The Abarth 695, a compact sports car known for its distinctive Italian flair and performance, was commonly sold on
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) investigation period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. This period saw an estimated 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) by
discretionary commission arrangements, leading to potential mis-selling issues for Abarth 695 owners.
How the Abarth 695 was Typically Financed
The Abarth 695 is often financed through PCP and HP agreements that typically range from £15,000 to £30,000 over a term of 36 to 48 months. Common lenders providing finance for the Abarth 695 include
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance. These agreements often involve balloon payments at the end of the contract, which can represent a significant portion of the car's value if not accounted for in the initial finance terms.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The FCA investigation uncovered that many Abarth 695 owners may have been affected by discretionary commission arrangements. These arrangements allowed lenders and dealers to receive additional payments based on the type of financing chosen, potentially leading to higher costs for consumers without their knowledge or consent. An estimated £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) in total mis-selling is attributed to these practices (FCA estimate) (FCA, March 2026).
How to Check Your Agreement Look for specific language indicating that your deal may have included discretionary commissions or additional payments to lenders and dealers. Pay special attention to any references to DCA (Discretionary Commission Arrangements) in your documentation.
check the dates on your finance agreement. If it falls within the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, there is a possibility that discretionary commission arrangements may have impacted your deal. It’s important to verify these details with your lender or through your finance documentation.
If you suspect that your Abarth 695 financing was affected by the FCA investigation, you can complain directly to your lender without needing a
claims management company. Common lenders for the Abarth 695 include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance.
When initiating a complaint, provide clear details about your concerns and any evidence you have regarding discretionary commissions or mis-selling practices. Most lenders have dedicated teams to handle such complaints and will address them within their internal resolution process. Remember that it is entirely free to complain directly to your lender without incurring any additional fees or engaging third-party services.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) estimates on affected agreements and mis-selling figures.
- Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for complaint handling guidelines.
- Official Abarth documentation and finance terms.
Based on 451 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Abarth 695 has a pass rate of 87.1%. This is above the national average of 79.6%, meaning the 695 performs well in MOT testing.
The 695 pass rate is better than the overall Abarth average of 83.9%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 28,928 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 87.1%
- MOT failure rate: 12.9%
- Tests analysed: 451 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 28,928 miles
- Abarth average pass rate: 83.9%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.