The Infiniti Q30 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 spans from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. The FCA's investigation into motor finance practices revealed significant issues with
discretionary commission arrangements that affected millions of car owners, including those who financed their Infiniti Q30.
## How the Infiniti Q30 was Typically Financed
The Infiniti Q30 was often purchased through PCP agreements ranging from £15,000 to £30,000 over a term of 36 to 48 months. Common lenders for the Q30 included
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance.
PCP agreements typically involve a deposit payment followed by monthly instalments with a final balloon payment at the end of the term. This balloon payment is often higher than what the car would be worth on that date, leading to
negative equity if the borrower decides not to purchase or refinance the vehicle. Lenders often provided additional incentives such as optional maintenance packages and extended warranties which could add further costs to the finance agreement.
## The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The FCA's investigation into motor finance practices uncovered a widespread issue of discretionary commission arrangements between lenders and car dealerships. These arrangements allowed dealers to receive higher commissions on certain deals, potentially incentivising them to sell more expensive or less suitable products to consumers. As a result, millions of individuals were affected by these practices across 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026), with an estimated total amount of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026). FCA-estimated average overpayment per eligible agreement: £829.
This investigation highlighted that many car buyers financed their vehicles through PCP and HP deals during the period under review, often without fully understanding the implications or potential costs involved.
## How to Check Your Agreement Look for:
-
Relevant Dates: Ensure that your PCP or HP agreement was entered into between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024.
-
Discretionary Commission Arrangements (DCA): Check if your finance agreement mentions "discretionary commission" or similar terms. These arrangements were a significant factor in the FCA's investigation.
If you identify any of these factors, it is advisable to contact your lender directly for further information about potential overcharging and compensation.
## How to
Complain Directly to Your Lender for Free
You do not need a
claims management company to handle your complaint. Common lenders such as Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance have dedicated teams to address concerns related to motor finance agreements.
To start the process:
1.
Gather Documentation: Collect all relevant documents including your finance agreement, payment receipts, and any correspondence with the lender.
2.
Review Terms and Conditions: Carefully read through your finance agreement for clauses that might indicate discretionary commission arrangements or other issues.
3.
Contact Lender Directly: Reach out to your lender's customer service department via phone, email, or online portal to initiate a complaint.
4.
Follow Up: Keep track of any communication with the lender and ensure you receive a formal response within 8 weeks as required by law.
You can complain directly to your lender for free without involving claims management companies (FCA estimate). This ensures that you retain full control over the process and avoid unnecessary fees or delays.
## Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority, "Motor Finance: Final Guidance", 2024
- Office of National Statistics, Census 2021
Based on 4,724 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Infiniti Q30 has a pass rate of 86.4%. This is above the national average of 79.6%, meaning the Q30 performs well in MOT testing.
The Q30 pass rate is in line with the overall Infiniti average of 85.5%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 59,930 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 86.4%
- MOT failure rate: 13.6%
- Tests analysed: 4,724 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 59,930 miles
- Infiniti average pass rate: 85.5%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.