FOS decisions / Motor Finance
Motor Finance
Financial Ombudsman Service final decisions, reproduced verbatim from the FOS published decisions register.
Decisions
51
Upheld
28
Not upheld
23
Avg redress
£863
Upheld complaints (28)
Volvo Car Financial Services UK Limited
DRN-6174032A conditional sale agreement's end date is determined by the contractual terms showing the final payment is due 37 months after the agreement date, regardless of when payments were actually taken.
UpheldRedress £75Apr 2026MONEYBARN NO.1 LIMITED
DRN-6254317Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a supplier of goods under a conditional sale agreement must ensure goods are of satisfactory quality at the point of supply, and consumers have a right to reject within 30 days if faults are present or de
UpheldMar 2026Moneybarn Limited
DRN-6262493A supplier of goods under a conditional sale agreement must ensure goods are of satisfactory quality; a reasonable person would not expect significant defects to develop shortly after acquisition of a used car.
UpheldMar 2026Hyundai Capital UK Limited
DRN-6171626A supplier under a conditional sale agreement must provide goods of satisfactory quality, with durability meaning components must last a reasonable amount of time appropriate to the car's age and mileage.
UpheldFeb 2026Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited
DRN-6236142A supplier of goods under a hire agreement must ensure the goods are of satisfactory quality as implied under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, with higher expectations for brand new vehicles.
UpheldFeb 2026Stellantis Financial Services UK Limited
DRN-6127668A brand-new car supplied under a conditional sale agreement must be of satisfactory quality, and durability is a relevant factor in assessing whether goods meet the Consumer Rights Act 2015 standard.
UpheldJan 2026Hartwell Finance Limited
DRN-6024140A finance broker must ensure that the finance agreement offered is suitable for the consumer's stated needs and that pre-contract information is clear and not misleading.
UpheldNov 2025MONEYBARN NO.1 LIMITED
DRN-6116299Goods supplied under a conditional sale agreement must be of satisfactory quality as implied under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
UpheldAug 2025Close Brothers Limited
DRN-3645933Goods supplied under a consumer credit contract must be of satisfactory quality as implied by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and the lender remains responsible for ensuring the consumer is not left bearing costs incurred due to the lender's
UpheldRedress £250Motability Operations Limited
DRN-6234003Goods supplied under a regulated consumer credit agreement must be of satisfactory quality, and the supplier is responsible for remedying faults identified within six months of supply.
UpheldRedress £1,249Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC
DRN-5996689Goods supplied under a consumer credit hire agreement must be of satisfactory quality, and a brand-new car should be free from defects when supplied.
UpheldRedress £6,009Close Brothers Limited
DRN-6103750A supplier of goods under a conditional sale agreement must ensure goods are of satisfactory quality and match their description under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
UpheldBlack Horse Limited
DRN-5939294A lender must report account activity accurately to credit files, but can fairly agree to remove adverse markers as a goodwill gesture when complaints are referred to the ombudsman.
UpheldCA Auto Finance UK Limited
DRN-6107146A supplier of a used car under a finance agreement must ensure the car is of satisfactory quality at the point of supply, taking into account durability requirements.
UpheldStellantis Financial Services UK Limited
DRN-5976400Firms must recognise vulnerability and respond appropriately to customers experiencing financial hardship, including engaging clearly and offering forbearance, though compensation awards should reflect the actual level of distress caused.
UpheldRedress £250Close Brothers Limited
DRN-6184384A lender must carry out proportionate affordability checks that are thorough enough to understand the borrower's true financial position before lending, particularly for significant long-term commitments.
UpheldStartline Motor Finance Limited
DRN-6254521A lender must carry out reasonable and proportionate affordability checks that consider the impact of repayments on the consumer's overall financial situation, including essential non-discretionary expenses.
UpheldPromas Enterprises Limited trading as Lease4Less
DRN-6116884A cancellation fee must be clearly disclosed and the amount charged must be reasonable and proportionate to the costs actually incurred by the service provider.
UpheldRedress £220Santander Consumer (UK) Plc
DRN-6244348A finance company must not report disputed repair charges as arrears to credit reference agencies, and must promptly correct credit file errors caused by administrative mistakes.
UpheldAld Automotive Limited
DRN-6219167A lender must honour a settlement figure it has issued to a consumer, even if the figure contains a calculation error, when the consumer has reasonably relied on that figure to make a decision.
UpheldRedress £150Close Brothers Limited
DRN-6182695A supplier of goods under a conditional sale agreement must ensure the goods are of satisfactory quality as implied by the Sale of Goods Act 1979, taking into account the goods' age, price, mileage and condition.
UpheldRedress £500Lex Autolease
DRN-6129846Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods supplied under a hire agreement must be of satisfactory quality, and a consumer may reject goods within 30 days if they fail to meet this standard without being obliged to accept a repair.
UpheldRedress £150Motability Operations Limited
DRN-6025848Goods supplied under a consumer credit agreement must be of satisfactory quality, and a new car should be in perfect working order and durable for a significant period before major faults occur.
UpheldRedress £2,253Moneybarn No. 1 Limited
DRN-5751192Lenders must conduct proportionate, borrower-focused affordability assessments that consider the impact of repayments on the consumer, not merely the likelihood of repayment.
UpheldItc Compliance Limited
DRN-6227395Goods supplied under a consumer hire agreement must be of satisfactory quality under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and consumers have a right to reject goods within 30 days if they fail to meet this standard or if repair takes an unreasonab
UpheldBMW Financial Services (GB) Limited
DRN-6124464A hire agreement can only be terminated for breach if the hirer actually breached material terms; allowing an insured named driver to use the vehicle does not constitute a breach.
UpheldRedress £300Motability Operations Limited
DRN-6192153A provider terminating access to a disability benefits scheme must have significant reasons, as the impact on the consumer's ability to obtain essential transport is substantial.
UpheldVolkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited
DRN-6223984A supplier of a hire agreement must collect goods at the end of the agreement term in a timely manner, and failure to do so causing the consumer to become an involuntary bailee may give rise to compensation for distress and inconvenience.
UpheldRedress £400
Not-upheld complaints (23)
Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC
DRN-6151901Under Consumer Credit Act 1974 s.101, the right to voluntary terminate a hire agreement does not apply where annual payments exceed £1,500, and the hire period commences on delivery of the goods, not the agreement date.
Not upheldFeb 2026Tesla Financial Services Limited
DRN-6225144A hire agreement supplier is entitled to collect charges in accordance with the contract terms, but must provide timely and clear information to enable the consumer to understand and challenge charges.
Not upheldFeb 2026Mobile Money Limited
DRN-3833094A lender who acquires a loan in transfer is not responsible for complaints about the original sale unless it explicitly assumes liability for the sale.
Not upheldJan 2023MONEYBARN NO.1 LIMITED
DRN-5992391A lender must report accurate information to credit reference agencies and provide fair compensation for breaches that cause distress and inconvenience.
Not upheldMotability Operations Limited
DRN-6208382A consumer must demonstrate material breach of acceptable quality standards or actual financial loss to be entitled to redress beyond compensation already offered.
Not upheldOodle Financial Services Limited
DRN-6160074A finance provider is not liable for vehicle defects unless there is clear evidence the fault was inherent at the point of sale rather than caused by wear and tear.
Not upheldMobile Money Limited
DRN-3932837A lender must carry out proportionate checks to ensure it does not lend irresponsibly, with the depth of checks increasing with relationship length and loan amount.
Not upheldCarCashPoint Limited
DRN-4323928A lender may instruct bailiffs and charge associated fees where a default notice has been properly served under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, provided the charges are fair and reasonable under the loan terms.
Not upheldCarCashPoint Limited
DRN-4326894A lender must carry out proportionate affordability checks before lending, with the level of checks being reasonable relative to the loan amount, borrower's income, and stage of the lending relationship.
Not upheldLex Autolease Ltd
DRN-6106940A finance lessor may legitimately charge a contractually-agreed disposal fee and pursue payment in accordance with the lease terms, provided the fee was disclosed and agreed upfront.
Not upheldMoneybarn No.1 Limited
DRN-6248486A lender acts fairly in providing credit if, even absent fully proportionate affordability checks, the borrower's financial circumstances show sufficient disposable income to sustain repayment of the agreement.
Not upheldSantander Consumer (UK) Plc
DRN-6250213A creditor can recover refurbishment costs for damage exceeding fair wear and tear under s100(4) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, assessed against BVRLA industry guidance.
Not upheldAutotrader Leasing Limited
DRN-6184398A broker is not responsible for delays or credit file searches carried out by the lender, as the broker has no control over the lender's underwriting process or credit reporting decisions.
Not upheldVolvo Car Financial Services UK Limited
DRN-6266326Goods supplied under a consumer credit agreement must be of satisfactory quality at the time of supply, but a fault arising 11 months later is not evidence of a pre-existing defect.
Not upheldZopa Bank Limited
DRN-6250556Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be of satisfactory quality, which for second-hand cars takes into account age, mileage, price, and whether failure is due to reasonably expected wear and tear rather than a durability defect.
Not upheldStellantis Financial Services UK Limited
DRN-5679986End of contract charges for vehicle damage must comply with BVRLA standards, and repairs must be carried out by a reputable repairer with full transferable warranty to meet contractual obligations.
Not upheldMoneybarn No.1 Limited
DRN-3521323A lender must complete adequate affordability checks, including enquiry into the borrower's regular committed expenditure, before granting credit.
Not upheldFirstRand Bank Limited trading as MotoNovo Finance
DRN-6265286A lender must carry out reasonable and proportionate checks to assess creditworthiness, but the absence of such checks does not necessarily mean the lending decision was unreasonable if the customer could sustainably afford the repayments.
Not upheldLEASYS UK LTD
DRN-6165069A supplier of goods under a hire agreement must ensure the goods are of satisfactory quality at the point of supply, taking into account age, price and mileage.
Not upheldAdvantage Finance Limited
DRN-6226330A motor finance lender's failure to disclose commission does not render the lending relationship unfair under s140 Consumer Credit Act 1974 where the commission is a flat fee (not discretionary), represents a small percentage of the amount
Not upheldMoneybarn No.1 Limited
DRN-6202182A motor finance lender's relationship with a consumer is not unfair under Section 140 CCA merely because undisclosed commission was paid to a credit broker, unless the commission involved discretionary arrangement, was disproportionately hi
Not upheldAdvantage Finance Limited
DRN-6239624A motor finance lender's failure to disclose a fixed-rate commission payment does not render the lending relationship unfair under s140 CCA where there is no discretionary commission arrangement, the commission is not high relative to the a
Not upheldClose Brothers Limited
DRN-6077697A consumer who voluntarily returns financed goods to a third party without the lender's knowledge or consent remains liable under the finance agreement, and the lender may continue to pursue recovery and report arrears to credit reference a
Not upheld