Process step
What is a success fee on a car finance claim?
What it is
A success fee is the charge a Claims Management Company (CMC) takes from the redress paid on your claim — but only if the claim actually results in a payment. If the lender rejects the complaint and the Financial Ombudsman Service does not overturn that decision, there is no redress, and so there is no success fee to pay. The fee is a percentage of what is recovered, not a flat upfront charge.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) caps how much a CMC can charge using a tiered band system that scales the maximum percentage to the size of the redress. At Total Claim, the headline rate sits within that cap at 18–36% including VAT, with the percentage moving within the band based on how much redress is recovered — smaller awards sit nearer the top of the band, larger ones nearer the bottom.
You do not have to use a CMC to make a complaint. Two free alternatives exist and are open to every consumer: you can complain directly to your lender, and if you are unhappy with their final response you can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Both routes are free. What a CMC offers in exchange for the success fee is the handling of correspondence, the legal and regulatory chasing, and — if the FCA’s 2026 motor finance redress scheme applies to your agreement — the navigation of that scheme on your behalf.
Why it matters for your claim
Before signing anything with any CMC, make sure you know four things: what the fee percentage is, how it is calculated against the redress, when it becomes payable, and whether you can cancel without charge. Total Claim’s terms include a 14-day cooling-off period after signing during which you can cancel for free; cancellation after that window may be charged on an hourly basis for work already done. Weigh the fee against the work the firm is actually doing for you — for a straightforward complaint where the lender will likely respond either way, the free direct route may suit you better. The success-fee model is there to take the admin off your plate, not to replace a route you are happy to handle yourself.
Your free alternatives and how we charge
Checking whether you may have a car finance claim with Total Claim is free, with no obligation. You can also pursue a complaint direct to your lender or, if you're unhappy with their response, escalate it for free to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
If you choose to use Total Claim and we win compensation for you, our success fee is 18–36% (including VAT) of the redress amount, charged only on success. You have a 14-day cooling-off period after signing; cancelling after that may be charged on an hourly basis for work already done.