Financing a Ford through a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreement, such as Ford Options, should provide a clear and manageable way to drive a new car. You get fixed monthly payments, a balloon (Guaranteed Minimum Future Value), and flexibility to return, keep, or part-exchange the vehicle at the end of the term.
Most Ford PCPs are provided by FCE Bank plc, trading as Ford Credit. As a regulated lender, Ford Credit must follow strict consumer protection laws and FCA rules. If those rules weren’t followed, such as if commission wasn’t disclosed or your affordability wasn’t properly assessed, you may have grounds to make a complaint and seek a refund of interest or charges.
Rulebooks That Protect Ford PCP Customers
If you financed your car through Ford Credit, your agreement is covered by several key regulatory frameworks. These define your rights and give you the tools to challenge unfair terms or practices.
| Framework | What It Covers | Why It Matters for a Ford PCP Claim |
| Consumer Credit Act 1974 | Includes voluntary termination rights and Section 140A “unfair relationship” claims. | If your PCP was unfair, due to hidden commission or inflated interest, you may be entitled to redress. |
| FCA Consumer Credit Sourcebook (CONC) | Rules on affordability, commission transparency, and complaint handling. | Breaches, like missing income checks or unclear commission terms, can support a mis-selling complaint. |
| Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) | Free, binding resolution for unresolved complaints. | Can award up to £415,000 for acts on or after 1 April 2019, or £190,000 for earlier issues. |
Together, these frameworks give you legal backing to challenge PCP agreements that were not fairly presented.
Your Rights Before Signing a Ford PCP
When you agree to a PCP through Ford Credit, the dealership must follow a regulated sales process. If any of the following safeguards were skipped or unclear, your agreement could be open to challenge.
- You must be given the SECCI in good time
The Standard European Consumer Credit Information sheet must set out the APR, balloon payment, and any mention of commission. You should have had time to read and understand this before signing. - Affordability must be verified
Under FCA CONC 5, the dealer should have collected evidence of your income and essential spending, such as payslips or bank statements. It’s not enough to estimate or assume affordability. - Commission should be disclosed clearly
Before January 2021, Ford dealers were allowed to receive discretionary commission based on the APR. If this wasn’t explained to you, it could have affected your ability to make an informed decision. - Cooling-off rights must be explained
You have 14 days to cancel the agreement after receiving the written documents. This should have been made clear by the dealer.
Missing just one of these steps could support a complaint. If more than one applies, your case becomes stronger.
Your Rights During the Agreement
Even after signing, you have legal protections that apply throughout the life of your Ford PCP.
| Right | Why It Matters |
| Early settlement | You can pay off the agreement at any time. Ford Credit must refund any unearned interest. |
| Voluntary termination | Once you’ve repaid 50% of the total amount payable (including the balloon), you can return the car and end the contract under Section 99 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. |
| Support in arrears | FCA CONC 7 says customers in financial difficulty must be treated fairly and offered support, not just sent default notices. |
| Accurate credit reporting | If Ford Credit reports incorrect information to credit agencies and doesn’t fix it, this could strengthen an “unfair relationship” claim. |
If any of these protections were ignored or mishandled, they could form part of a wider complaint.
Your Rights After the Agreement Ends
Your consumer protections don’t stop when the agreement ends. You may still be able to challenge a Ford Credit PCP if it was mis-sold.
- Section 140A “unfair relationship” claim
If the lender’s behaviour created an unfair relationship—through high charges, hidden commission, or poor affordability checks—you can raise a complaint. A court or the Financial Ombudsman may order Ford Credit to refund interest or fees. - Time limits
You usually have six years from when the agreement ended, or three years from when you first became aware something was wrong, whichever is later. - Compensation caps
The Financial Ombudsman Service can award up to £415,000 for complaints involving events on or after 1 April 2019, or £190,000 for older agreements.
Self-Check: Did Ford Credit Breach Your Rights?
Use the table below to review your agreement.
| Question | Yes | No |
| Did you receive the SECCI with enough time to review it? | ☐ | ☐ |
| Was proof of income collected and recorded? | ☐ | ☐ |
| Was commission from the dealer clearly explained? | ☐ | ☐ |
| Were balloon and mileage limits outlined in writing? | ☐ | ☐ |
| Was your APR significantly higher than Ford’s advertised rates? | ☐ | ☐ |
If you tick “No” to two or more questions, your agreement may meet the typical threshold for a mis-selling complaint.
From Evidence to Complaint: A Step-by-Step Process
Follow these steps to prepare a strong complaint about your Ford PCP.
- Request your documents from Ford Credit
Email dataprotectionofficer@ford.com (or check the privacy section of your agreement) asking for:
- Your credit application
- SECCI – pre contract information
- Commission disclosure (if any)
- Underwriting notes or affordability assessments
- Your credit application
- Review the paperwork for key breaches
Was your income verified? Was the APR higher than initially quoted? Does the paperwork mention commission? - Submit your complaint to Ford Credit
Set out your concerns and reference Section 140A of the Consumer Credit Act along with relevant FCA CONC rules. Ford Credit has eight weeks to respond. - Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
If you don’t get a response or the complaint is rejected, you can submit it to the FOS. Their decisions are binding once accepted by you.
How PCP ClaimBack Can Help with Your Ford PCP Claim
If this all sounds time-consuming, we get it. That’s why we handle the process for you:
- Full Claim Management – We handle the paperwork, deadlines and follow-ups so you don’t have to.
- FOS Escalation Support – If your complaint is rejected, we’ll guide you through the Ombudsman process.
- No Win, No Fee – You only pay if your claim is successful.
“We sometimes identify issues with Ford Credit PCP agreements related to pricing or affordability, which may be relevant when considering a claim.”
– Craig Gedey, Claims Specialist, PCP ClaimBack
Ready to Check If You Have a Claim?
If your Ford PCP agreement was signed before 28 January 2021 and included unclear commission, affordability concerns or inflated costs, you could have grounds for complaint.
- Visit our Ford PCP claims page to begin.
- Or read more about other car finance claims, including Volkswagen PCP claims and Black Horse Finance complaints.
