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Adverse Credit Asset Finance
Adverse credit doesn't have to mean no finance
CCJs, defaults, and a limited trading history don't automatically close the door on asset finance. Sorbus has a panel of 150+ lenders, including specialist providers — with a soft search first, so checking your options does not involve a hard footprint on your business's credit file.
Soft search first
We check your options with a soft search — no credit file footprint until you say go.
Named adviser every time
Lewis or Arran review your case personally. No automated decline, no call centre.
150+ lenders on panel
Including adverse-credit specialists that banks and single-lender brokers may not offer.
The truth about adverse credit
Most adverse credit stories are more nuanced than a score suggests
A credit score is a snapshot, not a verdict. A satisfied CCJ from three years ago, a single missed payment during a difficult trading period, or a company with limited history because it's new — none of these automatically prevent asset finance.
What matters to specialist lenders is the complete picture: how long the business has been trading, whether turnover is stable or growing, whether the director has relevant industry experience, and whether the asset being financed provides adequate security.
Sorbus Finance presents every case to lenders in full context — not as a score on a system — because we know which lenders look past the headline number and which don't.
CCJ on file
Satisfied CCJs, especially older ones, are often acceptable. Even unsatisfied CCJs have specialist lenders willing to consider the full picture.
Defaults or missed payments
A historical default on an otherwise clean recent record is treated differently from ongoing missed payments. Pattern matters more than incidents.
Limited trading history
Newer businesses can still access finance — lenders look at the director's sector experience, personal credit, and the strength of the asset.
Previously declined elsewhere
A bank's decline reflects that bank's appetite, not the market's. Specialist lenders on our panel exist specifically for cases mainstream lenders pass on.
Lender criteria
What lenders actually look at
Specialist lenders consider far more than a credit score. Here are the factors that carry most weight.
Trading history
How long the business has operated and whether it has been trading through the adverse credit period or before it.
Turnover and affordability
Can the business comfortably service the monthly payments from its regular income? A profitable business with a historic CCJ is very different from one that is currently struggling.
Director experience
Experience in the relevant sector often reassures lenders — an experienced operator is lower risk than an untested one, regardless of the company's age.
The asset itself
A hard asset — a van, plant machinery, or specialist equipment — provides security for the lender. The stronger the asset's resale value, the more flexible lenders tend to be.
Deposit size
A meaningful deposit reduces the lender's risk and can open doors that would otherwise be closed. Even a 10–20% deposit materially improves prospects.
Nature and age of adverse credit
A single satisfied CCJ from three years ago is treated very differently from multiple unsatisfied defaults in the past six months. Lenders weigh both the severity and the recency.
How it works
The soft-search process, step by step
From your first call to funds in your account — and no hard credit footprint until you've made an informed decision.
01
Free case review
You speak with Lewis or Arran, who will review your trading history, the asset you need, and your credit position — completely free, with no obligation and no credit check at this stage.
02
Soft search across the panel
We run a soft search with relevant lenders from our panel of 150+. This is not visible to other lenders and does not leave a hard-search footprint on your credit file.
03
Lender options presented
We identify the lenders most likely to approve your application and present you with the available options, rates, and structures — explained in plain English, not finance jargon.
04
Application submitted (with your consent)
Once you're happy to proceed with a specific lender, we submit a full application on your behalf. We will always tell you before any hard credit search is made.
05
Decision and documentation
Our in-house documentation team handles the paperwork and chases lenders on your behalf. For straightforward deals, decisions can come back within 24–48 hours.
Assets we finance
Commonly financed with adverse credit
Hard assets with strong resale value typically attract more lender interest — which works in your favour.
Commercial Vehicles & Vans
Panel vans, HGVs, flatbeds, refrigerated vehicles, curtainsiders, tippers
Plant & Machinery
Excavators, diggers, forklifts, agricultural machinery, manufacturing equipment, printing presses
Specialist Equipment
Medical and dental equipment, catering equipment, renewable energy installations, IT and telecoms hardware
Why Sorbus over a single-lender broker?
The difference between an independent broker and a lender's own broker
Named adviser, not an algorithm
Lewis and Arran read every file personally. A human being decides how to present your case — not a credit-scoring engine that returns a binary yes/no.
A panel of 150+ lenders, including adverse specialists
Close Brothers Direct, for example, has one credit appetite. When that appetite doesn't match your profile, they decline. Our panel includes specialist lenders that consider adverse-credit cases.
Soft search protects your file
Many lenders run a hard search before declining, which can make the next application harder. Our soft-search-first approach means you find out what's available before any hard footprint is made.
No upfront fees
We are paid by the lender on completion. If we don't place your deal, we don't get paid — which means we only recommend applications we genuinely believe will succeed.
Enquire about Adverse Credit Asset Finance
Get your personalised quote
Send us your details and one of our advisers will call you back, usually within one business day. No obligation, no credit check.
Prefer to call?
Speak directly to an adviser Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm.
01246 383500Free call. No obligation.
Unique to Sorbus Finance
Business Finance Health Check
Not sure where you stand? Our free Finance Health Check scores your lending readiness and identifies any credit or financial gaps before you approach lenders.
Run your free Health CheckFree · No credit check · Instant results
Email us anytime
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Adverse credit asset finance — your questions answered
Common questions from business owners who've been declined elsewhere or are worried about their credit.
Check your options — without touching your credit file
Soft search first. No obligation. Named adviser on every case.