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West Dunbartonshire, a council area with a population of 88,300 (ONS Census 2021), has seen many affected drivers due to 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.
How Motor Finance Mis-selling Affected West Dunbartonshire
Motor finance agreements, such as PCP (
Personal Contract Purchase) and HP (
Hire Purchase), were widely sold to residents of West Dunbartonshire through local dealerships like Arnold Clark West Dunbartonshire, Peter Vardy West Dunbartonshire, Eastern Western Motor Group West Dunbartonshire, and Macklin Motors West Dunbartonshire. These dealerships facilitated the sale of finance agreements with major lenders operating in the area, 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 FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into motor finance agreements sold from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. The probe uncovered widespread mis-selling due to
discretionary commission arrangements between lenders and dealerships. These arrangements led to inflated prices for vehicles, with the cost of financing often being significantly higher than what was initially disclosed to consumers. According to FCA estimates, 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) across the UK, amounting to a total loss of £7.5 billion (FCA estimate) and an FCA-estimated scheme average per eligible agreement: £829 (FCA estimate).
How West Dunbartonshire Residents Can Check Their Finance Agreements
Residents in West Dunbartonshire who suspect they may have been affected by motor finance mis-selling can take several steps to check their agreements. First, review the dates on which your finance agreement was signed or taken out; it must fall within the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. Gather all relevant documents such as the contract papers, payment receipts, and any communication with the lender regarding the agreement.
If you believe your motor finance agreement was mis-sold, you can complain directly to your lender for free without needing a
claims management company. Major lenders operating in West Dunbartonshire include Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group), MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Santander Consumer Finance, Barclays Partner Finance, and Alphera Financial Services (BMW). Each of these companies has their own complaints procedure available on their official websites or through customer service contacts. You do not need a claims management company to handle your complaint.
If you are unsatisfied with the response from your lender after following their internal complaints process, you can escalate your case to the
Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS) for free. The FOS is an independent body that provides fair and impartial resolution services in financial disputes between consumers and businesses.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (2024)
- Office for National Statistics Census 2021
- Local dealership group websites
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.