Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), is accused of threatening Consumer Voice with adverse consequences if the group blocked a £9.1bn compensation scheme for mis-sold car loans. ^[1] Consumer Voice, a consumer rights group represented by solicitors Courmacs Legal, has accused the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of prioritizing lender costs over consumer protection in its motor finance compensation scheme. ^[2] Consumer Voice, founded by Nikki Stopford and Alex Neill in 2023, is challenging the FCA's redress scheme on the grounds that it offers an average payout of £830 per mis-sold loan, which they argue is too low. ^[3] Legal documents reviewed by the Guardian allege that Rathi warned Consumer Voice directors during a Microsoft Teams call on 27 April that the FCA would be unable to collaborate with them if they took legal action. ^[4] The alleged threat included warnings of adverse press briefings against Consumer Voice and suggested that the regulator's willingness to engage constructively was contingent on the group not challenging the scheme. ^[5] Consumer Voice argues that the FCA knowingly set the minimum compensatory interest rate at 3%, which is below the actual borrowing costs most consumers faced during the scheme period. ^[6] Internal FCA documents cited by Consumer Voice claim the decision to set the interest floor was driven by a desire to limit financial strain on lenders, simplify the scheme, and reach a final decision quickly. ^[7] The FCA's motor finance redress scheme targets an estimated 12.1 million car finance agreements mis-sold between 2007 and 2024, with an average payout of £829 per eligible consumer. ^[8]