Data from the domestic abuse charity Refuge reveals a significant increase in referrals for cases of technology facilitated abuse and economic abuse, with “a worrying increase” in perpetrators exploiting car finance agreements.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, there were 967 referrals to Refuge’s specialist Technology Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment team, up from 542 the previous year. Almost half (43%) reported experiencing some form of economic abuse, compared to 37% the year before.
Over the past two years, economic abuse specialists at Refuge have witnessed “a concerning rise” in cases involving car finance, with survivors coerced into signing up for costly car finance agreements and perpetrators using car payments as a means of control.
Survivors can be left with significant amounts of debt resulting in serious long-term consequences for their credit records, which in turn prevents them from accessing phone contracts, tenancy agreements and mortgages, further limiting independence.
The team at Refuge report hearing stories from women who told sales staff they were reluctant to proceed with the agreements but were ignored, forced to pay costly termination agreements, or brushed off by police.
“A number of debts had been taken out in my name throughout the relationship, but one of the biggest was when he completed the finance arrangements for a luxury car worth over £100k,” Sara* told specialists at Refuge.
“He told me that all I needed to do was sign the paperwork. I said I didn’t want to go ahead with it and told the car sales staff that I was reluctant. They even saw us arguing at the dealership. But, despite this, they still allowed the agreement to be entered into my name, and I felt unable to refuse because of my partner’s coercive nature. It left me with a huge financial commitment that I didn’t want or feel able to say no to.”
Zara* received support from Refuge when she was charged an £11,000 early termination fee by a car dealer. She explained: “My ex-partner was controlling in many ways, but economic abuse was a big part of this. When we were still together, he coerced me into taking out a car finance agreement in my own name, with the intention to use the vehicle himself. After separating from him, I returned the vehicle to the car company.
“It was then that I was informed I was liable to pay an early termination fee of around £11,000. I couldn’t afford this, so I missed a number of these payments which then impacted my credit score. I had to take on extra shifts at work to try and repay the car debt, as well as other debts which my ex had coerced me into.”
When Nicole’s* ex partner took her car and registered it in his own name without her consent, police refused to get involved.
“The police told me this was a civil issue and that I had to contact my vehicle finance provider for support,” she explained. “He also had subscription payments for a bike, which he coerced me into funding.
“Refuge sent support letters to help me explain my circumstances to the lenders and providers I was involved with because of my ex. This helped write off coerced debts, which was vital in regaining my freedom and independence.”
To better protect survivors from this growing form of economic abuse, Refuge is urging the government to establish a working group of specialist support services, car finance providers, and credit reference agencies to collate evidence on survivors’ experiences and develop a shared approach to support them with clearing coerced car finance debt, while ensuring it does not affect their future credit reference.
Francesca Ferrier, senior economic empowerment partnerships manager at Refuge, said: “Every day, survivors of economic abuse are met with systems that are not designed to recognise their experiences or provide the support they need. Many car finance providers and credit reference agencies lack the skills and resources to identify the signs of economic abuse, leaving survivors facing significant obstacles to resolving debt and rebuilding their financial independence.
“Lasting change requires government action. The government must bring together car finance providers, credit reference agencies and specialist economic abuse services to better understand the risks survivors face and develop a coordinated, robust response that ensures survivors receive the support and protection they deserve.”
Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline is available on 0808 2000 247 for free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A live chat service is also available from 10am to 10pm, Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 6pm on weekends. For further information and advice, visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk. For support with tech-facilitated abuse, visit www.refugetechsafety.org.
*All names have been changed.
