PCP & HP Finance Mis-Selling FAQs
The more details you can recall about your agreement, the more likely it will be that the finance company can locate and verify you against their systems promptly.
This will also help avoid requests for further information which can delay a decision being made.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates the financial services industry in the UK.
The FCA aim to make markets work well for individuals, for business, large and small, and for the economy as a whole.
This includes car finance which covers several types of financial products you can take out when purchasing a car.
Dealers use PCP finance to draw in people who want to change their car every few years. Around 80% of new cars you see on the road every day have been bought via a PCP deal, along with a growing amount of used vehicles too, making it the most prevalent financial product in the market.
It is mandatory for car finance companies to keep records of all their customer’s transactions and dealings for at least 6 years.
If you paid off your Finance Deal more than 6 years ago, there may not be any available paperwork for you.
However, there have been cases in which claims have been made against cases of mis-selling over 20 years ago, often without paperwork.
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) is effectively a personal loan which allows drivers to spread the payments for a vehicle over a long period, typically two or three years.
However, unlike a normal personal loan, you won’t be paying off the full value of the car and you won’t necessarily own it at the end of the dea, unless you choose to pay the final balloon payment.
PCP is one of the more complex financial products available to help you buy a car, but it can be broken down into three main parts: the deposit, the amount you borrow and the balloon payment.
The misconception around car finance is that the product being sold is a car.
This is only partly true. In fact, the main product that is being sold is a financial product which is a loan.
The car is a red herring that has deflected the public eye away from this sector of credit broking meaning it has not been under as much scrutiny as, say, mortgages.
The concept of PCP itself is also relatively new.
If you claim is rejected it can be escalated to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Compensation will vary depending on your original contract but most claims involving PCP agreements will be worth several thousands of pounds.
Claims will be made against the lender of the finance only.
The broker of the PCP agreement is considered an agent of the lender so the responsibility is on the lender to ensure their brokers behave according to the standards set by the FCA.
Let us take the complexity out of making your claim
PCP (Personal Contact Purchase) claims and HP (Hire Purchase) claims can often be complex for a consumer, and we intend to simplify this as much as possible for you throughout your time with us.
That’s why we’ve included some commonly asked questions which our team receive daily. These should cover the majority of your questions, but if you have any queries at all, you’re welcome to contact our team on 0161 524 4040, who will gladly cover any gaps in your knowledge.
We often find the quickest way for our client’s to gain an understanding is to submit their information, and undergo a quick call with your assigned claim consultant, who can clear up any confusion.