Is Section 75 better than a chargeback?

For credit card purchases over £100, yes — Section 75 is a legal right, not a voluntary scheme, so banks take it more seriously and you can escalate refusals to the Financial Ombudsman for free.

Can I use Section 75 on a debit card?

No. Section 75 only applies to credit cards (and some other credit agreements). For debit card purchases, use a chargeback instead.

How long do I have to claim?

Chargebacks usually must be raised within 120 days of the transaction or expected delivery date. Section 75 claims can be made up to six years after the purchase in England and Wales (five in Scotland).

Can I claim both at the same time?

Yes, and banks expect you to tell them if you are pursuing both. You can only be refunded once, but running both avoids losing the 120-day chargeback window while a slower Section 75 claim proceeds.

What if my bank rejects my claim?

Complain to the bank in writing, then escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free within six months of the bank's final response. A clear, evidence-backed original letter makes this escalation much stronger.

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Section 75 vs chargeback — which one should you use?

If a purchase has gone wrong, UK consumers have two powerful routes to get their money back from the bank rather than the merchant: Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and the chargeback scheme. They overlap, but they are not the same — picking the right one first time saves weeks of back-and-forth.

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What is Section 75?

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes your credit card provider jointly liable with the merchant when something goes wrong with a purchase. It applies to credit card purchases of goods or services costing more than £100 and up to £30,000 — even if you only paid a small deposit on the card. Because it is law, not a voluntary scheme, the card issuer cannot simply brush a valid claim aside, and you can escalate a refusal to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free.

What is a chargeback?

A chargeback is a reversal of a card transaction under Visa, Mastercard or Amex scheme rules. It is not a legal right but a contractual protection your bank signs up to. It works on debit cards as well as credit cards, covers any amount (there is no £100 minimum), and you normally have 120 days from the transaction or expected delivery date to raise it. The bank provisionally credits you while it asks the merchant for evidence.

Section 75 vs chargeback: the key differences

Use Section 75 when you paid by credit card and the item cost over £100 — it is the stronger claim because it is statutory and has no deadline beyond the six-year limitation period. Use a chargeback when you paid by debit card, the amount is under £100, or the merchant has gone bust and you need a fast provisional refund. You can pursue both at once, but tell your bank you are doing so; you can only keep one refund.

When to use which — common scenarios

Holiday or flight over £100 on a credit card that was never delivered: Section 75. A £40 gadget on a debit card that never arrived: chargeback. A cancelled subscription that kept billing you: chargeback, regardless of card type. A £2,000 sofa paid partly by credit card deposit: Section 75 for the full purchase price, even though most of it was paid another way. An unauthorised or fraudulent transaction: report it as fraud to your bank first — that is a separate, faster process.

Why most claims fail — and how to avoid it

Banks reject vague claims. Whether you choose Section 75 or a chargeback, your letter should state the exact transaction date and amount, the merchant name as it appears on your statement, the specific reason the purchase went wrong, the evidence you tried to resolve it with the merchant first, and a clear 14-day deadline. We draft all of this for you, personalised to your situation, in under a minute.

Example Section 75 claim letter to your credit card provider

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Date]

[Credit Card Provider Name]
Section 75 Claims Department
[Provider Address]

Re: Section 75 claim — Consumer Credit Act 1974
Card ending [last 4 digits]
Transaction date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Amount: [£ amount]
Merchant: [Merchant name]

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to make a formal claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 in respect of the above transaction, which was made using my credit card with you.

The goods/services were [not received / not as described / not provided / faulty], and the merchant has [refused to refund me / failed to respond / ceased trading]. I attempted to resolve this directly with the merchant on [date] by [email / phone / chat], without success. Copies of that correspondence are enclosed.

Under Section 75 you are jointly and severally liable with the merchant for this breach of contract. I am asking you to:
1. Refund the full amount of [£ amount] to my account.
2. Confirm in writing the outcome of my claim and your reasons.

If you reject this claim, please treat this letter as a formal complaint and provide your final response, so that I may escalate the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

I look forward to your written response within 14 days.

Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]

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