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If you are self employed or cannot prove your income, it's crucial to make sure that your mortgage broker is on the level and will only give you a fair and wholly legitimate deal.

Cartel Client Review, a claims management firm has warned that the misselling of self cert mortgages has been rife for years and more claims against dodgy mortgage brokers will prove that.

Carl Wright, managing director of Cartel, says: "Once again the authorities are not publicly acknowledging the problem. But this is yet another hornets nest which, once stirred, is going to sting the reputation of the financial services industry as a result of governance shortcomings."

This is a fair concern, especially if those who cannot prove their income find that they cannot afford their mortgage a few years down the line. Some brokers will have convinced borrowers to falsify income claims to get a bigger mortgage and get a bigger fee for the broker.

If you are concerned that you may be cajoled into a mortgage that you can't afford, you have to make sure your broker is legitimate. The first thing to check is that he or she has approval from the Financial Services Authority. This is the Government's financial services watchdog, who makes sure that mortgages are sold properly. They test all brokers' systems and regulations to make sure they are not inappropriately selling mortgages.

But even if they have an FSA seal of approval, it might not be enough. Do your research – look at client testimonies, talk to people who are already using the broker and ask the broker as many probing and pertinent questions as you can think of. A good broker will be more than happy to assure any self cert borrower that they will be able to source a good affordable mortgage fairly.

SOURCE: Cartel Client Review, 24/02/09

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