Motor finance firms could be handed more time to respond to customer complaints over non-discretionary commission arrangements after a landmark court ruling.

Santander reported pre-tax profits of £143m for the three months to the end of September, down nearly 75% on the £558m notched up a year earlier.

The Court of Appeal ruled that commissions paid between banks and brokers on car deals may be unlawful because they were not clearly flagged to the customer.

The Financial Conduct Authority is proposing to consult on giving motor finance companies more time to deal with consumer complaints regarding deals involving non-discretionary commissions.

Administrative staff working for Ford in the UK on Monday kicked off a week of 'targeted industrial action' as a long-running row over pay and contract changes rumbles on.

In a judgement on Friday, the Court of Appeal found in favour of three claimants - Johnson, Wrench, and Hopcraft - in a dispute over motor finance commissions.

The two firms have grown rapidly in recent years as more local authorities ditch traditional pay-and-display machines in favour of using cashless payment platforms.