Not upheld: credit searches and credit file management complaint against Tesla Motors Limited
Financial Ombudsman decision DRN-6267469 of 2026-04-29T00:00:00+00:00. credit searches and credit file management complaint against Tesla Motors Limited. Outcome: Not upheld.
Decision detail
| Reference | DRN-6267469 |
|---|---|
| Decision date | 2026-04-29T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Firm | Tesla Motors Limited |
| Product | car finance |
| Claim type | credit searches and credit file management |
| Outcome | Not upheld |
| Remedy | None. The ombudsman did not require Tesla Motors to take any action, though noted that the third finance provider had already agreed to remove the third search from Mr C's credit file. |
Summary
Mr C complained to Tesla Motors about three credit searches made during his car finance application process. He claimed that Tesla Motors switched his application to an interest free finance provider without his authorization, resulting in an additional search. He also stated that the multiple searches caused his subsequent mobile phone credit application to be declined. The ombudsman found no evidence that Tesla Motors acted incorrectly, noting that the representative's message indicated Mr C had requested the change and that there was insufficient evidence linking the mobile phone decline to the car finance searches. The complaint was not upheld.
The Ombudsman's reasoning
The ombudsman found it unlikely that Tesla Motors would have applied to the interest free finance provider without first discussing the offer with Mr C. The representative's message indicated that Mr C had requested the change when the APR was updated, and the ombudsman was not persuaded there was sufficient evidence to show Mr C did not agree to the second application. Regarding the mobile phone credit decline, there was insufficient evidence to show it was caused solely by the car finance searches.
How this compares
| Group | Decisions | Uphold rate |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Motors Limited, all decisions | 1 | 0% |
Source
Read the original decision on the Financial Ombudsman Service website