HGV Finance With a CCJ - What Lenders Consider
When an HGV finance application shows a County Court Judgement on the business or its directors, lenders assess: how large the CCJ is relative to the finance amount; whether it is satisfied (paid) or unsatisfied; how old it is (recent CCJs are more concerning); whether there is a pattern of adverse marks or an isolated incident; and the current trading performance that suggests the problem has been resolved.
Satisfied vs Unsatisfied CCJs
A satisfied CCJ (marked as paid at the court) from more than 12 months ago is viewed very differently to a fresh, unsatisfied one. Many lenders who would decline an unsatisfied CCJ will consider a satisfied one, especially with a reasonable explanation and a strong current trading position. A letter from a solicitor confirming satisfaction and the circumstances helps significantly.
Lenders Who Consider CCJ Applications
Close Brothers Asset Finance is the most consistently flexible mainstream lender for HGV applications with adverse credit. They underwrite manually rather than through automated scoring, so individual circumstances are genuinely considered. United Trust Bank is another option for complex adverse credit cases. Several smaller specialist asset finance houses also write CCJ business.
What You Need to Improve Approval Chances
- Larger deposit - 25–35% significantly reduces lender risk
- Clear explanation of the CCJ - was it a supplier dispute? A one-off cash flow crisis?
- Strong current trading - management accounts showing the business is now profitable
- Clean payment history for 12+ months since the adverse mark
- Apply through a specialist broker who knows which lenders are actively writing CCJ business
Rates for CCJ HGV Finance
Expect rates of 12–20% APR for CCJ cases, compared to 6.5–9% for clean credit applications. The total additional cost of a CCJ premium over a 5-year term on a £100,000 HGV can be £15,000–£25,000 compared to a clean credit deal. This underlines the value of rebuilding your credit profile and applying with clean credit where possible.