The Skoda Citigo was commonly sold on
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during a significant period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. This period saw a substantial number of motor finance agreements made, many of which have now been placed under scrutiny due to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) investigation into
discretionary commission arrangements between lenders and retailers.
How the Skoda Citigo Was Typically Financed
The Skoda Citigo was often financed through Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Hire Purchase (HP) agreements. PCP terms for this model typically ranged from £15,000 to £30,000 over a period of 36 to 48 months. Common finance providers for the Skoda Citigo included
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance.
In PCP agreements, there is often a final balloon payment or Guaranteed Minimum Future Value (GMFV) at the end of the term. This payment can be substantial, depending on the initial agreement terms and the condition of the vehicle upon return to the lender.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into discretionary commission arrangements within motor finance agreements between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024. This probe found that many consumers were overcharged by an average of £829 per agreement, leading to a total of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) in affected funds (FCA estimate). The investigation uncovered practices where dealerships received additional commissions for steering customers towards higher-cost finance options.
How to Check Your Agreement Look for details such as the date of agreement and any mention of discretionary commission arrangements or a DCA (Discretionary Commission Arrangement). These indicators suggest that your agreement may have been influenced by the practices under scrutiny.
The relevant dates are critical: agreements made between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024 fall within the FCA's investigation timeframe. If you suspect your finance arrangement was affected, you should seek to understand how discretionary commissions might have impacted the terms of your agreement.
If you believe that your Skoda Citigo finance agreement was mis-sold due to the practices under scrutiny by the FCA, you can complain directly to your lender at no cost. Common lenders for the Skoda Citigo include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance.
It is important to gather evidence before contacting your lender, such as copies of finance agreements, communications with dealerships, and any documentation relating to commission arrangements. You do not need a
claims management company to file a complaint; most lenders have straightforward processes for handling complaints.
You can complain directly to your lender without incurring additional costs or fees associated with third-party services. Remember that the FCA investigation aims to ensure fair treatment of consumers, and you have the right to seek redress through official channels.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). "Motor Finance: Discretionary Commission Arrangements." 2024.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census. "Population Estimates." 2021.
Based on 50,149 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Skoda Citigo has a pass rate of 86.2%. This is above the national average of 79.6%, meaning the Citigo performs well in MOT testing.
The Citigo pass rate is better than the overall Skoda average of 82.9%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 49,555 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 86.2%
- MOT failure rate: 13.8%
- Tests analysed: 50,149 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 49,555 miles
- Skoda average pass rate: 82.9%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.