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How motor finance mis-selling affected Norwich
Have you ever wondered how many drivers in Norwich might have been impacted by motor finance mis-selling? According to our calculations, an estimated 20,147 residents (calculated using ONS Census 2021 population data and FCA estimates) could be among those affected. With a total population of 213,200 (ONS Census 2021), it's clear that this issue has had significant implications for many car owners in the city.
How motor finance mis-selling affected Norwich
Motor finance mis-selling has been a widespread issue across the UK, and Norwich is no exception. Local dealerships such as Marshall Motor Group Norwich, Robinsons Motor Group Norwich, Thurlow Nunn Norwich, and Vindis Group Norwich have all played a role in selling
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements to residents. These arrangements were often made with major lenders including
Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group),
MotoNovo Finance,
[Close Brothers](https://mlj.org.uk/lenders/close-brothers-motor-finance) 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 an extensive investigation into the motor finance sector following concerns about
discretionary commission arrangements. These arrangements allowed lenders to pay dealerships a higher commission when customers opted for more expensive products or longer-term agreements. This practice is believed to have led to the mis-selling of 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) across the UK (FCA estimate) and resulted in over £7.5 billion being paid out unnecessarily by consumers (FCA estimate). On average, affected drivers could be eligible for a compensation amount of £829 (FCA estimate).
How Norwich residents can check their finance agreements
If you suspect that your motor finance agreement might have been mis-sold, there are several steps you can take to verify this. First, review the dates of your finance agreement: the period under investigation by the FCA spans from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. Next, gather all relevant documents related to your car purchase and financing, including the contract, dealer paperwork, and any correspondence with your lender.
If you find discrepancies in your finance agreement or believe it was mis-sold, you can take action by complaining directly to your lender for free. Major lenders such as Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group), MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, and Alphera Financial Services have customer service teams dedicated to handling complaints. Simply follow their complaint procedures to initiate the process. Remember: you do not need a
claims management company to handle your case.
If your lender does not resolve your issue satisfactorily, you can escalate it further by contacting the
Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS), which provides an independent and free service for resolving disputes between consumers and financial services providers.
Sources and references
- FCA estimates: 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026), £7.5 billion total, £829 average per eligible agreement
- Population data: 213,200 (ONS Census 2021)
- Dealerships in Norwich: Marshall Motor Group Norwich, Robinsons Motor Group Norwich, Thurlow Nunn Norwich, Vindis Group Norwich
- Major lenders operating in Norwich: Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group), MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, Alphera Financial Services (BMW)
- 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.