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Nottinghamshire residents have been affected by motor finance mis-selling, with an estimated 78,246 drivers potentially impacted (calculated using ONS Census 2021 population data and FCA estimates). The county's population stands at 828,000 (ONS Census 2021), making it a significant concern for many car owners.
How Motor Finance Mis-selling Affected Nottinghamshire
Motor finance mis-selling has had a substantial impact on Nottinghamshire residents. Local dealerships such as Inchcape Nottinghamshire, Pendragon Nottinghamshire, Marshall Motor Group Nottinghamshire, and Sytner Nottinghamshire were involved in selling
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) agreements. These dealerships, along with others in the area, may have engaged in practices that did not fully disclose all terms and conditions of these finance deals to customers.
Major lenders operating in Nottinghamshire include
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). These financial institutions were implicated in the FCA investigation due to their involvement in
[discretionary commission](https://mlj.org.uk/glossary/discretionary-commission-arrangement) arrangements that may have incentivised mis-selling.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into motor finance agreements from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, revealing significant issues. 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) by these practices (FCA estimate), with a total of £7.5 billion in mis-sold finances (FCA estimate). The average cost per customer was estimated at £829 (FCA estimate).
The investigation highlighted that discretionary commission arrangements allowed lenders and dealers to receive additional payments for steering customers towards more expensive financing options, such as PCP deals with higher interest rates or excessive add-ons. This resulted in many Nottinghamshire residents paying more than necessary for their car finance.
How Nottinghamshire Residents Can Check Their Finance Agreements
Nottinghamshire residents who believe they may have been affected by motor finance mis-selling should review their agreements carefully. Key dates to consider are from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, as these mark the period of the FCA investigation.
To check your agreement:
1.
Gather Documents: Collect all relevant documents related to your car purchase and finance agreement.
2.
Review Terms: Look for any discrepancies or unclear terms in your finance contract, especially regarding interest rates, fees, and add-ons.
3.
Compare Costs: Compare the terms of your agreement with those offered by other lenders at the time you took out the loan.
Residents who suspect they have been affected can complain directly to their lender for free without needing a
[claims management company](https://mlj.org.uk/guides/complaints-about-claims-management-companies). Major lenders operating in Nottinghamshire include Black Horse, MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, and Alphera Financial Services.
When contacting your lender:
1.
Provide Details: Gather all necessary documentation and provide clear details about the issues you encountered.
2.
Follow Up: Keep records of all communications with your lender and follow up regularly to ensure your complaint is being addressed.
3.
Escalation Route: If your initial complaint does not resolve the issue, you can escalate it to the
Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS) for a free review.
You do not need a claims management company; you can handle complaints directly with your lender or use the FOS as a free and impartial service.
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.