The Ducati Monster, a popular motorbike model renowned for its distinctive styling and performance, was commonly sold on Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the FCA investigation period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. These financing options allowed Ducati Monster owners to enjoy their bikes without upfront payments that could be prohibitive, but they were often marred by questionable practices in the motor finance industry.
How the Ducati Monster Was Typically Financed
During this period, Ducati Monsters were frequently purchased through PCP and HP agreements typically ranging from £5,000-£15,000 (FCA estimate). Common lenders for these agreements included Black Horse, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Moneybarn. These finance packages often featured balloon payments at the end of the agreement period, which could be a significant financial hurdle for many customers.
PCP agreements typically offered terms ranging from 36 to 48 months (FCA estimate). This structure allowed riders to make lower monthly payments by deferring a large portion of the bike's cost until the end of the term. Meanwhile, HP agreements generally required higher monthly payments but did not include balloon payments or other deferred costs.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into motor finance practices in response to widespread concerns about unfair and misleading sales tactics. One of the key findings was that discretionary commission arrangements were often used, which meant dealers could receive additional payments for arranging specific types of finance agreements. This arrangement incentivised dealers to push certain finance deals over others, potentially leading to customers being steered towards more expensive or unsuitable products.
The investigation uncovered that 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) by these practices (FCA estimate) (FCA, March 2026). The total estimated cost to the industry was around £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026).
How to Check Your Agreement Look for any mention of "Discretionary Commission Arrangement" (DCA) or similar language indicating that the dealer may have received additional incentives to sell a particular type of finance.
Relevant dates are crucial: agreements entered into between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024 fall under the scope of this investigation. If your agreement was made during these years, it is worth investigating further whether you were affected by unfair practices.
You do not need a claims management company to complain about potential mis-selling issues with your Ducati Monster finance agreement. Common lenders such as Black Horse, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Moneybarn all have dedicated customer service teams who can handle complaints directly.
To initiate the process, contact your lender's complaint department via phone or email. Provide them with details of your concerns based on the information you've gathered during your review of the finance agreement. The FCA also offers guidance on how to make a formal complaint and escalate issues if necessary (FCA).
You can complain directly to your lender for free without any obligation to use a claims management company.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). "Motor Finance Investigation: Key Findings." 2024.
- Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). "Guidance on Making Complaints About Motor Finance Mis-selling." 2023.