What Happens if a Dealer Didn’t Disclose Their Commission?

What Happens if a Dealer Didn’t Disclose Their Commission?

Did your PCP or HP car finance agreement include an interest rate that seemed a bit too high? What if your dealer quietly earned hidden commission—without telling you?

Many consumers were unaware that dealers and brokers were earning undisclosed commissions by inflating interest rates. The result? You overpaid—sometimes for years.

This post will explain:

  • How undisclosed dealer commission works
  • What legal rights you have
  • What compensation you may be owed
  • How PCP Recovery helps you reclaim overpaid funds

Understanding Hidden Commission in Car Finance

If you entered into a PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) or HP (Hire Purchase) agreement between 2007 and January 2021, there’s a significant chance you were unknowingly charged twice. Once through your regular monthly payments — which you expected — and a second time through a hidden interest rate increase caused by what’s known as a Discretionary Commission Arrangement (DCA).

In a DCA, car dealers were given the freedom to set the interest rate offered to customers. The higher the rate they set, the more commission they earned from the lender. This arrangement created a conflict of interest: instead of helping you secure the best deal, dealers were incentivized to increase your interest rate — sometimes by several percentage points — solely to earn more money. The worst part? This was rarely disclosed to you.

That extra percentage might not have seemed significant at the time, but over the course of your agreement, it could have added thousands of pounds to your total repayment — making your car finance effectively twice as expensive. And you were never told. You paid the inflated costs, while the dealer quietly took home a larger commission.

Why Transparency in Car Finance Matters

Clarity in financial products is critical. When dealers hide commission, you lose the ability to compare rates or negotiate better terms. This lack of transparency violates consumer rights and FCA regulations, setting the stage for a mis‑selling claim.

FCA’s Ban and Your Rights

In January 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority banned DCAs due to their opaque nature. The FCA’s decision confirmed that undisclosed commission was unfair and exploitative. For contracts signed before the ban, you still retain legal rights to redress, which may result in compensation.

What a Non‑Disclosure of Commission Means for You

  1. You paid a higher APR than necessary
  2. You lost the chance to shop around for a better deal
  3. You were denied fair treatment under consumer finance law
  4. You are entitled to claim back the overpaid interest

Real Example: How Much You Could Be Owed

Consider a £12,000 PCP financed over 48 months.

  • Base APR: 6%
  • Inflated APR: 9%
  • Overpayment: ~£950 on interest

Multiply that by thousands of vehicles, and you’re looking at millions of pounds in hidden payments. For individual claimants, compensation typically ranges £500–£2,000+.

Step‑by‑Step: How to Make a Car Finance Commission Claim

Step 1 – Check Eligibility

Use our Free Claim Checker. It takes minutes and flags your potential claim instantly.

Step 2 – Agreement Retrieval

Don’t have paperwork? We source your finance agreement from lenders via secure platforms.

Step 3 – Commission Analysis

We review your APR against base lender rates to calculate overpayments using FCA‑compliant tools.

Step 4 – Complaint Filing

We prepare and submit your formal complaint, including calculations and documentation.

Step 5 – Compensation Negotiation

Once the lender accepts the claim, we negotiate your settlement and transfer funds to you.

Case Study: James’ £1,230 Refund

“James from Sheffield was charged a 10.5% APR for his HP deal in 2015. We discovered the dealer had inflated it above market rate. Within 8 weeks, James received £1,230 back—no calls, no fuss.”

Read more in our full Case Studies section.

DIY vs Managed Claims

You can file a claim directly—but many miss:

  • Finding your agreement
  • Calculating excess interest accurately
  • Drafting a strong FCA complaint

Our managed claim service simplifies this with tools, expertise, and solicitor support—on a no-win, no-fee basis.

FAQs

Q: What counts as a mis‑sold commission in car finance?
Undisclosed commission earned by a dealer inflating your APR beyond the base rate.

Q: Will claiming affect my credit rating?
No. It’s purely a compensation process, not a credit application.

Q: Do I need paperwork to start?
No. We request your finance details directly from the lender.

Q: How long does a claim take?
Typically 8–12 weeks after submission.

Q: What does it cost?
Nothing upfront. Only a success fee if you receive compensation.

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By pressing the “Submit and Verify My Claim” button, I confirm that I have had a vehicle on finance and that I was not aware of any commission payment being made to the dealer. I have read and agree to PCP Recovery’s terms and conditions and Privacy Policy.

I understand that in order to verify my eligibility a soft credit check will be performed through our provider, Valid8 Ltd or Valifi Ltd, which will not affect my credit score. I consent to PCP Recovery Solicitors sending a Letter of Complaint to the lenders to determine if my agreements were mis-sold and to present my claim. PCP Recovery has been provided with a copy of your electronic signature which will be applied to the Terms and Conditions and Letter of Authority. You also consent for your electronic signature being used on a Financial Ombudsman Service complaint form, if necessary.

Claim up to £5,318.25* per agreement .

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