In 2025, the term “PCP claims” is no longer confined to legal briefings or industry updates. It is now a topic of public interest, featuring in newspaper columns, radio shows and online discussions. What was once seen as a financial formality has transformed into a powerful consumer movement, driven by stories of people who entered car finance agreements between 2007 and 2021 and now feel they were not given the full picture.
Behind these headlines are individual stories of trust, misunderstanding and the fight for fairness. Together, they are challenging long-standing industry practices and pushing car finance into the spotlight.
What Is a PCP Agreement?
A Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) is a type of car finance that enables buyers to pay smaller monthly amounts over a fixed term. At the end of the agreement, the driver is usually given three options:
- Return the car
- Trade it in and start a new deal
- Pay a final balloon payment to own the car outright
It is this balloon payment, and how it was presented (or not), that has become a central focus of many claims. PCP deals were often sold as affordable and flexible, but thousands of consumers are now realising that vital details were not clearly disclosed.
The Personal Stories Behind the Claims
The headlines may speak of regulation and reform, but real people are the driving force behind the surge in mis-sold car finance claims. Each story reveals a similar theme — a sense of being kept in the dark.
Common patterns in consumer stories include:
- Lack of transparency: Many drivers only learned about the balloon payment after signing the contract or nearing the end of the agreement.
- Undisclosed commission: Some were unaware that their broker or dealer received commission based on the terms they agreed to.
- One-size-fits-all options: Consumers reported not being offered alternative finance products.
- Rushed decisions: Several claimants recall being pressured to sign without adequate time to review the terms.
These issues go beyond individual error. They reveal systemic practices where key financial details were either minimised or omitted altogether.
Why PCP Claims Are Now Mainstream
The increase in PCP-related complaints has turned a quiet consumer issue into a major news story in 2025. Several factors have contributed to its rise:
1. Increased consumer education
Widespread media coverage and online tools have made it easier for drivers to check whether their agreements were fair. Knowledge that was once reserved for financial experts is now accessible to the average person.
2. Regulatory involvement
As more complaints have been submitted, consumer protection bodies have started investigating patterns across the industry. This regulatory attention has further amplified public interest.
3. Widespread use of PCP
Because PCP became one of the most common forms of car finance between 2007 and 2021, the number of people potentially affected is significant.
Spotlight on Black Horse Claims
Among the many companies referenced in these stories, one that continues to attract attention is Black Horse. Many drivers who dealt with this provider are now revisiting their contracts and questioning whether they were given full and fair information at the time of signing.
Black Horse finance claims have highlighted issues such as:
- Balloon payments that were not clearly explained
- Commission that was not disclosed
- Lack of alternative finance options at the point of sale
Although not every agreement involved wrongdoing, the number of formal complaints has grown, prompting many others to re-examine their own car finance terms. For those who dealt with this provider, checking original paperwork is becoming a key step toward financial clarity.
Is Your Agreement Worth a Second Look?
If you took out a PCP agreement between 2007 and 2021, it may be worth reviewing your contract to determine whether you were fairly treated.
Key questions to ask yourself include:
- Was the final balloon payment clearly explained?
- Did the dealer mention commission or incentives that may have influenced the deal?
- Were you offered different finance options to compare?
- Did you feel rushed or pressured into agreeing without enough time?
- Were key terms like mileage caps and condition requirements properly explained?
If the answer to one or more of these is no, your agreement might be worth challenging. Many consumers have successfully submitted car finance claims after discovering they were not given all the facts.
What the Claims Are Teaching Us
Beyond individual outcomes, the PCP claims movement is also shaping how businesses communicate, how products are sold and how trust is built in financial transactions.
Broader lessons include:
- Transparency is not optional: If a financial product involves commission, fees or final payments, these must be made clear from the outset.
- Informed consumers make better decisions: Giving people time and choice results in fairer agreements.
- Accountability matters: When companies are held responsible for unclear sales tactics, the entire industry improves.
Looking Ahead
The consumer shift we are seeing in 2025 reflects a wider cultural change. People are no longer willing to accept financial jargon, confusing paperwork or half-explained contracts. The rise of PCP claims is a symptom of that change — a sign that transparency and fairness are now non-negotiable expectations.
This movement is not just about compensation. It is about rewriting the rules of engagement between lenders and borrowers, and ensuring that future drivers are equipped with the clarity and confidence they deserve.
Final Thoughts
For many, reviewing an old car finance agreement can feel overwhelming. But doing so could uncover more than just forgotten terms. It could reveal a lack of transparency that deserves to be addressed.
Whether your contract was with a well-known lender or a local dealership, if it was signed between 2007 and 2021, it may be eligible for review. The momentum behind mis-sold car finance claims continues to grow, and with it comes the opportunity to hold financial providers to a higher standard.
By telling your story, asking the right questions and taking action, you become part of a much larger effort to make the car finance industry fairer for everyone.
