Pilote motorhomes were 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 investigation revealed that millions of motor vehicle financing agreements, including those for Pilote motorhomes, were potentially mis-sold due to
discretionary commission arrangements between car manufacturers and finance companies.
How Pilote Motorhomes Were Financed
Pilote motorhomes are popular recreational vehicles manufactured in France, often financed through leading lenders such as
Black Horse,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
Lombard, and Billing Finance. During the FCA investigation period, these lenders commonly offered PCP and HP agreements for Pilote purchases. PCP typically involves a deposit payment followed by monthly instalments over an agreed term, with the option to buy the motorhome outright at the end of the agreement or hand it back. Hire Purchase (HP) requires regular payments until the total loan amount is paid off in full.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The FCA investigation uncovered that car manufacturers had been making discretionary commission arrangements with finance companies during the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. These commissions were given when a manufacturer's vehicle was financed by its preferred lender, incentivising dealerships to push these lenders over others. The FCA estimated that 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) across various car and motorhome brands could have been affected by this practice. This mis-selling potentially led to consumers paying an average of £829 extra per agreement (FCA estimate), with a total cost of £7.5 billion (FCA estimate).
How to Check Your Agreement If it falls between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024, there’s a possibility that discretionary commissions may have influenced its terms. You can review your finance contract documentation for indications such as unusually high fees or interest rates compared to market standards.
If you suspect that your Pilote motorhome finance agreement was mis-sold, you do not need a
claims management company and should contact the lender directly. Common lenders for Pilote motorhomes include Black Horse, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Lombard, and Billing Finance. These companies have their own complaint procedures in place to handle such issues. You can initiate your complaint by visiting their respective websites or contacting them via phone or email.
Towed caravans are NOT covered by the FCA motor finance scheme. Only self-propelled motorhomes with their own engine and drivetrain are in scope for the FCA investigation.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) estimates on affected agreements, total cost, and average additional costs.
- Close Brothers Motor Finance, Black Horse, Lombard, Billing Finance complaint procedures.
FCA Compensation: FCA Scheme Figures
The FCA confirmed on 30 March 2026 that 12.1 million motor finance agreements are covered by the FCA redress scheme. The FCA-estimated scheme average of £829 per eligible agreement per agreement, with a total of £7.5 billion set aside for consumers. The scheme covers PCP and HP agreements entered into between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024.
Two separate schemes apply: post-2014 agreements (implement by 30 June 2026) and pre-2014 agreements (implement by 31 August 2026). The final deadline to complain is 31 August 2027. You can complain to your lender directly for free. You do not need a claims management company.