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Wigan, a town located within Greater Manchester's North West region with a population of 328,600 (ONS Census 2021), has seen an estimated 31,053 drivers potentially affected by motor finance mis-selling during the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. This estimate is calculated using ONS Census 2021 population data and FCA estimates (FCA, 2024).
How Motor Finance Mis-selling Affected Wigan
Dealerships in Wigan such as Arnold Clark Wigan, JCT600 Wigan, Lookers Wigan, and Peter Vardy Wigan sold
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements to local residents. These dealerships facilitated the sale of vehicles through 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 occurred due to a flawed commission structure that incentivised sales staff to push finance products over other payment methods.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into motor finance agreements in 2018 following the discovery of
discretionary commission arrangements. These arrangements led to significant mis-selling issues across the UK, affecting 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) worth £7.5 billion (FCA estimate). On average, affected drivers paid an extra £829 for their vehicles due to these misleading sales practices (FCA estimate).
How Wigan Residents Can Check Their Finance Agreements
Wigan residents can check if they were affected by mis-selling by reviewing their finance agreements from the period between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024. Key signs of potential mis-selling include:
- High interest rates compared to alternative financing options.
- Misleading statements about the benefits of PCP or HP over cash payments.
- Inadequate explanation of early repayment penalties.
To check your finance agreement, gather all relevant documents including the finance contract and any letters or emails from the lender. If you suspect mis-selling, contact your lender directly to request a review.
Wigan residents who believe they were affected by motor finance mis-selling can complain directly to their lenders without incurring additional costs. 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 (BMW) have dedicated teams to handle complaints.
You do not need a
claims management company; many residents successfully resolve their issues by approaching the lender directly. If your complaint is unresolved or you require further assistance, escalate it to the
Financial Ombudsman Service (
FOS), which provides free and impartial dispute resolution services.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). "Motor Finance Investigation." FCA, 2024.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS). Census 2021. ONS, 2021.
- MLJ.org.uk. "UK's independent motor finance information directory." MLJ.org.uk, accessed 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.