Hi Aldinho,

Are you looking for a joint loan then? If you are or not, the best place to start would be by obtaining copies of credit reports for whichever of you both is applying. There are 3 main credit rating companies, however if you go to Credit Expert you can get a free copy of your Experian report (you sign up for a 30-day trial, get a PIN through the post to view it online), and then don't forget to cancel before the free period expires!), the other 2 agencies you need to pay for. This will solve any uncertainty with regards to your credit ratings and leave you under no illusions as to your file.

The worst thing you could do would be to apply to somewhere you'd have otherwise known would decline you, as if you start collecting rejections on your file this will worsen your plight. Have you tried the Smartsearch facility on this website, which will pick out a loan provider for you according to your criteria? If you're looking to pay off in a short period of time, perhaps consider a flexible loan? I got one to consolidate my debts, and it means I can pay off extra each month if I want, rather than ambitiously committing myself to a high figure each month just to keep the term down. You don't want to stretch to the top of your budget, I've done it before, in my haste to end up debt-free quicker, made commitments I've struggled to keep.

Hope this has helped you to start off, I'm sure a few others will offer their knowledge too, but good luck, and remember to cut up the cards as well!