Hidden commission
checker
Was your broker paid a secret commission? Here is what the Supreme Court ruled, which products it covers, and the free route to finding out and being put right.
What to ask the lender
Write to the lender, not the broker. A short email with these questions is enough, and their answer is the evidence.
- Was a commission paid to the dealer, broker or comparison site that arranged this agreement?
- How much, and how was it calculated - a flat fee, or a share of the interest?
- Was I told, and where? Ask for the document and the page.
- Could the broker set my rate? A discretionary commission arrangement is the kind the Supreme Court found unfair.
Give them eight weeks. If the answer is no, or nothing, the Financial Ombudsman is below - free, and its decision binds them.
Products to Check
Common questions
What is a hidden commission?
It’s a payment made by a lender to a broker for arranging your finance, often without your knowledge. It can inflate the interest rate you pay.
What did the Supreme Court rule?
On 1 August 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in Johnson v FirstRand that failing to properly disclose commission arrangements can make the lending relationship unfair and unlawful, entitling the borrower to redress.
Can I claim compensation?
Yes, if commission was paid without your informed consent and it increased your costs, you may be entitled to the difference. The FCA is running a review of motor finance commissions.
Where NoReply stops
We explain the route and hand over. Financial complaints need FCA authorisation to manage on your behalf, which we do not hold - and the Financial Ombudsman is free and binding, which is better than any letter from us.
Supreme Court Backed
Based on the landmark Johnson v FirstRand (2025) Supreme Court ruling on secret commissions.
All Financial Products
Works for car finance, insurance, mortgages, loans, and credit cards.
A free route that binds them
Complain to the lender first; if they refuse, the Financial Ombudsman decides for free and the decision is binding.
Financial complaints go to the Financial Ombudsman
Complain to the bank, lender or insurer first. They have eight weeks to answer. If they say no, or say nothing, the Financial Ombudsman Service reviews it for free and its decisions are binding on the firm. That is a stronger route than anything we could write.
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