Car Consumer Finance

Car consumer finance advice

The majority of vehicle sales are now made using car consumer finance and hire purchase agreements. This means increasing pressure on and between motor finance companies and dealers to ensure compliance with the consumer rights act. 

At Stormcatcher, we offer car consumer finance advice to private clients and the automotive industry, using our extensive experience of the trade.

What are the different types of consumer finance for cars? 

Personal Contract Purchases (PCP): long term car leases that see the customer return the car at the end of the contract, or pay a balloon payment to own it outright. The payments are often lower as a result of the balloon payment. 

Hire Purchase (HP) agreements: Hire Purchase agreements are similar PCPs, but the repayments are often higher, because the customer owns the car at the end of the term with no balloon payment outstanding. 

Car leases: This is a straightforward monthly payment for as long as you use the car, with the customer returning it at the end of the term. There is no option for ownership here.  

Personal car loans: This sees a customer take out a personal loan, such as those available from high street banks, to cover the cost of the car. The repayments are then dealt with directly by their independent lender. 

How we can help you

Dealer Finance

Dealer financing and car consumer finance is integral to the growth of the retail motor industry as confirmed by the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) leaving car dealers and franchised dealers open to unmeritorious claims for refunds, rejections and costs.

We are currently instructed by consumer finance houses, used car retailers & franchised dealerships to assess and help resolve complaints about hire purchase and PCP agreements.

Brokers & Lenders

Our specialist car dealer lawyers and consumer legal advisors advise finance brokers & lenders on handling customer complaints about potential claims under the Sale of Goods Act 1973 relating to hire purchase, consumer rights act and to the financial ombudsman.

Not HPI Clear

Selling a car that’s subject to a pre-existing finance agreement is simply the behaviour of a dodgy dealer and obviously an unfair commercial practise but despite the legal position and supporting case law can prove difficult for consumers to rely on their statutory rights.

Credit Card Chargebacks

When a customer pays a deposit or pays the full purchase price using a credit card, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes the card provider liable in the event of a breach of contract or misrepresentation. Dealing with the car consumer finance complaint efficiently and effectively can prevent a dealer's account from being debited for the refund.

For a clearer understanding of consumer rights in car finance agreements, speak to our team for professional advice.

What are the benefits of legal advice on car finance?

The benefits of seeking professional car finance legal advice differ depending on what part you play in the finance process. 

The benefits to consumers: 

• It helps you understand your rights 
• It helps you avoid unfair terms 
• It can bring any disputes to a fair conclusion 
• It prevents fraud 
• It helps you achieve compensation, or end agreements lawfully

The benefits to dealers: 

• It helps compliance with finance regulations in your contracts
• It can assist in resolving disputes with your customers or your finance providers 
• You can recover outstanding payments 
• It helps detect fraudulent finance applications 
• It upholds compliance with consumer protection laws

Our car finance dispute lawyers

Whether you need a car lease lawyer or some advice around personal contract purchases, Stormcatcher has the knowledge, experience, and expertise to make things clear for you. Our business is led by Philip Harmer, a lawyer and arbitrator with an automotive background, making him best placed to provide unparalleled guidance to both businesses and consumers. 

Car finance lawyers can often blind you with science, but not Stormcatcher; it’s Philip’s priority to make things easily understandable, and lead you towards the outcome you deserve. 

Why choose Stormcatcher Law?

Using our insight and experience, Stormcatcher Law stands apart in providing car finance legal advice to both consumers and businesses, excelling within the industry. We’re proud to offer:

Versatility

We can advise and accept instructions on behalf of private clients as well as automotive organisations, from sole car traders to car dealers and franchise dealerships. This experience comes from working in every aspect of retail motor trade for over two decades; we’re automotive law experts who know their stuff. 

Car finance insight 

Our unsurpassed knowledge spans the full spectrum of finance products, whether you need a car loan lawyer, or one that specialises in HP disputes. We can quickly cut to the heart of a finance issue, translating even the most complicated concepts into something digestible. 

Stress-free resolution

It’s our priority to settle disputes outside of court. In so many cases, we save our clients time, money, and stress, while still achieving success in their car finance dispute.