When you signed a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Hire-Purchase (HP) agreement with Hitachi Personal Finance – now trading as Novuna Personal Finance – you entered a contract regulated by some of the strictest consumer-credit rules in Europe. Those rules exist to stop dealerships and lenders from saddling drivers with unaffordable payments or secretly inflating interest rates to fund commission. If you later discover that your Hitachi agreement broke those rules, you have every right to demand compensation.
This guide strips out the noise and focuses on the rights that matter specifically to making a PCP or HP claim, so you can decide with confidence whether to launch a claim.
The legal foundations of a Hitachi PCP claim – in plain English
Before we tackle individual rights, it helps to know which rulebooks give relate to them:
| Framework | Why it matters to a Hitachi claim |
| Consumer Credit Act 1974 | Governs vehicle finance. Gives you the power to: settle early on fair terms; hand the car back after paying half (voluntary termination); and, if the deal was unfair, seek redress under Section 140A. |
| FCA Consumer Credit Sourcebook (CONC) | Modern rule-book lenders and brokers must follow. Covers affordability checks, commission disclosure and complaint handling deadlines. |
| Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) | Free, binding referee once Hitachi issues its “final response”. FOS can order refunds up to £ 415,000. |
Everything that follows flows from these three pillars.
Your rights before you sign a Hitachi PCP
Dealerships acting for Hitachi have three core duties at the point of sale:
- Transparent documentation (the SECCI)
You must receive a Standard European Consumer Credit Information sheet in time to read it. The SECCI locks in your APR, total cost of credit and any commission note. A missing or last-minute SECCI is a red-flag breach. - Proper affordability checks
Under CONC 5, Hitachi must verify income, outgoings and existing debt. Guessed figures or a quick “tick-box” approach fall short. - Up-front commission disclosure
Before January 2021 many Hitachi dealers used discretionary commission: they could raise your APR and pocket the difference. If they failed to spell that out, your right to informed choice was denied.
If any element above was skipped or rushed, you already have grounds for a mis-selling complaint.
Your rights during the agreement
While you’re making payments, several statutory protections keep the playing field level:
- Early-settlement rebate
You may clear the finance at any time and Hitachi must rebate future interest fairly. - Voluntary termination
After you’ve repaid half of the total amount payable (balloon included), you can hand the car back and walk away from future instalments. - Fair treatment if you fall behind
CONC 7 demands tailored support – payment plans, interest freezes. - Accurate credit-file reporting
Any errors must be corrected quickly; persistent mistakes strengthen an “unfair relationship” case.
Your rights after the agreement ends
- Section 140A unfair-relationship claim
Courts or FOS can order Hitachi to refund interest, fees and undisclosed commission if the deal was unjust. - Time limits
You have six years from the agreement end or three years from when you first realised something was wrong – whichever is later. - Access to historical records
An FCA direction requires lenders to keep pre-2021 commission paperwork while a sector-wide remedy is considered. Hitachi cannot simply say the files are lost.
Quick self-check: Were your rights breached?
| Question | Yes / No |
| Did the dealer explain the balloon payment and your options in writing? | □ / □ |
| Were you shown proof of your income and expenses on the application form? | □ / □ |
| Did you receive the SECCI with time to read it? | □ / □ |
| Was the commission amount or structure made clear before you signed? | □ / □ |
| Did your APR look higher than Hitachi rates advertised elsewhere at the time? | □ / □ |
If you answered yes to any of the above, you may have a case for a claim.
Turning rights into results: a step-by-step roadmap
Knowing your legal rights is only half the battle; you still need to translate them into practical action. The four steps that follow show exactly how to turn theory into results, moving from information-gathering to a formal complaint and, if necessary, an impartial Ombudsman ruling.
- Request your file
Email dataprotection@novuna.co.uk, citing a Subject Access Request. Ask for the credit application, SECCI, commission invoice and underwriting notes. - Match evidence to breaches
Compare declared income with payslips. Check if commission appears on the SECCI. Highlight discrepancies. - Submit a formal complaint to Hitachi
Quote the breaches and cite Section 140A and relevant CONC rules. Hitachi then has eight weeks to respond. - Escalate to FOS if needed
If Hitachi rejects or delays, lodge your file with FOS. Their decisions are binding on the lender.
How PCP ClaimBack can help with your Hitachi PCP claim
Navigating these rules takes time and specialist knowledge. PCP ClaimBack does the heavy lifting so you don’t have to:
- Professional Claim Reviews – we assess your PCP agreement for signs of hidden commission or mis-selling.
- Comprehensive Claim Management – every form, deadline and phone call handled from start to finish.
- Financial Ombudsman Support – if Novuna refuses redress, we’ll advise you on referring your case to the Ombudsman.
- No Win, No Fee Service – you pay absolutely nothing unless we secure your refund.
“Hidden-commission cases hinge on the paperwork most drivers never see.” – Craig Gedey, PCP ClaimBack
Ready to find out if you’re owed compensation? Start with our five-minute assessment on the hitachi pcp claims page.
