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Antrim and Newtownabbey, home to 143,500 residents (ONS Census 2021), has seen many affected drivers due to motor finance mis-selling practices that occurred from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024 (calculated using ONS Census 2021 population data and FCA estimates). This widespread issue has left many local car buyers in need of information on their rights and options.
How Motor Finance Mis-selling Affected Antrim and Newtownabbey
Motor finance mis-selling in Antrim and Newtownabbey primarily involved
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) agreements. Local dealerships such as Charles Hurst Antrim and Newtownabbey, Donnelly Group Antrim and Newtownabbey, Shelbourne Motors Antrim and Newtownabbey, and JC Halliday Antrim and Newtownabbey were among those selling these finance products to local residents. 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) launched an investigation into motor finance mis-selling practices in 2023. The inquiry focused on
discretionary commission arrangements where lenders paid dealerships additional fees for selling certain types of agreements, such as PCP and HP deals. This practice led to inflated costs for consumers, with 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) across the UK, totalling £7.5 billion in mis-sold finance (FCA estimate). The average overpayment was around £829 per agreement (FCA estimate).
How Antrim and Newtownabbey Residents Can Check Their Finance Agreements
If you suspect that your motor finance agreement might have been mis-sold, there are several steps to take. First, review the dates of your contract; agreements affected by this issue were sold between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024 (FCA estimate). Look for any additional costs or fees that may not have been clearly explained at the time of purchase. Gather all relevant documents such as finance agreement forms, payment schedules, and correspondence with your lender.
You can complain directly to your lender for free without needing a
claims management company. Major lenders operating in Antrim and Newtownabbey include Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group), MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, and Alphera Financial Services (BMW). Each of these lenders should have a dedicated customer service team to handle complaints.
If your lender does not resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you can escalate your complaint to the
Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS), which is free to use. The FOS provides an impartial and fair review process for financial disputes, ensuring that consumers are treated fairly without incurring additional costs.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (2024)
- Office of National Statistics Census 2021
- Local dealership groups: Charles Hurst Antrim and Newtownabbey, Donnelly Group Antrim and Newtownabbey, Shelbourne Motors Antrim and Newtownabbey, JC Halliday Antrim and Newtownabbey
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.