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Are you one of the 598,657 drivers in the East of England who may have been affected by motor finance mis-selling? The East of England, with a population of 6,335,000 (ONS Census 2021), has seen its fair share of issues related to
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) agreements during the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. With over 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) across the UK (FCA estimate) and a total value of £7.5 billion (FCA estimate), with an average mis-sold agreement amounting to £829 (FCA estimate), many residents have been left in financial uncertainty.
How Motor Finance Mis-selling Affected East of England
Motor finance mis-selling has impacted numerous drivers across the East of England, affecting local dealerships such as Marshall Motor Group East of England, Robinsons Motor Group East of England, Thurlow Nunn East of England, and Vindis Group East of England. These dealerships facilitated the sale of PCP and HP agreements, often through major lenders operating in the region 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 FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a full investigation into motor finance mis-selling, uncovering significant issues with
discretionary commission arrangements. During the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, it was found that many dealerships and lenders were involved in practices that could have disadvantaged consumers financially.
One of the key findings was that some lenders paid discretionary commissions to dealers for selling certain finance products, which may not always align with what was best for customers. This can lead to higher costs and less transparent agreements for buyers, resulting in significant financial impacts on those affected.
How East of England Residents Can Check Their Finance Agreements
If you suspect that your motor finance agreement might have been mis-sold, it is important to check the details of your arrangement thoroughly. Focus on the dates covered by the FCA investigation period (6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024) and gather any relevant documents such as contract agreements, statements, and correspondence with lenders or dealerships.
Look for signs that you were charged more than necessary due to discretionary commissions or other hidden fees. Review your agreement terms carefully to identify any discrepancies or misleading information that may have been present at the time of signing.
If you believe your motor finance agreement was mis-sold, you can complain directly to your lender without incurring additional costs. The major lenders operating in East of England 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; you can handle the complaint yourself or seek free advice from organisations like the Money Advice Service. If your lender does not resolve your issue satisfactorily, you can escalate it to the
Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS), which provides an independent and impartial service for resolving disputes.
Sources and References
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021
- FCA Estimates: Motor Finance Investigation Report (FCA, 2024)
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Regulatory Updates
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.