Last updated: 12 September 2026

Who We Are

This website is operated by Car Credit Expert, a trading style of IHMC Ltd (company number 10356024). IHMC Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA number 767708) for credit brokerage. We act as a credit broker, not a lender.

IHMC Ltd is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a data controller, registration reference ZA411278.

Car Credit Expert operates in partnership with HMC, an independent used vehicle dealership based at the same address, and references to “we”, “us” or “our” in this policy mean IHMC Ltd trading as Car Credit Expert.

How to Contact Us

Car Credit Expert by HMC
265 Berkhampstead Road
Chesham
Bucks
HP5 3AS
Telephone: 01895 814 814
Email: mail@carcreditexpert.co.uk

Information We Collect

We collect information you give us directly, including:

• When you use our finance calculator: the loan amount, term and credit-score band you select
• When you apply for finance: your name, title, date of birth, marital status, gender, nationality, number of dependents, contact details, current and previous address history, driving licence and passport status, employment and income details, bank details, and information about the vehicle and deposit
• When you contact us or make a part-exchange or warranty enquiry: your name, email address, phone number and the content of your message

We also automatically collect limited technical information when you visit the website, such as your IP address and browser type, through standard web server logs.

Information Obtained From Other Sources

Where you apply for finance, we and the finance providers we introduce you to may obtain information about you from credit reference agencies, fraud prevention agencies, and other organisations, to help assess your application.

How and Why We Use Personal Information

We use your personal information to:

• Provide you with an indicative finance calculation
• Process and consider your finance application, and introduce it to suitable providers from our panel
• Respond to contact, part-exchange and warranty enquiries
• Meet our legal and regulatory obligations as a credit broker, including record-keeping
• Prevent and detect fraud
• Improve our website and services

Our Lawful Bases

We rely on the following lawful bases under UK data protection law, depending on the activity:

• Contract – to take steps at your request before entering into a contract, such as processing your finance application
• Legal obligation – to comply with our obligations as an FCA-regulated credit broker, including record-keeping and complaint handling
• Legitimate interests – for fraud prevention, and to run and improve our business, where this does not override your interests and rights
• Consent – where we ask for your permission, for example before sending marketing communications

Credit and Identity Checks

If you apply for finance, we and the finance providers we introduce your application to will carry out credit and identity checks. Some checks may leave a record on your credit file. Where we or a lender can offer an initial eligibility check using a soft search, this will be made clear to you before it is carried out.

Sharing Information With Finance Providers

If you apply for finance, we share the relevant information from your application with a finance provider (or providers) from our selected panel, so that they can assess your application. Our current panel includes Close Brothers, CarFinance247, Car Money, Zuto and Mallard Finance, though the provider or providers approached for your specific application will depend on your circumstances and the vehicle involved.

Fraud Prevention Agencies

We, and the finance providers we work with, may check your details against fraud prevention agencies and databases to prevent fraud and money laundering. If false or inaccurate information is provided and fraud is identified or suspected, details may be recorded with such agencies.

Vehicle Suppliers, Warranty Providers and Service Partners

Where your enquiry relates to a specific vehicle, we may share relevant details with HMC, the independent dealership that supplies the vehicles shown on this website. Where you purchase a vehicle with warranty cover, relevant details are shared with Handler Protect, our warranty partner, so that your cover can be set up and administered.

Website Hosting, CRM, Email and Analytics Providers

This website is hosted by our web hosting provider, and enquiry and application forms are sent directly by email to our team — we do not currently use a separate customer relationship management (CRM) platform to store applications. We do not currently use website analytics, advertising or tracking tools (such as Google Analytics or the Meta Pixel) on this website. If this changes, we will update this policy.

Marketing Preferences

We will only contact you about your specific enquiry or application unless you have separately agreed to receive marketing communications from us. Where you have opted in to marketing, you can withdraw your consent and opt out at any time by contacting us using the details above.

Cookies

This website does not currently set non-essential cookies, and does not use tracking or advertising cookies. If this changes, we will update this policy and, where required, ask for your consent.

Automated Decision-Making

Finance providers may use automated processes, including credit scoring, as part of assessing your application. Where a decision is made about you solely by automated means and it has a legal or similarly significant effect on you, you have the right to request human review, to express your point of view, and to challenge the decision. This right sits primarily with the finance provider that made the lending decision; we can help direct you to them.

International Transfers

We do not routinely transfer your personal information outside the UK. Where a service provider we use stores or processes information outside the UK, we will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place as required by UK data protection law.

Data Security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, loss or misuse. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information.

How Long We Keep Information

We keep personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy, and to meet our legal and regulatory record-keeping obligations as a credit broker, which may require certain records to be retained for a number of years after our relationship with you ends.

Your Data-Protection Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request erasure of your information, in certain circumstances
• Request that we restrict or stop processing your information, in certain circumstances
• Request a portable copy of information you have provided to us
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details above.

How to Complain to the ICO

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal information, please contact us first so we can try to put things right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Website: ico.org.uk
Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The updated version will apply from the date it is published on this website, so please check this page periodically.