Motor finance redress is live, the AA has been fined £4.2m, and Section 21 dies in 12 days

If you've had a car on finance any time since 2007, this is the week to pay attention. The FCA's £7.5bn redress scheme is live, covering 12.1 million eligible agreements with an estimated average payout of around £829 each. The deadline to complain is 31st August 2027. The worst thing you can do is pay a Claims Management Company to handle paperwork you could finish yourself in ten minutes.

A few other things worth knowing.

Motor finance: 12.1 million agreements in scope
If you took out PCP, HP or conditional sale finance between 6th April 2007 and 1st November 2024, and a broker received commission, you're probably in scope. You don't need to know the exact commission percentage. The lender does, and the redress methodology forces them to disclose it. Your lender is required to write to you. You don't have to do anything yet. If you want to get ahead, dig out the original agreement and check whether commission was disclosed.

The FCA also banned Conclusive Financial Ltd (trading as PCP Refunds) on 14th April for using unauthorised Martin Lewis clips, the FCA's own logo, and a made-up "£1,846 average" payout figure to mislead consumers. Since January 2024, the FCA has forced 899 misleading CMC adverts off the air. You can complain direct to your lender for free and escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free if the lender rejects you. CMCs charging up to 30% of your compensation are charging for paperwork you can do yourself.

Renters' Rights Act 2025: 12 days to commencement
From **1st May 2026**, the Renters' Rights Act commences in England. Section 21 no-fault evictions are abolished. Every eviction will need a valid statutory ground. Some of the bigger changes for the 11 million private renters in England:

• Rent increases limited to once per year, and tenants can challenge unfair hikes.
• Pet rights: landlords cannot unreasonably refuse consent.
• Anti-discrimination: rejecting tenants for receiving benefits or having children is unlawful.
• Bidding wars banned: landlords and agents cannot invite or accept offers above the advertised rent.
  

Landlords must give tenants a Mandatory Information Sheet by 31st May 2026 or face fines up to £7,000. The government has put £59.3 million into council enforcement. If your landlord has been dragging their feet on a disrepair complaint because they could threaten Section 21 in retaliation, that lever has gone. Start the paper trail now.

CMA fines the AA £4.2m for drip pricing
First proper enforcement under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The CMA fined Automobile Association Developments Limited (the AA and BSM driving schools) £4.2 million and ordered refunds of £760,000 to more than 80,000 learner drivers. The offence: a mandatory £3 booking fee bolted onto the headline lesson price.
The CMA has reviewed over 400 businesses across 19 sectors and opened investigations into 8 more. If a company has charged you a mandatory fee that wasn't shown in the original quoted price for any purchase after April 2025, this ruling helps you. Start with the retailer. Quote the AA decision. If they push back, the CMA's direct enforcement route is open.

Booking.com data breach
Booking.com confirmed on 13th April that hackers accessed customer names, email addresses, phone numbers and booking details. Financial information apparently wasn't taken, but the breach has triggered a wave of phishing.
Don't click links in any email claiming to be from Booking.com: go to the site direct. Forward anything suspicious to report@phishing.gov.uk and Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. If you want to know exactly what data was accessed, file a Subject Access Request under UK GDPR.

Ofcom: telecoms complaint timer cut from 8 weeks to 6
From 8th April 2026, if your broadband or mobile complaint hasn't been resolved within six weeks, you can take it straight to the Communications Ombudsman or CISAS. Two weeks doesn't sound much, but it changes the cadence of every chaser letter you'll send.

Council tax: biggest debt-collection reform in 30 years
Currently, miss one payment and many councils demand the full year's bill within three weeks. Bailiffs follow within six. The government has announced changes:

• A 63-day payment window before enforcement.
• A 12-month payment default instead of 10.
• A £100 cap on liability order costs (uncapped today in many areas).
• A universal discount form rolling out from April 2027.
  Martin Lewis called it a "huge first step". Implementation dates haven't been published yet.
  

Recalls

• Haier heat-pump tumble dryers (around 85,000 units, sold under Candy, Hoover, Baumatic, Caple, Lamona, Montpellier and Iberna): fire risk from internal short circuit. Stop using and call 0808 178 0516. Free in-home modifications.
• Disney Frozen Bath Bomb Set (TKMaxx): phthalate risk to children. Return for refund.
• Tesco Finest Chocolate Affogato: may contain plastic. Return for refund.
• PomPom Galore fairy lights: fire risk from USB cable. Contact the manufacturer.
  

Also

• The energy price cap dropped 6.6% to £1,641/year from 1st April. If you're on a standard variable tariff, your bill should already be lower.
• HM Treasury confirmed a £455,000 FOS compensation cap from 1st April 2026 (up from £445,000), a 10-year absolute time limit for complaints, and BNPL joining FOS jurisdiction in July.
• The FCA published its Year 2 Consumer Duty review on 16th April. If you're in a financial services dispute, Consumer Duty gives you another argument. The firm has to show good outcomes for customers, and following the process isn't enough on its own.

This article was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor. It is general information, not legal advice for your specific situation.

*If anything here applies to you, [start a free case on EvenStance](https://www.evenstance.com/register). We never take a percentage of what you win.*