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Doncaster, a town with a population of 312,600 (ONS Census 2021), has seen many affected drivers due to motor finance mis-selling practices that occurred between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024. This figure is calculated using ONS Census 2021 population data and FCA estimates.
How Motor Finance Mis-Selling Affected Doncaster
Motor finance mis-selling has impacted many drivers in Doncaster who entered into
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or
Hire Purchase (HP) agreements through local dealerships. Dealerships such as JCT600 Doncaster, Stoneacre Doncaster, Lookers Doncaster, and Arnold Clark Doncaster facilitated these deals with major lenders like
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 practices were driven by
discretionary commission arrangements that incentivised dealers to push higher-cost finance products without fully considering the best interests of their customers.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into motor finance agreements due to these discretionary commission arrangements, which led to an estimated 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) being affected across the UK (FCA estimate). These mis-sold agreements resulted in consumers overpaying by a total of £7.5 billion and losing an average of £829 each (FCA estimate).
How Doncaster Residents Can Check Their Finance Agreements
Doncaster residents who suspect they may have been affected can check their finance agreements for several key signs:
- The agreement was signed between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024.
- The finance deal involved a discretionary commission arrangement, which means the dealership received extra compensation if you chose a higher-cost option.
- Review any documentation provided by your lender or dealer to identify any terms that suggest hidden fees or commissions.
If you believe you have been affected by motor finance mis-selling in Doncaster, it is important to know that you can complain directly to your lender for free. 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 Financial Services (BMW). You do not need a
claims management company to assist with this process.
If your complaint is not resolved satisfactorily by your lender, you can escalate it to the
[Financial Ombudsman](https://mlj.org.uk/guides/financial-ombudsman-service) Service (
FOS) for free. The FOS provides an independent review of complaints that financial firms are unable to resolve.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Office for National Statistics Census 2021
- 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.