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Coventry, a city with a population of 345,300 (ONS Census 2021), is home to an estimated 32,631 drivers who may have been affected by motor finance mis-selling from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. This figure is calculated using ONS Census 2021 population data and FCA estimates.
How Motor Finance Mis-Selling Affected Coventry
Motor finance agreements, such as
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP), were widely sold through local dealerships in Coventry. Dealership groups like Sytner Coventry, Pendragon Coventry, Listers Group Coventry, and John Clark Motor Group Coventry facilitated these sales. Major lenders operating in the area include
Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group),
MotoNovo Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, and
[Alphera](https://mlj.org.uk/lenders/alphera-financial-services) Financial Services (BMW).
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) conducted a thorough investigation into motor finance mis-selling. It discovered that lenders offered
discretionary commission arrangements to dealerships, which incentivised the sale of more expensive deals. This led to 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) being affected across the UK during the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024 (FCA estimate). The total mis-selling amounted to £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026).
How Coventry Residents Can Check Their Finance Agreements
Coventry residents who suspect they may have been affected can review their finance agreements for specific indicators of mis-selling. Key dates to check are from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, as these fall within the FCA investigation timeframe. Gather documents such as contracts, payment schedules, and any correspondence with your lender or dealership. If you notice discrepancies or unusually high costs, it may indicate a potential case of mis-selling.
Coventry residents can complain directly to their lenders without needing the assistance of a
claims management company. Major lenders such as Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group), MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, and Alphera Financial Services (BMW) all have dedicated customer service teams who handle complaints free of charge. "You can complain directly to your lender for free" and "You do not need a claims management company."
If your complaint is not resolved by the lender or you feel it has been handled unfairly, you can escalate the matter to the
Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS) at no cost. The FOS provides an independent review of financial disputes.
Sources and References
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 2024
Car Finance Compensation in Your Area
The FCA confirmed that 12.1 million motor finance agreements across the UK qualify for compensation. The FCA-estimated scheme average of £829 per eligible agreement per agreement, totalling £7.5 billion in redress. If you took out PCP or HP car finance between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024, your agreement may be eligible regardless of where you live in the UK.
The final deadline to complain is 31 August 2027. You can complain to your lender directly for free. You do not need a claims management company.