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Loyal Merc owner will think twice now

Read the small print

Personal contract hire (PCH) is an increasingly popular way to get into a new car. The way such deals are being marketed is increasingly confusing and in some cases deliberately misleading. There’s no shortage of firms prepared to promote deals with seemingly attractive monthly figures; however, closer inspection reveals widely varying initial rental payments and mileage allowances that dramatically affect the true cost. Brokers are continually increasing initial rental fees in order to advertise an attractive monthly figure.

Surely the time has come to standardise how PCH deals are advertised, both to avoid people being caught out and to simplify the process of comparing offers.