● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
UK ICO Raids Companies Over Nuisance Car Finance Claim Texts
Key points
- ICO executed search warrants at five companies.
- Raids target firms sending spam car finance claim texts.
- Companies sent 170 million texts between September 2025 and May.
- FCA announced a £7.5 billion compensation scheme for mis-sold car loans.
ICO Crackdown on Spam Texts
The UK's Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) conducted raids at homes and businesses associated with five companies across London, Liverpool, Bolton, Burnley, and Swansea. Officials seized laptops, mobile phones, and documents during these operations. The action targets claims management companies (CMCs) accused of sending unsolicited text messages regarding car finance mis-selling.
Scale of Nuisance Marketing
The public has submitted over 12 million complaints about nuisance marketing text messages since September 2025. The companies linked to the recent searches are believed to have sent a combined 170 million texts to individuals between September 2025 and May of this year. These messages are part of an effort by CMCs to secure a share of the compensation expected from the car finance mis-selling scandal.
Car Finance Mis-selling Context
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced a £7.5 billion industry-wide compensation scheme in March for millions of motorists affected by mis-sold car loans. This scandal involved drivers being overcharged due to commission payments between lenders and car dealers from 2007 to 2024. However, legal challenges have led to a partial suspension of the scheme, with a court order delaying parts of it until December or February next year.
Inter-Agency Collaboration
The ICO is collaborating with other regulatory bodies, including the FCA, the Advertising Standards Authority, and the Solicitors Regulation Authority. This joint effort aims to address poor practices by some CMCs, law firms, and lead generation companies involved in motor finance claims. The raids signify an escalation in enforcement against non-compliant businesses in this sector.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) executed search warrants at homes and businesses linked to five companies in London, Liverpool, Bolton, Burnley, and Swansea. These raids are part of a crackdown on firms sending spam text messages related to car finance mis-selling claims, with the companies believed to be responsible for sending 170 million texts.