Raids have been executed in Liverpool, Bolton, Burnley, London, and Swansea after 170 million nuisance car finance mis-selling claims messages were sent. The searches targeted premises linked to five firms across the UK, ordered by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Complaints and scale
The action follows more than 12 million complaints about motor finance nuisance text messages since September last year, with the ICO receiving up to 100,000 complaints daily. The five unnamed firms under investigation are believed to have collectively dispatched 170 million text messages between September 2025 and May this year.
Regulatory collaboration
The ICO has been working with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Advertising Standards Authority, and the Solicitors Regulation Authority to address poor handling of car finance mis-selling claims by lead generators, claims management companies (CMCs), and law firms.
Andy Curry, head of investigations at the ICO, said: "People are fed up with being bombarded by unwanted calls, texts and emails about car finance claims, and we're taking action." He added: "This week's searches send a clear message to the claims management sector: comply with the law or expect to hear from us."
FCA and compensation
The FCA has been developing a scheme to compensate millions of motorists affected by hidden or unfair commission in car finance agreements, though the programme has been suspended due to legal challenges. Regulators are working to eliminate poor claims handling and marketing conduct while cautioning consumers about fraud.
Over 1,220 misleading adverts have been removed or amended since January 2024 following FCA intervention. The regulator has also secured voluntary requirements with 12 firms to halt or modify marketing activities, with further measures to protect consumers.
Alison Walters, director of consumer finance at the FCA, said: "Firms that misuse people's personal information or use aggressive marketing can cause serious harm and damage trust." She noted that the joint taskforce shares information to protect consumers and improve standards.
Individuals who receive unsolicited calls or texts about car finance claims can register with the Telephone Preference Service and report unwanted marketing via the ICO website or by forwarding texts to 7726.
