The Information Commissioner's Office has carried out search warrants at properties across the UK as part of a crackdown on suspected nuisance marketing linked to car finance mis-selling claims.

The action follows more than 12 million complaints from members of the public about nuisance marketing text messages since September 2025, with the regulator receiving as many as 100,000 complaints a day.

The warrants were executed by the ICO on Wednesday 29 July at business and residential premises connected to five companies in London, Liverpool, Bolton, Burnley and Swansea.

The companies are under investigation and are believed to have been responsible for sending a combined 170 million text messages to members of the public between September 2025 and May 2026.

The operation forms part of a joint regulatory taskforce involving the ICO, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Advertising Standards Authority and the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The agencies are working together to tackle poor practices in the handling of motor finance claims linked to the wider car finance mis-selling issue.

Andy Curry, head of investigations at the ICO, said: "People are fed up with being bombarded by unwanted calls, texts and emails about car finance claims, and we're taking action. This week's searches send a clear message to the claims management sector: comply with the law or expect to hear from us. We are working closely with our taskforce partners to make sure people are properly informed and protected and we will not hesitate to take further action where we find evidence of wrongdoing."

Alison Walters, director of consumer finance at the FCA, added: “Firms that misuse people’s personal information or use aggressive marketing can cause serious harm and damage trust. Through our joint taskforce, we are sharing information and working together to protect consumers and improve standards across the sector. Where we find firms breaking the rules, we will not hesitate to act alongside our regulatory partners.”

The ICO is urging organisations operating in the claims management sector, including lead generators and law firms responsible for initiating direct marketing campaigns, to ensure they comply with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations.

The data protection regulator has powers to obtain court warrants to search premises during investigations under the regulations, allowing officers to seize evidence including mobile phones, laptops and SIM farms.


Image courtesy ICO

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