Ford Bank Allocates £155 Million for Car Finance Mis-selling Scandal

The British motor finance division of Ford has set aside over £155 million to address the repercussions of a recent car loans scandal. This significant increase in provisions, from £61 million to £155 million, reflects the changing landscape as the City regulator prepares to announce its compensation rules.

The decision follows the Financial Conduct Authority’s proposals for an industry-wide redress scheme, which were outlined last October. This scheme is expected to impact millions of motorists, leading Ford’s FCE Bank to adjust its financial forecasts accordingly.

The motor finance controversy revolves around undisclosed commissions that lenders paid to car dealers for arranging financing on vehicle purchases. The FCA has been examining the motor finance sector since 2017 and banned certain commission structures in January 2021. Persistent consumer complaints regarding these commissions prompted an extensive investigation starting in early 2024.

As a result, the FCA announced plans for a redress scheme that could require car loan providers to pay up to £8.2 billion in compensation to affected motorists. An additional estimated £2.8 billion would be needed for administrative costs associated with handling claims.

This announcement elicited a strong response from the industry. Many banks and lending arms of vehicle manufacturers consider the FCA’s proposals excessive. They argue that these measures do not align with a Supreme Court ruling on motor finance commissions from August, which largely supported lenders.

Ford’s FCE Bank operates lending services for approximately 410,000 retail customers across the UK, France, Spain, and Italy. The bank states that its £155 million provision represents its best estimate of potential financial outflows related to the FCA’s redress scheme.