The Pilote Evidance motorhome was commonly sold on Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) investigation period, which began on 6 April 2007 and concluded on 1 November 2024. This investigation uncovered widespread mis-selling of motor finance products, affecting millions of consumers across the UK.
How the Pilote Evidance was Typically Financed
The Pilote Evidance motorhome is a high-value vehicle that typically requires financing to purchase. During the FCA investigation period, PCP and HP agreements were commonly used for financing these vehicles. The typical finance amount ranged from £40,000 to £80,000, with terms spanning 48 to 120 months. Common lenders who provided finance for Pilote Evidance motorhomes included
Black Horse,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
Lombard, and Billing Finance.
PCP agreements often featured a large final balloon payment at the end of the term, which could be difficult for some consumers to afford or refinance. This structure meant that many customers were not fully aware of their financial obligations throughout the agreement period. if you have a PCP agreement with a Pilote Evidance motorhome and there was an inflated APR (Annual Percentage Rate), your finance agreement may be affected by the FCA investigation.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The FCA's investigation into motor finance mis-selling uncovered significant issues related to
discretionary commission arrangements. These arrangements allowed lenders to pay dealers a commission for each finance deal they facilitated, which could result in inflated APRs and higher costs for consumers. According to the FCA estimate, 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) by these practices during the investigation period, resulting in an estimated £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) in mis-sold motor finance products. On average, each consumer was overcharged by approximately £829 (FCA estimate).
The investigation found that many lenders and dealers did not disclose the true cost of financing to consumers, leading to widespread confusion and financial hardship for those who were unaware of the inflated APRs.
- Review Your Agreement: Look closely at your finance agreement for any mention of inflated APRs or high balloon payments. The term "Discretionary Contribution Amount" (DCA) may also appear in your agreement, indicating that a discretionary commission arrangement was used.
- Relevant Dates: Ensure that the date on your finance agreement falls within the FCA investigation period (6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024).
- Discretionary Contribution Amount (DCA): If you see this term in your agreement, it suggests that a discretionary commission was paid by your lender. This could indicate that your finance deal may have been mis-sold.
If you suspect that your Pilote Evidance motorhome finance agreement has been affected by the FCA investigation, you can complain directly to your lender without needing a
claims management company. Common lenders who provided financing for Pilote Evidance motorhomes include Black Horse, Close Brothers Motor Finance, Lombard, and Billing Finance.
When making your complaint, ensure that you provide clear evidence of any inflated APRs or other issues with your finance agreement. You can find contact information for these lenders on their respective websites or by searching online. many lenders have dedicated teams to handle complaints related to the FCA investigation and will work with you to resolve any issues.
You do not need a claims management company to pursue your complaint; this service is available directly from your lender at no cost to you. If you are unsure how to proceed, consider seeking free advice from organisations like the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
Sources and References
- FCA estimate of affected agreements: 12.1 million (FCA, 2024)
- Total mis-sold motor finance amount: £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) (FCA, 2024)
- FCA-estimated average per eligible agreement: £829 (FCA, 2024)
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.