The Suzuki Across 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 issues with
discretionary commission arrangements, affecting millions of car buyers across the UK. Many owners of the Suzuki Across may be covered by the FCA redress scheme. due to mis-selling practices in motor finance agreements.
How the Suzuki Across was Typically Financed
During the investigation period, the Suzuki Across was commonly financed through PCP and HP agreements ranging from £15,000 to £30,000. Typical terms for PCP financing were 36 to 48 months, with some agreements featuring balloon payments at the end of the term. Common lenders who provided finance for the Suzuki Across included
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance.
PCP agreements often offered lower monthly payments compared to HP contracts by including a final lump sum payment (the "balloon" or guaranteed minimum future value). However, this arrangement could be disadvantageous if the vehicle's actual market value at the end of the term was less than expected. some lenders used discretionary commission arrangements that may have led to higher interest rates and fees for consumers.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The FCA launched a major investigation into motor finance agreements from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, focusing on the use of discretionary commissions by lenders. These commissions were paid to dealerships based on the volume and type of finance deals they arranged, potentially incentivising them to recommend products that might not be in the best interest of customers.
The investigation found that 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) across various car models, including the Suzuki Across, may have been affected. The total amount involved was estimated at £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026), with an average mis-selling case value of around £829 (FCA estimate). This means many customers who purchased their Suzuki Across on finance during this period might be covered by the FCA redress scheme.
- Dates: Ensure that your finance agreement falls within the critical period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024.
- Lender: Identify if your finance deal was provided by one of the common lenders mentioned earlier: Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, or Santander Consumer Finance.
- DCA Information: Look for any mention of "Discretionary Commission Arrangements" (DCA) in your agreement. This term indicates that the lender may have been involved in a discretionary commission scheme.
If you find evidence that your finance agreement fits these criteria, it is worth considering whether you might be entitled to compensation due to mis-selling practices.
If you believe your Suzuki Across finance agreement was affected by the FCA investigation, you can complain directly to your lender without needing a
claims management company. Contacting your lender directly is free and straightforward:
- Identify the Lender: Confirm which financial institution provided your motor finance agreement.
- Review Your Agreement: Gather all relevant documents, including the original contract and any correspondence with the lender.
- Formulate Your Complaint: Clearly outline why you believe the financing terms were unfair or misleading. Refer to specific sections of your agreement that may indicate discretionary commission arrangements.
- Submit Your Complaint: Use the official complaint process provided by your lender. Most lenders have online forms, email addresses, and postal addresses for submitting complaints.
Common lenders for Suzuki Across finance agreements include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance. Each of these institutions will handle your complaint according to their internal procedures.
You do not need a claims management company to file a complaint or seek compensation. The FCA requires lenders to address valid complaints fairly and efficiently without the need for intermediary services.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). "Motor Finance: Discretionary Commission Arrangements Investigation." 2024.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census Data, 2021.
Based on 306 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Suzuki Uk has a pass rate of 86.6%. This is above the national average of 79.6%, meaning the Uk performs well in MOT testing.
The Uk pass rate is better than the overall Suzuki average of 83.6%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 17,495 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 86.6%
- MOT failure rate: 13.4%
- Tests analysed: 306 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 17,495 miles
- Suzuki average pass rate: 83.6%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.