Santander Consumer Finance has been identified as one of the entities potentially issuing unfair car finance agreements across North Yorkshire, affecting an estimated 58,401 residents in the region. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) estimate that this issue affects 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) nationwide, with a total value of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) and an average claim amount of £829 per agreement.
Santander Consumer Finance Finance Agreements in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire's population is approximately 618,000 (ONS Census 2021), making it one of the largest counties in England by area. Given the scale of the issue, an estimated 58,401 residents in North Yorkshire may have been affected by unfair car finance agreements issued between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024 (FCA estimate). These agreements likely involved a variety of vehicles ranging from small city cars to larger SUVs and commercial vehicles. The Financial Conduct Authority's investigations revealed that these agreements often included a discretionary commission arrangement (DCA), which may have resulted in higher interest rates for customers than initially disclosed.
[How to Complain](https://mlj.org.uk/guides/how-to-complain-to-your-lender) to Santander Consumer Finance from North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire residents who suspect they are affected by unfair car finance agreements issued by Santander Consumer Finance can file a complaint directly with the company. The official complaint process is accessible via their dedicated webpage: https://www.santanderconsumer.co.uk/complaints/. This service is free and does not require any involvement from a claims management company. It’s important to note that Santander Consumer Finance, part of Santander UK, has established procedures in place to address customer complaints promptly and effectively.
What North Yorkshire Residents Should Do Next
If you believe your car finance agreement with Santander Consumer Finance is unfair, the first step is to gather all relevant documentation such as loan agreements, payment receipts, and any correspondence with the lender. Check that the dates of your agreement fall within the specified period (6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024). Once you have this information ready, you can proceed to file a complaint directly through Santander Consumer Finance’s online portal or by contacting their customer service team.
Sources and References
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 2024
How Many People in North Yorkshire Are Affected?
Based on North Yorkshire's population of approximately 620,000, an estimated 129,552 motor finance agreements in the area may have been affected by discretionary commission arrangements (FCA estimate, proportional calculation). This represents approximately 0.93% of the UK total of 12.1 million eligible agreements.
Santander Consumer Finance is registered at Companies House (company number 02248870) with a status of active. The company was incorporated on 1988-04-27. Its registered office is at Santander House, 86 Station Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1SR. The company currently has 7 directors.
Santander Consumer Finance Complaint Statistics
According to the Financial Ombudsman Service, Santander Consumer Finance received 3 total complaints in H2 2024 BUSINESS. You can check the latest complaint data at the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Santander Consumer Finance's FCA reference number is 403579 (status: No longer registered as an Appointed Representative).