CUSTOMERS who were mis-sold insurance by York firm CPP have just days to apply for compensation.

Around seven million people have been invited to apply for payouts from the Holgate- based firm as part of a redress scheme thatwhich came into effect on January 31 after being sanctioned by the High Court.

It followed CPP being fined a record £10.5 million in November 2012 after regulators found it gave misleading and unclear information about credit card and identity theft insurance.

By June, only around one quarter of those who are eligible had submitted their claims, leaving around five million people yet to do so.

Forms sent out to those eligible for redress have to be completed and returned by this Saturday.

The average sum people have received so far in redress is £188.

MoneySavingExpert has written to regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), arguing that the deadline should be extended as many victims have mistaken claim forms for junk mail.

The FCA has said the August 30 cut-off date was a feature of the scheme that was approved by the High Court and CPP customers.

The regulator said the deadline featured prominently in letters sent out to consumers and it also issued a reminder in July encouraging people not to delay sending their forms back.

The mis-selling scandal ran from 2005 to 2011, although only a proportion of the policies sold were arranged directly through CPP.