The Mortgage Geezer is a trading style of Access Financial Services Ltd · FCA No. 301173 · Registered in England No. 04427489
Bad credit. Self-employed. Complex case. Whatever your situation — Darryl Dhoffer finds mortgages for people the high street turns away. Free assessment. No credit search. Responds within 2 hours.
No credit search · No obligation · Responds within 2 hours
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🎯 Check Your Geezer Score First100% private · No contact required · 2 minutes
The stigma around bad credit is overwhelming. I speak to people every week who've been told — by a bank, a forum, a well-meaning friend — that a CCJ or a default means it's simply over for them. So they don't even try. They assume the answer is no before anyone's actually looked at their situation.
That fear stops good people from ever picking up the phone. I built the Geezer Score to remove that first, hardest step — a completely private way to see where you actually stand, with no commitment, no credit search, and nobody to talk to until you're ready.
It won't replace a proper conversation — but it might be the thing that gives you the confidence to have one. Check it, see it in black and white, and decide for yourself what happens next.
🎯 Check Your Geezer Score — Free & PrivateNot just advice — access to lenders and criteria you cannot reach on your own.
Because high street banks decline automatically. Their systems flag a CCJ, default, IVA or missed payment and reject the application before a human ever looks at it — regardless of your income, your deposit or how long ago the issue happened. A bad credit mortgage broker works with the specialist lenders who assess manually, and knows which of them will actually say yes to your specific situation before you apply. Applying direct and getting declined leaves a mark on your file that makes the next attempt harder — the right broker prevents that mistake.
A poor credit mortgage broker reads your actual credit file — not just the headline score — and matches the age, type and amount of every issue against real, published lender criteria. Pepper Money, Kensington, Aldermore, Bluestone and Vida all have different, specific thresholds for CCJs, defaults, IVAs and DMPs; getting matched to the wrong one wastes a hard search and damages your file further. Darryl checks live criteria for every case before any application is submitted, then packages your application with the context an automated system would miss — what happened, when, and what has changed since.
Most specialist adverse credit lenders — including Kensington, Bluestone and Vida — are broker-only and simply are not available direct to the public. Even where a direct route exists, you would need to independently know which lender's specific criteria fits a CCJ from 8 months ago versus a default from 3 years ago versus an active DMP, then apply blind. A broker who works with 65+ lenders daily already has that answer.
The advice itself is free — Darryl does not charge until you have a mortgage offer. What you pay is the lender's own rate, which reflects your credit profile whether you use a broker or not. The real cost of not using a specialist broker is a declined application on your file from applying to the wrong lender, which then makes the next attempt harder and can push you into a worse rate tier than the one you actually qualified for.
Free assessment. No credit search. No obligation. Responds within 2 hours.
No credit search. No obligation. No jargon. Just clear, honest advice.
WhatsApp, call or fill in the free assessment form. No forms to fill in before speaking to a real person. Darryl responds personally within 2 hours.
You send documents via an encrypted link — ID, payslips, bank statements and credit report — while Darryl searches the whole specialist market, including lenders you can't access directly.
We handle everything — paperwork, lender communication, chasing solicitors. You just wait for the offer. Most clients are amazed it was this straightforward.
Already been declined? That's exactly who we help.
Whatever your circumstances — good credit, bad credit, self-employed, buying your first home or your fifth — The Mortgage Geezer has the expertise and lender access to find you the right deal.
Straight-talking Darryl Dhoffer has been in the mortgage industry since 2004 and advising people on the best way to finance their home since 2015. Known for his no-nonsense approach and genuine care for his clients, Darryl has helped over 4,000 people get the mortgage they deserve.
Whether you're a first-time buyer nervous about your first step onto the ladder, someone with a tricky credit history, or a seasoned property investor — Darryl has seen it all and knows how to help.
When he's not securing great deals for clients, Darryl can be found dispensing mortgage wisdom to his growing TikTok audience — helping a new generation understand mortgages without the jargon.
Quick estimates to help you understand what might be possible — based on specialist lender criteria, not high street banks.
Based on specialist lender criteria — not high street banks. These figures assume no monthly unsecured commitments such as loans or credit cards.
Estimates only. Your actual mortgage depends on your full credit profile, income and lender criteria.
Don't take our word for it — here's what real clients say about working with Darryl. 5.0 stars across 48 verified Google reviews. Individual results may vary.
"Couldn’t recommend Darryl, “The Mortgage Geezer”, enough!! He was absolutely brilliant from start to finish and made the whole mortgage process so much easier than I expected. He was always available when I had questions, explained everything clearly and never made me feel like I was asking a stupid question. He genuinely went above and beyond to get everything sorted and I always felt like he had my best interests at heart. We had tried to get a mortgage 3 times previously with other advisors/brokers and Darryl is the only one that put the time and effort into achieving this for us."
"Excellent service from start to finish. Darryl was extremely responsive throughout, always replying quickly to questions and keeping me updated at every stage. His communication was clear and easy to understand, even with the more technical parts of the mortgage process. Darryl worked hard to find the right options for my situation and made the whole process feel straightforward and stress-free. Would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a mortgage broker."
"Darryl has been excellent every step of the way to getting our mortgage. Everything has been a breeze. He also arranged our insurances which I wasn't expecting. I highly recommend Darryl."
"Darryl has been great and very informative. His response times are really good and the new customer portal is really nice to use, tools that you can't get elsewhere!"
"Darryl has been so helpful guiding us through our new mortgage. Thank you for being so efficient and responsive throughout the process. Highly recommend The Mortgage Geezer!"
"Darryl was absolutely amazing from the first phone-call to the very quick mortgage offer! As first-time buyers who weren't even sure we could get a mortgage, this actually feels like nothing short of a miracle! Darryl found us a much better rate with a high street lender after another broker incorrectly told us we needed a specialist lender. Darryl explained everything clearly and was reassuring during the whole process. He was also extremely quick to reply to any queries and put our mind at ease that we would be successful. We would absolutely recommend him and use his services again. 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩"
"Darryl has been sorting my mortgage out for years now, always honest, professional and just a great guy to work with. Will always get back to you promptly and do his utmost to sort out the best deals. I'd give more stars if I could!"
"Unbelievably good experience with Darryl. From start to finish everything was so smooth, so easy all the way to mortgage offer. One quick call, easy upload of documents, and our mortgage was sorted. Can't recommend highly enough."
"I cannot speak highly enough of Darryl. After approaching him with what I thought was a tricky case, he immediately put my nerves at ease. Within a few weeks he had secured us a deal and we are now waiting to move into our forever home."
The questions we get asked most often — answered honestly and in plain English by Darryl.
Based in Bedford, we advise clients online and over the phone nationwide. We have particular experience serving Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes.
Book your free, no-obligation call with Darryl today. No jargon, no pressure, just straight-talking mortgage advice.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP YOUR REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER LOAN SECURED AGAINST IT. This page is for general information only and does not constitute regulated financial advice. The Mortgage Geezer is a trading style of Access Financial Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Services Register number is 301173. Registered in England No. 04427489. Registered office address Access Financial Services Ltd, Unit 1 Furtho Court, Towcester Road, Old Stratford, Milton Keynes, MK19 6AN.
Moving to a new home? We'll help you port your existing mortgage or find a better deal — and make the whole process as smooth as possible.
When you move home you have two main options — port your existing mortgage to the new property, or take out a brand new mortgage. We'll compare both options and advise on which makes more financial sense for your specific situation.
Porting means moving your existing mortgage to your new property. This can avoid early repayment charges — but it's not always the best option. We'll compare the cost of porting versus the cost of taking a new mortgage (including any ERCs) and advise on the most cost-effective approach.
Darryl's Tip: Don't assume porting is automatically the right move — sometimes paying an early repayment charge and switching to a much better rate saves more money in the long run. We run the numbers so you don't have to.
Book your free call with Darryl and get expert advice on your home mover mortgage.
The terms under which The Mortgage Geezer provides mortgage and insurance advice and services.
The Mortgage Geezer is a trading style of Access Financial Services which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register number is 301173. You can check this on the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk or by contacting the FCA on 0800 111 6768.
Insurance: We offer products from a range of insurers for non-investment contracts, such as Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection and Family Protection Plans. We will advise and make a recommendation to you after we have assessed your insurance needs.
Mortgages: We offer a comprehensive range of mortgages from across the market, but not deals that you can only obtain by going direct to a lender. We will advise and make a recommendation to you on residential mortgages, second charge, further advances, unsecured lending and consumer buy-to-lets, after we have assessed your needs.
Alternative Finance Options: We provide advice on second charge regulated mortgages and unsecured lending such as personal loans, and will take into account all options available before making a recommendation.
Insurance: We do not charge a fee for our insurance service — we are paid commission from the insurer. You will receive a quotation detailing any other fees relating to the insurance policy.
Mortgages: We will charge a fee of £750 to £995 depending on the complexity of your case. This fee is only payable once your mortgage has been agreed and offered by the lender — not upfront, and not if your application is unsuccessful. We will also receive commission from the lender. You will receive a European Standardised Information Sheet (ESIS) when considering a particular mortgage, which will detail any fees and the actual commission we will receive.
We have a full complaints handling procedure. If you wish to make a complaint, please contact us in writing, by email or by telephone. If you cannot settle your complaint with us, you may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service at financial-ombudsman.org.uk.
We are covered by the FSCS. You may be entitled to compensation from the scheme if we cannot meet our obligations. Insurance advising and arranging is covered for 90% of the claim without any upper limit. Mortgage advising and arranging is covered up to a maximum limit of £85,000.
We have a vulnerable clients policy to ensure we provide appropriate support and adjust our services where necessary.
The Mortgage Geezer, Unit 1 Furtho Court, Towcester Road, Old Stratford, Milton Keynes, MK19 6AN
Tel: 01234 237321 · Email: contact@themortgagegeezer.co.uk
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How to make a complaint and what to expect from us.
We take all complaints seriously and aim to resolve them as quickly as possible. If you wish to make a complaint, please contact us using any of the following methods:
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may be entitled to refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) free of charge. The FOS can be contacted at:
All our compliance and regulatory documents available to download in PDF format — fully branded and compliant.
Know someone who needs mortgage advice? Send them Darryl's way — and we'll say thank you with a reward when their mortgage completes.
Fill in the details below and Darryl will be in touch with your friend directly.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP YOUR REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER LOAN SECURED AGAINST IT. This page is for general information only and does not constitute regulated financial advice. The Mortgage Geezer is a trading style of Access Financial Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Services Register number is 301173. Registered in England No. 04427489. Registered office address Access Financial Services Ltd, Unit 1 Furtho Court, Towcester Road, Old Stratford, Milton Keynes, MK19 6AN.
Plain English guides on everything you need to know about mortgages — written by Darryl from 20+ years of experience in the industry.
Book a free call with Darryl — he'll answer your mortgage questions in plain English, no obligation.
How much stamp duty will you pay? Darryl explains the current thresholds, rates and when you may be exempt.
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax you pay when you buy a property in England or Northern Ireland. In Scotland it is called Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and in Wales it is Land Transaction Tax (LTT). Stamp duty is payable on completion and is handled by your solicitor.
Rates effective from 1 April 2025 — unchanged in 2026. Source: HMRC.
| Property Value | Standard Rate | First Time Buyer Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% | 0% |
| £125,001 – £250,000 | 2% | 0% (up to £300,000) |
| £250,001 – £300,000 | 5% | 0% (up to £300,000) |
| £300,001 – £500,000 | 5% | 5% (on portion above £300,000) |
| £500,001 – £925,000 | 5% | Standard rates apply (no relief) |
| £925,001 – £1,500,000 | 10% | Standard rates apply |
| Over £1,500,000 | 12% | Standard rates apply |
Stamp duty is applied to the portion of the price within each band — not the whole price. First-time buyer relief applies only on properties up to £500,000. Both buyers must be first-time buyers if purchasing jointly.
If you already own a property and are buying an additional one — including buy-to-let purchases — a 5% surcharge is added to all standard rates at every band. This surcharge was increased from 3% to 5% in the October 2024 Autumn Budget and applies to all completions from 31 October 2024 onwards.
Use our free Stamp Duty calculator on the TMG Hub to work out exactly what you'll pay based on the purchase price and your buyer status.
Stamp duty is paid on completion — your solicitor handles the payment and it comes out of the funds on the day you legally complete the purchase. It must be paid within 14 days of completion.
Darryl's Tip: Don't forget to factor stamp duty into your total buying budget. On a £300,000 property as a home mover, you'd pay £3,500 in stamp duty (2% on £125k–£250k = £2,500 + 5% on £250k–£300k = £2,500, minus the 0% band). As a first-time buyer on the same property you'd pay £0. As a BTL purchase, the 5% surcharge adds significantly to the total. Make sure your solicitor has quoted for this.
Book a free call with Darryl to work out exactly what you can afford including all the buying costs.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP YOUR REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER LOAN SECURED AGAINST IT. This page is for general information only and does not constitute regulated financial advice. The Mortgage Geezer is a trading style of Access Financial Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Services Register number is 301173. Registered in England No. 04427489. Registered office address Access Financial Services Ltd, Unit 1 Furtho Court, Towcester Road, Old Stratford, Milton Keynes, MK19 6AN.
Can you get a mortgage with no deposit? In certain circumstances — yes. Darryl explains all your options for getting on the ladder with zero or minimal deposit in 2026.
Skipton Building Society offers a 100% mortgage for renters who can demonstrate a track record of paying rent on time for at least 12 months. No deposit required. The maximum loan is capped at the equivalent of your current rent payments. Clean credit history required — speak to Darryl for current eligibility criteria.
Barclays and some other lenders offer Family Springboard products where a family member places 10% of the purchase price in a savings account as security. The buyer borrows 100% of the property value. After typically 3 years of on-time payments, the family member gets their savings back with interest.
If you are a council tenant, your Right to Buy discount can be used as your deposit. See our dedicated Right to Buy page for full details.
If a family member is willing to gift you your deposit, this is accepted by most lenders. The gift must be genuinely non-repayable — lenders require a signed gifted deposit letter confirming it is not a loan.
With Shared Ownership you only need a 5% deposit based on your share of the property — not the full value. This makes it one of the most accessible routes onto the property ladder for those with minimal savings.
Honest Assessment: 100% mortgages come with higher rates and stricter criteria. In most cases, saving even a 5% deposit will significantly improve your options and rates. Darryl will always give you an honest picture of what makes financial sense.
Book a free call with Darryl to explore all your options and find the best route for your situation.