What is a PCP car finance claim?

A PCP car finance claim is a compensation claim against finance providers who mis-sold car finance agreements. Many dealerships received hidden commissions from lenders for arranging finance, which often resulted in customers paying higher interest rates without their knowledge. If you were affected, you may be entitled to a refund of the excess interest paid.

How much compensation can I expect?

The average claim is around £700 per finance agreement, though this can vary significantly depending on the size of your agreement and the level of hidden commission. Some claims have resulted in payouts of several thousand pounds. The FCA expects over £8 billion to be paid out across the industry.

How long does the claims process take?

Most claims are resolved within 3 to 6 months, depending on the lender's response time. Some straightforward cases may be resolved sooner. We'll keep you updated on progress throughout the process.

What does No Win, No Fee mean?

It means you won't pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful. Our fees range from 15% to 30% (plus VAT) of your compensation, depending on the amount recovered. There are no upfront costs, administration charges, or hidden fees.

Am I eligible to make a claim?

You may be eligible if you took out PCP or HP car finance between April 2007 and November 2024 and were not made aware of commission arrangements between the dealer and the finance provider. Even if you've already paid off your finance, you can still claim.

What information do I need to make a claim?

You just need your basic personal details — name, address, date of birth, and contact information. You don't need your original finance documents. Our system can search for your agreements using your details through credit reference agencies.

Can I claim if I have already paid off my finance?

Yes, absolutely. Whether your finance is still active or was paid off years ago, you can still make a claim. Many successful claims relate to finance agreements that ended several years ago.

How Long Does a PCP Claim Take? Timeline Explained

Q: What happens after I submit my claim?

After you submit, our team reviews your details and searches for eligible finance agreements. If agreements are found, we submit a formal complaint to the lender on your behalf. The lender then investigates and responds, typically within 8 weeks. If the claim is upheld, you receive your compensation minus our fee.

PCP Claim Finder Team8 April 20266 min read

The Short Answer

A typical PCP claim takes between 8 weeks and 9 months from start to finish. Some straightforward cases resolve faster; complex or disputed claims can take longer.

The wide range exists because every claim depends on the lender's response, the complexity of the commission arrangements, and whether escalation to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is needed.

Here is a detailed breakdown of what happens at each stage.

Stage 1: Submitting Your Details (5-10 minutes)

This is the quickest part. You provide us with the basic information we need:

Your name and contact details
Details of the vehicle (make, model, approximate purchase date)
The finance company (if you know it)
The dealership name (if you remember)

You can do this through our online claim form. It takes just a few minutes.

What happens next: Our team reviews your submission and confirms whether there is enough information to proceed.

Stage 2: Investigation and Case Preparation (1-3 weeks)

Once we have your details, we investigate the specifics of your finance agreement. This involves:

Identifying the lender and the type of agreement you had
Requesting details of commission arrangements from the lender
Reviewing the terms of your agreement for evidence of mis-selling
Calculating the estimated overpayment

During this stage, we may contact you for additional information. Having your original finance documents helps speed things up, though it is not essential. Our guide on what documents you need explains what helps at this stage.

What you need to do: Respond promptly if we ask for further details. The quicker you provide information, the faster we can progress your case.

Stage 3: Formal Complaint to the Lender (submitted after investigation)

Once your case is prepared, we submit a formal complaint to the lender on your behalf. The complaint sets out:

The details of your finance agreement
The grounds for your complaint (typically undisclosed commission)
The evidence of mis-selling
The compensation being sought

What happens next: The lender is required to acknowledge your complaint and begin their own investigation.

Stage 4: Lender's Response (8 weeks)

Under FCA rules, the lender has eight weeks to investigate your complaint and issue a final response. During this period, the lender will:

Review the commission arrangements that were in place
Check their records for evidence of what was disclosed to you
Assess whether the commission arrangement caused you to overpay
Calculate the appropriate compensation (if they uphold your complaint)

This is typically the longest waiting period in the process, and there is not much anyone can do to speed it up. The eight-week deadline is set by the FCA, and most lenders use the full period.

What you need to do: Wait. We monitor the progress and will update you when the lender responds. You do not need to chase anyone.

Possible Outcomes at This Stage

The lender will do one of three things:

Uphold your complaint in full — They accept the mis-selling occurred and offer compensation. This is the best outcome and means your claim can be resolved quickly.
Make a partial offer — They acknowledge some issues but offer less than you are owed. We will advise you on whether the offer is fair.
Reject your complaint — They dispute the mis-selling. If this happens, we can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman.

Stage 5 (If Needed): Financial Ombudsman Escalation (3-12 months)

If the lender rejects your complaint or makes an inadequate offer, the next step is to refer the case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The FOS is an independent body that resolves disputes between consumers and financial companies.

The FOS timeline is harder to predict because it depends on their current caseload. Given the volume of motor finance complaints, wait times have been longer than usual. Typical timescales:

Initial assessment: 4-8 weeks after referral
Investigation: 2-6 months
Final decision: Could be 6-12 months from referral in busy periods

The FOS will review all the evidence from both sides and make an independent decision. If they find in your favour, the lender is legally required to pay the compensation the FOS determines.

What you need to do: Again, we handle the communication. You may be asked to provide additional information or confirm details, but the heavy lifting is done by our team and the FOS.

What Affects How Long Your Claim Takes?

Several factors influence the timeline:

Factors That Speed Things Up

Having your documents ready — If you can provide your finance agreement, the investigation stage is faster
Responding quickly to any requests for information
Straightforward commission arrangements — Simple DCA cases with clear evidence tend to resolve faster
Cooperative lenders — Some lenders have set up dedicated teams to process claims efficiently

Factors That Slow Things Down

Missing documentation — If we need to request information from the lender before we can even file the complaint, this adds time
Complex cases — Multiple agreements, unusual commission structures, or disputed facts can complicate things
Lender backlogs — Some lenders are dealing with huge volumes of complaints and may take the full eight weeks or request extensions
FOS referral — If the case goes to the Ombudsman, expect several additional months
Lender disputes — If the lender challenges the claim, it takes longer to reach a resolution

What Can You Do to Keep Things Moving?

While much of the timeline is outside your control, there are a few things you can do:

Submit your claim as soon as possible — The earlier you start, the sooner you are in the queue
Provide as much detail as you can upfront — Vehicle details, finance company name, dates, and any paperwork you have
Respond promptly to any correspondence from us
Keep your contact details up to date — Make sure we can reach you if we need something

What to Expect in Terms of Communication

Throughout the process, we keep you informed:

Confirmation when your claim is submitted
Updates when significant milestones are reached (complaint filed, lender response received, etc.)
Notification of the outcome and any offer made
Advice on whether to accept an offer or escalate

You should not need to chase us. If you ever want an update, you can contact our team at any time.

Is It Worth the Wait?

The average successful claim pays out over £1,000, and many are worth considerably more. For most people, the wait — even if it stretches to several months — is well worth it for a four-figure payout that requires minimal effort on your part.

And because we work on a no win, no fee basis, you have nothing to lose by starting the process. If the claim does not succeed, you pay nothing.

Start the Clock

The sooner you submit your claim, the sooner the process begins. Every day you wait is another day added to your timeline.

Submit your claim now and start the process today. It takes just a few minutes, and you could have compensation in your account within weeks. Visit our how it works page for a visual breakdown of the process, or get in touch if you have any questions about timing.