Car finance mis-selling

Thought I’d start a thread on this seeing as updated rules and expectations have been published now and claims are likely to start in earnest. I had no idea quite how far back this went (and up to how recently for that matter). We had a car on finance in 2008 and after hearing Martin Lewis on PM on Radio 4 last night I went to the Money Saving Expert website to use the free complaint tool they have there.

To be honest, the adverts from claims intermediaries had been putting me off even thinking about whether we might have a claim because it creates the assumption that the process is difficult. But MSE’s tool simply drafted me an email for me to copy and paste and send to the customer service email address of the dealer that sold me the car. That’s all you have to do - contact the dealer directly with as much information as you can remember. I had to trawl through old photos until I found one with the car reg on it as I don’t have any paperwork any more (and the car is long gone).

If you bought a car on finance between 2007 and 2024 you should look into this, and read the details at https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/re...m-car-finance/ where you can also find the free complaint-drafting tool.

I’m going to update here when I hear from the dealer for good or ill. Would be good to hear from other members who are affected. This goes back almost 20 years so chances are I’m not the only one!

Here a link to the FCA website on this subject.

https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/car-finance-complaints

If you sign up to a free account at Equifax (and download the App), this will tell you what loans you’ve had (if you aren’t sure).

https://www.equifax.co.uk/products/p...inance-checker

[Paddy1]

Equifax app is well worth it. I've had 2 complaints in for over a year now but I checked it after MLMS the other night and it found a third one from, I think, 2007.

Guidelines and timescales for the process (from the link above)

If you used finance to buy a car, motorbike or van between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024 you may be owed compensation.

Many lenders didn't properly tell customers important information about their agreements. This broke laws and our rules in force at the time. That’s why we've launched a scheme to make sure people are compensated.

There will be a set-up period so lenders can prepare.

If you took out your loan before 1 April 2014, the scheme will start on 31 August 2026.
If you took out your loan from 1 April 2014, the scheme will start on 30 June 2026.
Some lenders may start looking at claims before these dates.

Quick read: your next steps
If you complain before the scheme starts, your case will be assessed, and any compensation paid, sooner. You don't need to use a claims management company or law firm.

If you don't complain, lenders will contact anyone potentially owed money within 6 months of the scheme starting.

If you've already complained and had an acknowledgement from your lender, you don't need to do anything.

[Hom3r]

I've had 2 PCPs (2017 & 2019)

I havent bought a car on finance since the 1990's.
After that I had a company car until 2005, then leased cars until 2019.
At that point I bought and kept my last leased car (but not using any finance).