Section 75 vs Chargeback: How to Get Your Money Back
When a purchase goes wrong, Section 75 and chargeback are your two routes to a refund. How each works, the £100–£30,000 rule, and which to use when.
A retailer goes bust before delivering your sofa. A holiday firm collapses. Something arrives broken and the seller won't help. In the UK you have two powerful ways to claw your money back through your card — and knowing which to reach for can be the difference between a quick refund and a long fight.
Section 75: your legal shield
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes your credit card provider jointly liable with the retailer if something you bought breaches contract or was misrepresented. It applies to a single item costing over £100 and up to £30,000. Crucially, you're protected even if you only paid part of the cost on the card — putting a £200 deposit on a £5,000 kitchen on your credit card can protect the whole purchase. Because it's the law, the card company can't simply opt out. MoneyHelper explains it well, and the statute itself is on legislation.gov.uk.
Chargeback: the scheme safety net
Chargeback isn't a law — it's a rule of the card schemes (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) that your bank subscribes to. You ask your provider to reverse a transaction because goods were faulty, not as described, never arrived, or the trader went under. It works on debit and credit cards, and there's no £100 minimum, which makes it the go-to for smaller purchases and anything paid on a debit card. The main limit is time: you typically have around 120 days from the transaction (or expected delivery) to claim. Which? has a useful walkthrough.
| Feature | Section 75 | Chargeback |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A statutory legal right | A voluntary card-scheme rule |
| Card types | Credit cards only | Debit and credit cards |
| Purchase price | Over £100, up to £30,000 | No set limit |
| Time limit | No strict statutory deadline — act promptly | Typically ~120 days |
| Who's liable | Card provider, jointly with retailer | Reversal via the retailer's bank |
Which should you use?
- Big purchase on a credit card (over £100)? Use Section 75 — it's the stronger, legally binding route.
- Paid on a debit card, or under £100? Chargeback is your option.
- Either could apply? Section 75 is usually the safer bet for larger sums, but you can ask about both.
How to claim
Contact your card provider, explain what went wrong, and supply evidence — order confirmation, correspondence, photos, proof the item was faulty or undelivered. Try to resolve it with the retailer first where you can, as your provider may ask. If your claim is rejected and you believe it shouldn't have been, you can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which adjudicates disputes between consumers and financial firms for free.
Both protections are reasons a credit card can be the smarter way to pay for big or risky purchases — a theme we explore in our guide to personal loans vs credit cards.
This guide is general information, not regulated financial advice. Always confirm the latest terms with the provider before you commit.
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