovered.
- Realistic ask — a £25k facility with a clean explanation is fundable where a £150k ask on the same file isn't.
The one mistake that kills otherwise fundable deals: hiding it. Lenders find CCJs in seconds through registry searches. An explained CCJ is a story; a discovered CCJ is a character test you just failed.
What pricing to expect
With adverse credit, expect rates toward the upper end of a lender's range, shorter terms, and possibly a personal guarantee. If the trading story is genuinely strong, some lenders will price close to standard within 6–12 months of a satisfied event. Treat the first facility as a rebuild instrument: borrow the calculated need (see our working capital calculation), repay cleanly, and refinance on better terms later.
How Solvo Funding handles adverse files
We match the file to the lenders whose criteria actually fit — which means your file goes where it has a chance, not into a queue of automatic declines. £10k–£500k, secured or unsecured, no cost to apply. Tell us the full picture and we'll tell you honestly what the panel is likely to say.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a business loan with an unsatisfied CCJ?
Harder but not impossible: a single small one with strong trading since can fit some lenders. Multiple, recent, or large unsatisfied CCJs mostly close unsecured doors — secured routes remain.
Do lenders look at directors' personal credit or the company's?
Both, and for unsecured lending under ~£100k the directors' personal files often carry more weight.
Does a satisfied CCJ still count against us?
Yes, but far less — especially after six months. A satisfied CCJ reads as a fixed problem.
What should we do before applying?
Satisfy what you can and update the register, fix Companies House filings, prepare clean bank statements, and write a short factual explanation. Disclose up front.
Last updated: 22 August 2026. This is general information about how lending works, not advice about your specific circumstances; no outcome can be guaranteed.