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Lisburn and Castlereagh, a district in Northern Ireland with a population of 146,000 (ONS Census 2021), has been significantly affected by motor finance mis-selling. An estimated 13,797 drivers within this area may have been impacted by unfair financial practices between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024 (calculated using ONS Census 2021 population data and FCA estimates).
How Motor Finance Mis-selling Affected Lisburn and Castlereagh
Local dealerships in Lisburn and Castlereagh, such as Charles Hurst Lisburn, Donnelly Group Lisburn, Shelbourne Motors Lisburn, and JC Halliday Lisburn, have been involved in the sale of
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) agreements. These dealerships often partnered with major lenders to facilitate these financial products for their customers.
The major lenders operating within Lisburn and Castlereagh 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). These lenders provided finance options that might have been mis-sold to unsuspecting consumers.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into motor finance practices, uncovering widespread issues with
discretionary commission arrangements. This led to the identification of 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) by unfair sales practices across the UK (FCA estimate). These mis-selling practices resulted in £7.5 billion in total losses for consumers, with the average individual loss estimated at £829 (FCA estimate).
The investigation highlighted that dealers and lenders often received undisclosed commissions when customers took out finance through them, leading to higher costs for borrowers without their knowledge.
How Lisburn and Castlereagh Residents Can Check Their Finance Agreements
Residents of Lisburn and Castlereagh can check if they were affected by motor finance mis-selling by reviewing their finance agreements carefully. Here’s what to look for:
1.
Dates: Any agreement issued between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024 is potentially affected.
2.
Dealership Involvement: Review the dealership involved in your transaction, such as Charles Hurst Lisburn or Donnelly Group Lisburn.
3.
Finance Provider: Identify the lender that provided the finance agreement, such as Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group) or Close Brothers Motor Finance.
4.
Documentation: Gather all documents related to your purchase and financing, including contracts, invoices, and correspondence with the dealership.
By reviewing these details, you can determine whether there were any hidden fees or undisclosed commissions that may have increased your finance costs without your knowledge.
If you suspect that you were mis-sold a motor finance agreement, it is important to know that you do not need a
[claims management company](https://mlj.org.uk/guides/complaints-about-claims-management-companies). You can complain directly to your lender for free. Major lenders operating in Lisburn and Castlereagh include Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group), MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, and Alphera Financial Services.
To initiate the complaint process:
1.
Contact Your Lender: Reach out to your lender’s customer service department with details of your agreement and any issues you have identified.
2.
Provide Documentation: Submit all relevant documents that support your claim, including finance agreements and correspondence from the dealership.
3.
Follow Up: Keep records of all communications and follow up regularly until a resolution is reached.
If your complaint is not resolved satisfactorily by your lender, you can escalate it to the
Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS) for free mediation. The FOS provides an independent and impartial service to help resolve disputes between consumers and financial firms.
Sources and References
- ONS Census 2021
- FCA Estimates: 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026), £7.5 billion total, £829 average per eligible agreement
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigation into motor finance practices
- Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
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.