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Section 75 and chargeback
If a company takes your money and fails to deliver, goes bust, or the goods are faulty, your card may give you a route to recover it. There are two, they work differently, and people frequently confuse them.
On this page
Section 75, in plain English
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes your credit card provider jointly liable with the retailer where there has been a breach of contract or misrepresentation. In practice, if the seller will not put things right, you can pursue the card company instead.
- It applies to credit cards, not debit cards.
- The item or service generally needs to cost more than £100 and no more than £30,000.
- You usually only need to have paid part of the cost on the card, even a deposit, for the whole purchase to be covered.
- It is a legal right, not a goodwill gesture.
Chargeback
Chargeback is not a legal right but a scheme rule operated by the card networks. Your bank asks for the payment to be reversed through the network.
- It can apply to debit cards as well as credit cards.
- There is no £100 minimum, so it suits smaller purchases.
- Time limits are short and strict, commonly counted in days from the transaction or from when you expected delivery.
- Outcomes are not guaranteed and the retailer can dispute it.
Side by side
| Section 75 | Chargeback | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Legal right | Card scheme rule |
| Cards covered | Credit cards | Debit and credit |
| Value | Typically over £100, up to £30,000 | No minimum |
| Part payment counts | Yes, a deposit can be enough | Usually only the amount paid |
| Time limits | Longer, tied to the underlying claim | Short, often 120 days |
| Typical use | Retailer insolvency, major breach, misrepresentation | Goods not arrived, duplicate charge, cancelled service |
If both are available, Section 75 is generally the stronger route because it is a legal entitlement. Chargeback is often faster for straightforward "it never arrived" cases.
How to make the request
- Try the retailer first, in writing, and keep the response or note the lack of one.
- Contact your card provider, stating clearly whether you are making a Section 75 claim or requesting a chargeback.
- Set out the facts: what you bought, when, how much, what went wrong, and what you want.
- Attach evidence: order confirmation, receipts, correspondence, photographs, and any insolvency notice.
- Keep the reference and note the date, because time limits matter.
The template in our complaints guide adapts easily to a card provider.
If you are refused
Ask for the decision in writing with reasons. Card providers sometimes reject on the basis that the goods were "as described" or that the transaction falls outside the value limits, and those points can be argued.
If you remain unhappy after a final response, and you are eligible, the Financial Ombudsman Service can consider a complaint about how the card provider handled your claim, free of charge.
General information only, not legal advice. Limits and time periods change; confirm the current position with your card provider or the ombudsman.