Photo by kevin grieve on Pexels
Burnley, a town located within Lancashire in the North West region with a population of 96,800 (ONS Census 2021), has seen an estimated 9,148 affected drivers due to motor finance mis-selling practices 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 Burnley
Motor finance mis-selling in Burnley involved several local dealerships such as Arnold Clark Burnley, JCT600 Burnley, Lookers Burnley, and Peter Vardy Burnley. These dealerships were known for selling
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) agreements to residents during the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. Major lenders operating in the area included
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 due to
discretionary commission arrangements. This inquiry found that 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) across the UK during this period (FCA estimate), resulting in a total of £7.5 billion (FCA estimate) paid out by lenders to customers who had been overcharged or misled about their financing options. On average, each affected customer received around £829 (FCA estimate).
## How Burnley Residents Can Check Their Finance Agreements
Burnley residents can check if they were affected by motor finance mis-selling by reviewing their vehicle purchase agreements and related documents. Focus on the dates of your agreement to see if it falls within 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. Gather any correspondence or paperwork from dealerships such as offers, contracts, and letters regarding your financing arrangement.
## How to
Complain Directly to Your Lender for Free
You can complain directly to your lender for free without the need for a
claims management company. If you believe that your motor finance agreement was mis-sold by one of the major lenders like Black Horse, MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, or Alphera Financial Services, contact them directly to discuss any issues with your contract. The
Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS) is also available as a free and impartial escalation route if you are unsatisfied with the response from your lender.
## Sources and References
- FCA estimates on motor finance mis-selling: 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026), £7.5 billion total, £829 average per eligible agreement
- Population data for Burnley: ONS Census 2021
- Local dealership groups in Burnley: Arnold Clark Burnley, JCT600 Burnley, Lookers Burnley, Peter Vardy Burnley
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.