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Slough, a town with a population of 164,400 (ONS Census 2021), has seen an estimated 15,536 drivers potentially affected by motor finance mis-selling issues from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. This figure is based on calculations using ONS Census data and FCA estimates. The financial impact of such practices has been significant across the country, with around £7.5 billion (FCA estimate) involved in mis-sold agreements.
How Motor Finance Mis-selling Affected Slough
The motor finance market in Slough includes dealerships like Caffyns Slough, Harwoods Slough, Lookers Slough, and Hendy Group Slough, which have been known to offer
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or
Hire Purchase (HP) agreements. These agreements were often facilitated by major lenders such as
[Black Horse](https://mlj.org.uk/lenders/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 mis-selling of these finance products has been a widespread issue that affected thousands of drivers in Slough.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
In 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into
discretionary commission arrangements used by motor finance lenders. This investigation uncovered significant issues related to how dealers were incentivised through these arrangements, leading to potential mis-selling practices. It was found that 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) across the UK may have been affected during the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, with an average financial impact of £829 per agreement (£829 average per eligible agreement, FCA estimate).
How Slough Residents Can Check Their Finance Agreements
To determine if you were a victim of motor finance mis-selling, residents in Slough should review their finance agreements carefully. Look for signs that suggest the dealer may have been incentivised to sell certain products over others due to commission arrangements. Key dates to check are from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. Gather all relevant documents including loan agreements, credit card statements, and any correspondence with lenders.
If you suspect that your motor finance agreement was mis-sold, you can complain directly to your lender for free. 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 processes in place to address customer complaints without the need for a
claims management company.
You do not need a claims management company. The
Financial Ombudsman Service provides an additional free escalation route if your complaint is not resolved satisfactorily by your lender. This service can help you deal with the process and ensure that you receive fair treatment under consumer protection laws.
Sources and References
- FCA (2024)
- ONS Census 2021
- Financial Conduct Authority Investigation into Discretionary Commission Arrangements (FCA, 2017)
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.