PCP car finance with late credit card payment - any recommendations or advice?

ReturningDebtFreeWannabe

My car lease with Lings Cars is up next year and last week I applied for another car with them. I was rejected by whoever finance company it was.
I did have one default on my credit file that was removed (thanks to support from this forum).
The issues with my credit file, which the colleague at Lings is saying caused the decline is that 3 years ago and 4 years ago respectively I had one missed payment (3 years ago) on a credit card and three late payments (4 years ago) on my 2nd credit card.
The colleague advised me that until these dropped off I wouldn't be able to lease a car. This seems a little implausible as I kind of think that a lot of people must be late at some time?! I rely on a decent car for work and am now panicking about where to turn. Has anyone got any recommendations of companies or advice? I am looking for a new lease car as opposed to buying with a personal loan. Ford or Land Rover.
Thanks for your time x

Grumpy_chap

Lings cars look rather unconventional as a business, so much so that I cannot understand their business.

Your choice of cars is quite disparate - Ford and Land Rover are very different.

Are you looking for a lease specifically, or do you mean PCP finance?

Have you investigated conventional finance routes, e.g. dealer finance?

gizmo111

I recently enquired with Lings and got turned down.  Went to Vauxhall direct and got a great deal and finance from them on a pre-registered 20 plate with 4 miles on the clock.  I have a old account on my credit file which is showing that I have been 6 months in arrears since 2012 - (battling with the company that it should have been defaulted in 2012 as they got a CCJ on it! ) and had the car within 4 days of enquiring.  Be worth trying the dealer direct.

ReturningDebtFreeWannabe

Thank you both... I'll try the dealers direct. I just thought it odd that an employee would be say 'no chance' with really old 'issues' like that?! gizmo111 said:

I recently enquired with Lings and got turned down.  Went to Vauxhall direct and got a great deal and finance from them on a pre-registered 20 plate with 4 miles on the clock.  I have a old account on my credit file which is showing that I have been 6 months in arrears since 2012 - (battling with the company that it should have been defaulted in 2012 as they got a CCJ on it! ) and had the car within 4 days of enquiring.  Be worth trying the dealer direct.

Gizmo - keep at it! I finally got mine removed... delays due to people being furloughed and working from home. Mine was with Lloyds Bank and when they called to say they were removing it, even gave me a small amount for inconvenience.

ReturningDebtFreeWannabe

Grumpy_chap said:

Lings cars look rather unconventional as a business, so much so that I cannot understand their business.

Your choice of cars is quite disparate - Ford and Land Rover are very different.

Are you looking for a lease specifically, or do you mean PCP finance?

Have you investigated conventional finance routes, e.g. dealer finance?

I know these cars are super different! Just trying to work out if I need to keep a larger vehicle or can go for a smaller one like a Ford Puma. 
I was specifically looking for a lease as I thought it would be easier to get... as you're essentially just renting it? 

gizmo111

I got a Vauxhall Crossland -  absolutely love it, lots of room, economical and is a very comfortable drive, especially on long journeys.  I hired one for a few days to see if I liked it before committing.  I paid just under £13,000, finance at 4.9%, new they are about £18,000 but this had just 4 miles on the clock ...so was an absolute bargain.  And they took my old wreck in part exchange!!  Its worth shopping around as I have always been a Ford person and was thinking that would be where I would stay.