Initial Disclosure

We are required by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who regulates the financial services industry, of which we are a part, to provide you with an Initial Disclosure Document to enable you to decide if the products and services we offer are right for you. In addition, we are required to advise you on how to make a complaint should you need to do so.

Affordability

You should assess the monthly payments you are required to make throughout the agreement and ensure you are able to meet these obligations and other obligations you already have without suffering undue hardship. If you are aware of any future events that will affect your ability to meet these payments, you should inform us immediately.

Your credit rating could be adversely affected if you do not make payments when due which could make it harder or more expensive for you to access finance facilities in the future.

Who are we?

Whittle Hall Finance Ltd is a credit broker for vehicle and asset finance products whose registered office is Britannia Chambers, 26 George Street, St Helens WA10 1BZ. We are an independent finance broker, not a lender, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our Financial Conduct Authority Firm Reference Number is 784269, which can be verified by contacting the FCA on 0800 111 6768 or by viewing the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk

What services do we offer, and do we receive any commission?

We offer a range of finance and leasing facilities through a panel of carefully selected third-party lenders. We do not provide independent financial advice. We will not offer facilities from lenders outside of this panel.

As an FCA licensed organisation we rely solely on commission. There are no additional fees for our service, and we will facilitate the full process from point of order through to organising delivery of your vehicle. If you purchase/order a vehicle, you will enter into a finance or lease agreement with one of our partner finance providers/lenders. We are paid a commission by the finance provider/lender, once the agreement is live. The commission we receive maybe pre-set but can vary and will impact the amount payable by the customer. If you would like more information in regard to the disclosure of commission, please email info@whittlehallfinance.co.uk

What services will we provide you with?

We will provide you with either comparable details of firms most appropriate to your lending requirements or general information relating to finance products. In assessing your requirements, we may seek information about your personal circumstances and objectives to enable us to identify your needs. It is important that you provide us with accurate and relevant information enabling us to refine and focus the selection of firms offered, from which you can more easily make your choice.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

Throughout the process of obtaining finance for you and/or your partner we will need to collect personal information from you and/or your partner and pass this information onto one or more of our third-party lenders to enable them to make a credit decision. We will not disclose your and/or your partner’s personal information outside of this group of lenders. Those lenders who seek you and/or your partner’s information to conduct an affordability and credit worthiness assessment will do so through the Consent given by you and/or your partner.

In cases where you and/or your partner’s initial application may be refused by the preferred lender, further searches may be carried out with other lenders on our panel to find a lender that is willing to accept you and/or your partner’s application for finance. Those lenders, will not use you and/or your partner’s personal information to provide you and/or your partner with promotional or marketing material or offers, unless you and/or your partner have specifically consented by Opting-In. The lenders are required to obtain individual consent from you and/or your partner to market to you and/or your partner and provide you and/or your partner with offers. We can supply a comprehensive list of lenders by request.

Other Finance Facilities

You may be able to obtain finance for your purchase from other lenders and you are encouraged to seek alternative quotations and details of their products by researching on the high street, in the media and online.

What to do if you have a complaint?

Our aim is to provide a first-class service and we are committed to treating our customers fairly, however if you wish to register a complaint, please contact us:

By Phone: 01925 713212
By Email: info@whittlehallfinance.co.uk
In Writing: FAO: Compliance Manager, Whittle Hall Finance Ltd, 56 Mossdale Close, Warrington, Cheshire WA5 3RY

Our Complaints Procedure is available to view in full here

What to do if you are not happy with our decision

If you have a regulated consumer credit contract arranged by us and are not satisfied with our Final Response, you may be eligible to refer the matter either to the Financial Ombudsman or to the BVRLA Conciliation Service.

Financial Ombudsman Service

If relevant, then you can refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service – you must do this within six months of our final response. When we send you a final response, we will also provide you with a copy of the Financial Ombudsman Service’s explanatory leaflet.

We will co-operate fully with the Ombudsman in resolving any complaints made against us and agree to be bound by any awards made by them.

You can contact the Financial Ombudsman at the following address:

The Financial Ombudsman Service

Exchange Tower

London E14 9SR

Tel: 0800 023 4567 (free for most people from a fixed line) or 0300 123 9123 (cheaper for those calling using a mobile) or 020 7964 0500 (if calling from abroad)
Email: complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk
Website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

BVRLA Conciliation Service

As a Leasing Broker member of the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA) you or Whittle Hall Finance Ltd may refer any unresolved disputes to them.

The BVRLA is approved by Government as a Consumer ADR body under the Alternative Dispute Resolution For Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015.

The BVRLA Conciliation Service will investigate potential breaches of the BVRLA Code of Conduct and will aim to resolve matters using information presented by both parties to the dispute. Any information requested from Whittle Hall Finance Ltd will be sent to the BVRLA within five working days. Based on the information available, the BVRLA will provide both parties with its findings and recommendations.

The BVRLA aims to resolve complaints through their Conciliation Service within 30 days and members must comply with the Conciliation Service’s findings.

You can log a complaint to the BVRLA via their website.