Car Finance Claim Check: A Five-Minute Starting Checklist
Use this short checklist to find your lender, agreement dates and complaint route. A quick check can organise your next step, but cannot confirm a payout.
Key Takeaways
- Five minutes can organise a first check; it cannot confirm the commission arrangement or entitlement.
- The wider scheme includes more than DCA complaints, with conditions and exclusions to check.
- Use official lender contacts and record what you send, including any missing information.
You can make a useful start on a car finance complaint in a few minutes, especially if you have your documents ready. This checklist helps you identify what to check next. It is not an eligibility decision, a promise that the lender can complete its investigation in five minutes, or a guarantee of compensation.
The information below was checked on 28 October 2026.
Minute 1: Identify the agreement
Find the finance agreement or a statement. Record the lender, start date and vehicle registration. Note whether it was Hire Purchase, Personal Contract Purchase or a different arrangement. The vehicle purchase date and finance start date are not always interchangeable, so use the agreement where possible.
If you do not have the agreement number, leave that field as unknown in your notes rather than guessing it.
Minute 2: Check the relevant issue
A DCA let a broker influence the interest rate and earn commission linked to it. The FCA's ban took effect on 28 January 2021. That date relates to DCAs, not every possible commission complaint.
MoneyHelper's scheme explainer describes the broader agreement period, from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, and the other relevant features: high commission and certain contractual ties that were not adequately disclosed. PCH leasing is outside this scheme. Other exclusions and exceptions also apply, so a date match alone is insufficient.
Minute 3: Locate the genuine lender route
Use the FCA lender directory. It links to lender complaint routes and templates. If you cannot identify the lender, the directory suggests checking bank statements, contacting the dealer and consulting credit records.
Record where you found the contact details. Avoid entering personal information through an unsolicited advertising link simply because it says you qualify.
Minute 4: Write down the concern
Summarise what you believe was not explained and ask the lender to check the commission arrangement. Include the agreement details you have and say which information is missing. Review any template sentence by sentence so that it reflects your own experience.
Our free template can help. The optional PDF generator has separate pricing. You do not need to buy either representation or a document to contact your lender directly.
Minute 5: Save the next action
If you submit a complaint, save the text, date and confirmation. If you already complained, locate its reference before sending another. If documents are missing, your next action may simply be finding them or asking the lender for help.
Check our current timetable for the scheme's partial suspension and legal challenge. An acknowledgment confirms receipt; it does not confirm that you qualify or that payment is imminent.
Car Finance Refund Team
Published by Car Finance Refund Team. Check the article's sources and current lender or FCA guidance before acting on information about your agreement.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice.
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You can complain directly to your lender for free. Use our free complaint template, or choose the optional PDF generator with its price shown before checkout.
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