If you arranged a PCP with Santander Consumer Finance between April 2007 and January 2021 and weren’t informed about commission or weren’t given a clear explanation of the charges, you may have a case. Even if you’re unsure, our free Claim Checker can help you find out.
What you need to know
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If you took out car finance between April 2007 and January 2021, you could be one of millions across the UK who were mis-sold their agreement. This includes people who financed their vehicle through Santander Consumer Finance.
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Widespread use of discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs), along with vague terms and questionable sales practices meant many customers unknowingly paid inflated costs while brokers and lenders received bonuses.
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If you took out a car loan agreement with Santander Consumer Finance and were affected, you could be entitled to compensation. Premier Legal Assist can help you access no-win, no-fee legal help to pursue your claim.
Find out if you’re eligible to make a 'no-win, no-fee' PCP claim against Santander Consumer Finance
What does a PCP claim against Santander Consumer Finance involve?
A PCP claim is a type of complaint made by consumers who believe they were not given all the necessary information about their car finance agreement, particularly around how interest rates were set and whether the broker or dealer earned a commission. If you took out a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Hire Purchase (HP) agreement between 6 th April 2007 and 28 th January 2021 through Santander Consumer Finance, you may be entitled to claim compensation if the finance deal was mis-sold or unfair.
In many cases, Santander Consumer Finance, like other lenders, allowed car dealers to use a discretionary commission model (DCAs). This meant the dealer could increase the interest rate you were offered and receive a higher commission as a result. Crucially, most customers were never told this was happening.
Industry regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has since banned this practice and is now reviewing how fairly past complaints were handled. If you financed a vehicle between April 2007 and January 2021, you may have paid more than you should have without even realising it.
A PCP or HP mis-selling claim can help you recover the money you overpaid, sometimes worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Claims can be based on unfair commission arrangements, a lack of transparency, or inadequate explanation of the finance terms at thepoint of sale. If you were not told about the commission, or if the deal wasn’t properly explained, that could be grounds for a valid claim.
Even if your agreement was signed and then settled years ago, you may still be eligible. Our team can quickly check whether you have a claim against Santander Consumer Finance and guide you through the process with no upfront cost. Finding where you stand is quick, easy, and risk-free.
Santander Consumer Finance PCP claims
You may have a valid claim for PCP or HP mis-selling if any of the following apply:
- Undisclosed or hidden commission claims
- Inflated or unfair interest rates
- Lack of proper explanation of terms
- Failure to disclose full financial options
- Unaffordable lending claims or lack of affordability checks
- Misleading PCP specifics
- High-pressure sales tactics
- Breach of duty by lenders or brokers
- Incorrectly calculated early settlement fees
- Hidden fees and charges (other than commission)
If you used Santander Consumer Finance between April 2007 and January 2021 and think your agreement was unfair, we can help you start a no-win, no-fee claim.
Start your claim against Santander Consumer Finance with Premier Legal Assist
Discovering that your car finance agreement wasn’t what you thought can be frustrating, especially if you’ve paid more due to hidden commission. You’re not alone, and you’re not without options.
At Premier Legal Assist, we’re here to make sure your voice is heard. With a deep understanding of the car finance industry and commission rules, we work to get our clients the fair outcome they deserve.
Premier Legal Assist is a claims management company. You are not required to use one and you can submit your complaint of PCP mis-selling directly to the lender finance company. If it isn’t resolved, you can escalate your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service at no cost.
FAQs: Santander Consumer Finance PCP Claims FAQs
How do I know if I have a PCP claim against Santander Consumer Finance?
What’s the process for making a PCP claim against Santander Consumer Finance?
We make the process as simple and stress-free as possible. Here’s how it works:
Step 1 – Check your eligibility
Fill in our online Claim Checker with a few details. The details in this form will help to assess whether your agreement meets the criteria for PCP mis-selling.
Step 2 – Submit your claim
If eligible, our panel of solicitors will handle your claim by gathering all the required documentation and submitting it on your behalf.
Step 3 – Progressing your claim
Your claim will be managed in full, from calculating potential compensation to handling negotiations with Santander Consumer Finance or, if needed, escalating to the Financial Ombudsman or legal channels.
Step 4 – Keeping you up to date
You’ll be kept up to date at every milestone of your PCP claim up until your case is resolved and you are paid the compensation you are owed.
What will it cost to make a claim against Santander Consumer Finance?
All claims through Premier Legal Assist are made on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning there's
no upfront cost to you. If your claim is successful, your solicitor may take a success fee, which is usually a percentage of the overall compensation recovered. If your claim is unsuccessful, you pay nothing.
The fees listed below are exclusive of VAT and will be subject to VAT at the prevailing rate.
| Band | Redress (£) | Received % Fee | Maximum Fee |
| A | 1-1,499 | 30.00% | £420 |
| B | 1,500-9,999 | 28.00% | £2,500 |
| C | 10,000-24,999 | 25.00% | £5,000 |
| D | 25,000-49,999 | 20.00% | £7,500 |
| E | 50,000 | 15.00% | £10,000 |
These fees are in line with the FCA guidelines on compensation refunds of up to £49,999.
Premier Legal Assist acts on a no-win, no-fee basis, with no administration charges or hidden fees payable. Our Charging rates are set in bands depending upon the amount of redress or refund you receive.
How long will a PCP compensation claim against Santander Consumer Finance take?
If one of our panel of solicitors takes on your case, they will explain the possible timescales of your claim. Timelines vary depending on how Santander Consumer Finance responds and whether the complaint needs to go to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The
FCA is currently reviewing how past complaints were handled, which may also affect timelines.
What amount of compensation could I receive for my PCP claim?
Compensation values vary from case to case; your solicitor will explain this to you in full if they take on your case. Compensation usually reflects the extra money you paid due to an undisclosed or unfair commission.
Depending on your agreement, this could be hundreds or even thousands of pounds, and you may also be refunded interest or any relevant charges linked to the mis-selling.
Can I make a PCP claim for multiple vehicles?
Yes, you can. If you had more than one PCP or Hire Purchase agreement through Santander Consumer Finance, or other lenders, you may be able to make separate claims for each one.
What information do I need to provide to make a PCP claim? Do I need original documents?
You don't need to have all the original paperwork to make a claim. If you know the lender's name (e.g., Santander Consumer Finance), the date when the agreement was taken out, and the vehicle details, we can usually retrieve the rest. The more information you have, then usually the quicker your claim can be processed.
What if the dealership no longer exists? Can I still make a PCP claim?
Yes. The claim focuses on Santander Consumer Finance, the lender, not the dealership. Even if the dealer is no longer trading, you can still make a PCP compensation claim if Santander Consumer Finance was responsible for the finance agreement.
What if I’ve already sold the car or paid off the loan? Can I still make a PCP claim?
Yes, absolutely. You can still claim even if you no longer have the car or the agreement has been paid off. As long as the finance was arranged with Santander Consumer Finance between April 2007 and January 2021, you could be eligible to claim.
What’s the difference between PCP and Hire Purchase (HP) and can I still claim if mine was HP?
Both PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) and HP (Hire Purchase) are types of car finance; the key difference is what happens at the end of the agreement, namely whether you pay for the whole car (HP) or just the depreciation value with a balloon payment at the end of the term (PCP), but both could involve unfair or hidden commissions. If you had an HP agreement with Santander Consumer Finance, you may still be eligible to claim.
Why should I use Premier Legal Assist for my Santander Consumer Finance PCP claim?
We specialise in mis-sold finance claims and are working with consumers looking for redress from major lenders. We make the process clear and simple, all on a no-win, no-fee basis. With our specialist panel lawyers handling everything, you can focus on what matters while they fight your corner to recover the compensation you’re owed.
Premier Legal Assist is a claims management company. You do not need to use a claims management company to make your PCP mis-selling complaint. You can do this directly. If your complaint is unsuccessful or rejected, you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman
Service for free.
What is the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)?
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the UK's independent regulator for financial services institutions, including banks, lenders, insurers, and investment firms. Its main role is to make sure that consumers are treated fairly, markets operate with integrity, and businesses are held to high standards of transparency and accountability.
The FCA took a significant step in 2021 by banning discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs), which allowed car dealers to increase the interest rate on finance deals in return for higher commissions.
In 2024, the FCA launched a formal review into how lenders, such as Santander Consumer Finance, handled past complaints about these commission models.
What Does the Financial Ombudsman Do?
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is an independent and impartial body set up to settle disputes between consumers and financial firms when a complaint cannot be resolved directly. It provides a free service to the public and has legal powers to investigate and issue binding decisions.
If you submit a PCP mis-selling complaint to Santander Consumer Finance and they reject it, delay unreasonably, or offer an unsatisfactory outcome, the FOS can step in to review your case independently. They will consider whether the lender acted fairly and in line with FCA rules and industry standards.
The FOS plays a crucial role in ensuring consumers aren’t left without a voice. If your claim is strong but not accepted by Santander Consumer Finance, your lawyers will handle the entire escalation process on your behalf, giving you the best chance of securing the
compensation you’re entitled to.
Start your PCP claim with Premier Legal Assist today
If you believe that you may have entered into a PCP or HP car finance agreement that may have been unfair, or even if you're simply not sure, fill out our quick Claim Checker form.
Our panel of car finance agreement specialists can then determine if you are eligible to make a no-win, no-fee compensation claim.
Premier Legal Assist is a claims management company. You do not need to use a claims management company to make your PCP claim, you can complain to the PCP finance lender directly.
If the issue is not resolved, you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman service for free.
Important Information
Premier Legal Assist is a claims management company. You do not need to use a claims management company to make your complaint, you can complain to the organisation you are complaining about directly. If the issue is not resolved, you can refer it to the relevant independent Ombudsman service for free.