Can You Claim Against Black Horse Finance?

Yes, you can claim against Black Horse car finance through FCA rules or the Ombudsman, depending on the issue and your evidence.

If you’re unhappy with a car loan or hire purchase agreement from Black Horse, you have several routes to seek redress. This guide sets out the claim types that commonly succeed, the steps to take, the documents to gather, and what timelines to expect under current UK rules. You’ll see where the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) fit in, how commission complaints are being handled, and when Section 75 might help.

Claim Against Black Horse Finance: Routes And Rules

There isn’t a single route that fits everyone. Your path depends on what went wrong: undisclosed dealer commission, poor affordability checks, vehicle faults, or something else. The tables, checklists, and step-by-step sections below will help you choose the right track and move fast.

Common Claim Types You Can Use

Most successful complaints fall into one of these buckets:

Commission complaints — where a dealer received commission that raised your interest rate without clear disclosure.
Affordability issues — where the lender approved credit without reasonable checks on your finances.
Vehicle faults or misdescription — where the car wasn’t of satisfactory quality or as described, and the finance was used to buy it.
Unfair charges or interest — where default fees, interest calculations, or early termination sums look excessive or wrong.
Section 75 claims — where the supplier breached the contract or misrepresented the car, and the lender is jointly liable.

Quick Comparison: Which Route Fits Your Situation?

Claim Type	Who You Complain To First	Core Evidence To Gather
Commission On The Deal	Black Horse (then FOS if unresolved)	Finance agreement, APR, dealer quotes, any emails or sales notes
Poor Affordability Checks	Black Horse (then FOS)	Bank statements, payslips, budget at the time, credit file snapshots
Faulty Or Misdescribed Vehicle	Dealer and Black Horse in parallel	Inspection report, repair invoices, timeline of faults, messages
Unfair Fees/Interest	Black Horse (then FOS)	Statements, arrears letters, T&Cs, calculation notes
Section 75 (HP/PCP/Point-of-sale Credit)	Black Horse (as lender)	Sales invoice, proof of defect/misrepresentation, correspondence

What’s Going On With Car Finance Commission Complaints

Across the market, the regulator is shaping a redress scheme for historic motor finance commission. Firms have longer to reply to these complaints while the scheme is set. The FCA car finance complaints page explains the current pause on final response deadlines and how timing works for taking a complaint to the Ombudsman. The FOS guidance on commission sets out how cases are handled under these temporary rules.

In simple terms: you can send your complaint in now; the firm may have extra time to issue a final response; you keep the right to go to FOS within the extended window shown on the regulator’s site. If the FCA finalises a formal scheme, firms will assess cases against that scheme, and you’ll still be able to go to FOS if you disagree with the outcome.

Does This Pause Mean You Should Wait?

No. File the complaint and build your file. The timing rules are geared to protect your place in line. Sending a clear, well-evidenced letter now helps later, because your timeline is set and your documents are on record.

Step-By-Step: How To Start Your Claim

1) Map Your Issue

Write a short summary of what went wrong. Keep it factual and date-based. If your monthly payment jumped due to a higher APR tied to dealer commission, say so plainly. If the car had repeat gearbox faults inside six months, list the dates, diagnoses, and repair outcomes. If you fell into arrears because the payments left no headroom for rent and bills, explain your income and outgoings at the time the agreement started.

2) Pull Your Documents

Finance agreement, pre-contract information, and terms.
Dealer order form and any sales notes or emails.
Statements, arrears letters, and settlement quotes.
Bank statements and payslips around the application date (affordability claims).
Inspection reports, repair invoices, and dealer messages (vehicle faults).
Credit file snapshots showing balances and commitments at the time.

3) Send A Written Complaint To Black Horse

Set out your points in numbered bullets, attach copies of documents, and state your ask. Keep it calm and specific. Typical asks include:

Refund of commission-driven interest with compensatory interest.
Rebate of unfair default fees, with corrections to your credit file.
Repair, price reduction, or unwinding the deal where the car was misdescribed.
Redress where affordability checks were not reasonable.

Black Horse has a dedicated page about commission complaints and current handling arrangements: see Black Horse commission complaints.

4) Track The Clock

For commission cases, firms can take longer to issue a final reply while the scheme is shaped. The FCA page linked above sets out the dates for firm responses and the latest date for taking a case to the Ombudsman. Keep every letter and email so you can show when you complained.

5) Escalate To The Financial Ombudsman Service

If you’re unhappy with the final reply—or if the time window passes—you can go to FOS. It’s free for consumers. You can do it yourself; using a claims company cuts your payout through fees and doesn’t speed the result. The FOS links above explain how to submit, what evidence helps, and what outcomes look like.

Where Section 75 Fits In

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act can help when the car dealer breached the contract or misrepresented the vehicle and you used credit to buy it. In those cases, the lender shares liability with the supplier, so you can seek a refund or repair costs from the lender when the dealer won’t play ball. See the FOS explainer on Section 75 for scope and limits.

Affordability Claims: What Counts As A Reasonable Check

For affordability disputes, the question is whether the lender carried out checks that were fair for the risk and size of the loan. Evidence that helps includes your income, regular bills, and any committed credit at the time. Where checks would have shown that the loan left no room for essentials, FOS decisions often direct a rework of the account and a refund of interest and charges. Recent FOS decisions against lenders set out the type of records that turn the dial: bank statements, payroll proof, and a clear timeline of missed payments and arrears activity.

Vehicle Faults And Misdescription

If the car fails early or doesn’t match what was sold, you may be able to seek repair, price reduction, or—where it’s serious—ending the agreement. You’ll need inspection evidence and a record of your conversations with the dealer. If a refund path under consumer law is unclear or blocked, Section 75 gives you another avenue through the lender.

How Much Compensation Could You See?

Payouts depend on the issue:

Commission cases — refunds often aim to return you to the rate you would have paid without the commission effect, plus interest.
Affordability — redress may remove interest and charges, adjust your balance, and update your credit file.
Vehicle faults — outcomes range from repairs funded by the dealer/lender to unwinding the deal in serious cases.

The regulator’s scheme for historic commission will set standard rules for calculating redress. Watch the FCA page linked above for exact formulas and dates.

Evidence Pack: What A Strong File Looks Like

Give the investigator an easy win by handing over a tidy bundle:

One-page timeline with dates of purchase, fault reports, arrears letters, and complaint letters.
Agreement, pre-contract information, and dealer order form.
Bank statements and payslips covering three months before the application.
Any dealer quotes or emails that point to a mark-up on the APR.
Repair invoices, inspection reports, and photos where relevant.
Credit file pages showing balances and commitments at the start date.

Template You Can Adapt

Keep it short and precise:

Subject: Complaint about motor finance agreement [agreement number]
Issue: [commission/affordability/vehicle quality/fees]
Facts: Dates, amounts, and what was said or signed.
Impact: Payment level, budget strain, repair costs, credit file impact.
Ask: Refund of interest/fees, rate rework, balance adjustment, repair, or unwind.
Attachments: List the documents in your pack.

Timelines, Paths, And Likely Outcomes

Use this table to set expectations. It reflects the current pause rules for commission complaints and standard timing for other disputes.

Stage	What You Do	Typical Timing
Complaint To Black Horse	Send a clear letter with evidence	Commission cases: firm may respond later under FCA rules; other cases: standard 8-week window
Final Response Or Timeout	Read the outcome; decide next step	If no fair outcome, you can move to FOS within the extended window shown on the FCA page
Ombudsman Review	Submit online with the same evidence pack	Timing varies; strong files move faster

Voluntary Termination And Arrears: Don’t Mix Them Up

Voluntary termination (VT) lets you end a regulated HP/PCP once you’ve paid half the total amount payable and keep the car in fair condition. VT isn’t a complaint; it’s a contract right under the Consumer Credit Act. If you’re considering VT, ask Black Horse for a settlement figure that shows the halfway point and any sums due. Keep condition photos when you hand the car back. A VT letter should be separate from any complaint about commission or affordability so lines don’t blur.

Smart Tips That Strengthen Your Position

Be Precise With Numbers

Quote the APR, the monthly payment, and the total cost. If your budget only balanced on paper, show the true picture with bank statements covering rent, council tax, energy, fuel, childcare, and existing credit. Round figures are fine, but attach the real statements.

Don’t Rely On Memory

Sales chats at the dealership fade fast. Emails and order forms don’t. If you’re missing paperwork, ask Black Horse for a full copy of your agreement and any broker information tied to the sale.

Keep Your Ask Realistic

If the issue is commission, aim for a rate rework and interest refund with compensatory interest. If the claim is affordability, the usual fix is to remove interest and fees and adjust the balance, not a windfall. If the car was flawed early, outline the practical remedy you want—repair, price cut, or unwind—based on your evidence.

Frequently Missed Points

You can complain yourself. The FOS process is free. Paying a firm to send the same documents eats into any refund.
The pause doesn’t cancel your rights. It only changes the timing for firm replies and the clock for FOS—see the FCA page linked above for the latest dates.
Section 75 isn’t for everything. It’s useful where the dealer breached the contract or misrepresented the car; it’s not a shortcut for price negotiation.
Evidence beats opinion. Clear documents trump long narratives every time.

What A Fair Outcome Looks Like

Each case turns on its facts, but fair outcomes tend to share themes: money back where you overpaid due to hidden commission; rates adjusted to what you should have paid; interest and charges stripped where checks were poor; sensible remedies for early, serious faults; and credit files fixed where required. When a final reply falls short of that, the FOS route is there to test the outcome against the rules and the evidence.

Your Next Three Moves

Write the complaint using the template above and send it with your evidence pack.
Log every date—complaint sent, replies received, and any phone calls.
Plan the escalation—if the reply isn’t fair, submit to FOS within the window shown on the FCA page.

Useful Official Pages

For timing, scope, and consumer rights on car finance complaints, use the regulator and ombudsman pages already linked above. They are the most reliable sources for current rules, deadlines, and process. Bookmark these:

Follow the steps in this guide, keep your records tidy, and send a clear ask. That’s the path that gets cases resolved and money back where it’s due.