Consumers could get back money they have lost as a result of their dealings with any of the eight failed regulated firms.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) declared the companies in default during January.

FSCS is the UK’s statutory compensation scheme that protects customers of regulated financial services firms.

A declaration of default means FSCS is satisfied a firm is unable to pay claims for compensation made against it.

This paves the way for customers of that firm to make a claim for compensation.

The firms are:

Greater London:

• S.J.R. Cars Limited (t/a Hounslow Discount Cars), 163-169 Hanworth Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW3 3TT

South West:

• Eastgate Motor Company Limited, Hartwell House, 55-61 Victoria Street, Bristol, Somerset, BS1 6AD

• Poole Car Centre Limited (fomerly Blakedew 170 Limited), 65 St. Edmunds Church Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 1EF

West Midlands:

• Montpelier Group (Europe) Limited (formerly known as Martin Cadman Group Plc), Brisker Court, 1685/1689 High Street, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands, B93 0LN

North East:

• JDV Limited (t/a Devries Honda), Mount Pleasant, Hull, North Humberside, HU9 1HA

North West:

• The Mortgage Matters Partnership, 8 Stockport Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA158ET

Scotland:

• Allan McRoberts, 8 Maclean Place, East Kilbride, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G744TQ

• Balfour Group Limited, 3 Johns Place, Edinburgh, EH6 7EL

Alex Kuczynski, chief corporate affairs officer at FSCS, said: “FSCS steps in to protect consumers around the UK when authorised financial services firms go bust.

“This vital service, which is free to consumers, protects your deposits, insurance, investments, home finance and debt management. We want anyone who believes they may be owed money as a result of their dealings with any of these firms to get in touch as we may be able to help you.” 

Since it began in 2001, FSCS has helped more than 4.5m people, paying out more than £26bn in compensation.