The MG 5, a popular car model in the UK market, 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 significant scrutiny of motor finance practices due to concerns over
discretionary commission arrangements, which affected millions of consumers across various car models and manufacturers.
How the MG 5 was Typically Financed
During the FCA investigation period, the MG 5 was frequently financed through PCP agreements ranging from £15,000 to £30,000. These finance plans typically spanned a term of 36 to 48 months and were offered by several well-known lenders such as
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance.
In PCP agreements for the MG 5, customers would pay regular monthly payments over the agreed period, with a final balloon payment (also known as a Guaranteed Minimum Future Value or GMFV) due at the end of the term. This final payment was intended to cover any remaining value on the vehicle and could be settled by returning the car, trading it in for a new one, or paying off the balance to own the vehicle outright.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The FCA's investigation into motor finance revealed significant issues with discretionary commission arrangements that were widespread among lenders. These arrangements allowed dealerships and brokers to receive additional payments based on the type of agreement chosen by consumers, often incentivising higher-cost products like PCP plans over cheaper alternatives such as HP or cash purchases.
This investigation uncovered that 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) across various car models were affected, with an estimated total value of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026). The average compensation per affected agreement was around £829 (FCA estimate), highlighting the significant financial impact on consumers who entered into these arrangements during the investigation period.
How to Check Your Agreement Look for terms such as "discretionary commission," "DCA" (Discretionary Commission Arrangement), or any indication that your dealer received additional payments based on the type of agreement you chose.
Relevant dates include the start date and end date of your finance contract, which should be clearly stated in your documentation. If your agreement falls within the FCA investigation period and includes these specific terms, there is a possibility that it was affected by the identified issues.
If you believe your MG 5's finance agreement may have been mis-sold due to discretionary commission arrangements, you can complain directly to your lender without needing a
claims management company. Common lenders associated with MG 5 financing include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance.
When initiating a complaint, gather all relevant documentation such as your finance agreement, payment records, and any correspondence related to the sale of your car. Clearly outline why you believe the arrangement was mis-sold, focusing on whether discretionary commissions influenced the choice of financing method and if this impacted your decision-making process negatively.
Remember that you do not need a claims management company to handle your complaint; many lenders have dedicated teams to address concerns regarding mis-selling issues during the FCA investigation period. By contacting them directly, you can seek compensation for any financial harm caused by these practices.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). "Motor Finance: Discretionary Commission Arrangements." Retrieved from [FCA website].
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021.
Based on 266 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the MG Mg 5 Excite Ev has a pass rate of 86.8%. This is above the national average of 79.6%, meaning the Mg 5 Excite Ev performs well in MOT testing.
The Mg 5 Excite Ev pass rate is in line with the overall MG average of 85.4%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 80,370 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 86.8%
- MOT failure rate: 13.2%
- Tests analysed: 266 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 80,370 miles
- MG average pass rate: 85.4%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.