The DS DS 3 Crossback, a popular compact SUV from the French automaker DS Automobiles, was commonly sold on Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the period under investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which began on 6 April 2007 and concluded on 1 November 2024. This investigation uncovered significant issues related to motor finance mis-selling, particularly in discretionary commission arrangements.
How the DS DS 3 Crossback was Typically Financed
During the period of investigation, the DS DS 3 Crossback was often sold through PCP agreements with terms ranging from 36 to 48 months and typical finance amounts between £15,000 and £30,000. Common lenders for this model included Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance.
PCP agreements typically feature a balloon payment at the end of the term, which can be settled with either an optional final payment or by returning the vehicle to the lender if it is not worth the remaining balance. This structure attracted many customers due to its lower initial payments compared to HP finance plans.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The FCA investigation into motor finance mis-selling revealed that discretionary commission arrangements, which were prevalent in the industry during this period, led to widespread overcharging of consumers. These practices affected an estimated 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) and resulted in a total compensation of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) being paid out to customers. On average, each customer received around £829 in compensation (FCA estimate).
The investigation highlighted that some lenders and dealerships were remunerated through discretionary commission arrangements that incentivised them to push higher-cost finance products onto consumers without fully explaining the alternatives or the potential downsides of these agreements.
How to Check Your Agreement To determine if this applies to your situation, review your finance agreement for any mention of "Discretionary Commission Arrangement" (DCA) or similar terms.
consider the dates when you entered into the finance agreement and whether it falls within the investigation period. If you find evidence that your agreement may be affected, you should take steps to complain directly to your lender without needing a claims management company.
[How to Complain](https://mlj.org.uk/guides/how-to-complain-to-your-lender) Directly to Your Lender for Free
If you suspect that your DS DS 3 Crossback's finance agreement is part of the FCA investigation findings, it is important to contact your lender directly. Common lenders for this model include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance.
Complaining to your lender can be done without incurring any additional costs or needing the assistance of a claims management company. Your lender should have an internal complaints process that you can follow to seek redress for any issues related to motor finance mis-selling.
You can complain directly to your lender by contacting them via phone, email, or post and requesting a review of your agreement based on the FCA investigation findings. Provide all relevant documentation and details about your concerns so they can properly assess your case.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Office for National Statistics Census 2021
- MLJ.org.uk (mlj.org.uk)