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Norfolk, with a population of 916,000 (ONS Census 2021), has seen an estimated 86,562 drivers potentially affected by motor finance mis-selling during the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. This figure is calculated using ONS Census 2021 population data and FCA estimates. Motor finance agreements, particularly
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP), have been a common method for car buyers in Norfolk to acquire vehicles from local dealerships.
## How motor finance mis-selling affected Norfolk
Dealerships such as Marshall Motor Group Norfolk, Robinsons Motor Group Norfolk, Thurlow Nunn Norfolk, and Vindis Group Norfolk were active in selling PCP and HP agreements during the FCA's investigation period. These dealerships facilitated financing through 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). Many of these lenders offered
discretionary commission arrangements to dealerships, which have been under scrutiny for potentially incentivising the sale of more expensive or less suitable finance products.
## The FCA motor finance investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a full investigation into motor finance practices after discovering that 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) by potential mis-selling during the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. These agreements involved a total of £7.5 billion in transactions (FCA, March 2026). The investigation uncovered that discretionary commission arrangements may have led dealerships to push customers towards higher-cost finance options rather than the most suitable ones for their financial situations.
## How Norfolk residents can check their finance agreements
Norfolk residents who suspect they may be affected by motor finance mis-selling should review their finance agreements carefully. Key dates to look out for are those falling between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024, during which the FCA investigation was active. Important documents to gather include original finance agreement forms, bank statements showing payment amounts, and any correspondence with your lender or dealership regarding changes to your finance plan.
## 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. The major lenders operating in Norfolk include Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group), MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, and Alphera Financial Services (BMW). When making a complaint, ensure you provide all relevant documentation to support your case. If you are unsatisfied with the lender's response, you can escalate your complaint to the
Financial Ombudsman Service, which offers an independent and free service for resolving disputes.
You do not need a claims management company to handle your complaint; contacting your lender directly is often the most straightforward approach.
## Sources and references
- FCA
- Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS)
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021
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.