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Newry Mourne and Down, a district in Northern Ireland with a population of 181,400 (ONS Census 2021), has seen an estimated 17,142 affected drivers since motor finance mis-selling began on 6 April 2007. This figure is based on calculations using ONS Census 2021 data and FCA estimates. Motor finance agreements, particularly
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP), have been at the centre of a significant investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
## How motor finance mis-selling affected Newry Mourne and Down
Dealerships such as Charles Hurst Newry Mourne and Down, Donnelly Group Newry Mourne and Down, Shelbourne Motors Newry Mourne and Down, and JC Halliday Newry Mourne and Down were among those selling PCP/HP finance agreements in the area. These dealerships often partnered with major lenders including
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 issue arose due to
discretionary commission arrangements where dealers received additional payments for steering customers towards PCP/HP finance agreements rather than other financing options. This practice was widespread across the UK and affected a significant number of drivers in Newry Mourne and Down.
## The FCA motor finance investigation
The FCA launched an investigation into motor finance mis-selling after discovering that these discretionary commission arrangements were prevalent between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024. According to the FCA's estimates, this period saw 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) with a total value of £7.5 billion (FCA estimate). FCA-estimated average overpayment per eligible agreement: £829.
The investigation uncovered that many customers in Newry Mourne and Down were pushed into more expensive finance deals due to these commission arrangements. Dealers had incentives to sell PCP/HP agreements even when other financing options would have been better for the customer.
## How Newry Mourne and Down residents can check their finance agreements
To determine if you were affected by motor finance mis-selling, start by reviewing your finance agreement documents. Look for any evidence of discretionary commissions or additional payments made to the dealership beyond standard commission rates. Check the dates on your agreement to ensure it falls within the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024.
gather all relevant documentation such as loan agreements, correspondence with lenders, and any emails or letters related to your finance deal. These documents can provide crucial information for assessing whether you were overcharged due to mis-selling practices.
## How to
complain directly to your lender for free
You do not need a
claims management company to address this issue. You can complain directly to your lender for free by contacting them with the details gathered from your finance agreement documents and any correspondence related to the loan. Major lenders operating in Newry Mourne and Down include Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group), MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, and Alphera Financial Services (BMW).
If your complaint is not resolved by the lender, you can escalate it to the
Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS) for a free and impartial review. The FOS offers a fair and independent service that helps resolve disputes between consumers and financial firms.
## Sources and references
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 2024
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.