The Subaru Solterra was commonly sold on Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) investigation period, which ran from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. This investigation uncovered significant issues related to discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs), affecting millions of consumers who purchased their vehicles on finance.
How the Subaru Solterra Was Typically Financed
Subaru Solterras were often financed through PCP and HP agreements, with typical finance amounts ranging from £15,000 to £30,000. Common lenders for Subaru vehicles include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance. The typical term for a PCP agreement was 36 to 48 months, with some agreements including balloon payments at the end of the contract.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
During its investigation into motor finance practices from 2007 to 2024, the FCA found that many car dealers and lenders used discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs) in a way that was not clearly explained to consumers. These arrangements allowed for additional payments by the lender or manufacturer to be made to the dealership, potentially influencing sales staff to push finance deals over cash purchases.
The FCA's investigation concluded that 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) across various car models, including the Subaru Solterra (FCA estimate). The total amount involved in these agreements was approximately £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) (FCA, March 2026).
How to Check Your Agreement To determine if your finance deal was impacted, check for several key indicators in your contract documentation:
- Look for any mention of "discretionary commission" or "DCA."
- Review the dates on your finance agreement to ensure it falls within the investigation period.
- Compare the terms and conditions with those provided by other dealerships to identify any discrepancies.
Understanding these details can help you determine whether your Subaru Solterra's finance agreement was part of a potentially unfair arrangement.
If you suspect that your Subaru Solterra finance agreement was affected, the first step is to complain directly to your lender. Common lenders for Subaru vehicles include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance. These companies have processes in place to address customer complaints without requiring a claims management company.
When you contact your lender, provide them with detailed information about your agreement and any concerns you may have regarding DCAs or unfair practices. Remember that the FCA requires lenders to investigate these issues thoroughly and respond within a specific timeframe.
You do not need a claims management company to file a complaint; you can handle this process directly for free. This ensures transparency and allows you to control how your issue is addressed without any intermediary fees.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 2024
- Office for National Statistics Census, 2021