The Harley-Davidson Road Glide, a popular full-fairing touring motorcycle known for its powerful V-twin engine and sleek design, 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. These finance arrangements were often made through various lenders, including Black Horse, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Moneybarn. If you financed your Harley-Davidson Road Glide during this time frame, it’s crucial to understand the potential implications of the FCA motor finance investigation.
How the Harley-Davidson Road Glide was Typically Financed
The Harley-Davidson Road Glide was frequently purchased using PCP or HP agreements, with typical financing amounts ranging from £5,000 to £15,000 (FCA estimate). Common terms for these agreements were typically 36 to 48 months. Under a PCP agreement, buyers would make monthly payments and have the option to either return the bike at the end of the term or pay a lump sum known as a balloon payment to own it outright.
Discretionary commission arrangements played a significant role in how these finance deals were structured and sold. These arrangements allowed lenders to offer incentives to dealers for promoting certain financing products, which sometimes resulted in higher interest rates or hidden fees being passed on to consumers.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into the motor finance industry from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. This investigation uncovered widespread mis-selling practices involving discretionary commission arrangements, which affected a staggering 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026). The total amount involved in these agreements was estimated at £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026), with the average claim amount being around £829 (FCA estimate).
The FCA’s investigation highlighted that many consumers were not adequately informed about the true costs and conditions of their finance agreements, leading to potential overpayment or unfair terms.
How to Check Your Agreement Look for indications of discretionary commission arrangements, such as unusually high interest rates or hidden fees. The term “DCA” may appear in your agreement, which stands for Discretionary Commission Arrangement.
You can also check the dates when you signed your finance contract and compare them against the FCA investigation period to determine if your agreement falls within this timeframe.
If you suspect that your Harley-Davidson Road Glide was financed under unfair terms due to discretionary commission arrangements, you can complain directly to your lender at no cost. Common lenders for Harley-Davidson include Black Horse, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Moneybarn.
When complaining, provide clear details about the issues you encountered with your finance agreement and any supporting documentation you have. Lenders are required by law to respond to complaints within a certain timeframe.
It’s important to note that you do not need a claims management company to handle this process for you. You can manage the complaint yourself or seek free advice from independent sources like MLJ.org.uk (MLJ).
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). (2024). FCA motor finance investigation statistics.
- Office of National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021.