The Audi A7 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. These financing options allowed customers to enjoy the luxury of a high-performance car while spreading the cost over several years, often with lower monthly payments compared to outright purchase. However, many Audi A7 buyers may have been affected by motor finance mis-selling practices during this time.
How the Audi A7 was Typically Financed
The Audi A7 is known for its sleek design and advanced technology features. During the period in question, it was often financed through PCP or HP agreements ranging from £15,000 to £30,000. Common finance providers for the Audi A7 included
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance.
Under a typical PCP agreement, customers would pay monthly instalments over 36-48 months with an optional final balloon payment to cover any residual value of the car. The balloon payment could be significant but was often structured as a final option at the end of the term. This model allowed consumers to manage their budgets more effectively while enjoying the luxury of owning an Audi A7.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into motor finance mis-selling practices due to concerns about
discretionary commission arrangements between car dealerships and lenders. These arrangements involved lenders paying undisclosed commissions to dealers based on the type of financing chosen by customers, which could have influenced salespeople's recommendations.
According to the FCA, 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) during this period (FCA estimate), with a total value of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) and an average loss per customer estimated at £829 (FCA estimate). This investigation uncovered that some dealers may have encouraged customers towards more expensive financing options to receive higher commissions, even if simpler alternatives were available.
How to Check Your Agreement Look for terms like "Discretionary Commission Arrangement" (DCA) in your agreement. These arrangements were common between lenders and dealerships but may have impacted your financing options negatively.
It’s important to check if your agreement was signed between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024, as these dates are critical for determining whether you might be eligible to seek redress from your lender. If you notice any discrepancies or unusual fees that were not explained clearly at the time of financing, it may indicate a potential issue with mis-selling.
If you suspect that your Audi A7 finance agreement was affected by motor finance mis-selling practices, you can complain directly to your lender without incurring any costs. Common lenders such as Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance all have customer service teams dedicated to handling complaints.
When contacting your lender, provide them with a detailed explanation of why you believe the agreement was mis-sold. Include copies of relevant documentation and any correspondence from the dealer that could support your case. It’s crucial to maintain a clear and concise communication record throughout this process.
You do not need a
claims management company to handle your complaint; all lenders are required by law to provide free services for addressing customer complaints. By contacting your lender directly, you can save on fees often associated with third-party companies and ensure that the issue is resolved efficiently.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). "Motor Finance Mis-selling Investigation." 2024.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021.
Based on 14,616 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Audi A7 has a pass rate of 87.3%. This is above the national average of 79.6%, meaning the A7 performs well in MOT testing.
The A7 pass rate is better than the overall Audi average of 83.9%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 83,891 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 87.3%
- MOT failure rate: 12.7%
- Tests analysed: 14,616 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 83,891 miles
- Audi 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.