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Clackmannanshire, a Scottish council area with a population of 51,500 (ONS Census 2021), has been significantly affected by motor finance mis-selling. According to calculations based on ONS Census 2021 data and FCA estimates, an estimated 4,867 drivers in Clackmannanshire may have been impacted.
How Motor Finance Mis-Selling Affected Clackmannanshire
In Clackmannanshire, several local dealerships were involved in the sale of
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements. These include Arnold Clark Clackmannanshire, Peter Vardy Clackmannanshire, Eastern Western Motor Group Clackmannanshire, and Macklin Motors Clackmannanshire. 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). These dealerships facilitated agreements that may have been mis-sold due to
[discretionary commission](https://mlj.org.uk/glossary/discretionary-commission-arrangement) arrangements between dealers and finance providers.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a full investigation into motor finance practices from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, revealing significant issues with how PCP and HP agreements were sold. An estimated 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) across the UK were affected by these practices (FCA estimate), leading to an overall mis-selling total of £7.5 billion (FCA estimate). On average, each affected customer could be owed around £829 (FCA estimate).
How Clackmannanshire Residents Can Check Their Finance Agreements
Clackmannanshire residents who suspect they may have been impacted by motor finance mis-selling can take steps to verify their agreements. They should review any documents related to the financing of their vehicle, focusing on agreements signed between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024. Key elements to look for include:
- Discretionary commission arrangements: Whether the dealer received additional payments based on the type or cost of finance agreement selected.
- Sales tactics: Any pressure to choose a particular finance option, especially those with higher interest rates or charges.
Collecting these documents and reviewing them carefully can provide clarity on whether mis-selling occurred. If discrepancies are identified, residents should proceed to file a complaint directly with their lender for free.
If you believe your motor finance agreement was mis-sold, you can complain directly to your lender at no cost. Major lenders operating in Clackmannanshire include Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group), MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, and Alphera Financial Services (BMW). You do not need a
claims management company; the process is straightforward and free.
After filing your complaint with the lender, you may escalate unresolved issues to the
Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS), which provides an independent review at no cost. The FOS can help resolve disputes fairly and efficiently without incurring additional fees.
Sources and References
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- 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.