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Close Brothers: Car Finance reviews

Name: Car Finance
Rating: 2.02 (66 reviews)

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1.73

Based on 66 reviews, last reviewed 5th Aug 2025

No new 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

50% decrease in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

21%

2 star

72%

Latest highest rating:

5

Always been fairly priced with good support for all... Always been fairly priced with good support for all services they offer. Reviewed on: 24th September 2024

Latest lowest rating:

1

Faulty Vans, and Still No Resolution I run a small business and in 2023 I entered into a finance agreement with Close Brothers through Vanaways for two brand‑new Maxus Deliver 9 vehicles.... Read more Reviewed on: 5th August 2025

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Close Brothers offer car finance for both new and used cars, vans and motorbikes across the UK. If you've taken out a car finance policy, you too can leave a Close Brothers car finance review below.

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Close Brothers Car Finance reviews (66)

Faulty Vans, and Still No Resolution

I run a small business and in 2023 I entered into a finance agreement with Close Brothers through Vanaways for two brand‑new Maxus Deliver 9 vehicles. From the start it has been a nightmare. Both vans arrived late and already damaged on the front bumpers and doors. Within weeks, one van developed a clutch and gearbox fault, went into the garage for repair, came out, and then blew its gearbox again. That van was off the road for around four months. The second van later developed the same gearbox fault. I was actually told to keep driving it until it failed — I refused to risk my team’s safety. Courtesy vehicles were only provided for the final nine weeks of that downtime. For the rest of the time, I had no choice but to hire vans at my own cost just to keep my business running. Between finance payments of £700+ VAT per van and hire costs of over £2,000 a month, I’ve been forced to pay thousands on top of a finance agreement for vehicles I cannot use. I formally rejected the vans in May 2024, but over a year later Close Brothers is still taking payments. This dispute has now dragged on for well over a year, during which time I’ve been passed from person to person with no real resolution. The only “solution” offered was via Vanaways — to hand the faulty vans back and start a brand‑new finance deal for replacements, with no refund of all the payments I’d already made. In plain terms, I would be paying twice, while Close Brothers and Vanaways protected their profits. This has nearly folded my company. I’ve carried the entire financial hit, while Close Brothers and Vanaways continue to be paid. If you’re reading this thinking about applying for finance with Close Brothers or Vanaways to help your small company: don’t. Because if problems arise, Close Brothers will always protect its partners and brokers — and leave the small business owner to carry the cost. Reviewed on: 5th August 2025

AVOID AVOID

Please avoid getting finance from this Company We bought a range rover and have finance with close brothers. We had a fault with the window, one month into having the car as it was installed incorrectly by the garage. At this point I asked to reject the car as my footwell Was full of water and water was all over the electrics. Close brothers said i couldnt reject the car as i needed to let the garage repair. A year later we had 5 different faults with the car. I have sent over 18 separate emails to close brothers mentioning The repairs from the date of purchase have all been ignored. Now I am in a position where I have spent 3 grand on this car in repairs as they have ignored my pleas and our current state is that the car has been in the garage for 10 weeks no courtesy car has been provided .as another 2 grand repair is needed. The financial ombudsman has even made recommendations over 3 weeks ago that they have to provide me with my money back and collect the car and the finance agreement will stop. Yet again this company has failed to acknowledge this even going past the financial ombudsman deadline date and they continue to take my monthly payment I will even leave my complaint number so I don't get fobbed off again saying you can't find this compliant. Complaint Reference: CDCR-36138623 Reviewed on: 26th February 2025

Avoid Close Brothers Finance!

Avoid Close Brothers Finance! FCA investigation underway into their unfair practices! Close Brothers deliberately delay customer complaints and evade accountability. They manipulate procedures to avoid paying legitimate compensation. Fail to provide official documents and do not follow proper complaint handling procedures. Facts about my experience with Close Brothers: • I submitted an official complaint on August 29, 2024, but the company continuously delays responses and refuses to provide a final resolution. • They attempted to merge my complaint with an earlier one (April 2024) to avoid treating it as a separate case. • They failed to provide return documentation for my vehicle, despite closing the finance agreement. • They claim they cannot investigate my complaint due to a court case but provide no legal justification for this. • They failed to issue a final response letter, violating standard complaint handling rules. • My case is now in court and under review by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), yet Close Brothers continues to obstruct the resolution process. FCA is already investigating Close Brothers over potential misconduct in vehicle financing. If you are considering financing with this company, be cautious – they may ignore your complaints and delay responses indefinitely. I strongly recommend choosing a transparent and trustworthy finance provider rather than one that disregards customer rights! Why is this review strong? It presents clear facts, making it more than just an emotional complaint. It exposes their delay tactics, manipulation, and missing documentation. It highlights the FCA investigation, reiiforcing credibility and showing this is a systemic issue. It warns potential customers, directly impacting their reputation. It includes the fact that the case is both in court and with FOS, showing they are actively avoiding resolution. Reviewed on: 17th February 2025

Terrible Experience Avoid This Company!

Terrible Experience – Avoid This Company! I’ve had nothing but issues with this car insurance provider. First off, their prices are extremely expensive, far higher than competitors for the same level of coverage. Trying to contact customer service is a nightmare. On multiple occasions, I was stuck in a queue for over two hours, and when I finally got through, no one could actually help me—just endless transferring and vague responses. I took out a policy in January, paying an £800 deposit, but when I decided to cancel just a month later, they charged me an extra £100, despite only being insured for one month! There was no clear explanation, just more frustration. To make things worse, their system is confusing and difficult to navigate, making even basic tasks unnecessarily complicated. Overall, this company is a complete rip-off with terrible customer service. Avoid at all costs! Reviewed on: 7th February 2025

Avoid like the plague if you can take them to small...

Avoid like the plague if you can take them to small claims court if they mess you about and harrass you I have they are the worst insurance company for car insurance going beware read customer reviews not trust pilot they are not easy to make complaints to they are corporate softly softly approach use small claims court it's easy once you get to know the procedure all the rest onsbudman et. Are dogs with no teeth only the court has the power to fight them. As the old saying goes DONT LET THE BSTRDS. GRIND YOU DOWN. Do it the proper way by small claims court. In Northampton business centre I am take heart all you out there do something constructive win or lose Reviewed on: 8th January 2025

Always been fairly priced with good support for all...

Always been fairly priced with good support for all services they offer. Reviewed on: 24th September 2024

Extremely poor

Extremely poor customer service Extremely poor customer service. I decided to cancel my agreement within the first 14 days and clear the balance (as I'm legally and contractually able to do without penalty) however, Close Brothers decided that they would charge this penalty anyway. It's been almost 3 months now and still no further forward. Not one email has been replied to and I have had calls from numerous people in complaints who have been calling me back for almost 2 weeks....never happened. Today I got another holding email saying they hope to have this rectified within the next month. THAT WILL BE 4 MONTHS TO REFUND SOMETHING THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE CHARGED. Imagine if this was the other way around..... I would have additional interest, late charges and potentially a CCJ. If this is not rectified by Friday 7th June, I will go to the Financial Ombudsman with all of my emails trails. Luckily, I put everything in writing about wishing to exit the agreement within my 14 days and it was sent on day 12 and paid in full. So glad I decided against the car finance now and got out of the agreement in time... Especially after reading how much they are currently being fined for misleading customers with car finance. Very poor and unprofessional Reviewed on: 5th June 2024

Avoid these con artists!

Financed a car for my elderly, disabled mother and it’s not road worthy, in fact it’s dangerous. Timing chain, head gasket and leaking oil all over the brakes and onto the engine and floor to name but a few issues. Had the car assessed at 2 garages and both have said it needs a complete engine rebuild and is not safe to drive. Close brothers finance took 3 months to arrange with the dealer to have the car back to repair and it’s come back with more issues than it left with. The dealer is a very unpleasant man and clearly a con artist, his online reviews are absolutely dire, a finance company shouldn’t even be working with this “trader” at all. Now the car is back and deemed dangerous close brothers are ignoring my elderly mothers calls at all costs and have offered no help at all. This car needs rejecting and a replacement found. My next call is to trading standards and the financial ombudsman in regards to both close brothers and the original dealer to try and get this dealt with. Reviewed on: 19th April 2024

Very unprofessional service from Close Brothers don'...

Very unprofessional service from Close Brothers don't have corporate ethicks Lorraine from Complain team has least experience to handle customer, Close Brothers Motor Finance poor managment system cant be trusted at all. also they have all dodgy dealers, broker plus support all dodgy car dealer she will go at any label for her greed. a finance to purchase a BMWX5 YC65TZM on 21/2/24 car was with full of serious fault 1. Drivetrain Engine Failure 2. Brocken suspension 3. Break does not work at all I inform her and rejected this car on 23/2/24 within 3 days of purchase close brother Lorraine refuse to listen to me even force me to take that faulty car I have requested her to inspect or arrange the repair evidence bill receipts etc she just bang phone on my face, after 3 weeks I have collect the vehicle on 20/3/24 again on 25/03/24 the same fault Drivetrain and poor Breaks I have send all evidence audio, Video and emails but still to close brothers finance and dodgy broker choose my finance or choose my car they simply refuse to cooperate. Very unprofessional attitude I am not sure what was their personal interest on forcing me to buy this car else in UK as per law if there is fault in the vehicle can reject within 6 months but they force me all the way to collect this car now I have collected the car and sent it to BMW main Dealer to inspect the car. I was socked when I got the report from BMW there are more than 8 serious faults including drive train, main battery does not work attached mileage wise fault on the top of that I have not even received V5C after 5 Weeks. this was very disappointing for a customer the dealer, broker and the finance company does not cooperate at all I spent another £2000 on my taxi bills etc which is they have to compensate, to get fair justice in the UK now I am seeking legal advise to sue all of them for selling faulty vehicle, forcing customer to drive a faulty car and mental harassment from last 6 weeks. Reviewed on: 28th March 2024

DO NOT BUY

***DO NOT BUY****DO NOT BUY***** My daughter bought a Mini in August 2022. Within 2 weeks the engine warning light came on and was immediately taken back. The mechanic turned the light off, said what caused it and advised he'd know what the cause was if it happened again! The car then broke down on a dark, November evening. Luckily, just after driving through lanes. The RAC said it wasn't safe to drive and towed it to Tiley's. After 'repairing' it the car broke down again within weeks. The car was unsafe, not fit for purpose, DANGEROUS! The attitude of the Owner when speaking to women is disgusting. A condescending, chauvinistic person. He was very friendly to my Husband! My daughter raised a complaint to REJECT the car. Part finance through Close Brothers meant that they organised an Independent review. After a very short drive the conclusion was there were no faults. On subsequently looking at reviews online it would appear they act in favour of the requestor. The car was taken to a Mini dealership at her own expense, where multiple faults were found. The complaint was taken to the Ombudsman and was upheld. Over a year after purchasing the car was collected and a full refund plus compensation was given. If you have already purchased a car please look to REJECT the car as is your Consumer right. If you haven't purchased, STOP!! DON'T BUY A DANGEROUS, COSTLY VEHICLE. Reviewed on: 22nd February 2024

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