The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter was commonly sold on
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) investigation period, which spanned from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. The FCA investigation found that
discretionary commission arrangements in motor finance had led to widespread mis-selling issues across various vehicle types and manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz.
How the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter was Typically Financed
The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is a popular choice for businesses seeking an electric commercial van. During the period under scrutiny, it was commonly financed through PCP and HP agreements with amounts typically ranging from £20,000 to £45,000 (FCA estimate). Common finance lenders for Mercedes-Benz vehicles include
Black Horse,
Lombard,
Close Brothers Motor Finance, and Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions.
PCP terms often ranged between 36 and 60 months. These agreements frequently included balloon payments at the end of the term, which represent a large final payment that must be made to own the vehicle outright. This structure can create financial pressure for buyers if they are unable or unwilling to make the balloon payment at the end of their contract.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into motor finance agreements, focusing on discretionary commission arrangements between lenders and dealerships. These commissions were often tied to the sale of more expensive deals rather than better value options for consumers. As a result, 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) during this period (FCA estimate), with customers collectively overpaying by £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026). On average, each customer was estimated to have been overcharged by £829 (FCA estimate).
The investigation revealed that dealers often steered customers towards more expensive finance options, such as PCP agreements with higher interest rates and larger final payments, rather than recommending straightforward HP deals or leasing arrangements. This practice meant that consumers frequently ended up paying far more for their vehicles over the term of the agreement.
How to Check Your Agreement Look for terms such as "discretionary commission," "DCA" (Discretionary Commission Arrangement), or any mention of the lender paying additional commissions based on the type of deal sold.
check if your finance agreement falls within the investigation period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. If you notice any discrepancies in terms that suggest you were steered towards a more expensive financing option than necessary, it is worth investigating further.
If you suspect your Mercedes-Benz eSprinter finance agreement was affected by these mis-selling practices, you can complain directly to the lender without needing to involve any
claims management company. Common lenders for Mercedes-Benz vehicles include Black Horse, Lombard, Close Brothers Motor Finance, and Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions.
To start a complaint, contact your lender's customer service department via phone or email. Provide them with evidence from your original finance agreement showing any discrepancies or issues related to discretionary commissions. You should also mention the FCA investigation and its findings. Keep copies of all correspondence for your records.
Lenders are required by law to handle complaints in a fair and timely manner, so you do not need to involve a claims management company to pursue this matter. You can complain directly to your lender for free.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) estimates on affected agreements: 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026)
- Total overpayment figure from the FCA investigation: £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026)
- Average individual overcharge according to the FCA investigation: £829 (FCA estimate)
These figures are based on the findings of the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) motor finance investigation and provide a clear indication of the scale and impact of mis-selling practices during the specified period.
Based on 375,769 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Mercedes-Benz C has a pass rate of 81.1%. This is close to the national average of 79.6%, meaning the C performs about average in MOT testing.
The C pass rate is in line with the overall Mercedes-Benz average of 82.3%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 86,936 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 81.1%
- MOT failure rate: 18.9%
- Tests analysed: 375,769 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 86,936 miles
- Mercedes-Benz average pass rate: 82.3%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.