Free tool
Difficult loan matcher
Most difficult loans have more than one problem. Tick everything that applies, tell us about security and timing, and see which alternative loan structures could fit.
How the matcher thinks
Alternative lenders don't look at difficult files the way banks do. A bank starts with a scorecard and stops at the first problem. An alternative lender starts with three questions: what supports the loan, how will it be repaid, and what's the story behind the problems?
The matcher follows the same logic. Property is the biggest single factor, because equity lets a private lender look past bad credit, tax debt and thin cash flow. Without property, cash flow in your bank statements carries the file, so problems like stacked loans or no recent income matter much more. Timing narrows the field to lenders that can move fast, and purpose points to specialist products, such as equipment finance for a machine or invoice finance for slow payers.
It then ranks the structures that most often fund that mix, explains why, and lists what to have ready. It doesn't show rates, because every difficult file is priced on its own circumstances.
What the results mean
Each suggestion is a loan structure, not a lender. Within each structure there are many lenders with different appetites, and the right one depends on details the matcher can't see: the exact credit listings, the property's location and value, the size of the tax debt, the strength of your customers. That's the part a real person handles.
| Structure | Usually suits | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Caveat loan | Urgent needs with property equity, even with bad credit | Caveat loans |
| Private second mortgage | Larger or longer needs without refinancing the home loan | Second mortgages |
| Unsecured cash-flow loan | Trading businesses with steady deposits and no property | Unsecured loans |
| Line of credit | Seasonal, lumpy or slow-paying income | Lines of credit |
| Equipment finance | Vehicles and machinery, even with a bruised file | Equipment finance |
| Invoice finance | Customers paying on 30 to 60 day terms | Invoice finance |
| Bridging loan | A gap until a sale, refinance or payment lands | Bridging |
Before you apply anywhere
If the matcher shows a fit, the next step isn't to fire off applications. Each formal application can leave an enquiry on your credit file, and a cluster of them makes the next lender more cautious. Gather six months of bank statements, ID for every director and details of any property, then make one targeted approach. Our guide on how alternative lenders read a difficult file explains what they look for.
When you're ready, start a 60-second enquiry. There's no credit check when you first enquire, your file isn't sprayed across the market, and a real person who handles difficult loans every day will call you. Please answer the form as accurately as you answered the matcher; it's how we get you to the right lender first time.
Frequently asked questions
Does the matcher check my credit?
No. It runs entirely in your browser and doesn't collect or send your details anywhere. Nothing you tick affects your credit file.
Is the result an approval?
No. It's general guidance about which loan structures commonly suit a mix of problems. Every lender makes its own decision after assessing the full file.
Why does owning property change the result so much?
Property equity lets private lenders look past credit, tax and cash flow problems, because the property secures the loan. Without property, lenders rely on your bank statements, so cash flow and conduct matter more.
What if none of the options fit?
Tell us about it anyway. Some combinations need a guarantor, a different structure or a staged plan, and a real person can often find a route the matcher can't.
Why doesn't the matcher show interest rates?
Because every difficult file is priced on its own circumstances. A number on a web page would mislead more people than it helped. Compare actual offers in total dollars instead.
Found a likely fit? Let's make it real.
One short enquiry, no credit check when you first enquire, and a real person who calls you back with options that fit.
No credit check to enquire
Not sprayed around
A real person on your file